An amazing couple days

Emma, this week was the last week we did swim lessons.  Last week we didn't do them since we went up north.  The week before that you were seemed more interested in playing rather than swimming so I decided to make this your last week.  Unfortunately this week you seemed much more into swimming.  We have to call it quits this week as Kat (my former student and your swim instructor) has to have hernia surgery.  You were blowing bubbles in the pool while swimming which Kat's been trying to get you to do since day 1.  You also began jumping in on your own.  You would submerge a bit more and not come up sputtering or swallowing water at all.  You let me drop you in the water.  I dropped you from a little too high and you completely submerged.  Kat was in the water a couple steps away and stepped close to you real quick.  You came up and were a bit freaked out at first but once you got the water out of your eyes you were totally fine!  We were so impressed!  The only thing you seem to not like is getting water in your eyes.  We pointed out that you could close your eyes when you jump and that seemed to solve all your problems!  Next summer we'll probably continue with Kat (if she can) and I'll buy you a pair of goggles so it's no problem.  We'll have to figure out how to wean you off the water wings: you tend to rely on them a lot and not use your arms.  Unfortunately Blogger never wants to upload my videos, so go here to see it on youtube.

That night we went to Bill and Kelly Hodges' house so I could play some volleyball and be social with other adults.  This was the first time I'd taken you to their house and the second time I'd taken you to volleyball anywhere.  The last time I'd taken you we were at the high school gym, you were around a year and you cried the whole time even though Emily was there to play with you.  This time you were much better.  You had Larissa and Easton to play with along with some older kids and some play pieces.  You also wanted to play volleyball.  Of course you didn't want me to show you correct platforms or anything.  You just wanted to hit it overhand.  We'll have to work on that.  My team kept losing even though you were cheering us on.  I started getting a kiss from you before each game.  Every time I did that we won so you are a good luck charm!  We went around 7:00 and your bedtime routine usually starts around 7:30.  It was evident when we went to leave around 9 that it was well past your bed time.  In the last 2 points of our last game you came running over saying, "Mom, I need a hug!"  You were patient enough to wait the last two points.  When we all cleared off the court to leave you cried, "Mom!  I want to play with you!" and collapsed sobbing.  One of the other moms thought another kid had knocked you down you were crying so hard!

You pushing Easton

Even though you were up to nearly 9:30 pm, you were still up before 7 this morning.  You had a rough night though.  You were up multiple times.  At one point you came screaming and crying into our bedroom.  It was so abrupt and emotional that you got my heart pumping.  I scooped you up and pulled you into bed with us.  You slept in my arms for a bit.  At one point I woke up again and there were your little feet in my back and your head was by my thighs.  I just fell back asleep!

Today we had to get out of the house for a showing.  We went to dinner.  On the way home Stella started crying so you started singing to her.  You went through your bedtime litany: Foo Fighters All My Life, Hakuna Matata, the Spartan fight song, and Frere Jacques.  The funniest part is you'd say to her, "What's next, Stella?  Hakuna Matata? Ok," and then start singing.  You went through about two rounds of this.  Luckily dad got some on video.  I love how much you care for her and watch out for her.  Each night you have to kiss her and hug her when you kiss and hug me.  You talk about being her best friend and showing her all sorts of things "when she gets big."  I am very much looking forward to you actually being able to play with her.