Spring has Sprung

I believe it’s finally safe to say that spring is here to stay. Daytime temperatures have barely dropped below 50 degrees, and we’ve even seen the 70s several days. Trees are budding and daffodils are blooming, and I can almost hear the hum of the lawn mower.

Sam was barely big enough to truly enjoy the outdoors last year. But, oh boy, is he soaking it up now. Every morning he bangs on the door that leads to the backyard and stomps his pajama-bottomed feet on the floor and demands to go outside. No sooner do I get him changed and into his sneakers than he’s sprinting down the sidewalk or scaling the rocks.

He is obsessed with the dirt and now requires no less than three outfit changes per day. He shovels it and rakes it and carries it around the yard in his bucket. I have found it in his diaper and up his nose. He no longer owns a clean pair of shoes. He is fascinated by bugs and worms. He has scuffed his nose and skinned his right knee and rolled down the hill more times than I can count. He is all boy.

We have visited every park and playground within a 15-mile radius and have returned to our favorites several days in a row. Sam is still not a big fan of the swings — he would rather run and climb and crawl and slide. He thinks he’s such a big kid.

We spent an entire morning collecting sticks and throwing rocks into the lake and yelling “duck duck duck.” And when he reached up to hold my hand while we walked along the water, my heart swelled.

Nana joined us one day, and he held her hand, too. I think it was her favorite moment of the weekend.

Lucy has been enjoying our company in the backyard, although it’s impossible to keep Sam’s colorful plastic toys out of her mouth.

Evening baths are now a necessity, and we’ve all been sleeping sounder after full days of fresh air. Spring, we love you so.