Merely players.

JAQUES

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Act 2, Scene 7 As you like it

Herein I do pronounce these ages as no longer valid, as the age of the infant is no more that of mewling and puking but smiling and giggling. Puking is right out.



I am smiling more and have been quite the laugher of late, enjoying the strange and wondrous sights I see everywhere. I sit and play, I bounce in my jumper, I eat many different foods, and I take in the world as it goes by.

One day, not long ago, I was part of a surprise birthday party for Suzanne, whose age is closer to that of the seventh than the first. But no worries - the seventh is no longer mere childishness, sans everything, but can be a ripe, golden age. At least we hope so, for Suzanne's sake.

Here are some of the partiers. There was something very interesting to my right.




In the picture, from left to right, are:

Liam Madison
Lisa Madison
Mom and Me!! (!!)
Kim Kisor with Kali
Suzanne, the birthday girl
Tonya, with Kaylin, Kali's twin, and Jeremy (Jacob off having fun, I think)

You can see that we all enjoyed ourselves!

Sweet potatoes-Yum!

I'm liking this real food stuff. Sweet potatoes rock! I think my tummy agrees, but we will see...Plus, I like anything messy. Yeh for solid foods! Bring on the peas!

A meeting of the minds...

Well, it was not exactly the "think tank" that I thought it would be, but Ann, Chasca and I did meet to discuss some very important rules, such as appropriate spitting up/hairball production and touching/petting. Ann wasn't really adding much to the conversation, and I finally had to give her a demo of petting to get her onto the same page. I think it was a useful meeting overall, in particular because it gave me practice in sitting up on my own.

Jackets, cats, and laughter.

It turned fall here, and that means it is time to bundle up. Miriam and David Hertz gave me this awesome jacket and I know I am looking good in it. Dad also put on some nineteen-eighties style leg-warmers on me. How gauche! But, it did keep my legs warm during our walks. During the two weeks when mom was on service in the hospital, Dad took me on lots of walks. Lots and lots of walks. And sometimes it did get cold. When it did, I simply raised my voice a little and dad took me home.

Good dad.



I also decided to take the plunge and move from just tolerating the cats (whom I finally outweigh) to actually petting them. I am not so sure about it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Maya (pictured) is a very gentle cat who lives for my touch, so it is the least I can do.

Finally, I have started to be delighted by unusual things. When mom and dad are goofy, sometimes I laugh. However, any 6 year old's antics cause me to light up and screech with joy. Mom and dad must have forgotten the flavor of silly that is best for little babies.


I'll teach them, somehow.

Lots of love, Rosie.

What's a girl got ta do to get some real food around here!

Not that I am starving, but ready to explore the newly discovered world of food. For a number of months I was happy with the bottle and breast. But recently, I have become aware of the sights and smells of real food. I watch mom and dad eat lots of colorful things, and they seem to enjoy them. So I let them know that I wanted to try, in my own subtle way...











Well, they got the hint, finally. This morning I ate my first food from a spoon. Rice cereal... not bad

High scare.

Mom and Dad got me a high chair so I could sit and watch them eat. I think what they do not understand is that I am ready to eat. Therefore, although I appreciate the effort, I must remonstrate against sitting in the high chair without receiving any food. For heaven's sake!



Also, it is very very high up. That is all.

What's up?

Hi there!

O yes, it is me, Rosalind, after a long hiatus.

I have had a lot of interesting new experiences. I went to a Middle Eastern style wedding of Farnoush and Afshin. It was lots of fun!

I also learned to like frog's legs. Delicious!



You'll note that I dive in to the eating of said legs with gusto. Bon appetit!



What? It isn't a real frog? Surely you jest - it tastes like a dream. But since I have only tasted items of the liquid variety, I might have a little learning yet to do.



Cheers to all friends and relations!

Update

Things have been going great for Rosalind over the last few weeks. She is really trying hard to roll over, twisting her trunk and moving her legs over but is in no hurry to actually plop herself over. 'What is my motivation?' she keeps asking me. To be honest, I am not sure either. She has strong legs and does a pretty good imitation of the walk John Travolta perfected in Staying Alive. Nice.

Rosalind discovered a new way to get the cats very excited. Learning how to use one's vocal cords seems to be a process of innovation and elimination. So, she moved from grunts, coos, ahhs, and similar sounds to a high pitched, loud eee sound that is remarkably similar to two cats fighting. Not the hissing, but more the screeching you hear. She modulates the sounds, so it seems like she is still trying to communicate a series of ideas to us. The cats understand perfectly and coming running into the room to either observe the fight or (hopefully, I think) to join in. It is nice to keep Maya and Chasca on their toes.

