Time keeps on moving - Viv at almost 5 months!

Time flies when you don't have a camera! It's been a busy summer. We've been blueberry picking and canning. Just had our first big crop of tomatoes come in and did some putting up yesterday in between nap times.

We also added another little animal to our ever increasing brood...a kitten currently being called Ace. Name pending. He's a frisky, sweet, lovable little guy that we hope will fill the void left by Wapiti's passing for Jane. Jane just hasn't had anyone to play with and is bugging the old lady cat, Sula, who wants nothing to do with her. Enter Ace...let the tear-assing around the house begin! He is also going to be quite the companion for Tait...who is also nursing a sore heart from the passing of all boy cats this last year (RIP Pootie and Wapiti), tho he wouldn't tell you that.



In Vivland, I am continually amazed at how the child I put to bed the night before is a new and improved one the next morning. Smiles are abundant and come easily. She's gotten into the habit of smiling at strangers FIRST and then being shy / coy.



And somehow she's getting cuter, I wasn't sure that was possible.



Of course, I just sit around and drink tea all day, taking credit for having such a cute kid. Photographic evidence doesn't lie! HA!

There are signs that crawling is eminent. Tummy time happens on and off for most of the day. She's very alert and interested in her surroundings and especially anything that she can grab. This new found skill is becoming mighty unpopular with the long haired crowd we run around with. Several detanglings have already occurred.

All in all she's a champ and a trooper. She's really gotten comfortable in the car seat and being dragged around all over hell and gone, as our lifestyle dictates.



AND still skeptial of it all...good girl. She's got a good head on her shoulders. And I'm lucky to have her.


We're working on getting a new camera (with all the money falling from the sky) so bear with us folks...until then, thanks much to Shady Kate for spending Saturdays with Ms. Viv and I. She's been taking many a photograph of the bunny.

Camera, new flooring of some sort AND my CPA test prep program are the big purchases we'll somehow manage by the end of the year! That way she can crawl on something nice, we can photograph it and she can be proud of her mama finally kicking those tests and being done with all that nonsense! Some day!

Happy Monday!

Kt and Viv

2 week catchup

To quote my mother "TIME FLIES HERE!!". Indeed! It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks. We just got back Monday from the trip to Sacramento (tm) with huge Landi in attendance. It was super fun and babycakes did exceptionally well with the airplane ride and general mayhem that the Landis clan can bring.

My mom, Nana Povi, got to cross pollinate with the huge Landis family for a couple of days and it was sweet to finally get both her and my brother to see this sweet group of folks.

Fun was had all around. Mom needs to upload her last few days of photo's to Flickr (HINT HINT) so that I can post photos that she took. I admit to slacking off on the photo taking since mom arrived (and left /weep) because she took approximatly 300 photos of her while visiting. I will compile a bunch from the Z's that took photos, lovely auntie Tammy and mom to get you all caught up on what she did over the weekend!

First we had the getting together part of the weekend. Here is BP, Grandpa Tim and Aunt Tammy.


Then straight on to baby holding for the family! Auntie Tammy is always a big hit with the BB.


Uncle Tom did pretty well too!




Then we were off to visit GREAT-Grandma...the real reason for hauling the kiddo down to Sac at such a young age. She's 86 and recovering from some leg issues but chipper as the day is long. A lovely lady!





And here is the 4 generation photo as promised!


For all the Landis's here's the obligatory "taking a picture of someone else taking a picture of you" photo we got out of the way early in the weekend. Thank you Grandpa Tim.



Then on to the Partying!!! Terry is always good for some weenies and a beer. He and Kris hosted a couple of days of backyard living and it was good I tell ya. Tony and Ruth's pad was given a rest after the first night.



Babycakes did a fair amount of sleeping in order to integrate the newness of the situation. She was a trooper tho!


She even got acquainted with the pool! Tammy is fearless with introducing Viv to new environments.



And Mom did a fair amount of baby holding and general enjoying of herself. Even Alice the dog got into the introductions!




And Uncle Andrew and Uncle Damien dropped by from SF to check out the baby and introduce her to their little dog too!




All in all an excellent visit.

I'll post more photos soon! Have a lovely Friday!

