Thaw

Sun. Mud. The first crocus. It's finally here. I'd wager a fair number of east coasters didn't think this winter would ever end. It's over... I've packed away the hats and mis-matched gloves. The scarves are soon to follow. I'll pack away the heavy coats soon enough. We've been venturing out in sweaters, light jackets, even bare-feet. We are about to burst with wanting to be OUT.

Pussy Willows!

WeeE asks everyday now to play in our yard, on our playground. She's figured out how to dare-devil ride her trike down the hill into the leaf/wood pile. She unlocks the shed, pulls out her chair, a wind-up solar radio, and some tools and makes herself at home. Classical music and static accompany our "gardening," punctuated with cries of glee when she careens down into the pile. 

Today, Bill picked up the bikes that we'd left at the shop for a tune-up. Looking back, it's funny how, somehow, mid-day, he and I just HAD to pull out the Burley we bought late last season, attach it for the first time, and go for a ride NOW! I popped the trailer on my old Specialized hybrid and even with the wrong shoes and pedals, I was in heaven. I love riding that bike! Bill put it on his hopper mtn bike thing and went around the block. As they pedaled off, I looked at my bike sitting there and instead of returning to work, I took off in the other direction, just to stretch my legs. By the time we returned to normal work-day needs, we were both thinking about a camping trip on the C&O Canal. We want OUT now. Right now.

WeeC is in a stage of border-line frustration. Her desires exceed her reach. She's learned how to move the stool around the kitchen to the sink, and she knows how to turn on the water in the bathroom sink, and is now very frustrated to learn that she can't reach the handle to turn on the water in the kitchen sink. I imagine her baby, "bu bu buh" is just her first attempt at "But, But, But...That's not fair, Mom!" She has specific wants and we share a frustration that she can't tell me clearly yet what they are.

Then, sometimes, we have amazing moments of 'conversation.' After water play in the (filthy, nasty) bird-bath, I'd stripped her shirt. She was happy enough for a while showing off her Buddha belly, but then she brought her big sister's heavy winter coat. I looked at her and raised my eye-brows and she handed me the coat again. So I put it on her, arms to the floor, much too big, and she clutched it to her and wandered away happily. Realizing she was asking for something to get warm in, I pulled out her pullover, showed it to her, and she grinned, dropped the coat, and helped me put her pullover on. All cozy warm again, she walked off contentedly patting her big Buddha belly.  She's 14 months old today and I feel pretty good at the complexity of some of our chats. 

WeeE and I are trying a few adventures. We went to yoga for lil kids and it was awesome! And in a few weeks, we will go to a kid's theatre program with some of her girlfriends. While I enjoy the fascinating process of seeing WeeC sort out the most basic first steps in life, I'm finding it more rewarding (and mentally stimulating) to take WeeE out on the town.

Speaking of, both the kids are good for sitters now, which means OMG we might be able to go on a date night again soon! I've been watching the shows coming up and thinking on when I shall whisk my sweetie out for a night of dancing. Because, as I've noted, we want to get OUT! Spring fever, indeed!