Well I am in some serious pool-love. We got our Intex quick-set pool (15′ diameter) finally set up and filled with water, I have done research on what I need to do to maintain it (holy chemicals, batman!!), I’ve added some bleach so I could swim today and tomorrow I’ll add some more stuff. But oh my!! I was so giddy when I got in my pool… I just kept thinking, “Why didn’t we do this years ago?!” Yes, I know pools take upkeep. Yes I know it’s only for 2 or 3 months of the year. But it was HEAVENLY. I love love LOVE pools. I love water. If I could spend my entire day floating and swimming, I totally would (and have before, when we were camping as a kid). There is something about the way the water looks and feels that just makes me feel like I am at home. I have always wanted a pool and the best I ever got was one of those little kid pools that tended to break frequently. Now that I have an actual pool I can’t imagine my dad fiddling with the chemicals, though, not unless it was something he was really interested in and swimming just wasn’t one of those things.

It took me a while during Kate’s nap to test the PH, add the bleach, put the ladder together, inflate my float chair, and carefully get in. The water isn’t high, coming up to just below my belly button, but it’s perfect for floating and playing. Of course I didn’t get a chance to float because, as predicted, as soon as I got in I heard the cry of my waking child through the monitor. (It was a nearly 3 hour nap, though, so I couldn’t complain!) It wasn’t warm by any stretch, but it didn’t give me that freezing cold feeling that I had expected.

I changed Kate into a swim diaper and rash guard shirt and took her straight outside to try out the pool. Now Kate’s feelings about pools seem a little mixed, and the only clear thing is that she hates cold water. Doesn’t mind splashing in it in the water table, but dip her feet into cold water and she yells. The pool has only been filled for a day and a half, though the thermometer read over 70 degrees, so I wasn’t expecting a good reception from her. I carried her in carefully. (Side note: Getting in an above-ground pool on a ladder while holding a toddler? Not as easy as it sounds.) I swished her feet in and then gingerly sat on my floatie and held her on my lap, sitting in the water. No negative reaction. She immediately flipped around and started crawling all over me and the floatie, sticking her hand in the water, grabbing the handles. Unlike previous excursions to the pool she seemed to have no issue with the expanse of water, and in fact I had to keep a good arm around her so she wouldn’t launch herself off my lap.

I helped her “swim” to the ladder (she doesn’t understand feet kicking yet, so I just swish her through the water on her belly, careful to keep her face above). She loves steps and ladders and things! She grabbed on and attempted to climb, but sadly adult rungs are way too big for little toddlers, though she did try. I stood her on the top rung, facing me, and counted, “1, 2, 3!” and then pulled her into the water as if she jumped in. Giggles and fun. She splashed a little, laughed, then turned and reached for the ladder again. That game is a hit. She likes to sit on the top rung then lean forward to fall into the water, my arms holding her. I spun her in circles and swished her feet in the water. She reached for the floatie and the themometer and the inflatable edge, just wanting to grab and climb and play. She would try to launch herself out of my arms towards the ladder.

I’m the one who finally ended our swim because I was tired. It is a lot of fun swimming with a toddler, but definitely not relaxing! I really hope tomorrow is nice enough that I can sneak in some quiet time in the pool while she naps. But boy was it exciting to play with her in the pool. I feel giddy like a kid myself and can’t wait to get more use of it.