"Pooh" and "Beebee"

Welcome spring and 90 degree weather. Greetings to sprouting gardens and evening thunderstorms. Salutations outdoor activities. Hello happy toddler.

Three days ago the weather got hot. I am greatly motivated by warm weather, but most importantly, sunshine. I admit that in winter I am a tired, grouchy hermit. As soon as the darkness hits, so does the sleepiness and crankiness. But come warm weather and sunshine, I am rejuvenated, happy, and might appear to be taking speed.

Isis has also taken a liking to these hot days. For the past three days we have a new afternoon routine. Each day when I go into her room after her nap, the first thing she says is, "pooh." This is toddler talk for pool. It's time to go swimming and she remembers this from when I told her about it at 8:00 in the morning. I ask her if she wants to go swimming and she squeals with excitement. She then exclaims, "beebee." This means bathing suit and it is a MUST. Yesterday the beebee was lost and I told her we could swim without it and she looked at me like I had just shot Elmo. The tears flowed and the plea beebee just got louder and more emphatic. Luckily, after much searching, we found beebee wedged underneath mommy's bed. I have no idea....

Once beebee has been located and we've lubed up on sunscreen we head out to the pooh and Isis stands in the water...

Then she gets out. And in. And out. And in. And out. And in. And out. And this is what all the excitement has been building up to.

After swimming we always enjoy a popsicle together because I think it's what you're supposed to do next. Sometimes Isis has her own. Sometimes she likes to try Mommy's. Occasionally she likes both...

I've come to enjoy this routine the past few days. Not so much because I like standing in a baby pool and then getting out and then getting back in. But because I've come to love the joy I see in Isis for the simplest of life's pleasures. To swim. To be outside. To have a popsicle. These are tiny things that I have come to take for granted. But her genuine enthusiasm and excitement for these things has replenished in me a happiness that is most organic.