Helena and the Flowers

Helena's favorite thing to do when we return home from any kind of outing is to run through the corridor between the apartments, pass our door, and run around to our porch, which also serves as a side door to our apartment. Someone typically unlocks the front door, runs through the living room, opens the side door, and lets--or rather, brings--her in, usually amid much protest. Sometimes we are able to stay outside with her for a while, when it is not too cold, the ground too wet, and nothing pressing to be done inside. Though the ground was a little soggy, today was one such day.

Today, while exploring the green space between the buildings, Helena discovered the little flowers that we always called "lilies of the valley" when I was little. She was very pleased. She picked two little sprays, and brought them to show me, saying "flowers" with her "l" sounding still a bit like a "w." So I picked several more for her and gave them to her.
She sat on the steps of the building with her flowers. . .


. . . which were not always cooperative! She did a lot of gathering of flowers that escaped her bouquet. . .
. . . asking Daddy to help her. . .. . . again. . .
. . . and again. . .
. . . and again! (I gathered them a few times, too. . .)
Then, she settled back on her step with her bouquet.

When we finally came inside, I found a little cup in the toy dishes and some water for her flowers, which she remembered periodically throughout the evening, showing them to her little sister, for example!