I went to the pool with the kids today.  Sydney was a dynamo.  At first she wanted her floaties/life vest band on as usual.  Today she was feeling adventurous.  She hung out in the kiddie pool for quite a while.  It was the first time she really took an interest in it.  Usually she just wants to be held in the water, but today she was little Miss Independent.  She explored the kiddie pool for quite a while and then gained interest in the steps of the big pool.  The big step was when we got the life vest back on and we went out into the bigger part of the pool and she held herself on her own without my assistance.  YEAH Sydney!!  Now, I must explain that she only did this when she wasn’t aware that i had let go.  As soon as she realized that I wasn’t holding her, she gave me the fake fuss and stiffened up and grabbed me anywhere she could reach. 

The trick to getting her to stop paying attention to me was giving her a small rubber ball to throw.  She was so busy paying attention to throwing the ball and “swimming” after it, that she no longer was worried if I was holding her up or not.  As long as she kept her legs below her or behind her, the lifevet would hold her beautifully.   When she struggled or tightened up, she would topple and go under.

The other BIG step was her leaping into the pool to me without me holding her hands.  She was launching herself a good two feet out into the pool.  Good girl!!!