They call me "Matty One-Tooth"

I keep hearing the words "he got his first tooth!". Not entirely sure what all the fuss is about. I know there's something different going on with my lower jaw - I keep sticking out my tongue to feel what's going on there. Maybe it's a "tooth"?

Also, people keep sticking their fingers in my mouth, and I'm not entirely sure that this is a good thing. I mean, I'm all in favor of my fingers going in my mouth, and anything else that I think is small enough, but why does everybody else think they should stick their fingers in my mouth. Don't they have mouths of their own?

[Editors note: No pictures yet, because it just barely broke through the gum. Looks like the top two front teeth aren't far behind.]

In other news, Mom & Dad made their first call to Poison Control. Very exciting! Wasn't anything too bad - I was taking apart a humidifier that was sitting in the corner of their room since Dad had his cold last week and I found some funny smelling stuff (Vicks Vapor something) in a tiny cup inside the humidifier. And like I said - I'm all in favor of sticking small things in my mouth. Boy, did that ever taste bad! Fortunately, I spilled most of it on my shirt, and there was only a tiny bit left anyway, so no harm done to me. (Poison Control said I'd need to have gotten a whole teaspoon before anyone should worry.)

Does this mean I can buy beer?

I've got a passport now! Not really my best picture - I thought the camera guy was going to count to three and then take the picture, but he took it on three. So now I'm stuck with this picture for the next five years.

But that's okay - the other kids at the library reading (play) group are totally impressed. One boy thought that this meant I could buy beer now, but I'm not so sure about that. Besides - I don't think any of us could get a bottlecap off anyway.

Why do I have this? Mom and Dad are plotting a trip to China for my first birthday present. Apparently I'm going to be taking a stroll on the Great Wall of China on my birthday. Personally, I'm thinking that this is just as much a present for Mom for everything she's been through in the last year, but I'm game -this should be fun! Dad is attempting to learn some Mandarin (Chinese) for the trip - he's still cranky from a trip to Kenya a couple years ago when he felt like not speaking Swahili was a huge disadvantage in various negotiations so he's decided to learn as much Mandarin as possible. He says he's doing pretty well with it, but its all Greek to me.

Dude! Check me out!

I'm standing!

I'm standing!

I'm standing!

For at least a couple seconds here!

Quick - get a picture!



Man oh man - once I get the hang of this, there's no end to the trouble I can get into.