La Primavera Esplosivo

It's blossom-mania in the District (and a lot of the world I suppose). It's just the end of the cherries and deciduous magnolias here, and just the beginning for everything else.

People have lost their pollen addled minds. It seems like there is more drama on the  U.S. E.C. than usual this spring, with the extra early heat, the excitement in the air, and flowers over every inch of space, it's a big full volume spring. But most importantly around here, Ada is finally able to get out of the winter gear and walk around unencumbered.

Here are a few pictures of her with some of her family: sleeping with her Grandma (look how big that baby is now!), her cousin Ty (super cake excitement face!), and her Aunt J (nice tiny stuffed bear you have there aunt J). She's such a grown up little 10 month old that it's ridiculous. She thinks she's already two. She's also one of the few people who can pull off a poncho so well.

For the 100th Anniversary of our Cherry Blossoms ("the" cherry blossoms) the city/festival created these decoration kits. I am taken with any municipal effort to make a big deal about flowers blooming, and the thought of an "official" festival home decorating kit (including light bulbs and big yard signs) amused me all month. Our neighbors got into the spirit, so there's lots of pink around here.

We had our annual overage of blossom celebration, including our annual day on the basin fueled by sun and saké. Most of the celebrating went by so quickly, and was so much fun, that I never took pictures of it. It's a good thing there are enough pictures of flowers in the world, so I prefer to just enjoy them with the cameras stashed away.

I like this photo because it reminds me that this is one of the few places where trees are celebrities, well it's a place where trees and nerds are celebrities anyway. Here is Ada, and behind her the blossom paparazzi are out in full force. By the tens of thousands, 24/7, they strive to capture it. In March every online photo sharing site on earth must get deluged from DC with a few petabytes of pink and white puffs- the thought of it warms my heart.

This time of year in the District we are all a little kawaii.

February

February is gone, a soon to be forgotten month... 11 more will pass until

the next one comes clean and fresh as if a February never came before.

St. Valentines and scarves- waiting for March.

I have pictures I never went through, hundreds of pictures of baby without end, and when I go through them I see her growing all over again, and that hurts. So I find just a few and save the rest for later. 

Here are a few pictures of Ada to share with you-- just some, 

here is one snapshot of the luckiest father on earth, who is cryptozoological, in more ways than one: 

non sequiter, elusive, hirsute, and the luckiest dad ever (yes, ever).

Among the hundreds of images that make me feel the merciless passage of time, there are:

Pictures of Ada hugging books...

And pictures of her having a rad hair day while shopping for blueberries and rice puffs...

Shots of new things...

And shots of new old things...

And Leap Day celebrations.

And pictures that make me see her 9 months going on 21.

Thanks for being good February. You're usually so cold, and your name trips everyone up. 

Februum For Februa, with your purifications, offerings, and such, all those vicious old rituals which never really appeal to me. In so much of the world you're the most interesting month of the year, people wait for you, carnivals, and feasts within your days. Around here we normally just wait for you to end, so we can put the coats away. Although I do prefer the 21st Century Rome to the one of your naming, less bloody sacrifice, and more good coffee, I have to admit, that this year with so many great things: leaps of joy, 60 degree days, long weekends with great people, you really came through for us all. 

Until next we meet. 

You're on your way to becoming the new March.