Gavin has a lot of fun with his toys and his ipad around the house or around town. But Gavin has the most fun in the pool and ocean.
Over weekends, the Murphy family will go to the Coral Casino at Butterfly Beach. We absolutely love it there. Everything about it, from the famous oreo shake to the views from the over sized jacuzzi of the channel islands, is overwhelming and unique. But Gavin enjoys himself too much to notice any of that while we are there.
Gavin wears the same matching outfit every time we go to the pool or beach. And looking at him walk away or jump off the diving board you can’t help but laugh. His funny googles that look like they are crushing his head and poking his eyes out are the funniest part of the outfit I think.
To add to Gavin’s swim clothes, Gavin always brings these three toys no matter where we go. These toys are an: alligator, penguin, and hammerhead shark. Gavin will carry these all around the pool and even bring them in the ocean with him. Sadly, this is how he lost the alligator that my dad and I had to look for until dark so Gavin would stop crying. We never found it though and I don’t think Gavin ever got over it.
Watching Gavin in the pool cracks me up but is a scare for others, especially the lifeguard. Gavin likes to float on top of the water, face down looking at the bottom of the pool or ocean floor with his goggles. A while ago, lifeguards had to be constantly on the watch for Gavin in the water and wanted me or my sister to be in the water with him so they felt more comfortable. Now I think they know that when they see a black and blue figure resting atop the water they don’t need to jump from their tower into the water to save Gavin.
At the end of the Murphy’s pool day at the Coral Casino Gavin likes to change back into his normal clothes. Usually Gavin strips down naked in front of everyone because Gavin has no sense for what he is doing. Its very embarrassing for us but now Gavin has grown out of that phase and changes behind a towel that I have to hold up. So now Gavin is only flashing the people down at the beach, not at the pool. Hopefully Gavin becomes normal and starts changing in the locker room, but for now Gavin will be Gavin.
Here is an old picture I found of Gavin and I at Butterfly beach, my favorite beach ever.
From Letters to Actions 