Little Drummer Girl

Wow, time flies! In the week since we got back from L.A., she is almost walking, almost talking and has joined a local drum circle.

How do they change so quickly?! She has also learned fifteen more signs (sign language). Now she can not only tell me what she wants but she has also figured out how to tell me if something hurts (in this case, gums...she just cut her fourth tooth...may it be the last for a while!). Some mother told me that after they cut the first one or two teeth, it doesn't bother them any more. This woman is obviously genetically linked to the same woman who told me that childbirth doesn't hurt.

Steve was off in Vegas with cousin Parker this weekend and he missed out on all our adventures. Saturday, Taeya and I went to a birthday party in the park. Hosted by a lovely woman that Steve and I stalked out at our local drugstore. Yes, I said stalked. Several weeks ago, Steve went into our local Longs drugstore while I sat in the car with a sleeping Taeya. He ran into a woman there who has a little boy Taeya's age who is already walking! He comes back to the car to tell me about this woman and her amazing little boy who started walking at 81/2 months (OMG...poor woman). To my utter shock and horror, the first words out of my mouth were "Does she live in the area? Does she seem nice? Did you get her phone number?" (DID YOU GET HER PHONE NUMBER? Did I really just ask my husband that?) Steve then says "Yeah, she seems really nice. I think you would like her. Maybe she's still here."
I Am Canadian. I should have sat back in my seat, gufawed and said "Don't be silly! Now turn on NPR." Instead I shouted "Let's go!" and we sped through the parking lot hoping to find her before she left. We pull up next to her as she is exiting the parking lot (on foot) and I roll down my window and beg her to be my friend*. She says sure and invites my to join her playgroup and subsequently invites me to her son's first birthday party. Who says I'm not an American (or desperate).
* okay so I'm simplifying a bit but after explaining our move down from L.A. etc. etc. she did give me her email address and we emailed back and forth for a bit and she's actually a really lovely woman with a wonderful family and group of friends. I never knew stalking could be so rewarding :-)

Saturday evening, Bubbe came to spend the night and to help with Taeya. I was in the process of making dinner for us while she and Taeya played together in the family room. Taeya did something absolutely brilliant and I, of course, went in to admire the genius that is my daughter. The three of us were having a fabulous time hanging out on the rug playing with toys and talking when all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I saw something red...and flickering. I had completely forgotten about the toast that I was making for Taeya in the toaster oven and now we had a problem. We had moved waaaaay past the point of oops burnt toast and we were now dealing with flames licking the cupboard doors. Fortunately Bubbe grabbed the flour then the baking soda and managed to put the fire out. Who needs Vegas?