The Capes are Finally Done!

Steve bought me a sewing machine for Valentine's Day and I finally managed to finish Samuel's and Shira's capes this weekend. The Mardi Gras themed potluck at Kristen's, Eric's and Lillian's house was the perfect motivator to get these done.

Play Dates

Zvi came over last week, and Samuel pulled out his swords and shields. I bought these almost two years ago on sale at Tiny Tots because I simply couldn't resist them. It was a moment of weakness on my part on so many levels. New? I bought something new?

Weapons? I bought weapons? For my 2 year old? That are meant to hit other things with? Steve looked at me like I was insane. But I grew up with a big brother. I know how awesome it is to have toys like this. And Zvi and Samuel played with them completely appropriately. Swords smacked shields, not people.

Pictures from a few other recent play dates:

Rebecca and Samuel on the trampoline a couple of weeks ago.

And Lillian joined us on Friday for a playdate followed by Shabbat dinner with Kristen and Eric.

Swimming Success!

Today was Samuel's fourth swimming lesson, and we saw big jump in comfort in the water.

A few days ago we were talking about what we would be doing this week, and when I got to Friday, Samuel exclaimed, "And on Friday we get to go to swimming lessons!" Part of that excitement probably was related to the fact that we would be meeting Zvi and his mom Wendy for our after swimming lesson steamed milk at a cafe, but at least a small part of it was actual anticipation for swimming.

Samuel was still nervous when he got into the water, but this was the first time that he said that he only wanted to put his face under water once, rather than not at all.

And he swam about 3 feet under water to get from the teacher to the side of the pool, where I waited with outstretched arms.

And he actually smiled a few times during the lesson.

Woohoo!

Awesome

What is so awesome about this picture? Samuel built all the items here himself. He built the train track and popped up the tents, and connected them together on his own. There were a couple of times that he needed a few suggestions from me, but there was a lot of independent play going on here.

So much less needing mommy for constant interaction. Yippee! for everyone involved.

Also awesome - Samuel welcomes Shira to play with his creations too... as long as she doesn't touch the blue Thomas the train... or break the track... or he's not cranky...

Sickness

So we are remarkably lucky that the kids rarely get very sick. Don't get me wrong, through most of the winter we get our fair share of sniffly noses, but I think Samuel has had a fever one time in his life up until now.

Well, we certainly have rectified that this past week. Samuel has been sicker than he has ever been, eating only breakfast and then spending the rest of the day sitting on the couch, passing in and out of consciousness, followed by being up throughout the night. Four days of the ugliest thing he's ever had, preceded by 5 days of a nasty cold. It's been generally yuck in this household.

And lucky us! As of yesterday, Shira seems to have contracted the same thing, only she can't sleep at all, day or night.

Someday we'll sleep again.

First Swim Lesson

I don't know why, but I've been thinking about swimming lessons recently. Probably because I've been trying to figure out when we will be taking a trip to Grandma Susan's and Grandpa Tom's house, which makes Steve think about the pool with water slides and trapeze, which makes me think about how much more fun Samuel would have this summer if he could swim. And how much more fun I will have this summer watching him swim.

So last Friday I broached the subject of swimming lessons with Samuel. He was cautious at first, concerned that I wouldn't be in the water with him. He told me that he was afraid that he would fall to the bottom of the pool if he didn't have me or Steve to hold onto.

We talked about how you have a teacher in the water with you, and that I would never let Samuel be in a situation where he wasn't safe. We talked about how great Teacher Claire and Teacher Wilma are, and how your teacher never lets you do anything that isn't safe, too. And whammo. Within the space of five minutes he went from saying that he would wait until he was bigger and could touch the bottom in the deep parts (I couldn't bear to tell him, "honey, in this family that ain't gonna happen for a looooong time - if ever") to being intent on starting swimming lessons ASAP.

Still, I figured we would talk about it for a few weeks, just to keep adjusting to the idea (and wait for the weather to be reliably warm. Yes, we are taking swimming lessons at an outdoor pool in February. Eat your hearts out Minnesotans. It does have a tent over it, though.)

So much for adjusting to the idea. Samuel talked about it several times after our initial conversation, asking me where he would take lessons. I told him I would have to find the best place. Once I found the place, he wanted to know what day he was starting. On Wednesday he informed Steve that he would be starting swimming lessons this Friday. At which point Steve turned to me and said, "I guess you better register him tonight, honey." I did.

He was cautiously excited on our way there this morning. Once we got there, he was a little nervous about the deep water, and having to get in without me. He liked the hot shower I had him take beforehand, though (apparently I'm the only one who actually follows the pool rules, since when he showed up already wet, the deck manager thought he had already been swimming this morning.)

Samuel generally likes to observe things for a good long while before he participates in anything. This doesn't work so well for swimming lessons. But he did a fabulous job. He was super nervous about all the new things - deep water, unfamiliar people, being in the pool without mommy or daddy. There were a couple of tears (literally, a couple tears, no hysteria, as I would have done) after the head dunking, but he held it together. He asked to get out of the pool once, but accepted that he needed to stay in for the whole lesson.

The teacher was great, as was the deck manager. Super encouraging. Teacher Sarah said that everything each kid did was "awesome" about five million times.

When he got out he looked shell shocked, but he replied in the affirmative when I asked if he had a good time and if he was excited about going back. He for sure didn't have a "good" time, but he seems to be motivated, and I can see him loving it, once he has become comfortable with the routine. He definitely has Steve's personality that way.

For my part, it was hard to hold back the tears when I could see how anxious he was, but I think I did a good job holding it together, too. I also worry about him having my fear of the water, which he clearly doesn't, so I should let go of that. And he clearly doesn't have the hysterical melt downs that I did, so we're good there.

I didn't bring his clothes with us, since I could only manage one bag with his towel and robe plus books to entertain Shira (which were totally unnecessary - staring at the spectacle in the pool was more than enough) plus snacks, plus holding onto Shira for dear life so she didn't jump into the pool (which she didn't even make a move for, thank goodness). So we went outside to strip and dry off in the sun and I put my sweater on him.

After which we went to the park. Mr. Shell Shocked eats his lunch.

Trampoline Tricks

Shira's new trampoline trick is getting onto the tramp all by herself.

Will I enjoy more independent play, or will I be making new friends with some ER doctors?

Unfortunately, her tactics for getting down still consist of standing at the net opening and screaming "DOWN" over and over until I come get her.

Samuel pulled the soccer net onto the grass himself, and put on his soccer cleats. I'm not sure what happened next, but for some reason it involved pushing Shira over. Three cheers for soft grass and accomodating little sisters. She decided she was pretty content to lie in the warm sun.