Splasher!

Asher had his first swimming lesson today. (I didn't get a picture of that, so here's one of him at dinner time today. Can you guess what we were eating?)

Anyway. Swimming! The changing room was tiny and very hot. The pool, in a local hotel, was likewise small and very warm. When we went in the previous lesson was just finishing so we sat by the pool and watched mums swooshing their toddlers up and down in the water. Then it was time to get in!

Asher started splashing the moment we stepped down into the water. I don't think he really stopped for the duration of the 30 minute lesson. Whatever activity we did his hands or his legs (and sometimes both) were getting me and him both as wet as possible.

That may be a slight exaggeration. He did hold onto the side, and he grabbed some of the toys that were used as part of the lesson. One thing we had to do was say "Ready, go!" then pour water over the babies' heads. Ash took this pretty well - he didn't cry - but he did make a kind of little gulping noise (like he does when he's drinking water and gets too much in his mouth).

Getting changed after the lesson was challenging. Asher was clearly exhausted and starving hungry after his exertions and wanted feeding RIGHT NOW. In the end I carried him screaming from the changing room, only half dressed, got my shoes on in the lobby and took him into the hotel bar for some milk. (To clarify... I supplied the milk). After a longish feed (a whole five minutes!) he was chirpy and cheery again. He had a nap in the sling on the way home and was surprisingly cuddly for a few minutes when we got back. He's been his usual gregarious self for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Hoping he sleeps well tonight!