Spring in Charlottesville. Spring in America. Spring in general. It seems like forever since we've experienced a normal spring, but I guess it's been just 2 years. Last year, in New Zealand, we didn't really have a spring: when we moved there in June, it was Winter. It rained solid for 4 months. Then in November it was hot - super hot - when it wasn't raining of course. And then December, January, February were hot and then all of a sudden it was winter again. If it had felt at all spring-like or even fall-like, I would have remembered it - because the entire year we were either wishing we had heat or air conditioning, so there definitely wasn't a clear in-between time when we were just weather content.
So this year, with the birds & what not whistling, and the trees and flowers blooming, and the pollen count, while not close to Atlanta's pollen, is high, I definitely feel spring. And here in Charlottesville we need this spring. The winter was the snowiest winter ever, and we were stuck - literally, most of the time - indoors. We couldn't even have real cutesy photo-ops with Lilly outside in the snow because what child can walk in 2 feet snow easily? But that was months ago. And now it's spring.
It's not just the dogwoods and flowers that are blooming; so is my sweet Lilly. She is blossoming into such a beautiful sweet little girl. Of course she always has been that, but recently her personality, her skills, her very soul seems to be growing exponentially each day. She is a child who is mastering every piece of playground equipment - from the rope ladders to the climbers. This especially makes us appreciative because this is a little girl who didn't walk well until she was 27 months old, and now there's not a thing she can't accomplish. Lilly is so social at school, which she always has been, but it's really taken off with her calling her friends by their names, participating with the group, and saying more and more each day. Her latest is that she pretends to burp, then says "excuse me" which is the latest thing that all her friends do at school - which of course I don't love but at the same time I appreciate that she's just one of the little 3 year olds, picking up bad habits.
She is a creature of habit, of routine, and she is so proud to be independent. We just got new carpet in the living room, and when Lilly walks in the door, she sits down immediately and takes off her shoes and socks, placing them perfectly side by side against the wall. She also puts on her shoes and socks all by herself in the morning, and is always wanting to dress herself. She loves playing "pretend" and is such a "girl" - she loves to grab her favorite dolly, a purse, a sweater (of course), and sometimes a hat, and just walk out the front door if it's unlocked. Love it! And she loves all her dolls and stuffed animals. This morning, she asked me to read her the book "Someday" (if you haven't read this children's book, it's a tear jerker). She sat in my lap quietly and listened to the whole story. Then she moved across from me, put Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck next to me, and she read the story to us - she is such a little teacher. The amazing part is, we haven't read that book very often, and she remembered so much of the story from me reading it just once before her. And each time she read it, when she got to a certain page, when a girl "folds up in sadness," (or something like that) Lilly gets so sad along with that girl. After a few times we read it, she actually started crying on that page. I love her empathy, her emotion, her huge heart.
It always hits me how hard it is to describe the magic of my little girl in words. To truly know Lilly is experience her every day, to watch her grow and develop, and to hear her little voice talk to us. It's the way she says "C'mon, Let's go!" when I tell her we're going to do something fun, or when I tell her I love her and she looks at me with the sweetest expression and says "Love you too!" But most of all it's amazing that her outer beauty matches her inner beauty, and a picture is worth a thousand words. These were taken this past weekend.
So this year, with the birds & what not whistling, and the trees and flowers blooming, and the pollen count, while not close to Atlanta's pollen, is high, I definitely feel spring. And here in Charlottesville we need this spring. The winter was the snowiest winter ever, and we were stuck - literally, most of the time - indoors. We couldn't even have real cutesy photo-ops with Lilly outside in the snow because what child can walk in 2 feet snow easily? But that was months ago. And now it's spring.
It's not just the dogwoods and flowers that are blooming; so is my sweet Lilly. She is blossoming into such a beautiful sweet little girl. Of course she always has been that, but recently her personality, her skills, her very soul seems to be growing exponentially each day. She is a child who is mastering every piece of playground equipment - from the rope ladders to the climbers. This especially makes us appreciative because this is a little girl who didn't walk well until she was 27 months old, and now there's not a thing she can't accomplish. Lilly is so social at school, which she always has been, but it's really taken off with her calling her friends by their names, participating with the group, and saying more and more each day. Her latest is that she pretends to burp, then says "excuse me" which is the latest thing that all her friends do at school - which of course I don't love but at the same time I appreciate that she's just one of the little 3 year olds, picking up bad habits.
She is a creature of habit, of routine, and she is so proud to be independent. We just got new carpet in the living room, and when Lilly walks in the door, she sits down immediately and takes off her shoes and socks, placing them perfectly side by side against the wall. She also puts on her shoes and socks all by herself in the morning, and is always wanting to dress herself. She loves playing "pretend" and is such a "girl" - she loves to grab her favorite dolly, a purse, a sweater (of course), and sometimes a hat, and just walk out the front door if it's unlocked. Love it! And she loves all her dolls and stuffed animals. This morning, she asked me to read her the book "Someday" (if you haven't read this children's book, it's a tear jerker). She sat in my lap quietly and listened to the whole story. Then she moved across from me, put Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck next to me, and she read the story to us - she is such a little teacher. The amazing part is, we haven't read that book very often, and she remembered so much of the story from me reading it just once before her. And each time she read it, when she got to a certain page, when a girl "folds up in sadness," (or something like that) Lilly gets so sad along with that girl. After a few times we read it, she actually started crying on that page. I love her empathy, her emotion, her huge heart.
It always hits me how hard it is to describe the magic of my little girl in words. To truly know Lilly is experience her every day, to watch her grow and develop, and to hear her little voice talk to us. It's the way she says "C'mon, Let's go!" when I tell her we're going to do something fun, or when I tell her I love her and she looks at me with the sweetest expression and says "Love you too!" But most of all it's amazing that her outer beauty matches her inner beauty, and a picture is worth a thousand words. These were taken this past weekend.
2 comments:
I was thinking just yesterday that I missed Lilly updates! Silly me, I saw your pictures on facebook and tried to pick a favorite. They are all gorgeous! I hope your move goes smoothly!
Beautiful pictures to match your beautiful words! Great update...keep 'em coming!
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