Swim Little Fishy

May 13, 2010 3:34 pm

We spent Mother’s Day at the beach with my parents and it was glorious. Then my parents took the kids back to their house to nap while Jamie and I went to the gym and out to lunch. Just getting to go out to a restaurant with my husband in the middle of the day was weird but so great. We need to do that more often.

For the first summer in a long time, I’m glad I live in Florida. Our year round swim lessons have finally paid off and we’ve been spending every afternoon in the pool. Like all afternoon, 2-4 hours at a time. I’ve got two Coppertone kids on my hands and we’re already down three bottles of sunscreen this year. We’ve experienced less tantrums, easier bedtimes and get this, sleeping through the night.

That’s right, bitches. My kids have slept through the night for the past four nights. This is this first stretch of time that they’ve both slept through in I don’t know, two years? Ever? We’ve tried every trick in the book and nothing has worked up until now. I’m knocking on wood even typing that since I know it will be the ultimate jinx.

Last summer was miserable for us since I wasn’t confident enough to go in the pool alone with both kids. The few times I tried turned into disasters and resulted with meltdowns from one or both kids. It was too hot to play outside without feeling like we were going to pass out so we were cooped up indoors. I would imagine that’s how you northern folks with toddlers feel during the winter months. Simply grueling.

This new groove we’re in is awesome and it arrived not a minute too soon. We’re slowly digging our way out of a tantrumy, sleepless ditch and moving toward fun times. The way I’ve always imagined our life with kids should be. We’ve hosted swimming play dates and gone to friend’s houses for more of the same. I’m happy to spend hours in the pool doing somersaults with Graham and pouring buckets of water out with Elliot. To eat our snacks poolside with everyone in a decent mood for once and the radio blaring. Most of all, I plan on tiring their asses out in the pool every afternoon for as long as I can. And how is your summer going?

Tags: Elliot, Graham

22 Comments

Cat
on May 13th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
1
Your childrens. They can haz bignez.

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jen
on May 13th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
2
so … SO … jealous.
i want warmth and pools and sleeping through the night.

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Jenni
on May 13th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
3
Well, it’s not quite summer here, but things have been good. I’ve been enjoying my kids this spring as well. They are both just at such good ages, with the talking and being able to do actual stuff. I’m really looking forward to more of the same this summer.

The kids look gorgeous, and I’m so glad you and Jamie got a few hours to yourselves. Bliss.

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robin
on May 13th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
4
So freakin’ cute! The beach looks like soooo much fun. I am glad your kids got into a good groove.
(Summer? It’s still in the 50s here. Wah!)

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Sheila
on May 13th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
5
YAY!! So glad they are sleeping! Enjoy the time with the kids and the time while the kids are sleeping…

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Heather
on May 13th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
6
We haven’t even really hit spring here. I’m super jealous! We’ve had two weeks of rain and no temps above 45.

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Maureen@IslandRoar
on May 13th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
7
Summer???? summer!!! Not here for probably at least another 6 weeks. But I’m SOOO glad things are looking up! Sleeping and the swimming thing; how cool is that! Days at the pool always exhausted my kids and knocked them out by nightfall. You deserve a fun breather. And I’m happy you had a relaxing Mother’s day! xo

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Sprite's Keeper
on May 13th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
8
What the hell kind of pool do you have? I see the beach!
Glad everything is starting to go on an even keel. Here’s to more happy times!

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Ginny Marie
on May 13th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
9
I am so glad you are getting some sleep! It makes all the difference in the world! (I’m knocking on wood right now for you!) Yeah, winter pretty much sucks. We can’t wait to go to the pool, but it doesn’t open until June!

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MamaBug
on May 13th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
10
Man! I can drive an hour to the coast, but we NEVER go in the water….cold!! Love the pics of your happy kids…happy kids make everything so much better!

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Becky
on May 13th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
11
The kids are gorgeous! Love these pics. I’m glad you guys are enjoying the Florida livin’.

Even up in Atlanta, during the summer it’s simply so hot that we don’t go to the pool before five or so at night, if we go for fun and not swim team junk. I just don’t like all the sun.

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Mrsbear
on May 14th, 2010 at 7:41 am
12
!!! Sleeping through the night?! At last. Dood, I’m so happy for you. Reclaiming your sanity and your sleep hours is a good thing. And you get to spend all day in the pool which is sweet considering it’s hard to be outside now and it’s only Spring. Oh. The. Horror. Don’t be surprised to wake up some morning to find me and the fam camped out in your yard with our water wings. It’s hot. Not hawt.

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Lin
on May 14th, 2010 at 9:34 am
13
I used to love the local pool for that very same reason! Hooray! Sleep is good.

This reminds me–I wanted to make the suggestion (you can ignore me if you want) to eliminate the TV watching from your kids day. Or at least minimize it waaaayyyy down. I found my kids were always bouncing off the walls when they watched too much TV. I found their behavior was much different when they DID something other than sit by the TV. I know you are doing the dye thing, but you may want to try eliminating TV too. Just a thought.

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Keely
on May 14th, 2010 at 11:56 am
14
It’s not summer here yet, but I get X outside as much as humanly possible (he’d practically live outside if he could), and it has the same effect. Tired kids are awesome. Sleeping through the night is awesome. “This too shall pass” is awesome – especially in retrospect. Glad you’re all finally sleeping!

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ck
on May 14th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
15
Yay for you guys! You so deserve this, Casey. If it was anyone else I’d be jealous, but for you, I’m happy. (And seriously, your kids are just gorgeous.)

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cyndi
on May 14th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
16
Hallelujah! I am so happy for you and know that life will start getting more manageable for you all – it’s so awesome once they become people that you enjoy, and sleeping is a huge part of it at our house. Um….they are gawjis, darling! Happy weekend and happy summer. Hoping this sleep renewal is going to get you back to blogland :hint:

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The Stiletto Mom
on May 14th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
17
It’s not summer here…I refuse to admit it’s summer. Because summer is hot, and I like cold weather. Beyond that, yes, swimming kids are a good thing, easier to get to bed and less fighting…our pool is heated and ready to go!

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FoN
on May 14th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
18
I live in Saskatchewan – I don’t get summer until July. And it’s over in August. So…once those few days arrive I’ll let you know!

I’m happy things have calmed down a bit for you guys.

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Captain Dumbass
on May 14th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
19
Since we don’t all live in Florida it’s actually still Spring. Glad to hear you’ve found something they enjoy and that tires the hell out of them. Yay!

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Cara
on May 16th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
20
Hot damn, Casey…I don’t think those two can get much cuter. Hooray for nights filled with sleep…and hopefully this means you aren’t camped out on their bedroom floor any more?

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Suzicate
on May 17th, 2010 at 11:57 am
21
Looks and sounds like a glorious summer to me. Mine used to sleep so good after a day at the pool or beach…I saye wear those babies down with some sunshine!

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Kirsty
on May 25th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
22
Awww I love the pics! Pools, warmth and sleeping through the night are all good as long as you’re not sleeping in a warm pool of pee all night! *grin* Glad to see you back in the bloggy world! I’ve been fuzzing in and out. lol

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