Avery's first swimming lesson

On Saturday, October 15, Avery had his very first swimming lesson!  We've been taking him swimming about once a week for the last couple months and he really seems to like it, but this was his first official lesson with a teacher.  The place that we were supposed to take him is being re-done, and of course it wasn't finished on time.  So we were instructed to go to a hotel pool.  I was a bit disappointed, but the pool and dressing rooms were actually really nice.  The only down side was that the pool was tiny, so we were all a bit squished.
Noel has no interest in getting up "early" on a Saturday to watch Avery's lessons, so I brought my Mom  with me.  It's much easier to get Avery and myself ready when there is an extra pair of hands! One small problem that we have with anything that is scheduled at a specific time is that Avery doesn't really have a consistent schedule, so sometimes the scheduled time (for the lesson, etc) will work but sometimes it won't.  This time, I had to breastfeed him in the dressing room and he was late for his nap, but it worked out okay.
There are at least 10 "tots" in our Parent and Tot class. The Instructor is a student from my school. It's such a small town that the students are everywhere!  They work at the gas station, the fast food places, the library, the grocery store, everywhere!  And I looked at the photos and videos my Mom took at the lessons and realized I need to get a bathing suit with more coverage.  Oh well.
So, here are the video and photos of Avery's first lesson.  First we just moved them through the water to get used to it.  Then, we specifically held them on their front, then on their backs.  We were supposed to get them to stick their faces in and blow bubbles, but Avery didn't quite get it.  We practiced entering the pool from the deck (both from sitting and standing, but Avery can't really stand yet) and lastly, we were supposed to dunk them underwater.  I was worried that water was going to go up his nose so I kept trying to push him under the water, away from me, instead of plunging him straight down.  I don't know if it helped.  He didn't necessarily like being dunked, but he didn't seem to hate it either.  Mostly I think he was just very surprised!
The last video is of Avery in the bathtub, later that night.  He loves to "swim" in the tub and he's been doing this for the last few nights.  I can't get him to sit up anymore!  He's so cute!   : )