Swim lessons!

Today was Gretchen's 1st swim lessons! We arrived early, but had plenty of time for both of us to change into our swimsuits. We went out to the pool area, and watched while the water aerobics class was finishing up. Gretchen suprisingly sat on a little window edge, only occassionally getting up to run. Thankfully, her bathing suit cover had a hood; which gave me a good handle to grab her! I was nervous that she'd fall down and slip; we need to get her some water shoes too! She was in a great mood and said 'hi' to a few people. Their were 3-5 year olds and their parents there for their swimming lessons, so they have two groups going on at the same time. Finally, it was time for us to get in the pool, and boy was it cold! It took me a second to get use to it, and of course I was holding Gretchen, but at least her tummy was covered a bit! The instructor first had us ease them into the water, up to their heads. We took it very slow, but Gretchen had already decided she was finished, and communicated that by signing "finished" over and over again. I gently told her that she was not finished! Next, we sang a few songs and did the motions in the water. She sat on the pool side and we said the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty", and as Humpty had a great fall, G got to "jump" in the water; she loved that! Then, she got to pick out a toy and throw it, then swim after it. She loved throwing the toy after a while and swimming to get it. Next, she layed on her back to "look at the stars", which I was nervous that she'd freak, b/c she hates to lay down in the tub! But, she did suprisingly well! The instructor started "blowing bubbles" with her mouth, and G immitated her! We passed a ball back and forth to the other little boy in the class, who happens to be just a few days younger than Gretchen. She also got to sit on the side and kick her legs, just like the "big" kids were doing! She had tons of fun and so did I! We go back on Wednesday for our second lesson and can't wait!