GIrl in a box, sheep in a bucket

We've had the spectrum of summer and winter in the last week, with 100 degree (at least in the apartment!) days eventually giving way to the usual San Francisco fog and chilliness. Thanks to Paul and Tara for the beautiful little sundress... who knew that she would be wearing it in April?! Everyone at the park, where we went for some relief from the hot apartment, was wowed by her cuteness in it. Here's the whole fandamily, smiling with their mouths open!

We get a delivery of vegetables from a local farm every 2 weeks, and after I had unpacked the box, I left it on the kitchen floor while I made Rosa and myself some lunch. When I looked down, to my shock, Rosa was sitting ON the box at first. She looked a little precarious, so I helped pushed the flaps inward, which basically lowered her down INTO the box. I just let her hang out there for a little bit. Once she started chewing on the cardboard flap, I helped her OUT of the box. If she could talk, it would have been a preposition lesson.




Jeff is fantastic with making up ways to play with Rosa. He is the one who discovered that she can't bear to leave you covered up in the big red silk scarf - she comes rushing over to pull it off of you any time you cover your face with it. Similarly, she can't bear to have her little lamb covered by her new red bucket (thanks for the bucket, Becky - she loves putting her toys in and taking them out of the bucket! More prepositions!). Watch and see!

Finally, here are a couple pix from the rec center with Rosa's pal Izzy and Izzy's mom Sarah, from our birth prep class.

Kisses!

Last weekend we all went to an open house hosted by our doula, at which she had a speech therapist, a baby CPR trainer, a nutritionist, etc. After the speakers were done, all the parents and babies got to play together. Rosa was sitting next to an 8-month old girl named Ada, and after a while started leaning over to Ada's face with her mouth open. I moved in to make sure there was no biting or eye-scratching going on, but Rosa was very gently putting her mouth next to the baby's cheek. I didn't see what it was at first, but our doula was walking by and said, "How sweet - she's kissing that baby!" And suddenly I realized Rosa had been doing that with Jeff and me recently too!

Once I realized what she was doing, I see her doing that with other babies pretty frequently now, and it just melts my heart!

Today, Jeff had Rosa standing on the futon so she could see herself in the living room mirror... and she was kissing and kissing and kissing her reflection. She even did it long enough for Mommy to get out the camera and take a little video:

And lastly, a beautiful sunset...

Shopping cart girl

I don't have any pictures of this, but last Wednesday, Rosa and I went to Whole Foods to buy a few flavors of baby food that they don't have in the stores in the neighborhood. Since Rosa was born, I have done most of the my shopping at a few small stores in the neighborhood or else gone to a big grocery store on the weekend while Rosa stayed home with Daddy. But today we went to Whole Foods together, and I put Rosa in the kid's seat part of the shopping cart. ... she had a ball! Of course she was craning her neck and trying to face forward the whole time 'cause that's how my girl rolls. But it was really fun, and apparently very stimulating for her because when we got home she was super sleepy and fell asleep for her afternoon nap very easily. Putting her in the shopping cart, rather than in a baby seat attachment, was one of those experiences that made me see her differently, more as a little girl than a baby. Next time we go I'll get pictures!

Tanti Kira's birthday visit

Rosa's Tanti Kira's spring break was late this year, and coincided with her birthday! So she decided to come spend the week with Rosa. Kira loves loves loves Rosa!

We had a fantastic and very full week, including lots of trips to the playground,
our first Music Together class (which was super fun - looking forward to more of those!), trips to various shops on Valencia including the science fiction bookstore "Borderlands" with its 3 Sphynx cats (they are naturally hairless!),
walks to Dolores Park, lunch at the vegetarian sushi restaurant with Uncle Ging, and more. Kira loved carrying Rosa in the baby carrier - she said it was like getting a big Rosa hug for the whole walk!
We tried to get Rosa to wear her little sunglasses, but just like hats, the sunglasses didn't last long.

For Kira's birthday, she and I went to the Kabuki Springs Japanese bathhouse in the morning (Rosa stayed home with her babysitter), then that night after Rosa went to bed, we went out to Bruno's for drinks.

Daddy stayed home with Rosa that night. My mom and dad asked me to get flowers for Kira, so I got these beautiful Rununculus, which Rosa really wanted to smell (and probably eat!).

Rosa now recognizes that various bottle shapes are all bottles to drink from, and here is the classic "baby trying to drink a beer" shot of Miss Rosa. She'll have to wait a few more years!

