Enjoying the Pool

This year we decided to join a pool close to our house. We don't have a community pool, but this is the next best thing. Ellie LOVES the water, whether it is the pool, shower, ocean, creek or bath, she can't get enough of it! We asked a friend of ours who teaches swim lessons what would be best for her to use when swimming and she told us about this great vest type item that you just pick up at Target. It starts with floats that keep her up and as she gets more independent you take out a level at a time of the float material and she can slowly move out of using the float all together over time. We are looking forward to starting Ellie in swim lessons in a couple weeks and know she will have a blast. We go to the pool 4-5 times a week on our own or with friends. The girls and I pack up and if Quinn doesn't fall asleep I strap her in the Bjorn, since it is washable, and we all get in. Our pool has a great kid's section that Ellie can stand in and the adult area only goes to 5 feet so Ellie loves to swim around there too with Mommy and Daddy. There is also a slide that Ben or I take her down on our lap and after one dunk with Daddy has become super brave and loves to go down. Ellie has now learned in just the past two days to hang on to her noodle and "swim" on her own. She lets me know she is swimming as she floats around with her vest on, hanging on the the noodle and kicking. I showed her this trick only once while we floated together and the next day she hopped in and took off on her own. I have to say she is a smart and brave little girl not to mention way beyond her years in independence. We are looking forward to many more pool days and many summers enjoying the pool! (These pictures are from our first trip on June 1st, so I will try to get some up to date ones tomorrow, maybe even Ellie on the slide and her new swimming skills!)