from the sidelines

For almost two years, you've sat on the sidelines of swimming lessons. You've gone from watching in your car seat oblivious to your surrounding to now necessitating me to remove all of your clothing, minus your diaper, so you can submerge as much of your body as humanly possible without actually being an additional participant in Henry's class.

I've become accustomed to straddling your body,laying on the cement, between my legs so you don't fall in, so I can still talk with the other moms while watching the boys jump in the 4' end with their noodles. You have not become accustomed to this, I can see it in your eyes as you don't understand why your brother is in the water and you are on the sidelines.

For almost two years, as you do with most everything, you have put up with being on the sidelines and while we have been to the pool a few time with you, this weekend was the first time that you felt like you were finally in the pool. You jumped in by yourself, you devilishly splashed water on your brother, your Dad and me, you blew bubbles in the water like you were born doing it and in true Wyatt fashion, you couldn't wait to dress yourself for your first, memorable trip to the pool.