Just KEEP Swimming, Swimming Swimming

Taija had her FIRST Swim MEET!  And being the completely unbiased proud mom that I am she did AWESOME!  I was a little worried given that at her swim practice that morning I had to bribe convince her to jump off the racing platform just ONCE.  Taija was so excited when we got to the pool that afternoon that ALL the girls had on the SAME swim team swimsuit.  She was so HAPPY to be a part of the group!  Not knowing what to expect I had pretty much packed our entire house so as to be prepared.  Taija was READY!

This is a video of her 1st event - Girls 6&U freestyle.  She did AWESOME!  I think she was really scared and just kept  her head down and swam as fast as she possibly could to the other end.  Taija was able to 'compete' in a total of 6 swim meets.  She clocked her fastest time at her 2nd meet - since then I think the fear kind of ran out and she would take her time getting to the other side, simply enjoying the fact that she was getting to race.

After each event/race we would make sure she was having fun and sure enough she ALWAYS enjoyed herself.  At her very last swim meet Taija clocked her fasted time in the backstroke.  When we started swim team at the beginning of June Taija had no idea what the backstroke even was - they showed her a few times and everyday she was practicing it.  In each race she would always pause to look forward to see how close she was to the end, but the very last race she made it the entire way without flipping back over!  LOVE my little swimmer.

I am so proud of Taija for working so hard and trying something NEW.  At the end of the year picnic ALL of the 6&Us received a trophy for all of their hard work and a nice little swim bag.  Each swimmer also received a 'funny' award that was written on a paper plate.  Taija's was FROZEN.  At every swim practice she would (not always willingly) get into the cold water, but usually wouldn't last more than 4 or 5 laps before she was begging to get out because it was TOO COLD.  She would even have blue lips to prove it!  Thank you to all of the Ashbourne Swim Team coaches who made Taija's 1st swim team experience a SUCCESS!