Bathing beauty

Anyone who has spent time with Sophia knows how much she loves her bath time. She truly enjoys splashing and playing in the water. And it just keeps getting better... in the last week she has discovered the fun of kicking with both of her legs, ultimately soaking the bathroom (the water can go quite a distance) and the person giving her the bath. This new skill is thanks to Sophia's swimming lessons.

(Another new bather for Sophia. I love consignment stores!)

About three weeks ago, Sophia and I started Mom and Tot swimming (although there are Dads there too). She is in the starfish level. Essentially we hang out with a bunch of other babies and parents in the warm water of the Tot Pool in the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Center. The instructor works on several things with us --singing, playing, floating, splashing, blowing bubbles, and such things. It is more a time to get comfortable with your baby in the water and to have your baby get comfy in the water. The instructor has also given us important safety instructions regarding infant choking and CPR procedures. It is really quite good.



We've been having a great time, and this is definitely a highlight of our week. I get the chance to spend some time with other adults and Sophia gets to check out other babies while splashing around in the water. At first she was a little suspicious of all the other babies in the water, and with the size of the pool, after all her most recent experiences of water all take place in the tub. So suddenly there were all these people in the bath, and she had to wear a bathing suit and a diaper. How strange is that?



She has loosened up though, and has fun floating around. We've taken the plunge (literally) and put her head under water a couple of times. She hasn't come up crying but she doesn't look too impressed. Babies at this age don't know to close their eyes or mouth under water, so she comes up with water streaming down her face. The best way to get her to go under is to puff air in her face which makes her take a big breath in. Then you just swoop her under. David got some film of it, and will post it soon.




The pool has several fun things to play with. We've been down the slide several times (now, when I say "we" I mean: Sophia goes down while I hold her. There is no way that I am going to try getting down that itty bitty slide!) There is a big red rubber rock that has water shooting out of it... Sophia loves to sit up there and swish her hand back and forth in the water jet. And they have a rain bar... it's a gentle shower. Again, this is a thing of great entertainment for Sophie. She loves going under it, and trying to grab at the streams of water. It's quite funny to watch.





Sophia has also had her first shower... It thought that she was going to flip out when I put her under (gotta shower before getting into the pool). But no, she just looked at me and then kind of smiled. Now she's an old pro at it, but she still cleans up in the tub at home!