Yellowstone vacation

Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to Yellowstone. It was my first airplane trip so I was a bit apprehensive about the procedure. Luckily my parents let me play with a plastic bag (not normally recommended for safety reasons). Plastic bags are quite entertaining for their scritchiness and this one kept me busy during the long wait at SFO. We flew into Salt Lake City and changed to a smaller turboprop plane for the final leg to West Yellowstone. I tried to be on my best behavior for the sake of the other passengers and was glad to finally arrive.

Mama and Papa took a day to fish the upper Madison river. The second picture is Mama with her first ever trout caught on a fly. The guide Chris Connor is holding up the small brownie, which went back unharmed to the mighty river. Several rainbows and many whitefish were also caught during their float from Lyons Bridge to just past the Palisades. Papa was proud of Mama for all the fish she caught.

The last picture is the family on top of Mount Washburn in Yellowstone National Park. While on top, a local asked from where we were visiting. Papa replied, "sea level." Teehee. The elevation is listed as 10,243 ft. Mama carried me all the way to the top by herself - quite a workout. I highly recommend this 6.4 mile hike if you do visit the park; it rewards with vistas few get to experience.

Happy 4th of July

I can't believe it is July already. Half of the year gone by. I am excited because being summer means it is time for vacation. We are headed out at the end of the week to visit Yellowstone National Park.

YNP straddles the corners of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming and is the world's first national park. We will be staying near the West entrance with many of Mama's family members. GrannyM and Pop-Pop Bob have even volunteered to watch me while my parents take a float trip down the Madison River. The river is a fly fisher's dream destination for the area's famous cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Yippie.

I promise to make Papa take lots of pictures. See you soon.

New home

We completed our move from Coastside to the San Francisco peninsula. Moving house was quite an effort and made us realize that we have entirely too much stuff. That's ok, all of my toys seem to have made it.

I am playing basketball with the set that GrannyM and Pop-Pop Bob gave me last time they were visiting (thank you). I am also playing basketball in honor of the Miami Heat's recent NBA championship - go Shaq and Dwayne. Zadie, the brown dog, is my biggest fan. She awaits patiently for balls that go astray. She also likes to 'help' me with my dinner items and finger foods that make their way to ground. Good doggie; it'll be our little secret.

I recently had my 9 month check-up. Everything is still looking good. Height and weight are 29.5", 21 lbs. 13 oz., respectively. Happy summer, it's going to be a hot one.

Leaving Babe's

Babe's is the name of my former daycare in Pacifica. These are two of my favorite caregivers there; Shama and Candace. I have spent five days a week for five months with these fantastic people. If you look at the situation from a different perspective, I have probably spent more waking hours with the staff of Babe's than with my own parents. They really are a large part of who I am. I will miss them. I know it is hard for them to see me, or anyone for that matter, move away. We promise to keep in touch, to let them know I am doing well. Thank you - you are the best.

Pssst, Zeke (2)

[Shanti] Zeke, your Papa loves you very much.

I know Papa. I love you too, that's why I am so happy.

Uncle Misha

I have a surprised look on my face because I am unsure of Uncle Misha. He sort of looks like Papa, which means he sort of looks like me. I guess he's alright, just a bit startling for a small boy such as myself. Uncle Misha lives up in Oregon, but came to visit us one last time in Montara. It is the first time that we've met each other. Papa was a bit stressed out because work has been busy and moving house is no longer a small matter. That's ok, Papa was glad to spend some time with his brother. Misha was pleased to meet me. I promise not to be so surprised next time.

Same outfit, different Zeke

Here are two pictures of me; the first one was taken while I was still at the hospital where I was born, the second one was taken last week. Same outfit, different me. There is about a nine-month gap in time between the two pictures. Clearly I have grown quite a bit, but I can't believe the doctors at the hospital let my parents take me home. What kind of poor judgement must my parents have to believe a newborn would fit into this outfit? Honestly.

The good thing is they have turned out to be decent parents (although each of them secretly harbors very large doubts). I am thriving under their care and they seem to enjoy being parents. A sort of three-way symbiosis if you will. Now where's my next meal and bottle of formula?

Moving house

This is a photograph of our house in Montara. I put it here on my blog because we are not going to be living here much longer. We have sold the house and signed a lease on a rental home on "the other side" of the hill. Despite the Devil's slide cutting off the Northern route and making Montara one of the Nation's longest cul-de-sacs, a newly retired couple from San Francisco will be moving in.

As a nine-month old, I am not sure how much of Montara I will remember. My parents have only lived here for a little over two years, but much has happened during that time. I am sure that there will be both good memories and not-so-good ones. What will never change is the fact this was my first home, the one where I came home from the hospital, first met Zadie, ate my first solid food and spent a lot of time in the jumpy chair. The house has served us well, but it is time to go.

Too hot for clothes

Why am I back in the sink? I used to bathe in my sink at home, but I have since graduated to the big bathtub. There is much more water in the big tub and either Mama or Papa gets in with me to help me wash up. So again, why am I back in the sink? I am here because it is too hot. We are visiting Uncle Billy's house in San Jose, but I am not used to the heat. What better way to cool off than to don my birthday suit and enjoy a nice cool bath.

Billy and Carolyn put out a big spread of a brunch for Mother's day. Muffins, pancakes, doughnuts, rosemary potatoes, bacon, sausage and custom scrambles. Both traditional and guava mimosa drinks were too easy to drink. Everything was yummy. I am certain that GrannyM and Pop-pop Bob enjoyed the treats. It was nice to have them visit from Southern California. They always pay such good attention to me. Happy Mother's day!

Faces of determination and defeat

Really I am trying, everyday I am getting better at it. Someday it will come. Just not today. I have figured out how to push myself along, unfortunately it is in the backwards direction and I can't see where I'm going. Don't you worry Papa or Mama, I'll figure this crawling thing out. It is exhausting being a baby, just let me take a small break here to regain my strength.

Remember when I was little and couldn't even sit up straight? You wanted me to be able to sit up - well, now I can. It only a matter of time for crawling and it will be on my time, not according to some book or online schedule. It's me. It's personal. It'll happen, don't you worry. Love me as I am.