Lyla Goes to the Pool

So, this morning was Lyla's first day at "Get Wet" at Meadowbrook Pool here in Baltimore-- Home of Michael Phelps for any of you keeping score. I was frantic at the house trying to get her there, and for the first I felt like one of the Moms in commercials and movies that is running through her house with a bottle in one hand, the baby in the other, keys everywhere, stuff flying all over the place. I swear, when my nanny got there, she was probably like, what the H E double hockey sticks (cuz she would say that) happened here? The reason is, the lessons are at 11. Lyla typically naps from 9ish to 10:30 or later. Today, I took her for a walk to help my big fat ass, and of course to bond with my daughter, and we didn't get home until 9:20. So, I flew upstairs to put her down, and she zonked. Well, she wasn't even close to being up at 10:15, so I was trying to make noise to wake her up without waking her up! She eventually did wake up, and I had to feed her ASAP. Now Lyla is a girl who likes to take time with a meal. She looks around, take the bottle out, puts it back in... all at her leisure (pronounced lezzzhhhure). She's not trying to chug it by any means. Today was no different, she was bent backwards, laughing, watching Filo, and all sorts of non-drinking bottle type stuff. We got through half the ba before I had to get her ready.

Of course the bathing suit I got her just fits (9-12 months and she is 8 months next week). So, I'm trying to pour her into it, and get easily taken off clothing on over it. Well, she takes a little dumper right then, and I have to re-start, then reorganize the swimmy diaper, the suit, the whole nine again. By this point I'm sweating. I whiz back downstairs, give her another five on the bottle and roll.

I get to the swim club at 11:05 or so, and meet Trent. He is in charge of videotaping the event, and I am in charge of actually exposing myself in a bathing suit, mingling with the Moms, and ensuring Lyla's life aquatic doesn't end in disaster. I've obviously missed the intros, and any sort of direction on whether I need to ease the wee child into the water, or just take the plunge and wing it! I just take the steps in, and Lyla immediately loves it. She starts kicking her legs like nuts, and smiling all over. She couldn't have been happier. This is very good. I popped into the circle of parents and kids (ages 6 months to 3 years old is the range they allow), and I was right next to a Mom who's son was seven months. This made me feel better since all the other kids were older. I thought she was going to be my new best friend, but she just stared at me most of the time, and didn't offer much in terms of fun or conversation about this blessed event. Plus, she had some weird "Mom" bathing suit on, and maybe a bun, so I knew we could never be BFFs. She's the one in the vids next to me. Lurking. Maybe because Lyla is about three times the size of her son, and she can't believe they're the same age? Who knows. I even brought some cards to give to all my other new friends at class, but it seems they all already knew each other, and they definitely didn't associate with the newbie who didn't know EVERY verse to the swim club remix of Wheels on the Bus, or any child outside their kid's age bracket. Whatev.

Anyway, Lyla was a joy, and I can't wait to see what we do next week. Today we dunked under the water a few times. As you can see in the vid, I just pop her under, but Miss Annie held her under longer. I was scared stiff to do it, but Lyla didn't seem to mind at all. The teacher was much more at ease. Daddy was very proud!