Swim.

There are few things more thrilling than when you see your child do something for the first time.  It doesn't matter that an older sibling acquired that skill years ago and is a master at it now.  When each child learns how to crawl, walk, talk, read, write, etc., it becomes a monumental moment all on its own.  This is what makes being a mother worth it.  Seeing the delight and surprise when they realize they are actually doing it is so exciting.  It is a wonderful mix of emotions for me too. I love watching the kids grow, blossom into little people and become their own person.  I do find it a little bittersweet that it means this is it...there is no going back to the way things were. We can only build on this skill and keep moving on, developing more and needing me less. 

We hit a huge milestone during our week in N.C.  After each morning after the beach, we'd spend a few hours at the pool.  Sam was very content wearing her arm floaties and doing her own thing in the pool.  It was actually nice not having to worry about her safety and know that she would stay afloat as long as the water wings were on her arm.  On our 2nd afternoon in the pool, Sam took off her arm floaties and asked for her goggles.  She usually likes to put them on her head for all of a minute and then the novelty wears off.  However, this time, she put the goggles on her head and told me to stand back a couple of feet.  Sam took the plunge and swam to me.  Yes, she held her breath, put her head underwater and used her arms and feet to kick to me.  It was an incredibly surreal moment.  Sam can swim!  She can really swim!  Then Sam did it again and again and again.  There was no stopping her.  Each time she told me to move further away from her.  Towards the end of our time at the pool, Sam was swimming at least 1/4 of the length of the pool.  She could go as far as her breath being held would allow her. 

We are light years ahead of where Ian was in his swimming skills at age 4.  Ian was still afraid to get his head wet and wouldn't go in water that would get him wet above his shoulders.  I never expected Sam to take to swimming like she has.  Ian had lessons upon lesson upon lessons, pretty much year round (mostly private lessons at that) since he was 18 months old.  It took forever for him to be comfortable in the pool.  Sam, on the other hand, has only had group lessons this past year and then when it came time to do private lessons this summer, our fave swim instructor had to drop us due to a conflict of interest.  So I let it go and didn't look for someone else to take over.  With very minimal instruction, Sam has figured out how to swim all on her own.  Of course, we will continue with instruction this school year so she can keep it up and get better, but it is amazing how well she is doing.

Time and time again, Sam has proven she does every thing on her own timetable.  She is amazing that girl.