Also in California: Pool, Piano, and Popcorn

POOL

When we arrived in California on Wednesday afternoon, my mom had already ordered and received an inflatable pool for Emrick to use during our visit. We didn’t get a chance to use it until late Friday afternoon. On Thursday we had spent the day (trying to do some) shopping, though Emrick’s rambunctiousness wasn’t making it easy, and then by the time we got home Marcus and I had to get ready to go out for our anniversary dinner. But on Friday morning, before the three of us headed out to Palm Desert to visit Chris, Mom and/or Marcus inflated the pool and filled it up with water. We hoped that by the time we got back from the desert, the water would have warmed up, and the outside temperature would have cooled down. Both of those hopes were realized. However, what also happened is that the pool had become partially deflated in the hours that we were away. We checked the pool thoroughly and could not find a hole nor any other obvious source of leaking air, yet leaking it definitely was, though slowly.

But we were not to be deterred! Marcus and Emrick put on their swim trunks and got into the pool while I took pictures. The last time Emrick had been in any kind of pool was in Florida, an experience that he tolerated just fine after the initial shock. I had hoped that he would remember the Florida pool and remember that he survived it. I also hoped he would adjust more quickly since this was, after all, just a wee little inflatable.

I hoped wrong. If you look closely in this picture, you can see Emrick’s open, crying mouth, and his heaving rib cage. Poor Pookie!

So Marcus picked him up and sat with him in the pool, though he still looks pretty worried here:

Eventually he relaxed just a little.

Pookie did all right, but was still afraid to venture away from Daddy’s lap.

Between the deflation of the pool and Emrick’s lack of enthusiasm, we decided to give the pool thing a break and try again the next day. So on Saturday Mom and/or Marcus inflated the pool again and filled it up with water again, and this time we got Emrick in there right away. We were going to beat the leak!

As you can see, Pookie was a lot more relaxed the next day. He was still a little hesitant at first, but he got used to it pretty quickly, and even felt comfortable out of Daddy’s arms!

Pookie even started splashing around for fun, just like he does in the bath at home.

 Day two of the pool adventure was a success!

PIANO

The next day was Sunday, the day we went back home. Our flight didn’t leave until mid-afternoon, so Emrick got to play around the house for a while. He even played the piano. And by played, I mean “played.”

POPCORN

 Another nice thing about having an afternoon flight, was that we were able to spend a nice, leisurely morning with Grandma and Grandpa… oh yeah! Grandpa! He arrived home from his trip on Saturday afternoon, so we did at least get a full 24 hours with him. In fact, Emrick and Grandpa (or “Glampa” as Emrick says) got downright cuddly with a bowl of popcorn and Grandpa’s recliner.

Emrick flashes his pearly popcorns.

In the afternoon, Dad (Grandpa) dropped us off at the airport and we later arrived home safely. While we were waiting at the gate in the Orange County airport, a nice woman commented to me on what a happy toddler Emrick appeared to be. Happy? But of course! With popcorn and glampas, Uncle Chrises and pools, a piano to bang on and his very own Cinda? Who wouldn’t be happy??