Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

Willow had her first swim lesson today.

Apparently, my child was born a fish and I didn't even know it. She hides those gills well.

She's in the Baby Swim class and there were about seven other children in her session. I'd say four out of the seven cried and panicked. Two of them had no reaction whatsoever. But my kid? The smile never left her face. Even after she got dunked -- yes, dunked -- about ten times. She giggled and demanded to do it again and again. Willow got the hang of kicking her feet, lying on her back, and blowing bubbles in the water very quickly. Her instructor was super impressed, and surprised that this was her first lesson. That's my girl! I don't think a smile left my face either. The only word to describe how I felt is pride. So, so proud of my baby girl. (Who seems to be leaving more and more of her baby-ness behind. But that's a whole other post. One that I'll never write because I'm in DENIAL.)

The lesson was only a half hour and I think Willow realized this. The second we left the pool, she was not happy. Honestly, I think the time it took for us to change and dry off was longer than the lesson itself. Seriously, getting a wet baby out of her bathing suit, removing the swim diaper, putting a dry diaper on, getting a new outfit on, etc. -- all in a tiny cubicle, might I add -- is kind of a challenge. Then there was this flimsy curtain that any child could open up at any given time (ie: when I'm naked) that had me extremely worried. Especially since there were a plethora of Soccer Dads lurking outside in the hallways. I think we're calling dibs on the bathroom next time.

Naturally, we finished the night with a bath so Willow could get some more splashing out of her system. She was quite pleased.



Oh, you know you want a closer look at those chompers...


All in all, Baby Swim 101 was a success! So glad we signed up for this.

Smile Project

The world seems different from when I was younger. I feel like people are getting more and more self-involved, entitled, and ungrateful. What happened to holding the door for the person walking out behind you so it doesn't slam in their face? Or saying "Thank You" when someone holds the door open for you? Or what about giving that friendly wave when someone lets you into traffic?

I still do these things, but it's hard to want to do these things anymore. I feel like no one cares. But maybe that's everybody's mindset? If it is, then nothing will change. So I can only do my part to make the world a happier place.

I'm going to start putting in more of an effort to be a better person and to spread the love. I'm calling it my "Smile Project". I want to do something nice for someone every day, whether it be something big or something small. I want to make someone smile. And I won't let that one grumpy curmudgeon get me down. (Do people still use the word "curmudgeon"?) I started off my project by buying the person behind me their coffee at the Starbuck's drive-thru. It felt great. Obviously I can't afford to do something like this every day, but kind gestures don't always have to have a price tag. A compliment here, a smile there. A little goes a long way.

I want Willow to grow up to be a good person. I want her to want to be a good person. As her mother, it's my responsibility to guide her in the right direction. I want to set a good example.

What are some of the things you do to put a smile on someone's face? What are some of the things people have done for you?