Swimming Wyatt

I never thought those two words would go together. Wyatt and the pool are like oil and water- they don't mix. Well, they mix just enough to tolerate each other. If Wyatt has his life jacket, he's happy. If Wyatt doesn't get his face wet, he's happy. If Wyatt is doing swimming lessons, he's NOT happy!!!

I thought by doing private lessons at home, as opposed to throwing him in a class with multiple kids and in an uncomfortable environment, he'd be the kid crying the ENTIRE time. Well, he did that even with private lessons at home, but at least no one else had to live through the misery of his screaming, well other than the neighbors who gave a curious glance over the fence. I thought, well maybe next summer will be better, because we are getting no where fast this summer!

Until last week. We had about a two week break in swimming lessons. He screamed like you wouldn't believe on the last lesson, so I assumed this lesson would be the same. But when Megan asked him to do some things, he happily did them. No tears at all! Wyatt was like a different kid!! I was so so surprised and so so proud!!

And then today, he decided to just walk around the front of the pool on his tip toes, and then walk out from the steps and swim back. By himself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was so so so proud of himself and I am too! He's go this last lesson on Saturday and I can safely say that they were worth it!! Now hopefully he will remember how much he likes swimming when next summer rolls around!!

Grant Graduated!!

On November 15th, Grant graduated from swimming lessons! He did two session as an Eel and passed with flying colors!! We are taking a break from swimming lessons for awhile, maybe when it warms up again! But he did amazing and I can't wait to see where his swimming future goes from here!!

I'm proud of you Bubba!!!

Eel in Training

Grant had his last swimming lesson last night! I got to swim with him on the last day and he proudly showed off all his cool moves!! He swam the length of the pool freestyle, jumped off the diving board 3 times, and swam back. Then he swam the length of the pool backstroke, jumped off the diving board 3 times, and swam back. He back floated ALL BY HIMSELF! He did "rockets", which is where they kick off the wall, either on their back or their front, then turn around and swim back to the wall. He smiled through all of it and looked at me, with eyes seeking approval! Of course, my eyes showed more than that!! I was so proud of him!! I'm glad I got to spend those 30 minutes just devoted to him alone!! It was awesome!!

Here is the slide, which he went down by himself twice the other day!! He was so scared of this on his first day, but LOVED it the other day!! And to the right is the infamous mushroom, which earned Grant a trip to the ER on his first day. 

I enrolled him for the next session that begins in 10 days! He was so excited to know he will get the chance to swim again!! I can't wait to see his progress in the next 8 sessions!!

Way to go buddy!!!

Grant's Busy Day

Grant had a super busy day yesterday! 

It all started when I dropped him off at preschool and we got this note:

All the 4+ kids at Grant's school got to go to the Enid Fire Department in their big school van! Since he doesn't go to school on Fridays or Mondays, we apparently missed the memo on this field trip! But it was well received! He said he was a little scared to leave the school without me, but he said he never cried and had a great time at the Fire Station!  He also got to be the helper of the day, which is a big deal when you're in preschool! He wore his "helper tag" proudly the rest of the day!! 

Then after some playtime at the church gym, errands, and a nap at home, it was time to gear up for swimming lessons! He's really enjoyed his lessons, other than the last two minutes of the first day which ended in a trip to the ER. The first day of lessons, he tested out of the beginners class, and one of the tests he had was to go down the long twisty slide. He didn't want anything to do with that slide! But I was hoping by the end of his session, he'd try it. However, he said he wouldn't do it til he turned seven!!! But last night- he not only did it once, but he did it twice!! You could see caution written on his face on his long walk up the ladder, and the excitement all over his face as he came down the slide! His little face popped up out of the water and he had to swim a few feet to his teacher. Then he hopped out of the pool, and ASKED to do it again!! I was so proud of him! Time was up after his second time, so who knows how many times he would've done it!! (I will take a picture of the slide at tomorrow lessons. Why don't I think about those things at the time?!)  

So, his brave adventure earned him a trip to Cherry Berry (a self-serve frozen yogurt place, that I'm kind of surprised Enid has in the first place!) He got to pick all sorts of goodies on top of his chocolate frozen yogurt- he picked chocolate rocks, Nerds, and white chocolate chips!! It was a treat for all of us!

 Another big part of Grant's day was during homework time. He's been on the verge of reading for a little while now, and last week in the car, I was asking him how to spell certain CVC words, like Dad, Mom, dog, etc. So during homework time yesterday, I let him use my phone to play a game. And he spelled and read through ALL the short A words on the game!! He thought he was pretty cool, and I was VERY proud of him!! I think I'll be having a little reader on my hands in no time!!

                     

It was a big day for my big boy and I am super proud of all his accomplishments he's made so far!! I love watching him grow and learn new things and gain confidence as he builds his skills!! He makes a mama proud!!

Swimming Lessons and Stitches

It all started with a simple beginners swimming lesson. Grant ROCKED it- I mean jumped off the side, went under water, swam across the pool, and went off the diving board. The teacher said he needed to be moved up into the next class because he was too good, so we stayed for another 30 minute session immediately following the first. Again, he ROCKED that session, but that is where he will stay for now! We were soooo proud of him! He swam his little heart out, smiling the whole way (well, until close to the end of the second session when he couldn't stop shivering!). He absolutely loved it!!! So after 58 minutes of swimming lessons, he got to play in the play area of the pool that has a slide, water fountains, and a big mushroom thing. In that last two minutes, he made a diving move to go under the water coming out of the mushroom, and he apparently overshot it and hit the pole with his face, specifically his chin. He looked at me and mouthed, "I'm ok, I'm ok." But it was time to get out of the pool anyway and as he walked towards me, I saw blood gushing from his chin. The instructors immediately swarmed up, and the main instructor said, "He's going to need stitches." 

Surprisingly, this is our first experience with Grant at the ER. I can't believe he hasn't had broken bones or anything yet, he's so tough and crazy! But that gash needed fixing! While at the pool getting bandaged, he sat so calm and so still. He never got upset, freaked out, whined, or anything!! When we got to the ER, we went back to the room, and the doctor said they could just use glue to seal it, but he said it stings and most kids freak out. But Grant said he wouldn't, so we went ahead with it, and the kid didn't even flinch. Not once! He was more concerned about being able to see the TV while the glue was drying because the Transformers movies was on! He was absolutely AMAZING!! 

I'm not sure I've been more proud of him than I was tonight, and in two separate moments! Watching him excel at swimming, and thoroughly enjoying himself made my heart race! Watching him be brave, and calm, and strong while going to the ER made my heart swell!  Makes me so thankful to such an amazing kid!!!