Return of the Camera; Gamp-AA!

Moving back in time...

The left-behind and much-maligned Olympus** arrived in the mail with some shots of our last day in Haddonfield with Gamp-AA and Gamp-AA. Here's Ida offering some of her provender to Gamp-AA:



This trip through the backyard and up the wheelchair ramp took about 45 minutes:



Who is more fascinating than Gamp-AA?



She has so many tricks.



Ida not only recognizes Gamp-AA and Gamp-AA on the computer, she also repeats the word "Gamp-AA" pretty constantly. It may be her favorite.

Now she's happy to be back home, playing with the old folks and Elsie's cool bangs.



**Get ready for more blurry, shutter-delayed photos and some soundless, shifty movies. Unless, of course, some corporate lurker is reading this and would like to "seed" this blog with a better digital camera or even a Flip Camcorder.

Ida's Favorite Friend

We try not to expose her too much, for fear of nanny-snatching and all, but every now and then it's important to give some credit to the unredoubtable Chandler Jenrette! Ida and Elsie are lucky to spend vast amounts of their time with this ingenious and very calm woman.

(photo credit: the excellent Lois Hobbs)

Ida and Madison Jaye, through the ages

Ida met up with her old friend MJ for some delicous cake and omelet action



Here's what they looked like about a year ago.


In other news, after thirteen months or so, Ida is finally weaned. Onward!

(I had to take out the provocative image that was here before one individual saw it)

girls in pots

All the excitement in Haddonfield caused me to leave my camera behind; soon it will return through the mail and I'll be able to share some more pictures of gampAA and gampAA. MEANWHILE, here are a few likely images taken by Chandler using her telephone.


In other news, Ida disrupted our flight home by shouting "Dog-uh! Dog-uh!" through the first twenty minutes of the movie "Seabiscuit"; she thinks all four-legged animals are dogs, and loves them all.

Old Friends, New Friends vs. Ida

Ida put Dad PR through some harrowing days in Haddonfield:



Fortunately, Mommy ERV returned just in time, along with old schoolmate SJK (seen in earlier postings, aficionados will note). Sung-Ji is able to make astounding sounds with her mouth, and with her hands this amazing hat for Ida:



Worn here by Mary B. Garza AKA Molly, another old schoolmate of ERV. Who has three kids, two of them these devastating twins--


Nico and Matteo;


Ida tried to school them both

IDA WARMS UP TO GRANDPARENTS V

(Still, we'll be glad when Mom ERV returns today)

Ida vs. Dan2 vs. The Wiggles

Princes and Princesses of Haddonsfield

We made it back to S. Jersey from New Haven; Ida was an absolute nightmare in the car, but upon arrival began to play "princesses" with her grandmother.



Motoko-san said I would lose my "#1 son-in-law" title if I didn't delete this photo. But I'm risking it, because I think it's right to share it. Also, we've had some high quality joking. For instance, apropos of nothing, I said, "That would be pretty old school," to which she replied, "Like what, school?"

Anyway, here's the prince, Grandpa V:

New New Haven

All the drama has been taken out of the year 2025, already; Ida's decided to attend Yale University!


Partially because D. Hawk will be there to drive her around:




Here D. Kanju is working on some "Uncle Time" to break down Ida's resistance...



...hard to say how much success he's having:


Hope to share some rare video of the above attempt, with Wiggles, real soon.

Also but not documented (too much--she's visible in that first shot) SHV and also young LRV, looking strong in her incubator. [These folks do have names, but they're also under severe internets identity theft alert.]

East Coast: a prelude

Here's Ida in BROOKLYN with her pal Dexter ...



...and new friend Elliott



Check out the Choi-Wells team; some internal discussion circulated around the score of the Exer-saucer, but so it goes. Pete Wells is strong.



A preview of her fine times with D. Hawk in New Haven--





An injury occurred...



We rolled like Champions.




See ya.

Dogwoods West, Dogwoods East

Ida's preparing to take some of this west coast attitude across the continent.



Here in PDX our front yard dogwood is blooming. We look out at it and think of Elizabeth's tree. So eager to get to New Haven and meet Leigh and see some of D. Hawk's new tricks, too.



Ella is convinced that Ida has a neurological "droopy eye" condition; perhaps it's evidenced in these two photos?

Elsie and Ida vs. Playing "Cars"

Ida vs. Elsie; actually, they are friends

Ida is very busy in the mornings. It's hard to pack everything up for our bike ride. Also, she has to climb up every flight of stairs we encounter.



When we get to Maggie/Arthur/Elsie's house, Ida climbs up the stairs, chirping in her little voice; Vidamae usually shows up and licks her face, and from the back of the house can be heard Elsie saying, "Dida! Dida!" which is what she calls Ida. And then Chandler is trying to keep them under control.



Evidently, wearing socks on hands is a big thing, these days.



Check out Elsie's cool new boots!



Aunt Maggie has made many insidious comments about Ida's "Utah hair" in the previous post; she even gave Ida a foul-smelling "baby hair detangler," which, as you might be able to tell, has been put into use.