TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

I'm fairly certain our dear little Wahkeenah is mucking up our technology. About 4 months ago, Daddio asked, out of the blue, "Do you think Vanessa has superhuman powers?" I said yes, of course I thought so. Now I am seeing evidence and am seriously considering contacting the makers of Heroes. You see, I *finally* let her play with mommy's toy - the laptop computer - and inside of 60 seconds it short-circuited and died. It's in the shop, still, and I'm blogging from a brand new laptop.

Additionally, I finally caved to her beggings and forked over our hand-held Solitaire game, at her insistence, and again, inside of 15 seconds, it was dead.

Also broken is our little digital camera - no flash. Who is the subject of the 6000 shots we've taken in the past year? Yes, yes: VanNanna. So no pics of her today, although we have been able to catch little video clips. I'll post those later, when I get a chance to download them to the new laptop.

What else? Well, the vacuum spits dirt. You may recall that one of the very few instances where I use the word "No" is when Vanners eats dirt. She loves dirt. A coincidence that the vacuum is on her side now? I think not.

Not only that, the Saab is dead in the driveway and the Explorer is in the shop. How is that Vanessa's fault? She rides in both of them. Yup. Clearly she is using her considerable powers to let us know she wants a cherry new ride. In time for her first birthday, I suppose. That rascal.

So when she's not using her superhuman powers around the house, Baby Nessa is still on the verge of walking. Yesterday she slung her arm around Milo's neck and they walked across the kitchen together. But no solo steps just yet. She does hold onto your hand and walk, though. And oh! we have shoes! It's hard to get those monkey toes into them, but she does wear shoes now.

Vanny loves to find things to open up and sort through. Here are some of her latest conquests: the diaper bag, the basket of clean laundry, Daddio's backpack, mama's wallet, the dishwasher, the kitchen drawers and cabinets, the camera (pulls it deftly from its neat little case), and the computer box. In fact, all I need to do, I think, is locate a box she's never seen before and fill it with random items for her to pull out and examine. Her baby toys are so Yesterday.

Another new trick that I taught her on the airplane is how to strum her lips as she hums. Very fetching. Her grandfather Jim would approve! Also on the plane, she learned to play "Up, Down" with the window shade: I'd put it up and she'd slam it down with flourish and a baby cackle that could be heard throughout the plane.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a video clip of Nanners playing piano, but she continues to dabble in the xylophone here at home. I think I *might* get her a toy piano for Christmas - something I always wanted myself. Nothing like getting to bang on the keys to your heart's delight without scolding.

So I'll post pics when I can. Sorry this is all prose.

Happy holidays!