I do remember thinking that MRA would probably start walking while I was in Spain and my parents were watching him. And I think, think, he started walking right after I returned. I am sure I talked about in the letters I write to him. But his first step. The actual first step. I don't remember.
ASA, same thing.
Its funny the things you do remember, though. Or at least what I remember. The most vivid images I have of both MRA and ASA are sometimes doing the most regular things. Sometimes, it is merely their reaction to something that is what creates the strongest memory for me.
We just returned from a week long vacation in which the pool was a VERY important part of the trip and provided hours of entertainment, as it does for most children.
Now if you have been following this blog for a while, you are probably aware that MRA has been taking some form of swimming lesson since he was about 18 months old. The pool is not such a new thing for him. (ASA has had the same lessons, although he is not as fond of the water as MRA is.)
But, back to the Notorious MRA. His most recent swim teach introduced us to this thing called a swim jogger. It is apparently they only floatation device recommended by the Red Cross. You see, the swimmer must still engage their core and can use their arms and legs to practice their strokes, as opposed to the float-y wing things that go on your arms that keep a child afloat at the shoulder level.
We bought one from the teacher and brought it with us.
Back story: Jonathan and I decided we would alternate going to the gym in the mornings. This meant whoever was not at the gym, getting fit in peace and quiet, had both Notorious and Chubalicious in the pool... ALONE.
One of us, and I am not saying who, chose to put the swim jogger on MRA. He fought it at first. However, with in minutes, he realized he could swim. And swim some more. And then when he was a little tired, he could doggie paddle around instead of hanging off me. It was a break through moment for both if us.
I'm telling you, harps were playing and the Angels were literally singing in praise. This meant I only had to hold one baby in the pool.
MRA figured out, very quickly, how to maneuver. HE. WAS. A. SHARK. Within the hour, HE WAS UNSTOPPABLE. And he was having the time of his life.
Enter Daddy.
Jonathan comes strolling into the pool area post work out, spots our things and proceeds to take his shirt off. The three of us are about halfway across the pool.
I'm not sure I will ever forget what happened next.
MRA begins beaming... and screaming, "DADDY LOOK AT ME!, LOOK AT ME DADDY, DADDY LOOK!!!! DADDY LOOK!" And as most of us parents so frequently do, he continued with what he was doing, being so used to hearing "LOOK AT ME!". (I should add here, that if the situation was reversed, I would likely have done the same thing.)
MRA was frantically swimming towards the pool edge closest to Jonathan. I took off after him. I just kept thinking, "Look up. Please look up." I was willing my husband to look up to no avail. I thought, "Should I scream across the pool to get his attention. No, I can't do that. My voice won't carry enough for him to hear me and I will just annoy everyone within earshot."
MRA continued his yelling. Right about then, I got close enough to say, "Look at MRA. He's swimming by himself." And just as the words were coming out Jonathan looked up on his own and praised MRA. (In real time, this all went down in probably 30 seconds.)
The excitement that MRA felt to show off his newly found independence and the joy that spread across that child's face when his Daddy saw him and praised him will be forever burned into my mind.
Later, when the children had fallen asleep, Jonathan and I were talking about what happened. It was such a great reminder to stop and pay attention because that moment, was just that, a moment. We will never get it back. And it was so worth looking up for.
Happy Labor Day weekend, to all!
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