Spring is starting! (2014)

With such a large part of the country experiencing such a long, hard Fall and Winter this year, I feel as though I should contain my excitement and relief at the coming of Spring to the Pacific Northwest.  I know that our Winter was mild comparatively, but still it feels great to be emerging from the cooler temperatures. It has hit the upper 60s a couple of times and boy, it is amazing how hot it feels. The trees are blooming, flowers popping and greenery sprouting up everywhere. A pastel palette everywhere you look. It is very beautiful. I am blessed to live here.

Lucy and Jake are growing by leaps and bounds. Everyday they surprise me with the things they are learning, doing and thinking about. Lucy is moving out of her preschool years and becoming more and more independent. She has a couple of close friends, and loves to play. She still loves doing artwork and has begun to cut up things she made when she was younger and make collages. I love seeing what she puts together. She is very feisty at times and occasionally throws down epic fits. Fortunately they are becoming rare. I just hope she never throws another one in public! She recently got glasses and they are so sweet on her. She picked out Hello Kitty frames. She mostly wears them without complaint. She loves to do her hair and will put in rows of clips, or ask me to do French braids. It is pretty cute! She is my special girl and I love her so very much. It is fun to watch her mature, even if I struggle to remember her babyhood. She said recently to Marc when he was putting her to bed..."I love my life! I love my life!"

Jake is 21 months and seems older every day. I still very much think of him as a baby but the evidence is clear that he is a toddler now. He runs with confidence, has tons and tons of words, has an opinion about things and can tell you that opinion. He is really listening and able to follow a few ideas in a row. It is amazing to me. I really love watching and paying attention to the child development aspect of being a parent. Jake loves to do artwork, especially drawing little circles and saying "eye" "eyes". Stickers and painting are also something he likes. Favorite toys are cars, balls and books. Jake LOVES to read. So does Lucy! I can't wait until we can all read long books together. Jake still likes a snuggle before bed, but will point to his crib when he is really tired and he falls asleep on his own. Lucy, on the other hand still will not consider falling to sleep on her own. That's ok! He has had a few mild tantrums, but I am curious as to how watching all of Lucy's fits will affect him. I wonder...is he taking notes? Realizing how silly it is? Only time will tell!!!  He is my little guy and I love him sooooo much. He loves his Dad and realizes now that Marc has a pattern and is figuring out what weekends are.

We are all busy and somewhat overwhelmed but trying hard to find the spaces in life to enjoy the good things and let go of the stress of daily life.  We are lucky to still get out to see concerts now and then and always fill our weekends with activity as a family when I am not working. We are blessed to have a wonderful circle of friends and family around us. Like Lucy said..."I love my life!"