I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T TELL YOU THIS EARLIER

Okay. You know it's important news when I USE ALL CAPS. Such big news that I can't imagine why I didn't tell you before. In fact, I'm pretty sure the Good Father police will come and haul me away for this (or at least, they'll take my Good Father card).

This past weekend, The Cute (that's my 17-month-old girl) said her first word - "Ball." Well, she didn't actually say the complete word. What she said was, "Ba-", with the "-" being the barest hint of an "l." It counts, however, because this is the sound she uses whenever she holds or points to a ball. It's as if she has her tongue in the middle of her mouth to make the very beginning of an "l", but stops before the tongue can hit the back part of her top rows of teeth.

Anyway - she said her first word. I'm pleased as punch.

FOR REFERENCE: The Sweet's (that's my 6-year-old) first word was "shoe."