first swim

Yesterday I took Thomas for his first swim at the local community center. He didn't know what to make of it initially, but he grew more comfortable once we moved around and warmed up. He enjoyed holding onto the pool's tile edge with his feet pressed flat up against the side. He also enjoyed watching the swimmers in the adjacent lap pool. It must have looked strange to see arms flying, water splashing, and the occassional capped head bobbing up and down across the pool's length. He didn't like being splashed when a young boy jumped into the pool beside us, nor did he care for the rinsing shower before and after swimming. Overall, I thought it went really well for his first swim. Maybe next time I'll remember to put his swim trunks on... hey, at least I remembered the swim diapers!

For about the last two weeks, Thomas has been biting. It's usually on the shoulder while you are holding him. We've been pulling him away and saying No Biting! but at 9 months, does he really get it? Tonight he got his own fingers while eating a teething biscuit. He even drew blood! Of course he cried but only for a few seconds. I wish he could put two and two together and understand that biting hurts everyone.