Fish in the water

This has been a breakthrough week for Brendan at the pool. Well, maybe for me, too!

Last summer, we spent countless hours trying to convince Brendan to go under water. He's all about control, so the idea of letting go in the water is very hard for him to imagine. He had a few successes last year, but they mostly involved putting his face -- not his head -- in the water.

This summer, he's on a mission. Yesterday he refused to acknowledge any of the other little boys in the pool until he went under water. When he did go under, he went all the way. It was a wonderful moment to see him succeed, but more exciting to see the pride and satisfaction in his face.

Today he pushed himself again. He placed a diving stick near his feet, put his goggles in place, and went under water to find the stick. It was quite a step -- holding his breath longer and opening his eyes underwater.

And what about my breakthrough? I have taken all three children to the pool, by myself, three days in a row. I didn't know if I'd be able to handle it, but so far everyone has cooperated. Mostly, Kelsey has. She tends to nap all afternoon after spending the morning awake, so I can count on her (for now) to sleep happily while we swim.

I cannot forget Ryan in this experience, either. He is a natural fish. He spent today entertaining himself by jumping off the bottom step into the pool over and over. All the while, he splashed and laughed. He's an absolute joy in the water.

Paragraphs

It's the little details that drive me crazy. Why in the world do I get double spacing between some paragraphs and no spacing between others?!?

I know. I have many other things I should be worrying about!

Pool's open!

Finally ... we've counted down the months since last September to opening day at our pool, the Colony Swim Club. My hubbie and I are pool people. We can't deny it. Give me the opportunity to spend every day of the summer floating or swimming in a pool, and I won't refuse. In Texas, it's a little easier to find an outdoor pool. In Michigan, it's not so simple. So we joined this club after our first summer in Michigan and have loved every summer since.





Unfortunately, it rained on Saturday, opening day. And it rained more on Sunday. But today, we awoke to the most beautiful, 70-degree, cloud-free day! So we packed up -- a rather time-consuming process -- and headed to the pool after the boys napped. Kelsey loved her first pool outing. She slept through the first 90 minutes, had a snack, then looked around for the next hour until we left. As we expected, Ryan showed no fear of the water and chased his ball the entire time. Brendan played happily with his boats and other friends.




Some folks might not consider 77 degrees warm enough for a dip, but we're fortunate that the club heats the pool all summer long. Yes, that's right. Michigan summers are mild enough that they keep a heater running until Labor Day. So the water temperature was just right.

After swimming at the pool, we enjoyed ice cream at our favorite ice cream store, the Dairy King.

Graduation day

Yesterday, Brendan returned to his old school, KidSpace, to participate in the Pre-K graduation ceremony. Yes, that's Pre-K. I don't recall seeing that page in my baby book from my preschool days!

No matter, we were the proud parents, complete with cameras rolling. Brendan had been anticipating the return to school for days. When he entered the classroom, his face lit up as his classmates called out, "Brendan!"

KidSpace is located in a historic building in downtown Detroit. It's beautiful. We often have felt fortunate to be in the building each day. The ceremony was held in a conference room that we hadn't visited before. It was gorgeous, with intricate detailing and beautiful colors throughout the ceiling. We're told that there are a couple of other rooms even more beautiful, which is hard to imagine!

Back to the highlighted event ... Brendan was proud and nervous about the whole event, yet he did very well. I felt somewhat bad that he hadn't been in class recently to practice the songs they performed. He didn't seem to mind, though.

His teachers, Miss Terrie and Miss Courtney, presented him with a certificate of achievement in Pre-K. Both teachers have known Brendan since he was 7 months old, and Miss Terrie was his toddler teacher. So both were teary-eyed when calling his name.

Mother's Day ... and Kelsey Elizabeth

So I've been a little busy lately!

First, I'll start by saying Happy Mother's Day. My day was wonderful. The boys treated me to a delicious breakfast of my two favorites: pancakes and fresh fruit. Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed dinner on the patio of Doyle's, our usual dining spot during the summer. It's not fancy, but it's one of our favorites and is very casual, so the kids (and parents) can relax. We topped off the evening with an ice cream cone at the Dairy King. The treats extended to Monday, when I was pampered at the Spa Julianna in downtown Plymouth with a soothing massage and facial.

For those who don't know (who could that be?), Kelsey Elizabeth was born April 24. She's absolutely beautiful and the sweetest baby. She loves to sleep and eat, though not necessarily at the most opportune times. Listening to her big brother Brendan talk also seems to keep her interest.

As a family, we're slowly adjusting to life as a family of five. We've had wonderful help from my Mom, Dad and sister and Ken's parents. Unfortunately, they all live a thousand miles away, so we're on our own now! Brendan enjoys being my helper with Kelsey, and offers to "watch" her while she plays. He also helps with her baths and some diaper-changing duties. Ryan is eager to give her a blanket or her pacifier, which she basically refuses to take. He also pats her on the back when she's crying and says, "K," which is his way of saying, "It's OK." Both of them enjoy giving Kelsey kisses on her head.



Having another baby reminds me that every baby truly is a miracle. I'm also continually amazed at how this little one can go from the womb to our world in a matter of minutes (10 minutes of pushing, to be exact) and be able to function. Truly amazing.


Kelsey seems to be a relaxed baby. She doesn't scream quite as loudly as her brothers did when she wants to eat, though she will if given the chance. Everyone asks if I put her in dresses all of the time. The answer is ... No! She's worn two dresses in three weeks. I admit that it is fun to dress her, but it was easier to dress the boys!

Kelsey is all dressed up for Mother's Day!
Brendan and Ryan, looking quite grown up, before we go out for bagels in the morning.