Hi everybody!

Sorry it has been so long ... but I've been so busy!

I am doing great and now am getting ready to be ambulatory. I talk constantly and am growing out a crop of hair that appears red, blonde, and brown on alternate days.

I have had a few illnesses this winter but remain a pretty happy girl.

I got to visit with Grandma Mary for a few weeks and had a great time. We were snowed in the house. Dad was very tense when we had to drive anywhere - but I had fun!

Lots of love,

Rosie

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Herein I do pronounce these ages as no longer valid, as the age of the infant is no more that of mewling and puking but smiling and giggling.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