Guppy

We had popcorn Friday at Cole's school and poor Brad has to sit for 2 hours in the cafeteria waiting for me to finish. As a reward, I took Brad to the pool. It's a nice indoor pool with a kid area that's perfect.

I even remembered to bring some pool toys. I forget all the fun things like that so I'm pretty proud of myself for thinking ahead and actually doing it! It's a rare deed these days. Back to the kids - Inside the bag is a pair of goggles. Now, Brad doesn't like to get his hair or face wet while swimming. You might ask how that's possible, but he has it down to a science. It's a Chamness trait. He's related to a long line of above-head swimmers. I could out them all right now, but I won't ;-)

Today Brad decides he's going to put the goggles on and go underwater. I help him get the mask on and he jumps right into the pool. I'm sitting there stunned he went under the water! Yea Brad!!! He comes up coughing. It seems he forgot to close his mouth. It happens. He rips the mask off and it's several minutes before he tries again. He walks over and hands me the mask. I help him put it on and while he's standing there I tell him he has to fill his cheeks with air and hold his breath. He jumps in again, comes up coughing ripping his mask off. When he's built up more confidence he brings the mask back over. As I am putting it on I notice he's holding his breath with big puffy cheeks. "YES, Brad - hold your breath just like that." He jumps in, comes up coughing. I can't figure it out.

Yet again, I assist him with the mask and he's holding his breath while standing there. Then it dawns on me, "Brad, honey, you have to hold your breath when you go under the water, not when you're standing here getting your mask on" He replies "OOOOOOOOHH" Sweet Brad. He jumps in and holds his breath. Success!

We picked Cole up from school and Brad was so excited to tell Cole what he did. He says "Co-by I went underwa-ther with the mask" Cole, dead serious, looks at me and says "Did he close his mouth?"