Emily's VERY FIRST Swimming Lesson!

Emily has never been a huge water baby, and granted part of that is probably due to the fact that I am not a water fanatic myself. But recently, in our little baby pool in the back yard she has been showing more interest in actually swimming. She started laying on her tummy in the pool and trying to move her arms, and then trying to swim on her back in the bath tub! And then, luckily for us, we bid on swimming lessons at a service auction at church a few months back, so I called up our friend who was offering the lessons and he was excited to get started!! So, Thursday July 7, 2011 we headed over to their pool in DunLora (the neighborhood right beside ours) for Emily's first lesson!
At first Emily was very nervous and a bit apprehensive, but once Daddy got into the water with her she started to loosen up a bit! She made friends with Troy rather quickly and by her second lesson the following Tuesday she even jumped to him in the pool and allowed him to walk her around in the pool while she practiced floating on her back! She has AMAZED us so far with how quickly she is picking up the basic skills that she is being taught! In 2 short lessons she has already become quite good and getting out of the pool on her own ("Elbow, Elbow, Belly, Knee) on the side of the pool to pull herself out!!
In short we are very grateful for Troy's willingness to help Emily with some of these most basic but extremely important skills and we are glad that Emily is truly enjoying it! I know as her mom I am really excited to watch her strengthen her abilities in the water and in trusting others to help her out when she needs it!

Just getting in the water for the 1st time with Daddy!
Listening to Troy in the water!

Getting her to trust the water (and Troy) by "fishing for a ring"!

Blowing Bubbles in the Water!
Practicing Getting Out of the Water at the Side of the Pool!

A Priceless Daddy/Daughter Moment!

Learning to float on her back!

You can see the concentration in her mouth!

"Shimmying along the side of the pool" (I LOVE this picture!!)

Getting used to water in her face!!

At the end of her lesson she got to play in the kiddie pool for a little while and she REALLY enjoyed that!