Oh, Anne, how scary for all of you! You've got my ~ma and prayers.
Bev, that's marvelous news. Though it must be noted that the West Coast is very very long, and driving to SF from WA may be shorter than driving from NC, but is still quite a long haul. We've been meaning to go up and visit Portland and Seattle for a while; you being there will make it more likely that we'll actually do so.
Random Matilda details and updates:
When she's very excited and overcome with laughter and glee, she shakes her head vigorously and does a faceplant into the chest of the nearest big human, Matilda-ese for "O, I am overcome! It's all too much!" Hec reports that Emmett never did this; it's her own laughy innovation.
Whenever we pass the full-length mirror on the bedroom door, we have to stop so she can fling herself upon the beautiful baby she sees there. It's both unbearably cute and mildly disturbing: Her eyes light up, she grabs the edges of the mirror frame, and she pulls herself to the mirror and starts licking her own image with wild abandon. Sometimes she'll glance up to make sure we're watching, and then go to with even more crazed enthusiasm. "Mysterious baby in the glass, how I love you, adore you, worship you! Slurp slurp!"
Random Emmett coolness update:
He has recently shifted into mostly calling her Tilda.
Yesterday when we were playing little-queen-sitting-on-her-throne (Emmett's lap), she got a remote and regal expression on her face, and Emmett said, "Oh, dear. She's considering whether she should order my head cut off."
She gave a small remote smile and I said, "She's decided not to."
"Yay!" Emmett cried. "She has heard my plea for clemency!"
Love that boy!