Ready for Summer

The weather is quite summer-like already here.  We've had the warmest winter in 55 years, and unfortunately a very dry one too.  Spring sprang nearly a month ago...although we did have a wave of polar cold a week and a half ago, which may have comprised the lowest temperatures of the whole season.  It is especially unnerving to think of what July and August will look like.  We've consistently had day time temperatures in the high seventies for weeks now.

But I am not posting to give you a weather update.  We have finally begun swimming again!  It's taken nearly two years, but we found a new covered pool closer to home and with a warmer small pool especially for babies.  Last week was our first trip and Emily was wary at best.  She spent the 40 min. we were there clinging to us like a little monkey.  We take turns with her while the other of us swims a few quick laps to get in a bit of a work out.

This Wednesday was our second visit to the pool, and Emily was noticeably more comfortable.  She doesn't quite understand about kicking her feet (maybe she's too small), and she just stares in wonder as I blow bubbles--doesn't want to try that herself.  She did have a great time with a little water ball that we took along with us.  We had the pool to ourselves and spent our time throwing and chasing the ball.  She was even squealing with delight; but 40 minutes is about her max. so we have to swim fast!  Each of us were able to squeeze in 15 laps, though Angelines headed to the changing rooms before I had finished.

I am hoping that this early exposure to water will make for a fun summer at the pool in town.  There is a small wading pool here and I anticipate that Emily will have a grand time splashing about in it come July.

To top off our summer preparations, we spent a day at the beach a few weeks ago and Emmy finally overcame her dislike of the sand.  This past summer you'll remember she was a bit intimidated by the sound of the sea and she refused to leave our towel--the feel of the sand on her skin wasn't something she was fond of.  Now that she's walking we wanted to see how she'd do with the sand but on previous visits she would have none of it, picking up her feet and refusing to stand when we'd try to set her down on the beach.  This time, however, we were able to coax her onto the sand and once she got comfortable with that, she was running up and down the beach chasing pidgeons and picking up shells. :)

Our summer promises to be quite hot, but at least we're well prepared to spend our time cooling off in the pool and the Mediterranean.