Bragging Rights!

Today was such a great day for Blake and I have to brag about him!  First of all, this morning he was invited to play soccer with his friend Keegan from school.  He went and loved it!  It was the first time he played soccer, but really the first time he showed any interest in soccer once so ever!  He did so great!  He actually had good ball control for not ever playing before and ran more than I have ever seen him run!  He liked the entire practice and even ran over to tell me he kicked the ball into the net!  He didn't love the game part because there was only one ball and he wanted it to himself, once we explained that was the "game" part not just practice and you are actually suppose to take away the ball from other people he said "but that would be naughty"!  Sweet boy!

(far left) - and my favorite part from today was when he came off the field after practice and asked me "where's my trophy?"

Piper LOVED watching all the kids!

After soccer, we came home and while I made lunch I asked Blake if we could work on writing his name. He said he wanted to write "cowboy" and "Indian" since he is so into those this month since the stock show...so, we started with Blake.

Next, COWBOY

Lastly, INDIAN!

This is really the first time he has tried to write letters and I am so proud of him for trying and doing such a great job!  I didn't touch his pen, he did this all on his own!  He has a long way to go, but this was a HUGE step in the right direction!  A's & D's he can do all on his own without being talked through!  What a big boy!  For months, I have been worried about Blake and his lack of interest in coloring, writing, etc.  I have talked to other people who say "don't worry, he is a boy and they are much slower at that", "He will get it when he is ready", etc.  Even our pediatrician has assured me he is fine, but still...I worry!  That mom worry.  I don't want him to be behind!  Today was assurance that I am doing fine as a mom, he is doing great as a 3 year old boy and when he is ready, he will do it.  It isn't because he can't do it that he doesn't want to color or draw, it is because he is busy using that imagination that I adore!  He would rather play, talk and learn that way than pick up a crayon or pen.  And, for now, that is ok!  For now, I know he can and that is all that matters!

As if this day had not been exciting enough, we re-started swim lessons tonight.  We have been on a break since before Thanksgiving.  We took the holidays off because they are so busy with everyday things, I didn't want to add swim lessons to that two days a week.  Blake has been in swim lessons for 9 months now off and on and it has been a growing process.  At first he LOVED it!  He passed the tadpoles class the first time and loved his amazing teacher!  The second set of lessons however, was rough.  No - MISERABLE, EMBARRASSING, HORRIFYING!  Day 1, the new teacher didn't listen when he said he didn't want to go underwater and put him under anyway, breaking his trust.  We quickly learned that is NOT ok in Blake's book!  He fought, cried, kicked and screamed to get back in the water with her.  I was anxious about the whole lessons because I knew he would fight and I didn't want to let him quit because it was hard.  It was a rough 8 weeks.  We got through it step by step, minute by minute with lots and lots of explaining to Blake why.  Blake takes explanation to heart and a lot of times if you take the time to set and explain something, it will make sense and he will "get" it.  Now, I look back on that set of lessons as a blessing that helped us learn more about Blake.  Now, saying it was a blessing makes me smile because at that set of lessons I would have sold Blake to the highest bidder.  After that, we went into another Minnows class with a new teacher and at our local outdoor pool.  It was great because Blake could touch throughout the entire pool so he gained confidence, went down his first water tube slide, and put his face in the water for the first time.  Then, we had another set of lessons inside and it went great as well!  Today, Blake was excited to go back and try to learn to swim.  He wants to move up in his class to the Trouts where you can float on your own and go under.  He has said that after he is a Trout he can be a "diver", something very important to Blake.  He asked for daddy to take him to lessons tonight and to be honest, I was worried!  I didn't know if Blake would be excited or get nervous at the last minute, I didn't want Brian to be embarrassed by Blake if things started to go badly.  Much to my surprise, Blake came in with one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen and told me he went under!!!  I was SO proud I hugged him and told him I was proud because he TRIED it and never gave up!  

What a day and what accomplishments for our adorable, smart little man!  

And, I cried tears of joy at dinner talking to Brian about how much Blake has proven to himself today!

Proud, Proud Momma!