Springtime (and snow) is in the air.... hello, Cleveland

The picture above really says it all about how Sara is approaching life right now, grab the bull (or stroller cup-holder as it were) by the horns and get moving. Up until yesterday we had been having a nice early spring warm-up. In fact, we apparently set a new record high on Tuesday of 80 degrees. So, after work/school each night we have been taking Sara out for walks when we can and she has been absolutely loving it.... she pulls up, looks around, and is excited and engaged for almost the whole walk, always.... pretty cool.



We have also gone out in the yard a few times, even though it has been a bit on the squishy side. Sara was none-to-pleased the first time I tried to get her to crawl in the grass... she just started a slow cry... I guess the grass is so new, and scratchy that she just doesn't know what to do. We have tried a few more times standing with her shoes on, which has gone better... but something to work on.

Speaking of standing, she is pulling up more and more and beginning to take prompted steps or shuffles when we are around (who knows what she is doing at day care in that respect, though, could be a lot more). Sara has also made some first attempts to climb stairs... well just one stair and then she gets back down, but she has fun doing it.

Sara still has just the one tooth, but it is growing all the time. Her eating is far more variable lately than it used to be. One day she will not eat much at all, the next she will inhale everything in sight, and the next she will do both... getting more picky with what she eats too. She will still try new things, though, when she is in the mood to eat... and when that happens the eating goes well, too.



Last weekend we also had a play-date with some of Sara's friends... Here is a picture of Sara going down a slide (another first!) at a local elementary school last Saturday.

Otherwise, things are going basically well here... I said to Danette on Tuesday (when it was 80) that I would have mowed the lawn, but it is in the shop, so oh well... and then it snowed yesterday. Sara has tomorrow off from school, so Mom is going to stay home most of the day with her as I have some meetings I have to be at.... and that seems like most of it.

Oh yeah, can't forget to make a big blog of public congratulations to Nate and Claire who announced they are having a baby this summer... that is mucho exciting. We will be looking forward to meeting the newest Hellman after they all return to the US.