As I mentioned before, Maya and I recently took a roadtrip through the Southwest to return Clay to his breeder in Tucson. The exchange went very well, and when I left the dog park, Clay was racing in circles with a large group of other basenjis. It was a sweet (if bittersweet) parting vision.

Maya and I also picked up a travel companion along the way, Mike, who is now the “man in my life.” Cute couple, no? “Inseparable” would be the best way to describe how we are with each other, and that’s a happy, happy thing.

Driving home from a hike at Templeton yesterday, Maya gave him the sort of adoring looks she usually reserves for her grandfather, and I knew instantly that I’m in trouble. At least it’s a good kind of trouble.

Anyway, before I left Santa Fe, Mike, Maya, his dog Bonnie, and I got to wander through a portion of the Santa Fe National Forest on a 4-1/2 mile trek that took us on some pretty soggy trail. Since I was wearing trail runners (rather than hiking boots), I searched for a means of crossing the first big water without getting wet. Those attempts fell flat, and I resigned myself to a soggy final 2 miles. As it turned out, we crossed unavoidable water perhaps a dozen more times before the trail dried out, and it was great to not worry about getting wet — I already was. My new trail runners (3 weeks old, maybe) have already had their first washing. Ah, well.

Maya has a thing for Bonnie. Well, honestly, Maya has a thing for all things furry and four-legged. It just happens that Bonnie enjoys (tolerates, at least) Maya’s attention, and they’ve quickly become friends. After our hike, Bonnie curled up on the seat against Maya’s carseat and allowed Maya to catalog her face:

Eyes. (accompanied by a poke)
Ears. (with a sharp tug and Maya! Gentle! from me)
Nose. (with a kiss from Bonnie)

Awwwwwww.

From Babycenter:

Your toddler may now be able to throw a ball overhand with ease, although she’ll probably miss her target most of the time. The whole-arm coordination that allows her to roll or throw a ball at something (or someone) usually comes somewhere between 18 months and 3 years.

Or someone? Uh, yeah, no kidding. I think I still have a bruise from learning that lesson. We’re working on the concept of “throw balls *to* people, not *at* them.” The word “gently!” has popped up in my everyday language with OCD-like frequency.

Only one month left until she’s two. Where has the time gone?

We will be away for the next several days, as I drive down to Arizona to take Clay back to his breeder. While we’re away, I hope to introduce Maya to some of the Anderson clan in Albuquerque who’ve yet to meet her. Photos and stories, as always, after we return.

An ongoing conversation:

Maya, would you like some breakfast?
NO!
Would you like something to eat?
Yessssss!

I wonder what the meaning of “breakfast” is in her toddler mind? How has it become something that somehow doesn’t involve eating?

Tylenol meltaways, at first glance, seem to be a fantastic idea. I mean, you get meds into a teething toddler who typically otherwise spits liquid medicine back out at you.

The “good idea” part comes into question when said toddler starts to beg for Tylenol, because pink bubble-gum flavored meds seem SO much like candy.

Maya’s two side incisors are coming in just enough now to become part of her smile (barely). Dear lord, it’s cute.

Dogs, plural. Soon to be Dog, singular.

Clay, my not-a-bitch dog, has snapped at Maya a few times here and there, and I’ve kept an eye on it, but until recently it’s been nothing I’ve worried much about. Until this past weekend. There was food involved, and I know that’s something I can manage…but he drew blood, and that is my personal place to “draw the line.” At the end of this month, we’re taking a road trip to Tucson to return Clay to his breeder.

What makes this even more difficult is that Clay seems to know. He’s been on his best play-bowing and generally being cute behavior ever since Saturday. Oh, puppy, do you have to make this so difficult? It’s been a wonderful five years, and I’ll miss him horribly. But, he’ll have a wonderful home, and if he stays with his breeder, perhaps he’ll even get to run agility. That dog *loves* agility.

