Raising Paige

Paige started a ‘swimming’ class this past Saturday and I have the pleasure of taking her. My wife says it’s so I can learn how to be with Paige in the water. I’m not sure that’s a legitimate reason, but I’m having fun so I don’t really care.  Paige mostly listened during the first class but she was mostly just excited to be in the water. I think she enjoys the water as much as she loves being outdoors. The most difficult and enjoyable part of the class was getting her to float on her back and stomach while I held her. She just naturally wants to kick her feet and swim.  I should point out that Jodi came to the class as well and watched us in the water.  The only drawback to me taking Paige to the class is that I have to wear a bathing suit. While Jodi takes pictures. And posts them online. You can find them here . Thankfully raising Paige is teaching me humility, even if I don’t want to learn.

Last weekend we took Paige to the Calgary zoo along with Jodi’s parents and her youngest brother and his family. As expected it was both tiring and very rewarding. Paige was excited to see all the animals and we ended up pushing an empty stroller while she ran everywhere she could. A few times she ran quite a ways ahead of us, all in good fun, forcing me to run after her. Well ok, I didn’t run …I quickly shuffled. Anyway, we got to see the pandas as well as many other animals. I don’t know which animals she enjoyed the most but I know she liked seeing the tigers, camels, bears and penguins. She really laughed at the penguins. Unfortunately I didn’t get any video of her around the penguins but her shrieks of excitement and joy certainly put smiles on many people around us. Once again she managed to show me how important it is to enjoy the world around you and marvel at everything it has to offer. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the adventure. Do you see the bea...