ethan started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. to prepare him for the classes i took him to the pool a few times beforehand to get used to the water. he never did anything remarkable but at least wasn’t afraid of the water.

during most of his first class he was pretty much the same as all the other kids until it came time to put their head under water and emerge in the center of a hula hoop. none of the other kids did it without the teacher raising the hula hoop out of the water.

on his first try, ethan plunged his head under the water, surged forward and popped up in the center of the hula hoop. while wiping water from his face he searched pool side to find me and his face erupted with the largest grin.

given the way my entire body reacted with joy to this simple achievement i can only observe that i have officially become a parent.