Freddie had his first swim meet! (And my camera had a dead battery!)
Warming up
Warming up...had to be there at 7.30 am to warm up!
Waiting for his heat, in the center
Freddie's part of the swim team now, having moved up from their learn to swim program after almost 3 years. He's by far the smallest kid on his team, and from looking at the other teams at the meet from the NYC area, he may be the smallest kid in the under 8 division.
Talking to Coach Michael Right before his race in lane 1
He's on the right talking to his coach before his race.
Waiting behind the block on the right.
He swims 4 days a week for 1.5 hours each day, and loves it. And he was just as excited for this meet as he was nervous. He had questions about how would he know where to go and what to do, and all the usual stuff. But by the second day his questions had changed to "Can you just put money in my wallet so I can go get my own snacks at the snack bar?"
He didn't belly flop!
I downloaded the swim meet app so I could see his events and keep track of his times when they posted. He wasn't quite powerful enough to stop the clock at the end of the pool so I'd have to wait for the official to post times. It'll be nice to track his progress with these times archived here.
In the center in a red swim cap
He saw 4 races, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 breast stroke. So we ended up at the pool about 6 hours each day, and each race lasted a little over a minute.
His swimming changed after the first day as well. He didn't come in last in his heat, but rather scoped out the weakest link. I watched him glance over at his opponent in each of the races on the second day and push to pass him at the very end. He's figuring it out.
Most importantly he loved it. Didn't care that he was little. Didn't care that he was slow. And he's excited for his next meet on Fathers' Day weekend.
Showing me his silver tattoo that he got from coach
I'll charge my camera and bring some entertainment for Hans. He's not as into watching 6 hours of heats in the steamy chlorinated room as I am.
Won't be much longer before he's on that deck too.
It's been wiggle for months, and as been dangling as he talked for a few weeks.
He finally pulled it out himself.
It was pretty bloody and I thought he was going to be upset but he was so proud!
He cannot keep that tongue out of the new space. The new tooth is hanging out in the back waiting to move forward. The one next to it is being pushed forward and out of its spot as well. The days this smiling looking like this are numbered. He'll be completely toothless before long.
He's loved listening to the stories of everyone waiting for that little tooth to first make its appearance almost 6 years. I LOVE the way he loves listening to stories about when he was a baby.
He quickly scrawled a little note to stick under his pillow before bed.
The tooth fairy was able to scrounge up $5 from random coat pockets. I know $5 is well below the going rate for a tooth in NYC, but Freddie seemed pleased. He even gave one of his dollars to Hansie.
Before school he did ask me if my parents were the ones who put money under my pillow. He certainly doesn't want to think HIS parents are the ones that do that, but he's got a little doubt already. I told him I didn't think so, and after some probing found that it was Diana, one of his main kindergarten buddies, that's informed him of how the tooth fairy really works. She's planted the seed, but he still wants to believe.
Kid can't stop looking in the mirror now!
My baby boy is growing up. I still see that little smiley bald baby when I look over at him though.
No more preschool means Freddie gets to experience Summer Camp! He has been pumped for weeks about going to summer camp, and although a lot of that excitement has to do with the mystique of something new, I am fairly certain this kid is going to thoroughly enjoy summer camp each year.
I ordered him a new lunch box for the occasion.
I searched and searched for camp opportunities but like everything else in the city they were too expensive. $700/week for a 9-3 camp wasn't going to happen especially if I had to schlep into the city with Hans as well. So when our neighborhood camp started registering for summer sessions at half the cost I went ahead and registered him. Although it wasn't the "specialized" sort of experience I had been seeking out (baseball camp, lego camp, soccer camp, art camp) I figured it would be a great way for him to meet some kids from the local public school and he'll get to spend some time doing sports, crafts, swimming, and other general camp experiences.
There were a few familiar faces and he came home with a great report about the first day and on top of that that he managed to keep track of all of his things on his own, including his lunch box and accouterments and all of his swimming gear. I thought for sure something would be lost or forgotten, but evidently he's pretty responsible. He only ate three bites of his sandwich though, and didn't even touch the rest of his lunch including his cookie, on the first day but I imagine this will improve as he gets used to having so much wiggle room during lunch. Camp seems to lack structure, but I think Freddie loves just that. I am smiling just thinking about it. It is summer after all, right?
This is definitely a big step towards independence and responsibility, and a great transition into kindergarten. I am also glad to be putting a bit of time and space between his preschool experience and kindergarten just to help his comparing of the two. (Probably good for Mama too!) He'll be under the care of some young (college aged) counselors who will take the group about the neighborhood and even on subway rides for field trips and mingling with kids whose families I don't know. It's a big leap of faith and trust for me, and the first time I think I'll really have my parenting tested since he'll be making his own choices in a larger unfamiliar setting where he isn't quite so protected and connected to Mama. But things are looking good because his camp counselor commented to me "Freddie is a great role model for the other campers. I am really happy he's in my group."
Saturday was another great day at the baseball diamond. My boy looks forward to hydrating with gatorade.
He got in some great hits and his form was looking good. He even stood his ground and wouldn't give up the ball he fielded, wanting to throw it home himself, rightfully so. Made me worry less about his not being assertive enough. The team they played against was older and bigger and more aggressive, but the coaches handled it all well and checked a few bad attitudes from parents and kids.
And then after the game the teams lined up...
Out of focus, but can you see the anticipation?
And the lead coach called each of the kids up to receive their trophy.
Freddie's mind was blown...he got a trophy!
He has told anyone who'd listen that he got a trophy. He's been sleeping with it, taking it with him to the bathroom, and has grand plans to bring it to show and tell on Tuesday.
With his buddy Ian
We have one more game next week, but just in case it was rained out, the coaches got in the trophy presentations this week. I have loved this experience for Freddie. So much cuteness, I swear!
