the pool: one year later

This has been the worst summer in the ten years I have lived here. By far. We get the odd gorgeous summer day, but I can't recall more than two of them in a row and apart from this past Saturday, every single weekend day has been rainy.

Well, just as the poor school kids are heading back to class, we're getting some stretches of proper summer weather. Today we parted with $2.50 and hit the local pool for the first time this year. We spent most of our three hours there with just one other person who was swimming laps. The perfectly calm waters were just what Quincy needed to get used to the new depths. Initially he clung to me for dear life, but by the end I could hardly drag him out of there.

His courage came when a few older kids arrived. He watched them intently as he mimicked some of the things they were doing. That made him realize he could stand with the water reaching just below his chin and then there was no stopping him.

Well, until he went down the big slide, against my better judgement. After the tears stopped, he declared, "That was NOT okay. Water got all over you and in your mouth. Quincy choked." I don't think he'll be doing that again in a hurry!

As I was looking at the photos from today, I was reminded of last year. He's taller, more cognitive, and occasionally more contrary, of course, but otherwise, not a whole lot has changed.

He still loves that seal and interacts with it as if it's real.

He still gets absorbed in his surroundings and stares until he takes in every detail.

And he still has that same contagious smile that warms my heart.