Friday, September 3, 2010

Hope Floats

Hope has been taking swim classes all summer. They discourage grandmas from coming to see the class - it's distracting to the children.

This past Saturday was the last class and the rules were relaxed so of course I was there.

Apologies for the photo quality. I didn't want to use the flash and distract or startle the children.

I also couldn't see my settings - my glasses were foggy. OY!! Hanging out in an enclosed pool area is HOT and HUMID.

Hope approaches the water as though it will attack but soon enjoys splashing ...



One of the exercises is 'catch the ducky'. You can see Hope reaching for her duck. The instructor is a young man with a huge repertoire of children's songs and an exceptional amount of patience ...



She got her duck ...



Then it got away again ...



They do 'blast off' exercises where the children push off from the pool edge into their parent's arms. She looks so small ...



That's All Folks ...

29 comments:

jaycoles@gmail.com said...

The expression on her face in the last picture is just priceless. Seems to be saying "Come on Nana - another picture? Thanks for sharing Hope with us. Have a great week-end. j

DJan said...

Wow, she's really getting to learn to swim at that young age! It will be so much better for her, and she does seem to enjoy the water. Thanks for the great pictures, fog and all!

Jay said...

They named her Hope just so they could use the "Hope Floats" line when they sent her to swimming lessons, didn't they? haha

Hilary said...

Oh that's too sweet. I bet that as soon as you snapped that last shot, you bundled her up in your arms. I might be projecting. ;) She's a doll.

Sylvia K said...

She is so beautiful, Dianne! Love the expression on her face in the last one in particular! Makes you want to pick her up and give her a big hug, which I'm sure you did at the first opportunity! Have a great weekend -- both of you!

Sylvia

Linda Reeder said...

She looks like she's thinking "Now what are you going to make me do?"

Ron said...

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay, Hope...you got your duckie!!!!!

OMG, Dianne...she is so adorable and growing so fast. And I have to chime in with your first commenter and say, "The expression on her face in the last picture is just priceless."

I have a feeling Hope will be the next Esther Williams!

You GO, Hope!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, dear lady!

X ya's!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I spent three years as an Water Safety Instructor. Working with the little kids was the best... the older kids, not so much

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

The best money I ever spent was on swimming lessons for my Little T. He is like a fish in the water! And that is one less worry for me. Hope gets prettier by the day!
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fermicat said...

Love your post title! Looks like y'all had a fun day at the pool.

Dianne said...

jay s - you're welcome, I'm glad you enjoy the Hope posts
hugs

DJan - it was soooooo humid in there and the lights are dim and directed to the corners and the center of the pool
I kept saying to myself - I'm melting, I'm melting ;)

jay - would you believe I sat here for a good 15 minutes trying to come up with a post title!!
it's sad when the mind goes

hilary - as soon as I put the camera down she tried to take off back to the pool ;)
I did get a hug later

sylvia - we did a lot of applauding each other :)
she loves to clap for herself and for everyone else
then the hugs :)

linda - she doesn't like the shower part when she comes out of the pool, I think that was the expression

ron - I loved Esther Williams and those great big synchronized swim numbers!!
Hope sends hugs

Vinny - that's what Hope's instructor was telling me - he also whispered to me that I was a good grandparent observer and that many of the parents/grands were a pain in the butt

noe noe - that was why they wanted her to take lessons, she's going to continue next session as well
we have a pool and many of her cousins do and it's just so much safer if they know what they're doing

Dianne said...

fermicat - and would you believe I didn't come up with the title right away!! sad, so sad ;)

dianasfaria.com said...

I love the last picture of Hope the best! so cute, so utterly relaxed. Hope is a gorgeous little doll.
I think teaching toddlers to swim is one of the smartest things a parent can do. It keeps them safer & stronger & it's fun.

& thank you for your kind thoughts about Priscilla, Dianne. Thankfully she is home today resting and recovering!

Reb said...

She is so cute. I wish I had had lessons from that young an age. I still can't swim properly.

Linda said...

Precious, and such an innocent look on her face. How could you not love her to pieces?

Linda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kay Dennison said...

Brings back memories of when the dynamic duo and I took the waterbabies classes. Little did I know what I started because I wanted them to be safe.

CrystalChick said...

Hooray for Hope!
My grandson starts pre-school next week. They grow so fast.
Enjoy your weekend. :)

Mare said...

Your post reminded me of the time [30]years ago when my son was Hope's age and I had signed him[us] up for swimming lessons. They suggested that half way through the session that the parent leave because many times the swim instructors can accomplish more when the parent is not there. As I was walking out of the pool area, my son was yelling, "Mommy..."
Ouch.
He is a good swimmer today!
And Hope is doing great in the water. She's a cutie-patootie!

Scott Oglesby said...

That’s wonderful that you guys gave her swimming lessons. She’ll always have such a love for the water for the rest of her life now!

I used to cry like hell when the bastards tried to get me out of the pool.

Dianne said...

lily - Hope is very physical, she never stops so the swimming was a great place for all that energy
I'm so happy that Priscilla is home

reb - I can't swim either. thankfully my son learned at camp

linda - I love that look but of course I love all her looks :)

kay - my son usually attends with her and he says he has a better time than she does :)

crystal chick - happy pre-school to your grandson!!

mare - this place requires a parent for Hope's age and then when they're older they pretty much feel the same way - the instructor told me the parents can be a problem

scott - she loves water. she asks for a bath several times a day :)

Dimple said...

Such a cutie! Swim lessons are so important for children, and once learned, it's like riding a bike: you don't forget!
Thanks for the visit!

ds said...

Awww...I agree with Dimple: swim lessons are important for children (and the adults responsible for them; it's good to know how to handle a toddler in the water). Just think, soon she'll be flying off the side of the pool into your waiting arms, and playing Marco Polo around your ankles!

Unknown said...

What a cutie. I love her looking so self-possessed in that last photo.

Hope always makes me smile.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Adorable! That class sounds like so much fun for moms and little ones -- I'm glad you got to go to the last one at least. The pix are priceless.

Linda said...

Hope does indeed float and she swims, too!

When I was a kid my mom insisted that myself and my brothers all have swimming lessons as she never learned to swim herself and she felt that it was important for us to learn.

As an Air Force brat, swimming lessons were also available at the base pool where we spent many, many hours putting those swimming lessons to good use. Swimming lessons were one of the best things my mother ever gave us and I'm sure that someday Hope will feel the same!

Ken said...

This is all so high tech.
My dad carried me out over my head, dropped me and walked back towards shore. I clawed like hell to reach him and I did. He picked me up and walked me out till I was way over my head and dropped me. Then he walked back to shore.
I knew how to swim!

Anonymous said...

I love the fun title and the look on Hope's face in that last pic. It is so important to teach little ones to respect and not fear the water.

Daryl said...

So sweet and so wonderful .. swimming taught young is so important .. and they mostly take to water like little ducklings ...