spring is here

Now that the weather is warm again, you want to spend a lot of time outside. Since I had a doctor's appointment this morning I decided to take you to the zoo on the way home. You love the animals and your best friend Pippa was supposed to come meet us, but ended up not feeling well and didn't come. You love the zoo and your favorite animals are the otter, elephant, zebra, and jaguar. We brought a frog backpack home from the zoo because you were such a good girl at my doctor's appointment. You don't cry when I have to lay down on a table and are very interested in what the midwife is doing. Every time I lay down on the paper on the exam table you announce that it is time for mom's diaper change and the midwife and nurses always laugh. You requested to hear the baby and even showed the nurse today where the baby was in my belly. You'll be an excellent big sister and Benaiah is lucky.

You have mastered how to flip out of your crib like an acrobat, but thankfully haven't tried it too many times. We thought we were going to have to start trapping you in your crib, but looks like we don't have to yet.

You started school two weeks ago. It's not exactly school, but a place where about 10 kids your age get together for 4 hours, one day a week with structured activities. You spend an hour singing songs and reading books that focus on one thing like a color. You have some play time scheduled throughout the day and some time outside and of course about an hour for an arts and craft project. Your friend Pippa is in the class and you love that. After this week, I am going to try and leave the class for a little while to let you interact with the other teachers and children, so we'll see how that goes.

Since the weather is nice, we have to walk to pick up dad from work just about every day. Starting about 4:30 you start asking to go get him, so I have to keep you busy until he calls and says he's ready to leave. You are always thrilled to see him and usually want him to carry you the whole trip home Last Saturday you spent the whole day with dad. You went to the National Arboretum and a monastery for a few plant sales and then to the garden. When I came to meet you two, you were sound asleep in your stroller. I think you kept your dad very busy as well.

We also have been spending a lot of time at the garden. You love to sit in the wheelbarrow and help mom shovel wood chips. You love playing in the water while we water and dad bought some cacti for your room so you can help me water them and watch them grow. Dad also bought you an ant farm and we're still waiting on the ants, but I'm sure you'll love that too.

You talk on the phone to relatives daily and are learning how to have a conversation. You always say hi to whoever is on the phone and will tell them you love them. Everything else depends on the mood you are in, but you are always to happy to hear a familiar voice and can recognize who is on the phone by their voice, which is impressive to me.

It was a long one, but that's only because you are so crazy and unbelievable that I want to keep track of what you are doing so you can appreciate it someday like all of us do. Love you.