+ How we started the day +
You were up all smiley this morning. To match it, I dressed you in a fabulous outfit with bright yellow ruffled capri pants and a white and yellow sunny shirt with a bright yellow ducky on it. When we left for school, I turned on the oldies and got you to dance with me and giggle as we headed off. Just after turning on to Indian School Road, I saw a lovely Hyundai Sonata pull out in front of and next to us. Who was it? Grandma! And wouldn't you know, the light in front of us was turning red. So we pulled up to the light, I rolled down your window and you squealed and waved and bounced up and down at the sight of Grandma in the car next to us. She smiled and giggled too. And the light changed and we headed off to our separate destinations.

It was a beautiful morning.

+ X-acto +
Poor Anne discovered the best possible scenario involving a toddler and an X-acto knife... nothing happened. How scary, though!

+ Medical update +
So, backing up to the Friday before our trip (also the date of my last update, come to think of it!), on 6/4, you had your first trip to the Emergency Room. Yep, that was fun. Uncles Chris and Mason came over to visit and while Mason was holding you, you decided to backflip onto the metal coffee table. We'd chosen not to put the bumper back on the coffee table because you're so much more confident in your walking now. First big mistake. You screamed horribly of course. I hadn't seen the accident, but Daddy did and he showed me where he thought you'd hit the table. I held you tight and put ice to your forehead to prevent swelling. Once you calmed down I let go my grip on you long enough to take a good look and realized that the hit wasn't on your forehead... It was on your head and you'd hit the corner square-on. My, how head injuries bleed. It wasn't a pretty sight. We cleaned it off with some antiseptic stuff and it wasn't that big, but kind of deep. I insisted we go to ER just to check it out. It turned out to be pretty minor, thankfully and it healed up quite quickly. They didn't make us feel at all silly for coming in and they really checked it thoroughly. In the end, I'm definitely glad we went. Phoenix Children's Hospital is really nice, and we filled out all the paperwork so if we ever need to go back we won't need to do that again.

Anyway, you got a mysterious fever about 3 days later that lasted off-and-on for a couple of days. It responded easily to Tylenol, but I took you to the doctor the day before we left for DC just to make sure it wasn't your ears or anything. Interestingly, I got a mysterious fever for about 1 day almost a week later that responded well to Tylenol. And then? Grandma got a mysterious fever almost a week after that - and it went down with Tylenol and disappeared after a day. It was a very strange little affliction.

On our journey, you tripped at Aunt Thelma's and put your teeth into your gums which caused a nice fat lip and even more blood spillage. Those mouth wounds bleed a lot too, but heal really fast. The swelling was gone by that evening and the sores were gone within a day. But that was your first good tripping injury. Glad it wasn't worse!

Finally, you had your regular 15-month Doctor's appointment (the day before you turned 16 months!) last Friday when we got back. You got your Varicella (chicken pox) and MMR shots which you really really did not enjoy. So far, there has been no adverse reaction, but she did warn us that you might get a short fever a week later. We'll keep our fingers crossed that you don't.

The most fascinating part of your doctor's appointment? Your measurements. You measured in the 90th percentile for height (an increase of about 15% if I remember right) and 60th - yes - SIXTIETH percentile for weight. 23.5 pounds. WTF?! It's all that healthy eating I guess. You have been creeping up the weight scale, but now you're way up there. Way to grow! I knew you were getting heavier - trust me. But now you really are my little porker. Wahoo!

Social update to follow.

+ Way behind +
I know, I'm fired. I have been neglecting this blog horribly. So I'll give you a bunch of updates as I find the time over the next few days, and I'll try to break them out to topics. As a general overview, work has been terribly busy which is why I haven't been updating. You have been doing well at daycare. We went to Pennsylvania to see my Great Aunt and to Washington DC for National History Day and it went very well. You were a "lap baby" for the first flight over, and took a couple of one hour naps that eased the process. On the way home, you had your own seat and car seat and slept pretty well. You'd wake up every once in a while for calming and go right back to sleep. Traveling with a toddler is stupidly exhausting, though. With the Pack & Play, stroller, car seat, diaper bag, etc. - Yikes! I'm glad we had all of it, though. I wouldn't have changed it. I just wish Daddy had come along, though I know there are times he'd have been pretty bored. Oh well.

Incidentally, for Father's Day we got one heck of a present. I opened the back door of the Ford to put you in to go to church and sitting right there on the floor was... the digital camera. It wasn't there the night before, and I have searched that car including under the front seats probably a half-dozen times. But there it was, right next to the back seat, nothing else on the floor. Freaky. There were pictures from 3/7 on it, and nothing since of course. I will upload those soon, and then regular photo updates should resume shortly. Thank goodness! I was getting sick of ordering $2.97 photo CD's with each roll of film I developed.

+ Potty training 101 +
I know that people think it's too early to start potty training. Meanwhile, we've had people shocked that we haven't gotten her trained already. Yeah, well, everyone has their opinion. Regardless, we've entered the on-ramp for the journey to potty-train-dom.

This morning, you woke up with a dry diaper. Initially I was concerned that you might be dehydrated and became a little alarmed. It crossed my mind that you might have just... not peed. But I thought that couldn't be it. I dressed you, took you into the living room to get you a cup of water and play with the doggie. When I gave you the water cup, you weren't really very interested in it. You chased Princess for a few minutes and I noticed your diaper was looking heavy. I picked you up and it was indeed very warm and VERY full.

In other words, you didn't pee all night but waited until you woke up. If I had put you right on your potty, you probably would have peed in it. Not a guarantee, but probable nonetheless. You can bet the next time you wake up with a dry-ish diaper, you're going right to the potty. In fact, I might just start taking you in there every morning.

I potty-trained when I was 14 months so you're already behind. ;-) Just kidding. I'm very proud of you. You're on your way.

+ Freak heartbreak +
I don't live my life in fear. But occasionally out of the blue a random act of violence will penetrate my deliberate coolness and shake me terribly. This story is the culprit this time. I made the mistake of letting my imagination wander and put myself in the scene, exiting the store with my one-year-old... Well, let's just say I'm not in a good place right now. My prayers are with her mother, and are surely far too insignificant to ease the pain she must be feeling. :(