I’m completely aware of how melodramatic this next statement is going to sound, and I have to say it anyway: Stevie and I just had the most wonderful day ever.  My cheeks still hurt from smiling so hard.

Stevie woke up early from his nap, so I decided I wanted to try the wading pool in Glendale again. I’ve posted about it once before here.  With this heat, we don’t have a ton of options.

So I put on his swim gear, we brought along our favorite Tati, and we headed to the wading pool.  I had zero expectations that this would go well.  In fact, I didn’t even bring a change of clothes because I was certain he would not be getting wet.  The usual routine is he sticks his feet in the water, gives me the sign for “all done” and wants to go to the playground.

And that’s that for the wading pool.

This time, I brought some snacks and a big towel for the ground. Stevie sat quietly on my lap for a long time, just watching.  I told Tati “Hey, even if he sits like this for the next 20 minutes, I’ll be satisfied.”  I kept asking if he wanted to go in and he would shake his head no, so I didn’t push it.  We just hung out.  After about an hour of observing, I walked Stevie around the pool.  He wanted to go to the playground, but I insisted we walk once around.  When our lap was nearly complete, he was intercepted by some kids and he watched and laughed as they splashed around, jumping in and out of the pool.  He thought they were so clever!  So I stood back and let him get a feel for what they were doing.

And before I knew it, he was sticking his hands in the water, splashing.  I was happy to see it.  Especially with no coaxing from me.  And I would’ve been thrilled if that’s all he did because he tried.

But then he surprised me and sat on the edge of the pool to stick his feet in the water.  And it didn’t end there! He got all the way in!  Like IN the water.  It only came up to his knees, but he was IN.  He was walking around. Climbing in and out.  I was shocked.  He went even farther and dipped his body in up to his waist.  Then let his chest get wet.

By this point, I was just giddy inside. Grinning from ear to ear!  I couldn’t believe this was the same kid who usually wants nothing to do with any water, outside of the bath.  And he was taking the initiative.  Just trying something new!!!  I nearly broke down into tears when he saw other kids “swimming” around (more like crawling) and he dropped down and did it too.  I mean, I felt like my life had been made in that silly moment!

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My little Stevie.  He was in the pool.  Playing near the other kids.  Trying to do what other kids were doing.  He was laughing and splashing and smiling so big.  He was actually having so much fun.  And I have honestly never seen him with that look of sheer joy on his face for so long.  He played in that pool for an hour.  And he cried when we had to leave.  My heart, by this point, had grown legs and leaped from my chest.  It was so wonderfully heartbreaking.  My tender boy crossed a bridge that day.  And I was the happiest mama in the whole wide world.