first steps and 4 teeth

Ms Sienna is 11 months old this coming monday. How time does fly. We are having a little birthday celebration for her on her actual birthday (which is actually when we are at a conference in sunny Winchester on 14th August), a bigger party on 23rd August...and no, doubt a party for her when we visit USA (hopefully in September - if we EVER get our passports back - Steve has applied for a new visa to be in UK, and they wanted everything but the kitchen sink to demonstrate that we are who we say we are, and that in fact, we do live together).
Sienna is quite the little lady. A happy, social little thing, who adores other people, exploring the universe, technical things (in particular the TV remote) and people watching. She took some steps this week, which is very exciting as she is still in the 10 month bracket (so, quite an early walker!!!). If she forgets that she is standing, she can stand for quite a few minutes and potter a couple of steps before she realises what is going on and lands on her bum. It is a beautiful thing watching this little being evolve and become a child/tiny person. I didnt realise how quickly she would grow. I am told that is life with a child, and I will soon have a teenager, or twenty something and will wonder where my life has gone.
Currently British summertime is very depressing. Not a lot of sun around. I am wearing my winter attire in July in our house (including steve's thick woolley socks!). Crazy.
We are starting to think about putting in some grants for future exciting research projects....deadlines all looming. Also trying to write my last essay for the Transpersonal course and a big paper for a conference in Holland in October. As always, very very busy. But unfortunately, also very very tired as we are still not getting nearly enough sleep. Sienna has had a few bad nights lately, which are hard to recover from, particularly when you try to go to work the day after (or try to think!!!).
We have been making the most of the few sunny days we have had lately - and had two barbecues in the garden. The first was almost rained out, but finally we braved the outdoors and had a fab day. The second was last friday - for July 4th/Independence Day! lots of US food cooked by Mr Steve Moore (wow - did not know that Steve could cook cornbread before. It was truly delicious, and we are now planning The Great Corn Bread Cook Off competition, to take place in the garden and to be judged by Steve!).