Yesterday Benjamin did really well at his swim class, but today he was outstanding! He usually starts crying as soon as we get in the pool room, but today he didn't cry at all!! In fact, he got very excited as we dressed him in his swim diaper!
{I think he was looking over to make sure the bag of suckers was on the table over yonder}
Today was the perfect day to take pictures of Benjamin's swim class and I am so glad I thought to bring my camera! He did such a great job!!
Here he is swimming - under water - to the steps!
He made it!
Benjamin was so cute and proud of himself! He would get to the steps and say, "I did it!" - He was all smiles today and it was so wonderful to see him so happy as he swam!!
Practicing his kicks!
You can see his foot kind of kicking there. He did SO well!!
Getting praises from his teacher - it makes him so proud. By the way, yesterday and today he gained audiences for his swimming. A lady yesterday was saying, "Wow, that's amazing!" - and it really is!
He is just SO proud of himself!! And we are so proud of him too! It is just so amazing to watch!
How cool is that??
Benjamin was also introduced to rolling onto his back today but I didn't get pictures because I was watching so closely since it was something new. His teacher was impressed because she said usually kids will get scared with rolls, but Benjamin smiled the whole time! He loves swimming! I am so glad we got him into this. He will never be afraid of the water {like his mommy is} and that is so comforting!
If you want to learn more about Infant Swimming, or if you want to find a teacher in your area, go to www.InfantSwim.com! It is so wonderful!
I'm not exactly sure what it is about this blouse that you like so much, Benjamin, but it tickles me that every time you see it laying about, you just have to wear it! You are so adorable! I don't know why, but you just love this shirt and I am so glad I shelled out x amount of dollars {this is the one shirt I paid full price for!} for this shirt!
Since you like it so much, I try to wear it as much as possible for you! Dear Benjamin, all of your little quirks bring light into my life and I am so blessed to be your mommy!
Love always, Mommy
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Just so I don't forget to tell everyone - today's swim lesson was AWESOME! Benjamin started crying the minute we walked in but after a few minutes in the pool, he suddenly stopped! He started talking to his teacher and then splashed around and OWNED the pool! He was swimming like a fish! And he was smiling under water! I am so proud of my baby boy! He got a treat at the grocery store, too!
For a couple reasons. For one thing, today was Benjamin's first lesson with Infant Swim Rescue, which in a nutshell teaches him how to float and survive in the water if he ever falls in. It was emotional and stressful because from the moment he got in the water, he wanted out, and he wasn't going to cooperate quietly. He screamed the entire time {and our friend informed us that that is how it always goes}. He went under water and swam to the steps and we were so proud of him! However it was hard to see him react like that mainly because I have a huge water fear!
Anyway, another reason I am saying "Wow" is because I was just remembering our vacation at Disney, and I wanted to share more pictures with you!
Here's a dream come true for me!:
Seeing and standing in front of the Cinderella Castle! Wow! That was amazing! I have always wanted to see the castle, because Cinderella is my all-time favorite princess! This was incredible and I was so excited. One thing that disappointed me was that we weren't able to get someone to take our whole family picture here. Oh well!
We rode a few rides when we got there, including the Haunted Mansion {a big NO from Benjamin and a half-hearted one from me - I don't like being in complete dark!} - and then one that Benjamin actually enjoyed - The Pirates of the Caribbean ride! That one was a lot of fun. After the ride, we walked out to retrieve our stroller and ran across a side show run by Cap'n Jack Sparrow himself {okay- not Johnny Depp, but he was pretty much EXACTLY like him!}!
At the end of the side show, Cap'n Jack asked for volunteers to join his crew, and we jokingly raised Benjamin's hand - and surprisingly enough, Cap'n Jack asked him to join! So Benjamin {with the help of Daddy} got to stand on stage and receive a certificate that says he is a pirate now! {I am convinced this was Hubby living one of his childhood dreams through Benjamin - ha!!}
After this, we came across a folk band playing in the street and we stopped to sit and listen a while because it was really good! Benjamin danced a little bit and he really liked the music! {They even played Under the Sea at a different point in time when we passed by}
To my surprise {and, I suppose relief}, we didn't run into many characters. We did run into the line to meet Snow White, but it was kind of long and it was so very hot out so we didn't get in line. I snapped a couple pictures of her and I have to say her voice was JUST like the movie!
Benjamin Pendragon stopped to pull the sword out of the stone before he and Mommy got on the carousel...
It was so hot out so every chance we got to sit down, we took it! These were taken before we went to Minnie's Cottage - which by the way is NOT for a busy-body toddler.
Benjamin's favorite attraction was Donald's Boat! He had so much fun running from fountain to fountain with the other kids. He made a few friends and followed them around and talked to all the kids there! By the time we left he was completely soaked and so very happy - except not so very happy to have to leave! We were glad that he was able to cool off and thankful for the break from walking all over the place too!
Hey, you can even see the shoes that Hubby shed in these pix! Yes, the ones with the orange stripes! He enjoyed this attraction as well...
After this, we decided to head back toward the gates... and the rest... comes in yet another blog post!!
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While I have you, though, I'll go ahead and do the 30 Days of Music for today: day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument : "Leave it to Beaver Theme". I can play this on Clarinet, or at least I used to be able to! I played clarinet for 6 years so I know a few... this one though was fun!
