Outing

The weather was so nice yesterday we took a family outing to the park. You didn't care that the grass wasn't green and the trees didn't have leaves. You didn't care about the mud all around the pond. If you are outside, you are happy.

 Your enthusiasm for everything is inspiring. A simple walk around the pond drove you to the giggles. You were so excited to be there and see everything you started running. I guess no one told you that you aren't very good at that yet. You figured it out, though, and spent the rest of the time holding mom's hand, dragging me along as fast as my pregnant body would go. I never thought it would be so hard to keep up with those tiny legs.

Every sight and sound were novel to you. Ducks! You had never seen ducks before. How extraordinary! And how tyrannical of your mother not to allow you to walk in the mud and water to inspect them closer. So many things at the park. Dogs! Kids! Fish! Birds! You want to experience all of it. And I want you to. But I am a little worried about mud all over your cute body and clothes and all over our car on the way home. And I am concerned that you will drown if you wade into the water. Or catch hypothermia because, although it was warm for February, it's still February.

My favorite part was when I let go of your hand because I thought you might want to walk across the grass to the car. You must have been a little nervous about falling, even though it wouldn't hurt so much on the grass. Or maybe you just love me. But I loved your precious face as you stopped walking and turned back to me, your hand raised in the air so I could hold it. Can we freeze time right here?