Kylie May and A Floundering Day 121

What does a pool, a Kylie, and a fun floatation device add up to?  A fun Saturday in July of course.  The little monkey suited up today for a fun afternoon at Kyle, Kerry, and Cloey's house.  Just like a 13 year-old boy asking a girl to dance for the first time, Kylie is always just a little hesitant when it first comes to getting in the water.  We put one toe in and she makes a funny face, we put a whole foot in and her look turns to concern, then comes the knees and bottom.  This is the tipping point.  If we have a happy, awake, full baby she unleashes a smile and the splashing begins.  If, however, there is any sleep, hunger, or irritability on our hands, guess what?  She is out of the water and latched on to her mama in a matter of ...what comes before nano seconds? Well whatever they are, that's how fast it is.  Even if that happens though, it is just a momentary detour on the path to sheer baby bliss.  Once she tips into the fun zone on the swimming meter there is no stopping the splashing and smiles.

Kylie even got to share a few fun moments with Cloey (the Australian Shepard).  It was really funny to see Cloey jump around excitedly, and watch Kylie look on in amazement.  A couple times Cloey jumped up on Kylie, and in these moments the parenting kicked in.  Here's the progression:  Kylie sees Cloey, Cloey sees Kylie, Cloey runs and jumps up to Kylie to investigate, Cloey bumps Kylie with her nose, Kylie looks directly at Natalie and I with the "Should I smile or cry, because I can do either one really easily right now" look.  This is it. bam! our time to shine as parents.  We look back at Kylie and give her a big smile and "oh. isn't that fun to play with the doggie".  The big smile comes across her face (this is where Nat and I high five, because we just actually influenced our daughter in some small way) and the game goes on. 

Tonight's script was thoroughly planned out (at least as thoroughly as can be at the last second) to help Kylie have the easiest night she can while Nat is at work.  I decided to feed her, bathe her (yep two water events in one day....next stop, London), massage her, dress her, feed her again, and then walk her outside to fall asleep, lay her down, write in the blog, clean the kitchen, get her night time diapers and milk ready, and then hit the hay.  Has it gone according to plan?  Well, I've made it this far through the blog, so we have survived up to this point.  We'll see how the rest goes.

more to come soon,

Craig