Spring has finally sprung!!!

We just got back from Holland! A mere two-and-a-half hours to the west and a stone's throw from Lake Michigan, it's the land of Hope College, an annual Tulip Festival and lots of Dutch Reformed folk. John stayed home and worked his last weekend call as an intern while Big Momma, Atticus and I rendezvoused with Papa Tom in a town that has become a familiar meeting place for Grandparents Barton. We ended up there this week for a wedding. As a dry run for Atticus who's slated to be the ringbearer in John's cousin's wedding this June, there's plenty of room for improvement. The minute Atticus and I sat down (thankfully, in the back), he squirmed and then screeched at the thought of being held still for the ceremony which led to an immediate departure. Of the hour-long ceremony, we witnessed 15 minutes or less as we were lost in a deep and thorough exploration of surroundings not limited to but including the grounds outside, multiple trips up and down the stairs to the balcony and, last but not least, the nursery with its bounty of toys. As for the rest of the festivities, the Little Man did pretty well sharing his dried apples with the other kids, dancing and drumming to the music and, in his spare time, teaching folks some sign language. He also garnered much praise for his chugalugging as he drank from his sippy cup for no less than 3 minutes without coming up for air...a future of beer bongs and relays was mentioned.

Mother Nature finally woke up this week and the weather finally matched the calendar. The grass is green here now and everything is blooming. That meant lots of time outside for the Little Man including trips to the park nearly every day with Big Momma or Mama and Daddy. Big Momma and Atticus have made fast friends with some of the locals and have play dates set up for Monday through Friday. There are at least a couple other boys born in November 2006 who frequent the neighborhood park and one of them is bound for bullyhood. The way Big Momma tells it, Atticus was chilling in the tunnel when bullyboy happened upon him and just reached out, grabbed his face, gouging his left eye and cheek. Atticus has the marks to prove it and required some interventional swinging with Big Momma to get over the trauma. So far, our little pacifist seems no worse for the wear.

Atticus is also making friends with kids who hang out at our next door neighbors. Today, there were 4 kids -- Marquell, Ashanti, Skyler and Jerome -- ranging in age from 5 to 9. They shared an Atticus-sized basketball with the Little Man and showed him a couple of their ball-handling tricks. He shared the two rocks and pine cone he'd picked up in his backyard travels. Marquell asked to pick Atticus up and then Ashanti asked if he could come and play with them later so I think he's a hit. I've got high hopes for his summertime adventures...

Firsts from this week:

• a new obsession with all things large and automotive requiring lots of pointing and grunting
  
• saying almost intelligible versions of "hot," "up," and "now" and signing for "juice"
  
• strapping up his sandals
  
• getting dressed to the hokey pokey song and turning himself around
  
• sliding down a METAL slide...old school style