You Angel You (They're Getting Harder Now)

Whichever creative genius employed the witty "Duh" in the comment below, I've decided to up the ante song-title-wise.

For his birthday a few months ago, Reid received a very nice easel (thanks Aviva and Dalya!) for which he was very grateful. We had to cancel and reschedule his birthday party a week later after he got sick the morning of the original date, and I recall that Aviva and Dalya's mom and dad mentioned that they were excited to give the great big easel in the middle of their living room away. I soon felt the presence of the great big easel in the middle of our living room, and we moved it to the hallway near the back door, setting up an art studio at the top of the basement stairs since the basement is a terrible place and nobody should have to go down there.

One afternoon, the family sat down for lunch and Reid, as is his want, soon excused himself from the table after four bites of food and two glasses of milk. He set to work chalking up a masterpiece on the easel, and K and I continued to eat our lunch.

Minutes later, one of us (I don't recall which) walked into the hall to check on Reid. The easel was covered in hot pink chalk, as were all the walls in the hallway. It was like someone had murdered a clown.

We explained to Reid that he should never write on anything but the chalk board, but refrained from anything more urgent because neither of us could actually recall telling him not to write on walls with chalk. But we'll definitely tell Sania. I hope.

Later on, K got some Clorox Magic Eraser sponges and we all had a good time cleaning the walls. Incidentally, Reid was wearing one of those cloth diapers we use as an all-purpose baby towel as a cape, naturally.

Otherwise, things have been all Sania all the time around here. We've done some traveling, and I'd like to put a little distance (haha) between me and that experience so I don't go talking about a relatively enjoyable trip in terms of travel nightmares (though I probably won't be allowed back into the Denver Airport any time soon), rental car woes (remind me again why I need to answer all those questions at the rental car counter when I've already answered them once when I made my reservation) and surprisingly cold weather.

Sania is sitting up like a true champ. She seems as surprised as we are. We chuck her down there and fold her legs to form a reliable base, and she just weaves around looking at the things she could possibly reach with her hands and drag closer to her mouth for a thorough saliva-bath. And she smiles widely at her newfound independence.

We're unearthing (from the dreaded basement) baby toys of Reid's that didn't get much play on account of he was so busy putting his head in things and shouting and Sania is really making use of them. The toy in the background of this picture, clearly a model of a complex molecule or something, makes a squeaky noise and is full of tiny little beads which commute from one node to another. Also, if you hit it right, it squeaks. Sania has found the secret to neutralizing the squeaking however, and that secret is drool.

She really is a lot of fun right now. If she isn't too tired or too hungry (and she's those things a good deal, of course), she can just about play any where at any time. She has lost her tolerance with ever being on her back. I think she feels undefended as her primary weapon, drool, can't be utilized effectively while she is lying on her back. Whenever she's on her back, give her a second and she'll end up belly-side down, pushing herself up with all her might, smiling like this and setting her sights on whatever is within three feet of her position.