Bridget's fourth swimming trip today - the second at which Daddy has been present. For various reasons too tedious to enumerate, Bridget was extremely tired by the time we got to the pool; she was also having a pretty cranky day as she tipped towards another cold (which has now arrived, sadly). But the moment she was in the water she was happy: gaping grins and blazing smiles, kicking legs and waving arms. She loves swimming.

And we did a daring thing: we dunked her fully under the water, twice. Hester went first, a quick down-up motion until the top of Bridget's head had just reached water level. I went second (inspired by this success, and instructed by a more blasé mother tending her son nearby) and dunked Bridget under more slowly, and more deeply. Both times, Bridget was a little bewildered, but quite happy. We can believe that, with a bit of experience, she'll actually start enjoying it (and that somewhere much further down the line, she'll cope with proper swimming somewhat more easily - or that's the general idea).

We all live with a midget submarine...

We have a playing field with a small playground down at the end of our lane. Today, following my sister Ruth's suggestion and prompted by Bridget's increasing interest in using her bouncer without her feet on the floor, I took her along to the playground and tried her out in the baby swing. She thought it was a great idea, and cooed and grinned while I pushed the swing for her, for about ten minutes. Of course, she did try to eat the slightly rusty support chains as well, but then she does think that everything new should go into her mouth. What with an increasing love of swimming and her extensive rolling, Bridget seems to be moving in a distinctly sporty direction at the moment. Can't imagine where she got it from!

Photos of Bridget in April - including a sequence showing her rolling across the floor.