First, after another inexplicable lapse in updating, a few physical accomplishments:1) Gemma climbed her first set of stairs today, casually scaling the four or five steps from the kitchen to the living room, followed by a romp across the floor. Normally when she does something new she beams with pride and makes sure you notice. This Qui Cares attitude may a tactic to make us believe that baby gates aren't required. Sorry pal. 2) Increasing skills in the standing up unaided department. Not for long, contemplative periods, but long enough to think that it isn't just tottering between falling forwards or backwards. Her mate Hannah from all the way around the corner came around for a visit today and they rambled around the dining room table.

Last weekend saw another continental excursion, this time to Brussels for Lisa and Olivier's wedding. Scooting into London came Francie, for a couple of days in London before we all packed up the car, headed to le tunnel, and raced off to Euro-centrale for the weekend. Gemma came to the night-before reception in our lovely little hotel, and was charming in the face of adversity - and camera lenses - for she can crank out a smile and a two-handed wave whenever a flashbulbis near, regardless of how many hours cooped up in a car seat or past her bedtime it might be.

The wedding the next day was tres joli, which was to be expected given the pedigree of the bride and groom. Wonderful setting (flowers gushing everywhere, for Olivier is a "nose"), ample champagne, delicious food and great music. Gemma missed out on this, but par-tayed nonetheless with newly discovered, old colleague Randy and family, who now live in Brussels and gratefully took care of the wee one.

The last travel narrative was cut short - we were in Montreal with the grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and misc. others. Gemma had a great time believing she was pushing her hamming-it-up cousins over; they can do a pratfall a la Chevy Chase. She also had a chance to visit with her "godsisters" Sofia and Gabriella, who gave her a fetching two-piece number for fun in the sun this summer, as well as personally make sure Gemma had as much food from her plate as possible. While Nana babysat, John and Cathy took us to Area, a great restaurant on Amherst. And while Spencer hip hopped the Friday night away, we were entertaining Nancy, Martin, Beatrice and Henri in Dorval. The chitlin were great, despite the deadly duo of a late dinner which contained spinach.

And briefly, because the memory is sleeping, we preceded Montreal with a stop in New York, the work demands of which lead to the whole trip in the first case. Gemma benefited from the generous hospitality of Heinz and Kara who put us up, so she saw a smattering of Chelsea and West Village life first hand, combined of course with miles of walking around town (including a lunch with John and Wendy, who we met at Other Music, who in turn pump out a great email update of new music releases every week or so).

Heuuw boy, the diaries have fallen behind again. Diving right in, Gemma finds herself in Montreal, where she arrived this evening, met by grinning grandparents and flashbulbs. With memories of ripped up in-flight magazines still fresh it took a few minutes to switch on the charm, but by the time we were home it started spilling out. Alison and Big Cuz Hudson, smashing in his tai kwon do gear, helped out and ate pizza. Help, however, was a little more in need by the Habs who managed to squander a three goal lead in their "who knew?" quarter finals.