Mom is very supportive, but Dad wants to encourage her to try volume reduction as the next learning step.

Rosalind also had her immunizations on the 19th. Gabby and I think they doubled since we were kids, at least the 4 month ones. We are grateful, in advance, for the rotavirus vaccine but the side effects are perilously close to an episode of the disease. The medical assistant who delivered the shots also had a remarkable technique - 4 shots in less than 30 seconds. Don't get your hand in the way.

Hope all of you out there are doing great.

You're my only hope.

On the top is a picture of Princess Leia from the original Star Wars (1977, now called 'A New Hope') when she is presented as a hologram from R2D2, importuning Obi-wan Kenobi for his help.

On the bottom is Rosalind, freshly bathed, sporting the same general look. I wonder if she is looking for old Ben Kenobi?

Listen, wiseguys.

I've learned a lot in my 4 months on this earth. And, just to make one thing perfectly clear, never trust a person with an empty bottle. If that bottle's empty, see, then they shouldn't be in front of you, waving it about. Instead, they might be moving themselves quickly to fill it. Capisce?

Another thing I know: speak softly and carry a big stick. I don't spend a lot of time yelling, as some others might, but instead I use my powers - some might call it cuteness; myself, I prefer the term charisma - to enunciate precisely what I want and wait for it to be brought to me. This technique tends to keep everybody on the up and up. Of course, when I do need to make myself heard, I am not above giving a bit of a shout. You don't want them to think you don't have it in you.

Well, it is a hard life, being the one in the family to hold all of the power. Sometimes the folks need a bit of correction, if you know what I mean. Others may not be able to handle this kind of responsibility.

But me - I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Fan requests

My fan base requested some new pictures of me, so I am happy to oblige.

These pictures document my growth in August, from 2 and 1/2 months to just over 3 months old. As you can see, my face is filling out (and my legs, too!) and I am getting longer and bigger everywhere.







I am topping just over twelve pounds on the scale and continuing to gain weight at a fairly rapid pace.

I've had some minor illnesses as my immune system gets up to speed, but nothing too major. I was pretty smiley even in the face of these small trials and tribulations. In fact, my parents tell me that the words that best describe my personality are cheerful, content, curious (I get bored easy) and absolutely-know-what-I-want-and-I-want-to-convince-you-to-get-it-for-me-now! The last is more of a run-on phrase than a sentence but sometimes a little prolixity is a necessity.

I am learning a bit about cause and effect as I am just starting to move toys and mirrors around, especially if they are touching me.

I hope to see anyone who reads this blog soon - that would make me smile.

PS I went to the beach for a day and here is Aunt Charity and Cousin Jake chatting it up with me. I have an awful lot to say.

50 things we are excited to do with Rosalind

A list of experiences we'd like to have with Rosalind ... some fun, some sweet, but mostly ones that we think about now, as she is an infant and just learning about the world, that we look forward to. Although there is no predicting the future, just the exercise of thinking about all the possibilities was exciting and rewarding. Lots of love to our little daughter.

1. Go to a broadway musical.
2. Learn something at a European museum.
3. Be caught speechless by the beauty of something we see.
4. Explore a cave.
5. Hike a mountain.
6. Have her read me a book.
7. Watch her play a team sport - and have fun!
8. Go for a run.
9. Have a morning drink and croissant at a sidewalk cafe.
10. Stand in a waterfall.
11. See her execute a time-based skill (e.g., a sport or performance) flawlessly.
12. Share a moment where we are proud of each other.
13. Be scared at a movie.
14. Sing in harmony.
15. Take her for a jog.
16. Attend a graduation.
17. Have a heart-to-heart about relationships.
18. Go to space.
19. Have her comfort us.
20. Walk side-by-side.
21. Do a math problem together - as a race.
22. ... lose.
23. Eat vegetables we planted.
24. Be excited out of our minds about a trip we are about to take.
25. Chase a butterfly.
26. Help her achieve her dreams.
27. Hold hands.
28. Be somewhere we can't hear each other talk due to nature's fury.
29. Smell a wonderful rose.
30. Be patient with each other.
31. Watch "As You Like It" by the Royal Shakespeare Company
32. See an Ibsen, a Mamet, a Pinter, a Miller, a Chekhov, and a Stoppard play.
33. Go to a happy hour.
34. Discuss a literary classic.
35. Make fun of our own pretention.
36. Eat popcorn.
37. Laugh.
38. Dance.
39. Spend a morning smiling at strangers.
40. Not give up.
41. Go to the zoo.
42. Go to the aquarium.
43. Swim and dive in the pool.
44. Snorkel.
45. Be inspired and moved by classical music performance.
46. Stuff ourselves with fresh fruit that's still warm.
47. Pick out a dress for a special occasion.
48. Get lost in the stars overhead.
49. Plan a vacation.
50. Seventh inning stretch.

