Inevitably every time we get into the car Addie will pipe up with, “Can you play You might be a big fish, in a little po-oond?” (Otherwise known as Lost, by Coldplay.)

She loves that song and I love to hear her sing it, so I gladly turn it on and feed her obsession.

That exact phrase popped into my head when I opened up this photo last week. She really is struggling right now with wanting to be a big fish, but also wanting to be treated like the baby fish in the family, too.

And no, she didn’t really test these fins in the water. She was actually very un-fishlike while we were at Nana and Papa’s. Emma more than made up for Addie, though. Em didn’t seem to mind the chilly water one bit, and I was forced to drag out of the pool every night. (Remind you of someone else years ago, Mom and Dad?)

I think that Nana and Papa don’t believe Addie really can swim, however, they do finally see that she is very stubborn.

She will swim when she feels like it. And not a minute sooner.

And if I know Addison, I’m sure it is up to no good!
The mischievious little smile, devilish twinkle in her eye, and smear of blue (chalk?) on her chin…
all signs point to T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

Last Friday was a pivotal moment in our house. Addie took her maiden voyage across a pool, by herself.

She can swim. And we are all so proud of her – including her biggest cheerleader, Em.

At the beginning of the week, when she started lessons, it looked a little grim. Her instructor said, “Wow, she is really stubborn, isn’t she?” as she handed me back a writhing, screaming, temper-tantrum throwing mess, that sort of resembled my daughter.

But the difference between Tuesday and Friday is simply astounding! This weekend we had use of our neighbor’s pool and she practiced and perfected her little seal-like underwater sprint. And mugged for Daddy and his underwater camera…

Why didn’t someone tell me that this swimming thing is just so easy!