Her first swim, May 2008
Swimming at Gigi and Papa's last summer
I think athletic genes can run in a family and given equal opportunity I think all family members can excel at the same sport. Peyton and Eli, Bobby and Barry, Venus and Serena, and the Griffeys are just a few I can think of off the top of my head.
Which leads me to the point of this post. If there is in fact a swimmer gene, my baby has it. Swimming runs on both sides of the family, though a little deeper on my side. My sister and I both swam competitively from the time we were in elementary school and on into college on scholarships. I have big feet, long toes, strong arms and a very long torso. I float easily and I have loved the pool for as long as I can remember.
Riley clearly has big feet. She has definitely inherited my long toes and long torso and most importantly, she LOVES the water. Yesterday I took her to the pool for the first time in quite a while. She squealed with delight as I supported her baby belly with my hands and she tried to swim to the wall. She giggled with glee as I helped her float on her back. She was a fish.
Towards the end of our little trip I was sitting with her in the shallow end and I started blowing bubbles in the water to make her laugh. Then much to my surprise, after watching me a few times she fearlessly plunged her own sweet little face down into the water and blew her first bubbles! I cheered for her like acrazy person proud Mommy as I watched her practice this new skill. For a moment, I even envisioned R.B. in her Speedo, cap and goggles waiting behind the blocks.
Honestly, whatever my sweet baby chooses to do with her life I will be a proud, crazy, screaming Mommy on the sidelines for her, but just an eensy part of me hopes she got my swimming genes. That is as long as T.G. will drive her to those early morning practices... :)
Which leads me to the point of this post. If there is in fact a swimmer gene, my baby has it. Swimming runs on both sides of the family, though a little deeper on my side. My sister and I both swam competitively from the time we were in elementary school and on into college on scholarships. I have big feet, long toes, strong arms and a very long torso. I float easily and I have loved the pool for as long as I can remember.
Riley clearly has big feet. She has definitely inherited my long toes and long torso and most importantly, she LOVES the water. Yesterday I took her to the pool for the first time in quite a while. She squealed with delight as I supported her baby belly with my hands and she tried to swim to the wall. She giggled with glee as I helped her float on her back. She was a fish.
Towards the end of our little trip I was sitting with her in the shallow end and I started blowing bubbles in the water to make her laugh. Then much to my surprise, after watching me a few times she fearlessly plunged her own sweet little face down into the water and blew her first bubbles! I cheered for her like a
Honestly, whatever my sweet baby chooses to do with her life I will be a proud, crazy, screaming Mommy on the sidelines for her, but just an eensy part of me hopes she got my swimming genes. That is as long as T.G. will drive her to those early morning practices... :)
can't wait to see her in action...but I may not be braving it in a swimsuit this summer :)
ReplyDeleteTrust me if I can put my gut in a swimsuit, you can! I'm like Kirstie Alley and you will look like Elle Macpherson next to me! :)
ReplyDeleteShe's a beaut! xo.
ReplyDelete