Westward, ho!

(Fort Collins, CO)

The Midwest has been our home ever since we can remember, but the time has come to uproot and move out West. A new job opportunity is taking our family to Colorado in a couple of weeks. We are sad to leave Iowa so soon--Cedar Rapids has been good to us. It's given us our very first house . . .
. . . a plentiful garden . . .

(roma tomatoes + mini bell peppers)

(jalapeno peppers)

(cherry tomatoes)

(zucchini under the fort)

. . . memorable friendships . . .

(a friend's birthday party at the fire station)

(playgroup at Bever Park Zoo)

. . . a baby shower to welcome our new daughter . . .

(Ramona: "Baby Mika doesn't take showers. She takes baby showers!)

. . . and there have been many chances to work, play, and grow.

(the duck pond at Noelridge Park)

It will also be sad to move further away from our parents in Illinois. It has been nice this past year to have just a 3-4 hour drive between us. We squeezed in one last Iowa-Illinois trip over the weekend for a friend's wedding in Decatur.
Parry and Teresa let us stay with them.



Of course we made a stop in Bloomington-Normal on the way back for some Jii and Baachan time.

I think some part of me will always remain a Midwestern girl--something about expansive fields of corn, oppressive humidity, and blaring cicadas will always invoke a sense of nostalgia. But I'm looking forward to setting foot (for the first time!) in Colorado, and experiencing a whole different set of adventures with our little family in a new place. Westward, ho!

Mikamontage

Mika's first three weeks of life have filled our hearts with much joy and excitement, and filled our home with many visitors. Here is an assortment of pictures to document:

Mika observes the color contrasts of a stuffed cow
Paca came to see his girls the Friday after Mika came home . . .
. . . and snuck in a nap with the baby
I know baby smiles are involuntary at this stage, but Mika still seems to be one smiley kid
Ramona has been a wonderful big sister. She is about as gentle as a two-year-old can be, sings Mika her favorite songs, and showers her with attention and kisses.

The kisses are not always appreciated I guess.

Jii and Baachan stayed for most of Labor Day weekend

Oh yes . . . Mika's arrival filled our home with one more thing: flowers!
Sunday morning the weather was irresistible so we went for our first walk around the neighborhood as a family of four + Jii and Baachan.
(That is Mika hiding in the little baby carrier)
In the afternoon we went to church
Let's be honest--most mothers enjoy dressing up their little girls every now and again, don't they? Whether we put them in pink frilly dresses or polka-dotted skirts?
Ramona received some origami instruction from Baachan
I love this photo below because it's an amusing depiction of Mika's tolerance toward her sister's unrestrained vocal volume.

Here she is at one week
Grandma came to visit and help out during week three after Forest returned to full days at work


Bathtime




Thanks everyone for all your support as we transition to a two-princess castle. We feel very loved and blessed.

Welcome Mika

Dear Mika,

Once you were just a little bean in my belly . . .

But before we knew it, you grew,

and grew,
and grew.

I'm not sure what the sudden rush was when you decided to come out and join us, but we're so glad you arrived.

Thank you for giving us an extra fifteen minutes so Daddy didn't have to deliver you in the minivan.
I'm fairly certain that his three greatest fears are spiders, clowns, and the prospect of delivering his own children in automobiles.

Your birthday is August 29, 2011. At 6:27 am, you practically leaped your 7 lb., 6 oz. body out of mine and into this world. The first hands that caught you were those of a nurse, standing in for the doctor who didn't arrive until several minutes later.

After your birth, I sat in awe for quite some time at your complete little frame, disbelieving that you were actually out of the womb.

But more than anything, I felt humbled and grateful to have received such a beautiful gift from heaven.
Your sister Ramona has been anticipating your arrival, too. For a few weeks now she always includes your name when she talks about our family. You two met for the first time today and exchanged gifts in the hospital room. I think you'll be good for each other.

Thank you for making our family bigger and better than before. We love you, Baby Mika!

-Mommy

Ramona Speaks

During her short 28 months of existence, the skill that Ramona has developed far beyond any other is undeniably her ability to talk. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of having this little two-year-old right now is our memorable conversation, some of which I started writing down since last March:

(While I am giving Ramona bed time cuddles and kisses:)
Ramona: Mommy taste pretty good
Ivy: I taste pretty good?
Ramona: Yeah!
Ivy: What do I taste like?
Ramona: Mmm...applesauce.
Ivy: Applesauce?
Ramona: Ohgurt.
Ivy: Applesauce yogurt?
Ramona: Yeah! Taste pretty Ummy.

(Ramona is trying to put on a pair of mommy's pantyhose)
Ramona: Crocodile eat that.
Ivy: Crocodiles eat pantyhose?
Ramona: (gravely) Yeah.
Ivy: What else do crocodiles eat?
Ramona: Shirts.
Ivy: I didn't know that.
Ramona: Crocodile eat my blankie.
Ivy: Crocodiles eat your blankie? Oh no!
Ramona: What we gonna do?
Ivy: What are we going to do? I don't know.
Ramona: Crocodile far away.
(Yes, Ramona. Crocodiles live far away. Your blankie should be safe for now.)

(Ramona is on the potty, just having delivered her #2 goods.)
Ramona: I smell them!
Ivy: Do they smell stinky?
Ramona: No.
Ivy: What do they smell like?
Ramona: (smiling) Flowers.

Ivy: Ramona, what are you doing?

Ramona: Coloring on my leg.

(Sure enough, she is coloring on her leg with a green marker. I appreciate the honesty, dear.)

(Ramona snatches a can opener from a kitchen drawer.)

Ivy: Ramona, that's not very safe. I need you to put that back.

Ramona: Okay. In a few hours.

Ivy: Ramona, do you need a time out?

Ramona: No, I'm fine.

(Upon having an accident on her bed during naptime, as I am stripping the sheets off of her bed)

Ramona: I'm sorry 'bout that. I don't mean to pee on the bed.

Ramona: Crocodile's coming (in a whisper)
Ivy: Is he going to sing?
Ramona: No. He's going to play the piano.

Ramona: I have chipmunks in my shoes (trying to take off her sandals)
Ivy: Do you mean woodchips?
Ramona: (a little sheepishly) Woodchips.

(After passing a dead deer on the side of the road)
Ramona: Was that a deer?
Ivy: Yes, that was a deer.
Ramona: Is he cute?
Ivy: Yes, it's cute.
Ramona: Where's mommy deer?
Ivy: I think that was the mommy deer.
Ramona: Where's daddy deer?
Ivy: I don't know where daddy deer is.
Ramona: (shrugging) I don't know either!
(pause)
Ramona: Is she lying down?
Ivy: Yes, she's lying down.
Ramona: Is she sleeping?
Ivy: Yes, she is.

(At dinnertime)
Ramona: I don't like spinach. I spit it out of my mouth.
Ivy: Someday you'll like spinach.
Ramona: Someday I'll like it. When I'm 22.

About a week ago we went to a friend's wedding in Nauvoo. Before attending, we explained to Ramona that Gavin and Kristen were getting married in the temple, and that Kristen would be the bride and Gavin would be the groom.
I ended up waiting outside the temple with Ramona during the ceremony. As we walked around the temple grounds, she pointed up at the building and said: "Mommy, I'm going to go in there someday. I'm going to be a bride."
Apparently, she later told Paca that he was going to be the "broom."
You certainly know how to speak your mind, don't you? We love you, Ramona.