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!