The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.

As you like it, Act I, Scene 2

With my first journey to the wedding, I was reminded of all the friends and family I am lucky to have. Here are but a few of them (you can see many more in this post and this one):


First, my mom at the rose garden.


Then, Mom, Dad, and Grandma Mary in June ...


My first cousin Gannon (having lots and lots of fun at disneyland, I am green)



and his brother Kellen!





Now it gets fun ... my first cousin, once removed, Elizabeth, Grandma Mary and my mom at first cousin (once removed) Sarah's wedding:



A group photo with Uncle Doug, Grandma Mary, mom, dad, and first cousins once removed Chris and Elizabeth ...


and finally, with great aplomb, my slightly older and very cute second cousin Maggie (with Grandma Mary):



Hooray for fun relatives and big parties!

Party On Babies!!

Today is my first day at Daycare. As you can see, I am excited to head off to the land of babies!


I have my own crib, complete with a mirror and mobile. "Who's that pretty girl in the mirror there..."
















I also played "peek-a-boo" with the ladies that watched me. I made a number of new friends too-all bigger than me. That means I have friends to show me how to crawl and climb and eat and to inspire me! When mom came to get me, I was a little sad to leave all the excitement...I cried just a little (I didn't want to make Mom feel too bad, but I am looking forward to tomorrow!)
Every day is another new adventure!

Wedding is great Juno's crown:

O blessed bond of board and bed!
As you like it, Act V, Scene III

(note to avid readers: dad says this post is quite well-intentioned but gets a bit mawkish. Sentimentalists, gather your tissues while you may. You have been duly notified.)

O yes: I took an aeroplane down to see my cousin Sarah get married. My very first plane flight for an important event. I certainly seemed to be warming to the idea of traveling, posing for charming shots at the slightest provocation.

But I have humility enough to admit, despite my irresistible cuteness, that I was not the star of the event - not even close! The groom, Chris, shone amongst his many groomsmen.

And the bride, Sarah, shone most of all. Here she is walking down the aisle with her dad, my Great-uncle Kevin.

I got see and meet lots of my extended family on the Kramer side. Before the grassy ceremony, the couple were married in the church. We took up a lot of pews. Here is my Aunt Olivia, Uncle Doug, and cousins Gannon and Kellen (also, in the picture but not facing are cousin Alexis and Dave).


Here is a picture featuring my feet (?), mom, Grandma Mary, and Great-Great Aunt and Uncle Nancy and Fran.


Everything was beautiful, especially at Tom's house, where the reception was held.


Mom tells me I am going to go somewhere else new next week: day care! We visited it and it seems like a great place; I am going to make lots of new friends.

My very best wishes to the happily married couple!

Love, Rosalind

Vacation is all I ever wanted ...

We headed off to Black Butte in early July. I looked charming in my little hat. Mom and Grandma Kay played basketball and swam in the pool, while I looked on.
Something about my not being big enough, even for these fun fountains.


Well, we did splash about in them a bit, but I didn't get too wet. It was hot for the the first several days, over 90, and that meant I got a bit warm in the cabin with no air conditioning. But I persevered bravely. I learned how to sleep in my pack-n-play crib. There were lots of pretty sites there, including this field of lupines outside Lupine Lake.

We took a brief trip to the headwaters of the Metolius and walked along the river.

It was beautiful. Dad took a picture of this warrior butterfly fresh from the Rising Bird Conflict and we saw this covey of birds, ducks actually, who scurried along the river.


Awesome!

Stats a la Bridget Jones' Diary

Weight: .59 stones (40% increase)
Length: 22 3/4 inches (I'm almost 2 feet long!)
Drink units (2 oz servings): at least 12
Food units: Only second-hand :)

and speaking of hands, yes, I am still a little girl.