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.

Grounded upon no other argument ...

... But that the people praise her for her virtues"
As You Like It, Act I, Scene 2

Happy Birthday, America! Although the virtuous in the scene quoted above is my namesake, Rosalind, the quote might yet also apply to the United States. The core principles that the founding fathers set down in their historically pluralistic society still ring strongly: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'

The virtues they so strongly laid down in the declaration of independence and, later, the constitution are the ones that we fight and struggle to maintain today. Like Rosalind, who finds herself in a situation that is neither fair nor just, our forefathers were faced with the tyranny of the king and struggle against bonds that held them unfairly. And, for both, the answer to that tyranny is to unshackle the constraints of the status quo and seek a brave new solution. From the trials and tribulations come the greatest innovations and new worlds - but only if the courage to stand by our convictions holds.

For the next 232 years, let us strive once again to create an America where the only argument against us is that we are overpraised for our virtues.

Much love to my country and its people.

learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure

What have I been up to lately?

We went to the beach on Sunday, and I slept in a tavern. Excellent. My first view of the ocean was slightly obstructed by the carrier but the sounds of the waves were quite soothing. We saw a classic surf dog who guarded his owner's surfboard.

I have developed a fascination with the mobiles. I successfully grabbed a mobile today. Honestly, I have a preference for the lamb that floats by. Mom thinks that it is because she is cute and dad thinks it is because she is delicious. I keep my secrets.

I also like pictures with sharp, black and white patterns. One of them looks like a completely stoned jellyfish. Dad thinks that would be a good band name: the jellyfish stoners.

My smiling hasn't changed much. I still feed frequently during the night.

Mom and I had lots of one-on-one time when dad was on a trip. I kept her hopping.

Love,
Rosie