LITTLE MISS KISSER

So Nanners is all about the smack now. Last night, as Daddio and I were saying our prayers about adoption together, Vanessa reared up and planted a perfect little wet one right on my lips. I was blown away. That spontaneous, stolen kiss felt like my very first kiss ever!

Where did she learn to kiss on the lips? Since moving to the west coast, I only kiss her - and everyone else except my spouse - on the cheek. I did catch Van kissing her baby doll earlier in the day and it was graphic. In fact, it looked a bit like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She got the poor baby's nose and mouth covered and there was a lot of smacking and drooling. I think Van was perhaps using the doll's nose for some quick teething whilst in for the kiss. Thank goodness she didn't try that on her mama.

So our daughter taught herself how to kiss.

In my infinite wisdom, I have succeeded in teaching her how to say "P.U." (Does that stand for plug up?) Anyway, her diaper was stinky, so I pinched my nose and said "P.U." - Vanners nearly fell over she laughed so hard. This is my contribution to my daughter's education.

Other things she was laughing about today... she was carrying her baby doll around, making out with her and such, and she brought her to me. I said, "Kick, baby, kick!" and made the doll's little legs go just like Nanners' do. Well that was hysterically funny. VH1 exploded. So I said, "Well now, high-five her," and held up the doll's arm. Van slapped that little plastic hand and could not stop chortling. She had no idea, apparently, that her baby was so cool.

There have not been many blog posts of late because we are suddenly buried in adoption-related busy work. Oh my. Today, on three day's notice, we had the social worker come to the house for the first part of our home study. Boy is our house clean now. I served pumpkin pie. Our social worker, Luke, was very nice to us. Thankfully he seemed unfazed by my medical history and, once VanNannerkins stopped sobbing and screaming, he thought she was a nice "miracle" child. In fact, he commented that we've been through so much as a couple, adoption might be no big deal in comparison. He loved the pie.

When we're not scouring the floors, looking for change in the couch cushions, or completing forms for adoption, we're watching Van's every new move. Here are some highlights:

Last week "Auntie" Nell and I drove VH1 to L.A. to sign up for a toy store commercial. All we did was show up and put her name on a giant list. Even so, it was fun. The people at the toy store thought she was adorable, but I imagine they are trained to say that to every customer. Nanners jammed in the car on the way home. It was about 7 hours in the car that day.

Van had her very first Bubble Bath, thanks to my spying a bottle of Mr. Bubble in K-Mart one day. (Talk about brand loyalty - I used to beg for Mr. Bubble!) We have some shots from the event.

Here she is showing me the bubbly substance, requesting an explanation. The video is from the conclusion of the bath.

At the end of last week, after the jaunt to L.A., Van and I roadtripped to San Francisco to visit Granny. We stayed two nights and had an absolute blast. V-Dog has always been nuts for Granny's siamese cat doorstop, so she started making out with it. If you look closely, you can see where kitty's toe is chipped off - Nanners dropped kitty. Auntie Sally gave Granny this kitty 30 years ago.

Granny had a little newborn Cabbage Patch baby for Nanners, one with red hair and blue eyes. Van squealed when she saw her and carried her around everywhere. She also carried her new purse around, a gift from Auntie Anne. Our little girl is growing up!

When we're not touring California, Vanessa is mastering her own back yard. Well, we consider the nearby playground and beach our back yard, too. When we go to the park as a family, we meet all kinds of people. In addition to our neighbors and their babies, we meet visitors from around the state and the world.

Here is Van with new friends Isaac, who has a laser gun, and Jacob and Manda, who were visiting from Germany.



Every little kid we meet likes to throw the ball to Milo, and Milo obliges them with a proper fetch. Everyone comments on the cat who actually goes on a walk with us, and who has irresitible white fur. The German family witnessed our daughter's climbing skills and could not believe it. We couldn't, either. She really can climb all the way up this arch, but here is a video of her father and I watching an attempt. This seems advanced for a 15 month old human, but is perhaps right on par for a 15 month old chimp.

LOVE the dismount. We're looking into gymnastics for her. If she gets a commerical we'll have to mention Van is part Shirley Temple, part Spiderman.