Easter! After a few years of practice, Oliver knows the egg-hunt drill as well as any kid. Zaeda, who isn’t ready to scramble on her hands and knees across the muddy local park, and who doesn’t get to eat the candy, is left playing with colorful eggs and enjoying a lovely dress she managed to wear for four hours.
On Saturday morning before Easter, the weather was wet and ugly. The egg hunt at Fernhill park is advertised as “Rain or shine” so we looked out the window and adopted a wait and watch approach. We waited for the rain to stop. We watched the puddles build and the ground turn soggy. It looked like we’d be hiding more eggs under the living room sofa.
Then, minutes before the egg hunt was to start, the clouds parted and we had – well, not sun exactly, but a clear spot. We decided to put on boots and go for it. And we went to the park, which was swelling with families like ours. It was actually another huge turnout.
Oliver's kite: We used his new kite as a carrot to induce good behavior all week. I can't tell you how many times he almost didn't get a new kite. Luckily for him, we're softies.
Zaeda put her toes in the sand for the first time this weekend. Then she leaned over and did exactly what Oliver had done at her age: put a handful in her mouth.Our first evening at the beach was so nice and sunny that Oliver and I made a small fire and roasted marshmallows for s'mores. He didn't like the smoke in his eyes. I didn't much like the many many marshmallows we lost because he dropped the stick in the sand. In the end we managed to get one s'more put together for him to eat.
The biggest news is that Zaeda is almost walking! It’s tough to say whether she has really walked yet, but she’s taken a lurching step from the standing position (and promptly fallen). Right now, we’re agreeing that she’s close and we’ll note the magic date she really takes independent steps. Any day now. Meanwhile, she is crawling fast, standing unassisted, cruising the furniture and dancing in place. She is jabbering away, blowing raspberries, and shaking her head playfully when we tell her “no.” She has a bye-bye wave that is pretty cute – just clenching and unclenching her little hand. She and Oliver have crawling races across the house. It’s just so much fun to see them interacting and having fun. We also look forward to the day they can play together without supervision. Oliver sometimes wants to hug his sister and carry her around, but she’s a lot for him to handle and more than once he’s tried lifting and dragging her by the neck. That freaks us out. Little sister is surprisingly resilient.
Lost in his art (always with the tongue out)
Oliver's picture of Daddy in front of Mountains
Oliver quotes:"I want to get growed up like Daddy."
"Mommy, is that how you talk to your son?"
"Zaeda, it’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok."
"Zaeda, remember I told you that I need my space."
First trip to the dentist
