How 'Bout Them Apples

It has been a long time (okay, about six weeks) coming.  All summer long, Walt has been making attempts at jumping off the diving board at the Rhodes pool.  The first couple of times, he would just get to the board's little ladder, rethink his decision, and scurry back to me.  Then he got brave enough to actually get up on the board, but wouldn't venture further than about six inches from the back of the board.  He finally worked up the nerve to go all the way down to the end of the board, but took one look at the yawning cavern of the deep end and headed right back down the ladder.

Finally, on a warm Friday evening when both Mommy and Daddy were there to offer some spotting and coaching, he proclaimed that he wanted to try again.  We both knew how this usually went, but ever the supportive parents, we ventured back down to the deep end.  With Josh treading water furiously and me standing right next to the board, Walt took a few deep breaths, crouched down low and sailed out into the water (almost onto Josh's head . . . but he made it)!  We weren't the only ones cheering his efforts when he surfaced and that was all it took.  It's now pretty much all he does when we're at the pool.  It's funny to see him in line amongst the big kids from the Rhodes basketball and football camps.  But he is quite self-assured and always has a look of sheer joy when he takes that flying leap.  Ah, to be a kid again.