So the kid was messing about with some of her favorite toys, the measuring cups in a kitchen drawer.

D says to her: "You know you shouldn't be playing with those, you scatter them to the four winds and it drives daddy insane."

Kid: "And?"

Not even 18 months old, folks.

Saturday, D and I were doing the usual weekend housework. I was in the kitchen, working a sinkful of dishes, D was in the living room sweeping and vacuuming. Maya was wandering back and forth between both rooms. Supervising, right?

D came in to the kitchen, emptied the vacuum canister, and pulled the full bag from the kitchen trash. She set it on the floor and grabbed a fresh bag for the can. Maya wandered in, grabbed the full trash bag by its top, and started dragging it towards the back door where the big trashcan is. Once she had it over near the door, she reached for the doorknob and tried to open the door. Since, you know, that's where the trash goes. She's seen us do it dozens of times.

We just stood and watched her, laughing, delighted that our kid wants to pitch in and do her part.

She'll hold up a bit of whatever she's got, I'll lean over and she stuffs the food in my mouth.

Yesterday morning, we're doing our usual weekend daddy-daughter breakfast, and she holds up a couple of her Cheerios for me. I lean across the tray and open my mouth... and the little snot pulls her hand back, shaking her head "no" and laughing at me.

I have no idea where she got the idea to do that, but I laughed myself sick.

to check out the Ghostbusters video game, but make sure you play it on the Wii.

That is all.

And I mean I just found out, about two minutes ago: C's definitely got his parole, it'll be 30-45 days for processing, and then my long-lost South African stepbrother will be HOME.

Thanks to everybody for keeping the faith, and for being just as outraged as I was.

Tia, I was writing this as a reply to your comment from the other day, but I had to share this with everybody. Too awesome.

And some not-so-awesome news that came in while I was giving D the good news: she found out from the doc that the kid's still having sinus/ear/tonsil trouble and she may have another surgery in her future. Just antibiotics for now, let's hope they kick some ass.

Yes, there's lots happening at home every day and no, I haven't been posting about it.

I should post about Maya a lot more than I do, but the truth is I've gotten a bit gun shy about posting in my own damn journal, and that's just pretty wrong. Things have been pretty quiet just lately, so here I am sticking a hat on a stick up over the edge of the trench.

But great news all around lately... Maya is doing awesome. She trips me out daily. She loves monkeys, pork chops, and Disney's Imagination Movers.

Sigh. My little girl, enamored with musicians. I hope it's a phase.

We have a tenant downstairs for the moment, maybe until the end of June, maybe longer (Speed: if you're still looking for a place around that time, e-mail me, I'm close to your work).

Some of the best non-kid news lately: C may just be getting out and coming home. His shrink went to C's parole hearing, told them that he'd checked out the case going all the way back, and that in his opinion, C doesn't belong in prison. They haven't said yes, but nearly a month after the hearing, they haven't said no, either.

Wow. What a year.

But I'm not gonna get all Parenting magazine and talk about milestones or Harry Chapin or any of that stuff. I want to say how thankful I am for how happy, healthy, and beautiful our girl is, and how grateful I am to D for helping me out when I've been completely lost.

It's seemed like every day has been something new. Every day I've spent looking forward to what she'll surprise me with tomorrow; every day I'm surprised at how much more I love her than I did yesterday.

Okay, okay. So maybe a little bit of Parenting.

The birthday party was Saturday, and it was a huge success all around. Dad was here. Pictures? Oh yeah, lots. Video too. To be posted soon. D's sister and her little son are staying with us a couple days, so tonight we'll have leftover cake and put on some leftover party hats. She's going to come to expect it. Hey, why hasn't my dinner got a candle in it? It did last week...

I went home at lunch, and my birthday girl was very happy to see me. If that's the reaction I get, I must be doing something right.

Since I have a nose for trouble, I'm gonna have to say Jake Gittes.