Last but not least, I loved these pictures of Rosa playing on Daddy's tummy.

First parade, first beach trip

Here's our girl with the light from a beautiful sunset on her face.

Two Saturdays ago (I'm a little behind!) Rosa had a couple firsts in the same day - first parade (as both a spectator and participant!) and first trip to the beach. It was a gorgeous day, and bright and early Eva called to say she would be in our neighborhood for the Cesar Chavez Day parade. San Francisco doesn't miss any opportunity to have a parade, and the great thing about many SF parades is that they let everyone join! So we first watched part of the parade go by, then joined in.

Here's Frank Chiu, one of San Francisco's colorful characters, who attends almost all public events in the city with his sign, demanding the impeachment of public officials and with other crazy messages on it. He's become so well known that he rents out space on the back of his sign for advertisements.

After the parade, we went out to Ocean Beach, which was Rosa's first time to the beach. We're not sure how much of the scenery she noticed, but she definitely enjoyed running her hands through the sand. It was a beautiful afternoon.

SPECIAL INSTALLMENT: The Rosa Report #2, by guest blogger Zarah

On the eve of my third babysitting gig with Rosapants, I'm up and too excited to sleep! So I'd better get this report out of my second day of babysitting with Rosa cuz there'll be more to come tomorrow. Poor Mama's got to go back to the dentist again. Below is what I told the band almost a month ago!

The Rosa Report, February 24, 2009

Hello Bandmates,
Too bad, again, you were not there for the awesomeness that is babysitting Rosa!!! I mean, Katie was there for some of the time, Mama Katie that is, not C-Note. So, again, the action began with the "waking-from-the nap" procedure. Before heading over, I reflected on how the first babysitting day may have been beginner's luck that Rosa didn't cry and hoped it wouldn't all go downhill. But when I leaned over the crib after hearing Rosa wake up (just as Mama Katie scooted out the front door) I just saw a smiling baby, all dressed in her sweater, on her back with her footsies up in the air, ready to play. Her clothes weren't even ruffled up a bit from her nap! And, there was no questioning look this time as I reached in the crib to smoosh her belly and see if she's really ready to get up and PLAY!

Update from last babysitting day: now Rosa has an awesome new play mat, of foam puzzle pieces with alphabet letters that pop out. We sat down on the "L" and "S" and there was more smooshing (of cheeks, tummy, and toes-ies) and big smiles. Rosa can pull herself up and balance on her feet a bit sturdier than last time. When I sat on the couch and rapidly tilted her backwards she got the butterflies in her tummy with even bigger smiles and got all giggly during my favorite part when I say "again?" and take in a deep loud breath so she knows the big ride is coming again. I love seeing her big smile of anticipation.

So, there was no crying again today!!! And my luck held out as I unwrapped Rosa's diaper (with a reminder call from Mama) to find only liquids!!! No solids!!! Woo hoo!!!

We hit up the park. Rosa must know it's fun times ahead when getting buckled up in her riding seat. Cuz, yup, all smiles again! We rolled to the park at the end of the block and had some swing time, some sandbox time, some walking on the bridge time, some railroad train time with smooching sand off the dining car table, and then some more sandbox time, then finally we needed a break and rejuvenation so we had some bottle time. Me holding and trying to block the sun from Rosa's eyes, and Rosa drinking, but sharing some of the milk with her sweater.

Just then, Mama Katie called to say she was on her way to meet us. In a few minutes, Katie arrive as Rosa was meeting her new friend Gigi, who's nanny hablar en espanol con nosotros and then Katie recognized baby Alex and ended up doing some awesome mommy-networking for future play dates!

I sat in the shade during the mommy-networking and after we said bye-bye to all the new friends, we went home and I rested while Mama Katie checked Rosa's diaper and said my technique was alright for the earlier diaper change. Whew! The diaper had stayed on!

There was some other stuff as I tried to make some plans and then got picked up. Anyway, Happy Fat Tuesday Everyone!!! And I hope for more opportunities to write Rosa Babysitting Reports!!!

Smooches, and LTB&B,
Z$

P.S. And yes, Bandmates, I am using my time wisely by beginning Rosa's instructions on the drums!!! She's already a natural. Look at that mug-o-confidence on that 7/8 beat!!! Bwahhhahahahahahaha ha!

P.P.S Rosa had carrots and rice for lunch today.

P.P.P.S. Thanks Mama Katie for my babysitting thank you treat!