Puddle jumper

Dear A,

You jumped in your first puddles this week.  Oh how I wish I had brought the camera out!  I was home with you on Wednesday morning. Since it was unseasonably warm for an Ithaca January, we bundled up (you in your full fur snowsuit from Grandpa) and headed out. After playing for a while, you asked to get the mail - such a good memory you have. We haven't done that since the fall.  This time, I made you walk across the street in your big red boots. And it was on the way back that you discovered the big, slushy pool at the end of our driveway. At first, you just walked through it, watching your feet and saying "splash! splash!" (You say that when you dunk cookies into milk, too, and Nana thinks it sounds like you're saying "die!" which always makes us laugh.)  Then you found a neighboring puddle to stomp through. A half hour later, you had taken two nose dives into the water and were covered with brown slush. You had also nearly learned to jump, squatting down and then standing up quickly, but without your feet ever leaving the ground. When it was time to go in, you cried to stay out. I had to strip you down in the garage because that fur snow suit held a lot of water. We shared some hot chocolate, and you took a really good nap that afternoon.  Needless to say, I'll be the first in line this spring when rainboots and slickers go on sale.

All my love,
Mom