SPRING!!!

Spring is by far one of my favorite times of the year, but then again I would probably say that about the first cool days of Fall or the holiday buzz of Winter. As much as I miss California weather, I love the seasons...just as I'm getting to the point of impatience with bundling up to go outside or sweating because of the humidity, a new season comes. Actually, as I am writing this, I find myself returning to my first statement: Spring is by far one of my favorite times of the year. I actually can't remember a time when I wanted Spring to end like I can with the other seasons, except for maybe the anticipation of a summer vacation. I could live in Spring a long, long time. It just makes me happy...in fact, I think Spring is one of the things that brings me pure joy-- the kind of happiness I imagine Alyse feels when she smiles.




Two things have struck me this year as Spring begins and they are making me love it all the more:
- No matter how long, cold, dreary, etc. the Winter has been, Spring always comes. Spring always follows Winter. I love that fact, both literally and allegorically.
- Even before it's consistently warm weather, all of the flowers bloom. They seem to know that even though it doesn't seem like Spring now, in the next week or the one after that Spring is coming. They have this trust or knowledge-- I know I'm personifying them, but it does seem like that! And, I just love that even on those grey, pre-Spring days, all of the daffodils and tulips and cherry blossoms and magnolia trees are blooming in all their glory!

Along with the newness of Spring, we have been enjoying Alyse's new tricks...



Smiling at daddy every single time he walks past her or talks to her :)



Paying more attention to the camera-- she just stares at it as soon as she hears it turn on!


Rolling over almost every time she is placed on her back (even just last night she woke herself up at 2am because she'd rolled over and couldn't get back to her back!)


Practicing sitting upright in her bumbo-- she loves the new view it gives her and just looks around real slowly when she sits in it.



AND, eating "solid" food! Two weeks ago she started with oatmeal cereal and after several days she actually started liking it. As you can see from the pics, we have been blessed with a baby that is a very good eater :) She just tried carrots last night and loved them!



In other news, we have made our official "departing the East Coast" plans: July 8th Alyse and I fly to SLC and Brandon drives part of the way to Chicago. We are moving and storing our stuff with one of those container companies and just moving odds and ends in my car. Then, we will get to spend about five weeks traveling around Utah and California visiting family, vacationing, and hopefully exploring some companies Brandon wants to connect with. It is a bittersweet experience to plan this move-- we are so excited to take this next step in our family's life and we have so enjoyed our time here and in DC.

Oh, PS, went on our first date without Lisi. We traded babysitting with some friends of ours (Thanks, Jergensens!!!) and went to see a matinee movie and even grabbed lunch. It felt great and wierd at the same time to not have her with us.