KT

Father's day

My first father's day, and I'm getting a flood of emails and phone calls and text messages -- many from the most random and heart-warming places.

Thanks ya'll.

Here's a picture my sister took, not necessarily glamor shot material for either one of us, but cool nonetheless.

Bp

A slew of Daddy/Bebeh pictures

We had a few Daddy pictures come up all at once, so I thought I'd put them all into the same post.

5/10/09 Dad and Bebeh waking up


Kt made the observation that sitting in this chair, staring out the window, is the way that both Viv and I seem to enjoy waking up. After a bit of staring, then maybe some tea (and mama milk) -- but first some good old-fashioned zoning out must occur.

5/15/09 Daddyblogging For The Win


The old bebeh in the knee maneuver has become a favorite of mine as of late. Allows for a small amount of multi-tasking. This isn't my only blog, after all.

5/15/09 Boppy-as-travel-pillow


I've never claimed to have a small noggin. In fact, I shopped for hats just today at a local haberdashery, and my selection was quite limited due to the size of my cranium.

It was late, the baby was fussy so I was holding her -- she would only sleep on someone. So, I got her secured, then got the boppy on and zonked out with her. Yes, they're made to go around the waist of a nursing mother, but if it works it works.

Photo dump for April 10

I'm working on keeping photos coming in these first few days especially, because she's changing so much. But I guess, when I think about it, she's going to be changing fast for the next 20 years or so.

Oh well, I'm still working on getting lots of pictures out as I can.

There's one down there with me and the Moby Wrap Baby Carrier on cry duty.

She's been going on some crying jags, to which I respond with donning the sling and bouncing and "shush-ing" her around the house so Katye can sleep. I've found that if I'm in the canning pantry, no one else in the house can hear her crying -- even Katye in the guest room downstairs. There's an image for ya -- me bouncing around all night in the canning pantry with a crying kiddo.

She only cries for at most 45 minutes or so before she falls asleep, but it did happen 3 (more?) times yesterday. It was a new thing, and from what we've read and heard, there is just some crying that needs to happen for a plethora of reasons. I don't get too worked up about it, but it hits the Mama alarms pretty hard, making sleep difficult if I'm within hearing range of Katye. Thus, pantry duty.

We had a visitor today, The Luddite came calling this morning and got to meet Ms. Vivian.

The other photos are of crashed-out parents with the kiddo. If only we looked as good as she does.

She's been opening her eyes and looking around a bit. When I get a good photo of that I'll post it too.






Enjoy keeping up with Ms. Vivian,

Bp

It's a Girl!!!

Welcome Vivian [to be determined] Maxson-Landis, Born April 8th, 2:45 PM.

She's a big girl, 9lbs. 15 oz. and 21" long.

Thank you for all your support. I'll post more later.

Bp

Shout out to the newest Tenant being produced in our world

The Purdues! Our friends in Utah already have a couple of chitlins lying around but just informed us of another impending Purdue on the way! Shout out to the Papa and Mama!

When I told him BP and I were pregnant he sprung into action and created a lasting momento...


I love ya Tommy...ya weirdo!

Month 6 Letter

Dear Tenant,

Today you have cooked "exactly" 6 months, according to the crazy method the medical folks use to determine due dates. It's been an important last 4 weeks in our world. I have been meditating on the idea of Gestation, not just as something you are going through but as a crucial requirement for your Papa and I to actually get our heads around this parenting concept.

It's been kind of a hard month. Papa and I have had lots of unsolicited advice, stories and fearful things poured into our ears (from ourselves or others)lately. I can't imagine that being pregnant or dealing with becoming parents has gotten any harder in the last 37 years since I was born but I don't remember there being such a high degree of people willing / able to try and freak out newly expectant parents with horror stories. Perhaps, since it never applied to me, I just simply didn't pay attention. This is a trait that I can only hope you acquire, even if you use it against Papa and I often.

