i haven't posted in a while

i had a long rant about how can i possibly raise my girl to be confident and have self-esteem when i have none myself, but i can't copy and paste it so never mind... for now.

Lately Char and i have been swimming. A LOT. Her teeth (canines) are obviously killing her as her hands are in her mouth 24 hours a day, she's super attached to her pacifier more than ever (bedtime only), she's the biggest fuss-bucket of all time, etc etc. And i'd much rather have fun with her after work in the evenings than hear her pathetic whine (poor girl), so most nights we eat dinner, get dressed in our "shoo-shoots" (swimsuits) and go "a-wing" (swimming).

She's really quite amazing. She has ZERO fear, actually swims with her arms and kicks with her legs, jumps in off the wall repeatedly, uses noodles and kickboards and loves to go underwater. At 20 months, she swims better than my 35-year-old husband :). i can't wait to go somewhere beachy with her this summer! Meanwhile i'm going to sign her up for formal lessons. They have them at the Y for $300 for 6 weeks, so i've not made the plunge, but i did find a place that offers 6 weeks of lessons for $60, but they're only 30 minute lessons. Still, we can do 3 series of lessons in a row and be better off. Right now the only real "issue" is that Char doesn't like to go on her back. It was identified as an issue for her in the occupational therapy, and it shows here. i'm just working with her on relaxing and having fun on her back. Until then i know it will be hard to learn to float.

What else? Well, not a lot. She's really into puzzles right now, which suits me fine, but she's really a little too good. She can even do this one without much help:

i'm working on her birthday wish list. Right now it's mostly wooden puzzles, a few books, a Spanish Sesame Street DVD lol, a sand and water table, and the biggy is a balance bike and helmet. i have a feeling we'll be scared crapless by her trying to go in the street in the balance bike all summer long lol.

This weekend Char and i are heading to Knoxville to visit my sister and my in-laws, and to meet my very good friend who will be driving through on the way home to Chicago from NC. i got a hotel with an indoor pool :). i have a feeling my in-laws will be amazed if they see her swim.