Swimming Lessons

Like last summer, Anna has been taking swimming lessons.  While she enjoys them, I think that the instructors coddle her a little too much because at home Anna is all over the place in the pool.  She often doesn't wear floaties and will jump off the side by herself and swim over. The girl lives in her swim suit and we spend hours each day swimming.  At lessons, it is a different story.  Because she can, she often will hold onto the side, her teachers (which they let her do) and holds hands to jump off the sides, etc.  She is in a group with the kids her age but I really think she could be in the next group up.  I by no means think she will be as good as the kids in the next group, but at least she will be challenged to do something.  I would rather her be the worst one a group that is challenging to her and actually be progressing with her skills and learning something rather than be just skating by with skills she already knows and exceeds when she is at home.  I haven't said anything about it because I don't want to come across as being one of those moms who thinks her kid is just sooooooooo extraordinary because that is not at all the case.  I just know the difference between what I observe from her at home and then at lessons and like I said, if she were in the next group I think she will struggle but at least would be learning new skills. Anyway, sorry I have been a little disappointed by the lessons this year but she enjoys them and it gives her more time in a pool each day which she likes!  I am going to be looking into continuing lessons for her into the fall because she loves swimming so much, but I may be looking into a different program.

Sorry some of the pictures are blurry.  I sit pretty far away and had to zoom in as much as possible.

More Swimming

Anna and I have logged hours in our pool again this summer.  The past few nights I have had to coax her to come out at about 8:00 at night because she just doesn't want to get out.

Swimming Lessons

Annalise is taking swimming lessons each morning for two weeks.  She started in a class called Baby Fish I, but after the first day one of the instructors said that she should probably be in Baby Fish II.  I was a little skeptical about how that would go because in the first class I actually got in with her but in the second class the kids wear these floaty belt things and only get in with the instructors.  While I knew that she loves the water and does really well with our pool at home jumping in (while wearing Floaties) and swimming around, I didn't know how she would do with strangers given her personality.  I am proud to say that only after mild clinging at the very beginning she was fine!  Not even any tears (from either of us) =)!  I could tell she was really proud of herself too because she smiled so broadly to me the whole time she was out in the water!

 Ready to go!

 Not sure what the dramatic collapse was =)

 Ready and waiting to get in!

Anna loves her swimming lessons!

The Community Pool

Today I took Annalise to the community pool in Lewisburg that was located at the park that I took her to last month.  It was warm out today but for whatever the reason our pool was only 84 degrees (must have been cool last night???) even though the solar cover was on.  I won't swim unless the water is at least 88 (sometimes 86) degrees and Annalise doesn't really like it cooler than that either.  Fortunately, this summer has been so warm and with the solar cover on we have had our pool at about 90 degrees most of the summer and it has been AWESOME!  Anyway, I was wanting to try out the pool there ever since we went last month so spur of the moment after nap time today Anna and I went to try it out.  I figured the baby pool there would be warmer than ours because it is so shallow.  Well, Anna loved it!  She really liked the fountains, filling her cup and bucket, dumping water on my head and her own head.  Also, she really liked the fact that she could easily walk in and out of the pool herself without using a ladder like at our house. It was a nice way to cool off this afternoon!  On the way home Anna and I stopped for dinner and ice cream.

This is the baby pool.  It is only one of three pools they have there.

Watching the other kids while she waits patiently for me to arrange our stuff.  I am thankful everyday that she is such a patient and obedient most of the time.  Since I usually have her by myself due to Stan's work schedule, it sure makes things easy!!!

With her cup and bucket.  She plays with these in our pool and in her water table.  I knew she would want them in this pool too!

Waiting for me to pack everything up!

Splash! Splash!

I cannot even tell you how much time we have been spending in our pool this summer.  Annalise loves being in it which is good because I love being in it too!  Stan and I were just saying tonight that we think it was the best money we ever spent!

Having fun on a hot day

Wild child!

Hmmmm, she looks a little unsure here???   Not quite sure why, maybe I was pulling her raft backwards??? Guess I shouldn't have done that.

Trying to get a shot together.  Stan didn't tell me I had a strand of hair hanging directly in the center of my head.  Anna is not paying attention at all. Nice.

Now, not only do I have a hair hanging in the middle of my head, but he snaps the picture in the middle of me saying cheese.  Anna is still not paying attention.  Really nice.

Oh well, this is as good as it gets I guess!  At least Annalise is finally looking!

Waiting for Warmer Weather.....

With all the snowy, cold weather lately, I have really been longing for spring to come! Here are some of my favorites from last summer......

June '09 - Anna was 6 1/2 - 7 months old.
It was her first time in her swimsuit.

Also June '09 - Anna was 6 1/2-7 months old
This was her first time at the park.

July '09 - Anna 7 1 /2 months old
Her first kayaking trip

July '09 - 7 1/2 months
Chillin' in the pool

Late July '09 - Anna was 8 months old
One of my favorite things about the summer - rides in the Mustang.
This summer it will have to be in a Wrangler, right Em?

Ok, now I feel better just looking at the pictures.....PLEASE come soon spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 Months Old - Toothless & On the Move

This Wednesday, Anna will be 8 months old! This past month, she has learned to army crawl (forgive my terminology -- or lack of -- is it called creeping???) and she does it like it is her job! She is really quick and you turn your head for one second and she half way across the room. I laugh now thinking back to before she could roll herself over and I used to put her on her tummy for "tummy time". She HATED being on her tummy so honestly, I didn't do it all that often or for too long each time and I was sooooo concerned that she would never crawl because she wasn't spending the literature recommended amount of time on the floor. How funny -- but seriously, no person with my personality should be permitted to read those baby books! They really gave me way too much to worry and completely obsess over and I am proud to say that I have gotten rid of ALL of them (which is probably I am lacking the proper terminology above!).
Two other things that she did this past month, although she did them only one time each, is pull herself up to a standing position in her crib and going from laying on her tummy to a sitting position. Like I said, she only did both of those things once this week and has not done them again, but I am sure that soon she will be doing them often. We still need to lower her crib mattress though so I about had a heart attack when I came in the room and saw she was standing up peering over the side of the crib.
Also, this past month, Anna has learned to make lots of new sounds that she loves to do at the top of her lungs in the grocery store, Wal-Mart, and at home. Other than those places, she really is usually very quiet and just kind of takes things in. In addition to her sounds, she says Ma-Ma and Da-Da (of course without associating it with us yet), FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF, Heh-Heh-Heh, Ba-Ba, and Tuh-Tuh.
We are working on waving, but she usually just holds her had out straight forward without moving it. Sometimes though she does turn her hand so it is facing her and opens and closes it, most of the time though she just sticks it straight out.
One thing that Annalise completely lacks though is teeth! She chews stuff and drools constantly, but still there are still none coming in. That is fine with me though. I don't care if she doesn't get teeth until I am done nursing her. Stan and I joke that it will save us a bundle at the dentist!

"I'm coming to get you Mommy!"
She LOVES the pool!

"Streeeeetch Daddy!"

"Whew! I made it over to you Mommy".

"I love this pool!"

Um..yeah. Do you think we need to lower her mattress?

"Hi!"
This is how she sticks her hand straight out to say hello. Even though it looks like it is moving here, it usually is not.