You look kind of...insane.

My BIL didn't speak a word until he was 4. Then, his first word was a complete sentence. His parents asked him why he didn't say anything before that and his response was, "I didn't have anything important to say."

Yeah. Our friend's nephew didn't speak until well after he was three years old, I think. His first "word" was, "The telephone is RINGING," when nobody had gotten to the phone soon enough for his taste. Chris was a late talker. He could talk, but didn't. He started shortly before he turned three. He taught himself to read when he was four. Now he's adding, subtracting, and trying to learn Spanish. By the time he's ten, I'm going to be completely useless to him.

You look kind of...insane.

I was thinking you look contagiously adorable. I dig the new specs.

I think I look dorky.

Also, without really trying I've lost 7 lbs. I've been mindful of losing weight, but I haven't done too much except exercise more and cut out the snacks and most carbs.

Some of the weight was premenstrual bloat, but I haven't been at this weight for several months. Go team me!

Susan, do you talk to Annabel? Do you make conversation with her--ask her questions? Do you make her ask for things from you (rather than responding to pointing and gesturing). These are the ways to get a child talking. "If you want a cookie, use your words and tell me." You don't do it to the point where you're both frustrated. You just put it out there as an expectation, every time you're communicating with her.

Sample Conversation

SUSAN: Annabel, do you want orange juice, or milk with your breakfast?

Annabel points to the milk

Susan pretends she suddenly no longer understands pointing.

SUSAN: Annabel, answer Mommy, please. Do you want orange juice, or milk?

Annabel grunts and points to the milk, wondering why her every wish wasn't immediately fulfilled.

SUSAN: Annabel, tell mommy, "Milk, please."

Annabel grunts

SUSAN: Good girl. Milk. Milk. I will get you some milk.

She probably won't answer you at first, and again, you don't do it to the point of frustration, but you make it clear it's part of the game for her, too. Do it with everything--food, toys, drinks, games, clothes. Talk to her, like you expect her to talk back, and use your gestures (facial expressions, hand movements, head inclinations) to make it clear you're expecting and encouraging her to talk. Be calm about it. You don't want to stress the kid out. Don't be too demanding either, or she may not speak to spite you. I suspect, like Hec says, she's just one who keeps her own counsel, since it's clear from what you've said that she understands you well enough.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT ZOMBIE DOGS OMG.

Cute glasses, askye. And very cute haircut.

Happy Birthday, JZ!

About two years ago J--- & I bought an apartment in Paris in the 18th right next to Sacre Coure, which we gutted and complely renovated

This would make me very jealous too.

meara may get to meet her in a couple weeks, if I can swing it.

Ooh! Can I drool?

Don't fret, JZ. You remembered, and that's ok

As opposed to me, who forgot my mother's birthday entirely one year, and didn't remember for several days. Now, every birthday/mother's day/other holiday, one of my parents is calling me up and going "have you bought a card? you know it's (event) coming up!!!". Etc. Which gets old.

And I think one of the guests had sex with a stripper in the upstairs bathroom, but I'm not certain.

Whoah. That's some bachelorette party!

I'm so impressed by teh multiple rest areas with free internet that Daniel has emailed from! I had no idea rest areas were so this century!!

the wife has been using the baby as an excuse to not have to have sex, and the husband's meekly accepted it

For TWO YEARS???

her startled look of betrayal when the boobie attacks.

I just love the phrase. WHEN BOOBIES ATTACK!!

I'm so impressed by teh multiple rest areas with free internet that Daniel has emailed from! I had no idea rest areas were so this century!!

My favorite free wifi area in the greater Cincy region is a tack shop (for real) out in the rural outskirts. Go them!

t edit By "favorite," I mean favorite whose existence I'm aware of. I haven't actually been there.

(Actually, in looking at their Web site, they're a lot more than just a "tack store" -- they have seminars and horse training as well. Swanky!)

Teppy, I need some validation. Lost in Translation just randomly came up on one of my movie networks, so I watched it again, right through the credits. It was great. (lost track of how many times that it -- lots)