Water?

This was Katie a year ago. She wanted nothing to do with water. If you don't remember check out this ancient blog post about my little aquaphobe. Even baths were a huge struggle. And swimming in the big pool at McChord, you can forget about it. There was nothing fun about water for Kate. Then came this summer and the most miraculous transformation I have ever seen in a child.


It started with her being able to conquer the bath tub. To my surprise one evening she called me in to bear witness to her laying her head all the way back in the water. Then, progress continued as we met friends for play dates at the McChord pool. Not only did she not freak out in the baby pool when a splash came her way, but she wanted me to put a life jacket on her so she could go swim in the big pool. Other leaps and bounds towards embracing the water came with less screaming and crying when we were on a boat or canoe. Then this summer she even took out a kayak into the middle of lake Takhlakh and capsized with out breaking down.

All of these little stepping stones have made it very clear that Kate is beginning to over come her irrational fear of water activities. But nothing made it more apparent than her choice to go to Great Wolf Lodge as Queen of the day. This was my little girl that swore (I mean the taking a solemn oath kind or serious swear) to never, ever return to the water park. Not only was her choice of activity so surprising but she was a whole new girl once we got there.

This is her last week. Encircled by splashing water. Holy Moly what a difference a year can make! She went on every single water slide too (except the tornado which she wasn't tall enough for). And then shocker of all shockers at the end of our stay on her way out she stood under the bucket. The bucket that dumps 1,000 gallons of water. My eyes would have done that cartoon thing where they eyes pop out of your head bouncing on strings...if I was a cartoon character.