Swim Camp

This month we enrolled Owen in a swim camp. The goal of the program is this:

This program introduces water exploration and works to develop a level of comfort in the water with an instructor.  The goal of this program is to develop the young child's confidence and comfort in the water with someone other than a parent to prepare the child for group lessons. 

We want Owen to learn how to swim but first he must be less fearful in the water. This is a great program because it is one-on-one with the instructor.

First day of O's swim camp went like this: 

Scared. Happy. Happy. Crying. Happy. Puke. --- I called this one a win only because he said he wanted to go back tomorrow.

He was scared and then happy when he got in the pool. Then after a few minutes decided he was done and cried hysterically in the pool for the rest of the session. Several instructors and the director came over to help calm him down. I was so proud of myself because I sat in the "parents area" watchign him but did not go pull him out of the pool like I wanted to. I kept telling myself, "The GOAL is for him to stay in the water without you." So hard though.

Aftewards he asked for a Popsicle and since he did stay in the pool (albeit crying) for the entire session I gave him lots of praise and the giant Popsicle from the snack bar... which he promptly puked up into the grass. Parenting FAIL. (note to self: Do not give your nervous child a popsicle after getting out of the pool)

Day two of camp he sat on the ramp the entire time. Again, at least he stayed in the pool....

 The next few classes were cancelled due to lightening and they had to reschedule the week. This is what the following week looked like.

 {practicing kicking}

 Full week finished! Freezing cold (did I mention the pool isn't heated?) but proud of himself!

 

Weeknight at the POOL!

 {the cheering section}

A Zoo day!

We spent a beautiful morning at the zoo and since Mama forgot to pack a lunch we shared popcorn and (dairy-free!) dip n dots. Thrilled was an understatement.

A small boy with lots of thoughts

This boy is the light of my life. Every day that I am home with him he does something to amaze me. He is speaking in full sentences now and cracks us up with his requests and constant negotiations.

Owen is very descriptive and most of his descriptions involve being immensely positive about one thing or another. "I really, really like this!"  "It's SO SO good!" and my personal favorite, "It's not good, IT'S DELICIOUS!"

I think he gets this little bit of (exaggeration?) enthusiasm from his Mama ;)

Today a Katy Perry song came on the radio in the car (because let's be real there is only so much kid music one Mama can listen to) and Owen says, "Oh Mama I like this song! Makes me so, so happy!"  While his taste in music is a parenting FAIL on my part, I almost died from the cuteness.

I've been trying to do some extra special things with him, treasuring our time before Baby Brother comes. Today after I took him to the pool for toddler swim he said he was hungry. I knew we could go home for lunch and have sandwiches but I decided to take him to McDonald's instead. He loves to sit next to me in the booth like a big boy and eat his meal. At the counter after I ordered Owen looked at the lady and said, "Owen will have a hot dog."  I laugh just typing this because the cuteness NEVER STOPS.

Whenever we tell him, "No." about something as in "No you cannot have another ice cream sandwich" he looks at us and says, "Well, maybe." In his mind, everything is a maybe ;)

There are a few things that make my heart break a little.

He used to call banana's "mee-mas" and recently he started saying "banana" plain as day.

He has started saying, "I don't like it" at the dinner table, which he has never said before.

He also says, "I don't want to." --- and every time he says it I have to hold back my frown-y face

He also says, "Owen can't do it." which I am trying to reinforce with only positive feedback and encouragement. He gets easily frustrated and it makes me so sad when he says this.

He still calls tomatoes "baby-TUR-TALLS" which I absolutely LOVE.

His growing up only brings more joy, never less. Endless streaming thoughts, nothing withheld. And MORE love and sweetness than one Mama can take on a daily basis.

Ice Cream Summer

Anytime Daddy gets home from work with daylight left, we eat our dinner as fast as we can so there is still time for an ice cream adventure. Vanilla with sprinkles, sometimes watermelon sorbet or a cherry-dip cone. We're not very picky :)

 How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +10 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity shirts and I pretty much live in stretch skirts and dresses (note: September baby WAAAAY hotter than February baby)
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: It's hit or miss. I have our air unit in our room set at 70 and I'm still hot (while Jeremy is absolutely FREEZING) and as long as I have enough pillows surrounding me I can sleep.
Best moment this week: My first prenatal yoga class - I'm on my feet at 30 weeks! I won 12 sessions at a great yoga studio down the street from us at my La Leche League conference so I called our sitter to watch Owen while I took the 90 minute class. It was really, really great.
Movement: TONS!
Food cravings:I'm not having as many cravings this time around, not sure if it's the P17 injections or what. I have been enjoying cherry dipped cones from Dairy Queen, frozen strawberry lemonade from McDonalds and lots of Qdoba chips and salsa.
Gender: Baby Brother
Labor Signs: Other than the triage visit, just one other morning with lots of contractions. Doing lots better this time around.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: carrying Owen when he asks, he's just too heavy for me now and I know he is very disappointed.
What I am looking forward to: I'm trying to enjoy this pregnancy rather than wishing the weeks away until I'm in the safe zone. This is easier said than done. Going to prenatal yoga was a huge step for me and it helped me build confidence that I can do this. I've also been trying to savor my alone time with Owen. I adore him so and part of me is sad I'll have to share my attention in a few months.

Weekly Wisdom: Prenatal yoga is a WONDERFUL stress reliever in the third trimester. I'm not much of a yoga person, but I've found it physically challenging and emotionally filling.

Milestones: 30 weeks and on my feet!

Our First Trip to THE POOL!

The pool is open for summer so we spent Jeremy's day off enjoying the sunshine. Unfortunately, the baby pool was closed for repairs so we had to brave the chilly big pool this trip. Owen was shivering the entire time, but didn't seem to mind.

June Strawberry Festival!

I realized that I never shared these photos from last year's trip out to the farm for the Annual Strawberry Festival! (it's the same farm we go to for pumpkin picking and the Bunny Festival) Owen was 15 months and LOVED it last year. He rode the big blue tractor and picked lots of berries. He wasn't walking yet and I can't believe he was crawling through the patches, but indeed he was.

The festival is one day only the first weekend in June and Jeremy made it home from work in time to go again this year. Mama was smart and dressed Mr. Owen in a RED shirt this time. We rode the big blue tractor out to the patches again and Owen was a great helper picking the berries. We also picked some sugar snap peas, but the crop wasn't quite ready yet and Owen ended up eating the two handfuls we picked before we even paid! We ate Amish donuts, fed goats at the petting zoo, Owen played on the wooden tractor and we had lots of strawberry-flavored treats. An awesome way to kick off some summer-time fun, family-style!