Swimming with Aunt Kim!

Another thing we did while at Nana and Papa's was to go swimming with Aunt Kim. Since Clark hasn't wanted to get in the pool at all when we have tried (and he has swimming lessons starting soon, so we have been trying to work on this problem) I thought we would take advantage of being close to Kim for a few days and go swimming with her since teaching swimming lessons is her job.

The last time we tried to go swimming with Clark he sat on a chair on the side the entire hour Brian, Logan and I were in the pool and would not come in or near us for the life of him.

The first day we went with Kim, Jared came with us and sat with Clark on the side at the beginning while Kim, Logan and I were in the toddler pool. (The pool where Kim works has a toddler pool that is only 2 feet deep and is great for kids.)

After 15 minutes, Clark wanted to go, so Jared told him he had to come to the pool and tell Mom he wanted to go. Step one complete....Jared got him to the side of the pool.

Jared climbed in the pool and we kept Clark at least next to the pool with us since Kim had really fun toys out that he liked and needed to stay close to fill them up with water again.

I finally just picked Clark up and put him in....he freaked out and climbed back out.

We brought him in a few more times to show him he could touch the bottom, etc, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Finally, after 45 minutes I brought him in one last time and Kim wouldn't let him out. Soon he was helping her pick up toys and doing anything Kim wanted hoping she would let him get out.

Eventually he relaxed and had fun with Aunt Kim. While picking up toys in the pool and walking them back to the side, Kim showed him how to blow bubbles with the tubes, which of course he loved. Blowing bubbles on his own. Logan is also loving life with Uncle Jared. Logan is the water duck and will definitely have no problem starting swimming lessons. Saturday we went to the pool again to visit Kim while she was at work so Clark could have another chance in the pool while he was still liking it. Plus Dad was at Nana and Papa's by then, so he got to come with us (Logan stayed home with Nana for a nap this time). Clark was a little hesitant to get in since there were more kids this time and wanted to go home, but Kim wouldn't let him off that easy, so she changed into her suit and came in again to play with Clark. After he warmed up again, Kim thought we should take him in the big pool to get him used to it since our pool in Salem doesn't have a toddler pool. Before long she had him putting his face under water (see above)

and swimming with Dad!

Then back to the toddler pool (that is much warmer then the big pool I might add) for some kicking by the wall (the elephant he is holding was his favorite toy...it's trunk is a shower head, so he got everyone wet).

And finally some jumping off the side into Dad's arms.

Big improvements in two hours in the pool.

Thanks Aunt Kim!!! We love you and definitely wouldn't have gotten this far so fast without your help. Now we just might get more out of swimming lessons then just getting him in the pool.