He must be a changeling
We had a major breakthrough at the beach yesterday. Like, BIG.
Are you ready?
Jack – wait, I don’t feel like you’ve prepared yourself enough. I’ll give you another few seconds.
Okay.
Jack played in the water. For reals. He was hesitant to go in at first, but he was willing to take one slow step at a time in, his back up against my legs and his hands in mine, all the way up to mid-shin. Then he scrambled to get up in my arms, but from there, he pointed imperiously out to sea. “Mama, DAT!” So I did. We waded out together, John close behind, until I was waist deep and waves were splashing us both. He kicked his legs and splashed with his hands, laughed when waves got him in the face (He LAUGHED! He still wails when we get water in his face in the bathtub!), and giggled when we spun him around in circles with his hands trailing in the water. When he got too heavy for both of us (we were taking turns holding him), we went back to where he could stand, and he marched and splashed and played, and it was like he was a whole different kid. And he protested getting out of the water! I promised him we would come back after the holiday weekend, and he agreed to come out.
What a nice surprise.