Swim Little Fish!...

This was my sweet Brian last June.  I had signed him up for swim lessons at our local YMCA - just a couple months after Gavin died.  He was terrified and miserable for the first few lessons.  

Since then, he has fallen in love with water - reminding us so much of Gavin - who was our little fish!  I signed him up for swim lessons at the YMCA again, and they began this week.

Brian was so excited!  We got there early and had a little fun in the bleachers.

Soon the class began and as Brian jumped in the pool without any swim aids, I couldn't help but think, "What a difference a year makes."

Hope was engrossed by the entire lesson.  As a side note, Brian and I decided that we are holding "stroller boot camp" for the next few weeks.  We love to hold and carry Hope everywhere - it doesn't bother us at all and she likes the better view.  Who wouldn't, right?  But... when we go to the beach and walk the boardwalk this summer, it may be a lot easier on all of us if she would sit in a stroller.  She's not the biggest fan - but I know that will change after "stroller boot camp!"  Brian had the first brilliant idea - "I know!" he said.  "We can push her around the house in her stroller so she sees all of her favorite things and won't be sad!" 

But back to swim lessons...

Brian's in a very small class this year - he's one of four kids, which is great!  He's had a lot of fun so far and I'm impressed with his bravery.  The other kids seem much more advanced and need minimal assistance.  I think the teacher assumed that Brian was at the same level.  I was SO proud of Brian for speaking up and letting her know that he couldn't swim on his own!  

I can't wait to report on his progress over the next week.

I have big news!  Miss Hope is starting to scoot!!!  She sees what she wants and goes for it!  Take a look...

I'm now employing the same technique I used for Gavin and Brian when they were learning to get around:  rearranging!  I move her toys around so each day she has to find her favorites.

She's so proud of herself and thinks she's so cool that she barely has time for us anymore.  

Day two of feeding her Yams went great!  She opened her mouth wide each time, which was so adorable.

She's always looking for Brian...

...and she never has to look far!  Her personal cheerleader is always close by.

Hope is growing and changing so quickly.  It's exciting and promising and exhilarating and so, so beautiful.  We feel so blessed to have this little angel (literally!) in our lives.