Swimming Like a Fish

Well, Memaw and Jerry (mostly Jerry) got the pool set up, so Raven had to test it out. She's lucky she got to swim at all, because she didn't take a nap like a big girl... But mommy and daddy gave in and let her swim, since she promised that she would be a big girl that nite.
She was really excited to get her Barbie life jacket on, but she was irritated that we left her swimsuit at home, so she had to swim in her pink panties. When she first got in the pool, she was just a little bit timid. In fact, she was ready to get out after only being in for about 45 seconds. But then she really started having fun.
After about 10 or 15 minutes, she was jumping in and going under without screaming about it. And she was trusting Jerry not to let go of her. And after maybe 20 or 25 minutes, she was swimming around the pool by herself. She was really proud of that. She thought she was a hotshot.
The next thing that she tried was jumping in and coming up swimming. She thought it was so cool that she could do it all by herself. She wasn't really ready to get out when it was time, but she really needed to go inside and rest up after that workout.

After she had a little while to relax and watch cartoons, Memaw made dinner for everyone. So we all ate chicken and rice together. And then, of course, we all had to go outside and eat a popsicle. When the popsicles were gone, daddy helped Jerry move a bed to upstairs, and Raven helped both of them. She walked up the stairs ahead of them saying "Come on, guys. Hurry up. Up here." I know they appreciated her help so much, as they were grunting and groaning up the stairs with a king-sized bed!!!

Pretty soon it was time for us to go home. It was time to start the bedtime routine. We didn't even think she would make it to the normal bedtime, but she did... barely. She took a shower after swimming, so she just got her niteshirt on and went to lay down and read a book. And then she crashed. I'm not even sure she was still awake when we turned the light off a few seconds later. And she slept until 9:15 the next morning. Fabulous!!! This pool thing is a great parenting trick!!! That must have been why Lucas spent so much time at the pool as a kid, huh, Patti?