Happy American Birthday!

Jack had a great time over the 4th of July weekend. We spent a lot of time at the pool where he repeatedly attempted to drown. He will launch himself into the water with no warning, with no fear. It is as if he believes, deep down inside, that his huge bulbous head is a built in flotation device. Needless to say after Dan's hair started visibly falling out I suggested that he let Jack actually go under one time and that might cure him of his dare-devil ways. After plunging in and spluttering to the surface Jack coughed water all over Dan and then said, "I wanna do that again!" Can you say backfire? So this week we purchased a straight-jacket-flotation device which should help Jack learn to swim and keep him above the surface of the water. I can't guarantee he won't still be swallowing half of the pool each visit because the child will NOT keep his mouth shut in the water. He screams, squeals, yells, shouts, talks loudly and laughs the ENTIRE time. He is easily the loudest person at the pool--louder than the lifeguard's whistle, louder than the gang of teenagers trying to to out-bellyflop each other, louder than the group of 11-year old girls playing marco polo. He is still the loudest person in the place EVEN FROM THE BATHROOM where his little voice echos out and floats over the surface of the water: "Look at my poops Daddy!"