Swimming to the Steps

Here is a little video of Cohen swimming. He has been swimming like this for a few weeks now and we are now working on getting him to use his arms.

When it rains it pours!

Yesterday Jovie took her very first baby steps!! Two consecutive little steps!! Can't believe my baby will be walking around soon.

And yesterday Cohen nailed all the major colors. We have been working on our colors for a long time but for the last 3 or 4 weeks I've been making sure we devote at least 10 minutes (that's about Cohen's max for a "lesson") to talking about and practicing color recognition. For the longest time, he knew blue. I would point to something blue and ask him what color it was and he would know that it was the same color as Doc Hudson from Cars, so he would either say "blue" or "that's like Doc". We used this kind of recognition for many of the colors he learned. And last night he nailed all his colors and didn't divert to calling things green when he wasn't sure, which is what he used to do. Cohen showed dad his new color skills when he got home and got them all right again. So cool!!

Also last night, we were playing outside for about 20 minutes before bed and Cohen totally got the hang of pushing his pedals on his tricycle! He was so excitied when he figured out he could make the tricycle move by himself, while sitting down no less.

Also, this weekend we went swimming and Cohen showed me all his new skills he's learned in swim class. It was a huge difference from the weekend before! I guess that's what 3 swim lessons per week will do for you;) He was holding his head under for 3+ seconds, he jumped in and the kept his head down and kicked over to me. And we would go under together and open our eyes too! So cool! I was super excited about his new swim skills and it makes me want to practice more and more! All these exciting developments just bring out the Tiger mother in me and make me want to do more and more with him. Neurons are a firin' and I love it!!

Learing to Swim

Cohen started swimming lessons in April at our gym. He loves going to the pool and he really liked the swim instructor, Miss Karen. We started with lessons at the gym because we had a two free months that came with our membership, then we had such a good time there we decided to do another month. In our last month at the gym swimming lessons, the instructor suggested that Cohen move up to the next level of swim class. The next level swim class had Cohen in the water with 2 or 3 other toddlers and the instructor, no mom! This was the first activity Cohen has done that was not mommy and me. It was kind of nice not having to go in the water with him and watching him from the "sideline." Also, Jovie was able to come with me and watch rather than going to the gym daycare and so I was relieved that I didn't have to worry about them coming for me with a sign reading my name because Jovie was upset in the daycare. Here are pictures of Cohen's swim class. The kids sit on benches in the water that are 15 feet apart while the instructor takes one at a time back and forth while they practice kicks, putting their heads in, and using their arms.

This month we have started swim lessons with one of the moms in my moms club, who is a certified swim instructor and does lessons at her house. We've just started this week and it looks like we will do two to three lessons a week for a few weeks at least.

When we're not is swimming lessons Cohen uses his floaties in the pool and does quite well with them. He is able to float with them on and even jump off the side of the pool without anyone catching him. I also let him jump off the diving board the other day at Uncle Mike's house and that was quite fun as well. I know some moms choose not to use the floaties for various reasons with their kids but for they work well for us. They allow me to be able to manage both Cohen and Jovie in the water at the same time; which was something I didn't know if I would be able to do at the beginning of the summer. I was glad to make this happen because so many summer activities are centered around the pool here in AZ. Happy Swimming all!

Cake face

Jovie had a Very Hungry Catepillar themed birthday/pool party for her 1st birthday! We had a few friends over to uncle Mike's house to help us celebrate Jovie's big day. We ate foods that the very hungry catepillar ate, ate catepillar cupcakes, and had fun in the pool! The highlight of the party was when Jovie ate her birthday cake. Her cake was the part that made up the catepillars head. After we put the cake on the tray of her new princess throne, she put her fingers in the cake and then she face planted into the cake and started inhaling cake and frosting. She came up for air, looked around and went right back down, face in cake. It was SO, SO funny!!! It was an awesome and fun first birthday!!

Cars

Last weekend we went downtown to see the 3 life size cars from the movie Cars 2 that is coming out on June 24. The cars have been touring the country and made a two day stop in Phoenix. Mater, McQueen, and Finn were there. We are excited to take Cohen to the theatre to see Cars 2. So far the kids have been to the the theatre twice. The first time Joel, the kids, and I went to see Tangled at the 3 dollar theatre and then last week I took them to see a movie as part of a summer movie pass activity that the theatre does during the week. Cohen did great both times, but got a bit restless at the end of Clifford's big movie, but then again so did I. Jovie does well too but also gets a bit restless after about 45 minutes of movie going. Speaking of movies, Cohen isn't aware yet, but as Joel said I made a "major error" and left our copy of the movie Cars at grandmas house, in Nebraska. Thank goodness for shipping.

I heart Nebraska

Over Memorial Day weekend we went to Nebraska to help Len, Joel's grandfather, celebrate 80 years. We had a blast hanging out with all the relatives from the Staudinger side. Joel's uncle has a son that is Cohen's age and it was fun to play with him and watch him and Cohen interact. Cohen was lucky enough to get some more lawn mower rides in and he also had fun playing in the sandbox. We also got to see my family a bit and connect with some good friends, including my friend Corena who had a baby named Saryn in late December. Family, friends, food, and a lush green landscape. I love you, Nebraska.

Holiday

At the beginning of May, we met my family in Florida for a family vacation. We had several beach days, went on an airboat tour, did some snorkeling, and went to Miami for a day. We had such a fun time! This was our first real family vacation and I can't wait to take more!