What you really want to see:

Isn't he darling? This is Jack in his new swim trunks, courtesy of his Mimi. Random aside: the hat he's wearing I had originally bought for when he was going to be at the beach when 2 months old...what was I thinking? Like that would have fit him- the hat now fits him over a year later. It's amazing how blissfully ignorant you are before kids.

ANYways, I don't think I've said what an AMESOME swimmer he is. To illustrate this point I will share a story. (Not to brag or anything...okay, a little bragging.) Jon and I took Jack to the pool a few weeks ago; it was around 88 degrees outside- so it's hot, but not so hot that the pool water was warm. Once inside the pool gate, the parents of another little baby saw Jack and said hello, etc., etc. We found out our 2 boys were the same age, literally like days apart. While their boy sat with them in the lawn chairs, we headed toward the water. The dad remarked how cold it was and basically hinted that we were dumb, mean parents for taking our kid in the cold water. Well that's tough, because I'm a water fanatic and my kid's going to be too!

We get in the water and he doesn't stop smiling or laughing the whole time--that is until we get out of the oh-so-cold water. He literally pushed off of me going out on his own. There was just the vastness of water out in front of him- no wall, no other person- just water. And he's trying to swim without help. I'm thinking, "Hello, Jack! You do need some help in the pool!" Whatever, this boy is really athletic, independent, and stubborn. He's going to do what he wants to do, you just try stopping him. We threw him high up in the air, let him go under, helped him "jump" in the pool, and swim between me and Jon. Well, it wasn't long before the other pool-goers took notice of Jack. Comments like "he really loves the water" and "wow" flew around. And then as we walked out of the pool area, past the sun-bathing parents, a mixture of amused/resentful looks were seen. What can I say?, he's a pool prodigy.

To counteract the bragging in the above story, here's a testament to his cleanliness skills. Not the best in that area. I let him "feed" himself using the spoon...didn't work out too well. Yeah, I had fun cleaning that one up, she says sarcastically.