Miki, Miki, Miki

Memorial Day Weekend III

It's important to remember that Memorial Day is really about celebrating and remembering those who served to protect our freedoms and make our many pleasures possible. One of Ida's beliefs is that to truly honor those folks we should pursue our highest pleasures on this day:

Memorial Day Weekend II--The Mountains

The Vining-Bradfords actually went camping up on Mt. Hood, near Zigzag (they may even make a post about it, should they get their acts together); we're not quite up to that kind of action, but we did drive up on Sunday to go on a little hike with them. Ida and I ate some egg salad sandwiches:



Elsie was there! And everyone was eating:



I mean everyone,



everyone. Even Maggie ate some things. And Theo.



What did Miki think? She stuck to her diet of "Mama Milk."



And Theo got a kiss from Ida.



This picnic was delightful.



Here Arthur is doing some illegal (and unsuccessful) fishing while the girls throw rocks in the water.



Look at these two fine specimens! Hikers! "I like to go on a hike," Ida says.

Memorial Day Weekend I

Better friends with each passing day:



Kind of...



Ida is incorporating Miki into her posse of Baby Matthew, Teddy Bear, Baby Hazel and Pooki:



Daddy is also a peripheral posse-member, though more and more he is referred to as "Pete"--e.g. "Are you cuttin your toenails, Pete?"

Miki Finally Gets Clean!

What's going on?



Miki's first bath!



Everyone wants to help...



And then some even want to travel back through time...



Miki's first video:



A few reflections from older sister:



Two very clean girls:

Update: Ida vs. "Mocha"

At the zoo today, an African Pygmy Goat named Mocha pulled down the zipper of Ida's jacket with his teeth! Ida found that quite hilarious.

Moving Back in Time--photos from Big Kath

A typical dinner before Miki turned everything upside down...





She says this is a picture of a "future slumber party with all four girls":

Further Wisdoms of Ida III + More Miki

This morning Ida was eating some oatmeal and Miki/Ella were sleeping. It's a nice summer morning. I asked Ida what she heard and she said, "The birds are singing to Mama's pants." (They're outside on the line.) Anyways, it's hot. Ida remains anti-clothes:



Mostly she wants to know "What's Miki doin?" and "Can I hold her?" Which is tough when people want to nap.



Double stroller!



Going on a trip...



...to Johnson Creek, where we saw a "dog party."

Coming Home + a Visit from Theo

Miki and Ella came home on Wednesday, and we're settling in, a little at a time. Ida is very excited!





Theo and Uncle Arthur came over to CHECK IT out.



Theo has begun to drink beer.



Cheap lager, in fact.



She likes it!



She likes Miki, too! A little too much.



Our new strategy is to try to keep those who have been drinking from directly apprehending the baby. We'll see how it goes.

Ida Akiko vs. Miki Frances = Sisters Forever

The two sisters meet!



"This is Miki's Room!" Ida says. "These Miki's diapers!" She is delighted and bewildered to have a sister.



Here's a picture of baby Ida from a couple years back (file photo), for comparison's sake:



Ida took this picture:



For the numerologists among us: please note that this important event happens on the 300th post. Coincidence?

Arrival of the Sister!

At 6 PM today, Ida's little sister Miki Frances Rock arrived on the scene! Miki's name was not really in consideration until this morning, when Ida persistently insisted that the baby inside Ella was named Miki. (It is pronounced like Mickey and is somehow Japanese.) Anyway, this is what Miki looked like, only moments after emerging:



Ella was a champion. She is now a firm believer in the epidural. "I can see having a third child," she said.



Miki even let me hold her!



But then she became very angry.



Fortunately, Aunt Maggie swung on by to calm Miki down.



8 lbs. 3 oz, just shy of twenty inches long; the nurses were wowed by her head of hair, but we had to admit that it's not as serious as Ida's was. It's also lighter in color? Tomorrow we'll bring the sisters together, and will document that for you, gentle readers.