On the bright side, this gives Maya and me and excuse to visit family in Albuquerque on the way down and back.

When I pull this site up, Maya looks at the profile photo and exclaims, “baby!”

Think it’s time for me to update? Really?

Basenjis often have this odd thing they do, where they’ll stick their noses right up to your mouth until you breathe on them, so they can “see” what you’ve been eating. Katie doesn’t do this, but Clay (my more “typical” basenji) does.

I’m nibbling on some leftover Chicken Tikka Masala (yes, I’m weird, it’s 9am), and Maya asked for a bite. I gave her one, then Clay walked up to her. She started stepping backwards as he got closer and closer, then she finally broke into a grin and just went heeeehhhhh in his face. He was satisfied.

Some days, it’s like National Geographic around here.

The dogs have just been walked. Maya is playing happily with my gym shoe in the entry hall. I’m working at my desk. It’s a typical weekday.

Then behind me, I hear a very *wet* sound. There’s gurgling. There’s the sound of something hitting the carpet. It didn’t sound like the dogs’ puke noises, and Maya is no longer the queen of spitup, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I definitely didn’t expect what I saw.

Apparently, one of my dogs — you know, the ones I’ve just walked — has a stomach bug. There is a fresh pile of dogshit on the carpet. Two feet away, Maya sits surrounded by a very wet, smelly patch of carpet. She ate it, and projectile vomitted dogshit-and-breakfast all over the carpet.

It takes a lot to turn my stomach.

Consider my stomach turned.

No photos for this one…I got that kid to the bath as fast as humanly possible. For now, she’s eating string cheese and chex in her highchair, and the dogs are crated. Wonder how long it’s going to take to get the carpet clean enough for crawling?

What is Clay studying so intently? Can you read this dog’s mind?

Drop the toast, Maya.

Drop it.

Drop it.

C’mon…drop it, already!

After she was dressed (but before I was…what can I say, I was reading email!), Maya crawled across the living room to say good morning to the pups.

Um…would you put the camera down and take me out to PEE already, lady???

Yesterday, my friend Amy posted some hysterical photos of Jessica discovering and trying out dog food. Loved the photos, and I thought they were hillarious, but not something I’d have to worry about. After all, my dogs eat in their crates, and I pick up their food after. No problem, right?

Weeeeellllll…not so fast, smarty-pants.

When the dogs get treats, I give Katie one, then hand Clay two (he takes them away), then give Katie her second. Clay’s usually pretty good about guarding his food from Katie once he’s claimed it as his. Apparently, he isn’t guarding it from Maya. I turned around to see this.

Then this. As a good mama, I (but of course) TOOK AWAY THE DOG TREAT. I should know better…or at least have been prepared with something else just as exciting to trade.

Here’s the immediate reaction. So distraught!

Just look at those tears. There were even more where those came from before I FINALLY got poor Little Miss appeased.

Ah, the wonders of Zwieback toast. Not (quite) as messy as a biter biscuit, thank god.

Clay asks, “Um…since you took MY treat, mind if I try yours?”

Clay often ends up in blog photos, purely because he likes to hang out with Maya. (That couldn’t possibly have anything to do with his propensity for licking up spitup, could it?)

Katie found Maya to be a bit disturbing in the beginning. She’s a rescue dog, and I speculate that perhaps she lost her first home from the addition of a baby…she seemed terrified that I’d kick her out. As time has gone on, she likes Maya well enough now. This is especially true when she drops anything edible, so that love should only increase with time!

Let’s mix things up a bit…the baby has the adult fetching the dog.

This silly thing makes noises whenever it moves. “Uh-oh! (panting)” “(laugher) Wheeee!” “Yahoo! (barking)”

Clay hears it and DESPERATELY wants in on the fun.

But…why isn’t Maya playing with the toy for a photo?

Clay needed some action of his own, so started a rough-n-tumble wrestling match with Katie. Maya watched, fascinated.