Swimming Lessons

My family is such an aquatic family (odd adjective to use there, but I'll go with it), as we are out on the boat, in the pool, playing on the dock, etc.... so we really want Cal to be comfortable in the water and around it.

My neighbor told me of a swim class for infants that is held at UNC Wellness center. The purpose of the class is to get babies comfortable in the water and also to teach parents how to keep their comfort level high.

The class meets twice a week for 4 weeks. Tonight was the first class and we LOVED it!!! It is at 5:15, so it's kind of an awkward time to meet, but it worked out great. Cal was exhausted after the class/bath/dinner and he is conked out now!

The class is from 5:15 until 5:45- the little ones can only handle 30 minutes before they get cold!--and has babies all around Cal's age (give or take a few weeks--there is one kid a tad older, and one set of twins, who are 2 months older, but about the same size as Cal....).

We started by the instructor teaching us how to get into the pool with the baby if there isn't a ladder or ramp. It was a little tough since that requires the baby being able to sit up on his own....! Then we began doing a few little songs playing in the water to get the kids used to splashing. Then the instructor told us to just play with the kids in the water and she would go around to each of us and play with our babies to show us different ways to hold them in the water. The ways we were holding them promote swimming in the future. We did this one "hold" where I had his back towards my chest, but I was holding him like a football. The purpose was to get his hands splashing in the water (dig dig dig!) and his feet going (kick kick kick!). Well, my little guy was going CRAZY splashing! We was digging and kicking non stop!

I had a feeling he would love it since he loves the bath so much. He was trying to put his face in the water the whole time (okay, maybe he was trying to drink the water....either way, he was getting his face wet!). I was ready to dunk him (is that mean?), but the instructor suggested we wait until he is 100% comfortable in the water so that he doesn't learn to fear it. I guess it makes sense.....

We had a great time and can't wait to go back on Thursday!!!

at the start of class.... all smiles!

getting into the pool....easy does it!

KICK KICK KICK! (please notice Cal sucking on the instructor's shoulder....opps!)