spring firsts

Not only has the first crocus come up in the garden,

we've had our first margaritas out on the sun porch,

we've had our first BBQ with friends.

Lilly's had her first full days diaper-free this week (except for when she naps, and when she wakes up after a nap it's still typically been dry),

she's gotten her first actual undies,

and she's having her first spring in our house in Northfield.
 

spring celebrations

Today my first crocus came up, only a few days after spring solstice on Saturday. Sunday was my birthday, I think my best so far. Got to stay in bed longer while Leighton was with Lilly, then Leighton made me breakfast and after that he presented me with an adventure-game of gifts he'd prepared for me. Very fun. I had a morning walk in the sunshine with my friend Amanda after that, then lunch out all of us at a cafe in town. While Lilly had her afternoon nap, I got a massage (and it felt wonderful). Then Leighton and I took Lilly over to her friend Anna for a playdate while we got to go out for a dinner-date (our second so far, after Leighton's mom was here in the fall). We went to Chapati, an Indian restaurant in town, ate all our food and shared a bottle of wine; it was lovely. To round it all off, we had Ben & Jerry ice cream while watching an HBO show after Lilly had fallen asleep (Chubby Hubby and Karamel Sutra). Couldn't be better.

My thanks to friends and family for cards, gifts, and greetings! You helped made my day extra special!

The village thing

Spring! Time to get out. Lilly napped in the stroller today. Matt, a friend, saw us walking by his house and came outside for a chat. His son had just gone down for a nap. Then another friend, Katie, walked by with her baby who was napping in a baby wrap. I walked with her a few blocks.

Later, we were invited for the first grill of the year! It turned out to be a kind of a potluck with 3 families--6 adults, 5 kids, great food and fun. The kids played, the adults got to talk.

It really is so much easier with a community of friends. Now that the snow has melted, we can expect more days like today!