2012-06: Summer Swimming Lessons

Nigel has been taking swimming lessons for most of the summer, to great effect. He has historically been very sensitive to water getting on his face or in his ears, making bathtimes unpleasant, but all the swimming and practice getting wet has made such a difference. He now really likes lying back in the tub and putting his ears underwater, feeling the sensation and listening to the way sounds are changed.

Nigel has taken the pre-school and level 1 classes at Holladay Lions Recreation Center, and the level 1 class three times now. The classes were four days per week, 30 minutes per lesson. He has gotten much more comfortable lying on his back in the water, with support, and no longer seems bothered by water in his face when in a pool. His instructors have noticed great improvements in his comfort in the water, and have recommended he start learning strokes next. He kicks well, dog-paddles with his arms, and can be talked into dunking his whole head into the water by his teachers. With a life jacket to keep him afloat, he can get around a pool slowly but surely, and is much more comfortable all around in the water.

2012-06-20: Made-up Words Update

"Diga-diga" -> "Ninga-ninga" -> "Sack" -> "Conic", "Ponic", etc. -> Who knows what will come next? :)

2012-06-20: In a People House with Dad

Nigel and Dad have been having a great time reading Dr. Seuss' In a People House book. They laugh at all the silly things that mouse and bird do, like the mouse balancing the fork on his nose.

Nigel has been taking Dad's turns, too, sometimes even before Dad has a chance himself, and Nigel has been reading more and more of the book by himself each time through. "Said" is still a tricky word for him, when he looks at it without considering the context, but other times he just zooms right through it. There are no objects now that he doesn't read by himself, and only a few other words (the tricky "know", "knew", and "now", in particular). The contractions are coming along well, and he now gets almost all of them.

No doubt, part of this is due to memorizing more of the story, but his reading skill is also clearly developing quickly. It is wonderful, and Dad thinks very important and powerful, that they are having so much fun doing it.

2012-06-06: Dump Truck to Africa

Nigel: Hi, mom.
Mom: What are you doing?
Nigel: Just loading up the dump truck.
Mom: Where is it going?
Nigel: To Africa, of course.
Mom: What is it going to do in Africa?
Nigel: Dump things!