"Mom could go to Vegas, and be very happy"

I guess, since I didn't burn the place down when she left back in October, Amber trusted me enough to head down to Las Vegas for four days this week. She claims that the trip was "for work", but it's well known that what happens in Vegas stays there.

While she was away, I had the opportunity to take a few days off work to stay at home with Ashley. What a great excuse not to go to the office! By the end I was quite sad that live would have to return to normal. Ashley's major accomplishment for the week was her new trick of being able to climb the stairs.

It first happened while I was talking on the phone in the kitchen and Ashley was down at the base of the steps. During my phone call I looked down and saw her at the bottom, which was a common site. Ashley has made it a habit recently to perch at the base of the stairs just to be close to what ever action is occurring up in the kitchen.

By the time I made a lap around the kitchen and gotten off the phone I returned to the staircase only to find my daughter on the second to last stair, just about to reach the summit of her first ascension. Just as she lifted her knees up onto the kitchen floor Daddy got a little excited with loud clapping and cheering. Such a startling reaction brought poor Ashley to tears. Stupid, Dad.

With just over four days experience, Ashley now cruises up and down the stairs on all fours quite effectively. Mom returned from Vegas safely, and happily. Dad finished the week at work, which even included going in on Saturday (although that had nothing to do with him taking the previous three days off).