Spring is here! Spring is here! The robins are out, the coats are hung up, the windows are open…FINALLY, at last! And nothing is more exciting than having the weather turn beautiful with a brand new walker in the house.

On April 27th, at age 13 months, Caroline officially walked! Mike and I got a video of her blazing a path in the Toddler I room at daycare. She was so proud of herself! Oh she had taken a step here or there, but from this point on, she was a sturdy, confident, mobile toddler. And every day, she gained more and more confidence. It was a lot of fun.

How’d we celebrate? Why, by joining FONZ of course…we are now proud Friends of the National Zoo. Hello unlimited carousel rides and free parking. Mikes favorite feature attraction at the zoo? Why, the carousel, of course 🙂

Caroline’s favorite feature attraction at the zoo? Why, the armadillos, of course! She squeals when they run by her.

Here is the newest FONZ member proudly holding her new FONZ button:

No spring is complete without multiple trips to the local nursery to select some plants that would bring a few pops of color to our yard…Caroline was all-in for the outing, especially after claiming the just-her-size Adirondack chair. It was quite difficult to pull her away. She acted liked she owned the joint.

One sunny spring Saturday, I met up with Meg and her kids at a beautiful park called Glen Echo because it was “Carousel Day” and they were celebrating the 99th season of this beautiful carousel being in operation:

We took a spin on it, but the real highlight for Caroline was hanging with these big kids on the playground and practicing her new walking skills!

We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and the fact that Caroline loves salsa and had more than a few date night al fresco dinners at Guapo’s:

Let’s just say I am glad the salsa is free…this kid can put it away, that’s for sure!

Although nothing quite compared to the first time Caroline tried chocolate, which happened to be at daycare…in the form of ‘Dirt Cake’ in honor of Earth Day. Nothing says ‘We love Mother Earth’ like devouring chocolate pudding and crushed Oreos!

I think she and chocolate will be friends for life 🙂

One of my favorite parts of having a new walker is that she takes her time. Isn’t that such a delight for us fast-paced adults, to have a tiny person who is not focused on the destination, but merely the activity? You can’t rush her, and nor do you want to. Instead, you find yourself walking at a snail’s pace and noticing things you never would have otherwise. Caroline loves, loves, loves being outside. She loves pointing out the dogs. She loves crouching down and touching the storm drains. She loves pointing out the ants on the sidewalk, squealing at the chipmunks and squirrels, trying to find the kitty cat that hides under the blue car. My mom even said she bravely walked up to some baby mice and tried to grab them. No fear, this little one!

Here she is waving enthusiastically to a (fake) dog. We wave at all dogs…real, fake, it doesn’t matter:

Note the “purse” on her arm, which of course she couldn’t leave the house without:

But let’s not be crazy, she still doesn’t like dirt on her hands:

And she loves my sunglasses. Yes, now they are so scratched I can hardly see out of them 🙂 Good thing they aren’t fancy!

The funniest part about taking a stroll around the block with Caroline is that she walks/marches with her hands clasped behind her back, like a mini inspector. It’s hilarious. She really does look like a grounds inspector.

We got a surprise call one weekend from my cousin Robbie, who was in town with his family for a short time and we all got to meet up at a Smithsonian museum…it was delightful! Robbie and his lovely wife Dom have an almost-two year old named Leo who is smart as a whip and a lot of fun.

Here’s Robbie, Caroline, and her new snack bucket best friend…Robbie loved holding her because she was cuddly. I didn’t feel like she was cuddly but compared to his fiercely independent toddler, I guess she was! It was certainly a preview of what’s to come for us.

Here’s the whole group at the museum; Caroline is looking at the floor where she dropped a Cheerio…classic:

When we had to part ways, sweet Leo gave his little cousin a kiss! Ho adorable is that?!?

Don’t let Caroline’s ‘I’m unimpressed’ face fool you. She loved the attention and watched Leo with curious admiration the whole afternoon 🙂

On a total side note, can I just say that one of my favorite parts of spring is THE CLOTHES? I mean, just look at this cute dress that she wore to daycare one day:

It was the perfect outfit for playing outside with her best buddies!

On one of the most gorgeous days of spring, I got a call at work saying Caroline had a slight fever and needed to be picked up. I I headed out in a flash. A 100 degree fever isn’t a cause for alarm, and there was good weather to enjoy. I scooped up this little lady and headed home, then gave her some Tylenol, water, and snacks. We spent the rest of the day on the grass, just watching the clouds float by, and it was delightful.

Sometimes you just need a little fresh air!

Well, fresh air, a new water bottle, delicious snacks, and freshly cut grass. Happy Spring, Sugar Bear!