Swimming

Swimming

Swimming must be Vincent’s favourite activity.  He is extremely comfortable in the water.  The first time we went swimming he was 5 weeks old.  I got the OK from my ob to go swimming and we went to Splash (City of Ottawa wave pool) that evening.  People often asked why we brought him to Splash and not to the pool inside the condo complex we live in. Since Vincent was still a newborn, I wanted him to go swimming in a warm pool.  At Splash, the kids pool is warm as it doubles as a hot tub.  It is not boiling hot.  The second time he went swimming, he was almost 2 months old. I was in Sudbury for the week spending time with my family and we brought Zeah and him to the public pool I would go growing up. 

Once Vincent hit 5 months old, this is when we really introduced him to swimming.  The condo complex started making the pool a lot warmer.  It is on average 81F.  We now attempt to take Vincent swimming 4 to 5 times a week.  Since September, Vincent has also been in swim lessons. Here is a summary on what I did with Vincent in the pool.

• ·         He has been going under water since the first time he went to the pool. He didn’t even cry after the first time at a month old.
• ·         We have been trying to make him kick in the water since day 1.  He got the hang of it as soon as 5 months old.
• ·         At 6 months old, I wanted to test on how he likes being thrown in the air and being dunked. Vincent loved it.  A lot of seniors who swim at the same time as us, were shocked to see him love the water at such a young age.

Vincent is a little different in swim classes. Sometimes, he cries.  I think he is just overtired by the time his class starts.  The wave pool is actually chilly.  He does love the second half of his class when it’s in the hot tub.  Vincent is the second youngest in his class.  He is not the smallest though.  It’s pretty funny to see. There is a baby a week younger than him, she is so tiny.  Vincent weighs 24 pounds, the little girl 14 pounds.  His swimming class is mostly songs and games. We play Mr Wolf, we practice floating on back and front, blowing bubbles, kicking, jumping in and going under, floating in life jackets and more. Vincent is also one of the most advanced babies in his class, the only kids ahead are already 2 years old.  The teacher and other parents love seeing him be so comfortable in the water as their kids are really nervous.

Pat and I both love to go swimming.  We love that Vincent shares our love. We will continue go swimming in the pool at the condo complex throughout winter.  Only reason we won’t is if the pool is no longer heated warm.  .I don’t have many pictures of him swimming.