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

Videos instead of photos -- Papa takes Viv to the Zoo

Ok so since our camera doesn't work and needs replacing, I took the little flip video and made some talkies.

My friend Tony suggested we go to the zoo with Girlie before he lands a job (cross your fingers everyone) and isn't available for this type of week-time fun anymore. Here are the videos that I took.

8/25/09 Vivian's outfit for the zoo

This is what happens when the father is left alone to dress the daughter. I like the gangster hat, with the jaunty puffball on the top and the Lorax in the front. As for the bumblebee leggings -- stripes go with stripes, right?

Portland Zoo 8/25/09 Lorikeet Aviary

I think the Lorikeet Aviary was the highlight of this whole day at the Zoo. You can buy little dixie cups full of 'nectar' to feed the birds. The birds are outlandishly, garishly colored and really brash. They weren't wallflowers that's for sure. A number of times Tony and I would be talking, about 2' away from each other, and a Parrot would fly right through our line of vision, buffeting our faces on the way through. The people watching, or rather the kid-watching was the best.

8/25/09 Lorikeet aviary close up

Ok, so I haven't figured out how to flip the videos on my flipvideo. Sorry.

Anyway, here is a beautiful Lorikeet eating in the aviary.

8/25/09 Vivian watches a waterfall at the zoo

Again, with the sideways video -- sorry. Anyway, Viv had started to get fussy. And rightfully so, we had been at the zoo all day long, and just been through a cave full of (literally) screaming children. She had pretty much had it with us and this situation when we passed a little waterfall at the zoo and boom. Suddenly mesmerized and content. Note to self: the girl likes falling water.

Whups, almost forgot the last video -- the all important "baby passed out due to long day" video, featuring the beautiful wife and mama.

8/25/09 Vivian conked out from long day at Zoo

It was a long day at the zoo, and the kiddo was conked out. Figured it would be a good ending to this series.

There ya go Grandmas and other Vivian fans. Thanks for the patience, we endeavor to post way more often than this.

Love,

Bp, Kt, and Vv

Unscripted quiet moments with the Papa

Mom caught a great moment with Papa that I didn't realize we had until I downloaded OUR camera (rather than relying on Mom's for the last month). I love these...











Enjoy your Tuesday!

KT

Ode to a baby carrier and soft blocks!

So when we were visiting down in Sacramento, Debbie and the Z's dropped the bomb baby carrier on us. Great timing as we have been throwing our collective backs out carrying Babycakes in terribly un-ergonomic positions for a while now. The BBdr (the lovely and talented Sara Ohgushi) has indicated that the back pain will remain until Viv 4 or 5 months old and we can USE awesome baby carrier...so of course we had to try it out as soon as we got home!



Here is the EXTRA SEXY baby carrier (sadly not in blue...following Landis tradition) that Debbie and the Z's got us. Babycakes approves.






She's a bit small for it currently but we expect HUGE use from this one. It's great on the back and she seems to like it as well.

We also got a set of AMAZING soft, quilted blocks from Auntie Ruth with Vivian's name spelled out in individual letters. They have totally inspired me to make a set that are the whole ABC's...though it might be well into her college years before they get finished because they look like a crapload of work!



Awesome stuff!

Enjoy your Monday and your generous, creative relatives!

KT

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

The Many faces of Viv

Headed out to the farmers market here today. Viv was a trooper as normal. Mom leaves for SF tomorrow then we all reunite on Friday for the Landis family gathering (tm) that is happening in Sac. Should be a good hot and sweaty time. We are looking forward to some pool time...bring on the swim diaper!

On to the snaps!



Viv at the farmers market...checking it all out.



When she has the ability to see...new sunhat...STAT!




Such a face!



She's been quite taken with her hands as of late. Once she catches them she tends to hold on to them tightly. It give her quite the contemplative look, don't you think!?





Enjoy your day!

KT

New photos on Flickr!

Mom's getting artsy. We're off to Sundance for Wednesday night and Thursday. Will be home Thursday night after getting a blessing and seeing our peeps after the ceremony!

Then next week...SAC! The adventure never ceases!

Enjoy some rocking Viv photos!!

KT



Stephanie at work rocking the babychat skillz!



Great smiles with Nana!



Nana likes Tummy time way more than Viv does...ahah!!



Viv snoozing the night we were at Breightenbush.