It's been a month where your Papa has been a little bit under the weather and we have both been looking at the expectations we have placed on ourselves to "provide" for you. I think that everyone goes through this stage and it's hard for me to watch Papa not have the same hormonal deluge I have that keeps on telling me "it's going to be ok...it's all going to work out". Despite the labor horror stories, terrible economy, fear of being on maternity leave and making the bills and large amount of weirdo's in the world, I can only assume that you wouldn't be cooking in there unless everything was going to be provided for your care AS IT'S NEEDED. What I think trips both Papa and I up is that we are trying to be responsible and PLAN, but most things come when they are needed and not a moment before. Hence the need for more gestation, for both you and us.

The reason for so much more attention in the pregnancy realm had to have come from your excellent construction skills and the fine addition you have been adding on to the existing apartment. I bet it's getting a bit snug in there and a good amount of expansion was in order. From the increase in kicking I can only assume you are a) exploring the boundaries of every enclosing quarters, b) trying to send me a message in morse code or c) preparing for tryouts for a European soccer team.

Either way, keep on kicking there toots! About 2 weeks ago, your Papa and I were laying in bed reading and you were kicking up a storm and I had him feel the belly. His eyes got all big and wide when you gave him (what I can only expect was) a good shot to the palm. It was seriously cute. It was the first time he had felt you moving around. I expect this to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship, at least until the teen years hit.

Just to make our lives that much more complicated, me, uncle T. and Papa went to the pound and got a couple of little kitties to run amok in our world. They have been good training for me since one got instantly sick has had to be medicated 3 times a day and did a good deal of barfing on me in the early, snot filled stages. I looked at this as an opportunity to get prepared for small, hot mammals to expel different fluids on me. So far, I am un phased. I am sure you will be able to gross me out at some point and I am kind of looking forward to the challenge.

Over all, the month has gone faster than I expected and I am sure the time will continue to fly as the holiday's pass and the tax season begins. I told your Papa this morning I was writing the 6 month newsletter and we both had a moment of silence for the impending craziness that will ensue. I continue to be so grateful that you have a wild and crazy community of people to come out and join...all of whom are as excited to meet you and be in relationship with you as your Papa and I are. They are a continued solace during the times when it all seems like it's moving too fast. Thankfully, we both know that there is still a bit more cooking time ahead for you...and gestational time for both of us to be able to work through the wispy spiderwebs that cloud our brains. Not to worry, we'll get it figured out before you move out...or we won't but either way it's going to fun for all of us to be able to figure it out together.

Love,
Mama

Month 5

Dear Tenant,

This week you are officially 5 months into your cooking process and the state of the world seems to be as busy changing as you are. Just last week we had a historic election where the first African American man was elected to President. Simultaneously, people in several different states decided it's still ok to be bigoted and declared that same sex marriage was illegal. /sigh. It's a crazy world you have decided to be born into. I have to think it's for many amazing reasons.

5 months in and 5 months to go. I have to say that while I am excited to meet you, this winner of the incarnation lottery, I am glad that you take some time getting here. At first you were just a foggy haze that I really didn't think was true but always have known was an answer to a series of prayers made years ago. Time, dreams and a burgeoning belly have brought you more into focus out of the aether's, yet you are still only a bit wiggly and not very present in the mix yet.

This month created little grainy black and white images that are sitting in front of me as I write to you. It was enthralling to see you looking up at me from the first moment the Ultrasound was turned on. I'll show you the photo when you come out to visit. One thrilled Ultrasound technician, nervous assistant and mildly shell shocked papa later, I left the clinic with more of a feeling that you were cooking in there and I needed to get ready for something.

Leading me to thinking a lot about the idea of gestation. Not only do I NEED you to take all the time you are going to take in the downstairs apartment but I have realized that it's healthy to have time to allow all good things to come to pass when they should. I get a bit impatient and stubborn when I think I know what needs to be happening or what is good for me, but then get something totally different. Inevitably, all these things lead me, in due time, to exactly where I need to be. You and your papa and this house and my life being no exception.

So despite the surrounding swirl of chaos in the world today; the nutzo economy we have earned over the past 2 decades, the wars, the politicking, the illness and destruction, there are so many good and solid and hopeful reasons for you to be in this world. And your papa and I are looking forward to showing you as many as we can while you show us a few tricks of your own.

As a word of caution, grow that funny bone big and strong...you'll need it out here, I assure you.

Love,

Mama

(With great respect for the plagiarizing of Dooce's monthly newsletters to her daughter)