Think someone’s been watching a little too much Toy Story?

I did *not* set this up, promise. She stole the hat off my desk all by her little self.

Maya runs into the office and starts reaching for pens on the desk.

Me: I think it’s time to get you dressed. You need a clean diaper.

Maya runs away as quickly as her legs can take her. This does not bode well for eventual potty training.

(Mine, that is — I hit the big 3-5 on Monday)

Trail Description: Forest Service #640, 7-mile balloon loop, including about 2 miles to beginning of 3-mile loop, then 2 miles return. Elevation gain 1,280 feet, rated steep at first, then easier. Features scenic route through wooded canyon.

Joy and Dominic joined Maya and me for an early-morning 7-mile hike through Waldo Canyon. Compared to my last hike of this trail (just under a month ago), what a difference! We’ve had rain! Last time, the creekbeds were barely damp, much less flowing. This time, we had to scramble over small rocks to get across the creek each time it crossed the trail.

Photos coming, once Joy gets them uploaded.

Photos: I still can’t get over how much more water was on the trail. We’ll do this one again before the season is over, for sure.

…

Someone tosses and turns…and tosses and turns.

How unfortunate that someone also hates having her hair combed, washed, and de-tangled. Fun times, that.

…of a completely different kind.

When Scott was in Thailand last year, he had a charcoal photo made from a photo I emailed to him. I *finally* got it matted and framed this week. Would you believe that he paid (maybe) $40 for that drawing?

For scale, the photograph next to the charcoal is a 4×6.

The original photograph is from early February 2005 — Maya’s about 4-1/2 months old, and I was playing with my then-new camera.

It won’t mean much to anyone but me (okay, and the grandparents), but it’s been fascinating to watch Maya’s scribbles take form. Her initial efforts involved fairly broad strokes. As time’s passed, her movements have become increasingly fine and distinct.

I don’t think I’d even call this one artwork, per se. Maya repeated a series of very small movements, as if she’s trying to write letters. That’s my good little mimic — any time I write out the alphabet for her, she wants me to do it again. And again. And again.

Toddlers dig repetition.

Maya practices looking bored while sitting on her grandparents’ bed to watch (what else?) Toy Story 2. Again.

Update: I’m embarassed to admit it took me two days to realize I’d written all of this BACKWARD structurally — 7/5/7 instead of 5/7/5. Does that make it KuHai?

Back in my room — woe is me!
My 3am offense?
An obstacle course is mom.

Sharp toes dig into her thighs.
Clip, clip! Tomorrow.
She’s waited long enough now.

A contant stream of babble
Flows from my sweet lips
She covers her ears, oh why?

There’s more (bad poetry) where that came from. I have no idea why haiku seemed an apprpriate way to pass the time until she finally complained herself to sleep back in her room.

What amazes me is that I believe she crawled all over me, carrying on her monologue, for perhaps 30 minutes before I realized what time it was. Since she normally wakes me this way, I initially assumed it was at least 6:30am, maybe even 7…and just stormy outside. Uh…no.

Maya and I have picked up some hiking buddies! Joy’s husband doesn’t hike, and although Dominic is five months younger than Maya, he’s about the same size as her.

Both Maya and Dominic were utterly fascinated by the faces Joy’s friend Tim made at them. What a kid-magnet.

St. Mary’s Falls sits at the southern edge of Gold Camp Road @ Cheyenne Canyon. The full hike runs about 5.5 miles, but we cut out just the very top section, which seemed to be a bit too full of scree for safety with kids on our backs. It was a beautiful spot, but I’d like to see the view from the top (which I hear is incredible) somewhere along the way . Ah, next time.