The Wild Hteb and Uncle Elephant go Adventuring: Vacation Photo Purge

It was SO long ago --nearly a third of a life for some of us-- that we left Seattle bound for family and friends of the Eastern variety. Since we seemed to have a ridiculous amount of baby stuff (stroller, carseat, onesies, fuzzy pants, breast pump, bottle freezer pack...) to take along I left my laptop and subsisted on my iPhone. This was a mistake. I now have 300 new photos and videos and haven't blogged in a month. She's gone through about 72 new developmental stages but... I'll set aside my narrator's regret and get on with a summary of our wonderful and varied journey which brought us home two nights ago.

We flew from Seattle to Detroit and Fiona was awesome. She cried when she was hungry and ate well. Her ears didn't seem to bother her (I nursed on take-off but not landing) and we lucked out with our seat-mate who was a sweet and dudish 30-year-old in hipster glasses and a thick beard just returning from a month of mountain biking northern Washington with friends who live in the woods.

We rented a care in Detroit and drove to Aurora, just up Cayuga Lake from Ithaca. Sounds like a silly plan but we saved money and had invaluable family bonding time in the Dodge Dart. We arrived in a gross heat wave that broke on the 2nd day. Look at the party people we got to hang with!

We celebrated Eliza and Ainsley turning 8 and my dad turning 70. Lots of fun presents, good food, sweating, and jollity.

Julia and her boys came out to visit! Julia has Oliver and Elliott is hanging with Alden here. We all fed babies and caught up on life and sweat together.

Maybe the day before we left Seattle I first glimpsed a smile after a feed. By the time we got to Aurora it was a common presence and crowd-pleaser. Goofy noises, especially if involving external tongues and coupled with goofy faces did the trick initially. Since then we've branched out to soccer chants, toe-nibbling, double chin tickling, mouth kissing, belly raspberrying, and startled gasping.

This is amazing to me. We hardly burp her anymore and she looks TINY to me here. It's been 3 weeks.

Porch snuggling with Grandpa Rick:

After a handful of days we headed into Ithaca to hang with my mom and good old friends. Here's Alden assessing Fiona in the sling to see what kind of bottle she might like for the drive back to Detroit since she hadn't been gelling with the standard nipple. He picked the ComoTomo at Jillian's Drawers on the Ithaca Commons and she loved it. Truly revolutionary for us.

Look how awesome (this pic is out of order but I don't care).

One of my favorite pictures so far. Kerry came over with Emma, born 2 weeks before Fiona, and we put them next to each other so we could laugh and laugh at our children. They're both perfectly normal. And they're both the same species. And their moms are both 5'9". What?!

Less talking; more photos.

Nursing pit-stop at Taughannock Overlook after a lovely swim at Julia and Morgan's lake house.

Hanging out on the couch.

Saia, unfazed by crying, helps Elliott change Fiona. "Would you like the wipes now?"

Ithaca Farmers' Market where I plan to spend every Saturday for 8 months next year and the 3 years after that with these people on this bench eating that Monkey bread and iced coffee.

One day we went to Jeremy Sanderson's (what is that site that has our high school album?!) pool and hung out like it was high school but without the body image problems. This group of people was amazing: the Sandersons themselves, KP and Haven and Linda and Murielle, Kerry and Ross and Saia and Emma and Sue, and us all jumping in a pool and feeding babies.

Looking somewhat more robust than last time her feet were dipped but still unsure.

We hung out at my mom's with Mo and caught up on life and Ithaca real estate.

Picnic with Big J!

We tried to go to Northstar but it was too crowded so Elliott changed a diaper and we went to The Nines for the second time that week. Yum. Burger this time, pizza the first.

We hit the road for Detroit and spent the night hanging with cousins galore. She wasn't so sure about Norb

but sat alertly for half an hour of Chris' lap.

Getting a little hungry...

but sensing a trust-worthy and compassionate pediatrician in Jackie.

It was a long drive and, by the time she passed out at Gretchen and Norb's she was driving in her sleep.

But there were a few more hours in the car to pick up great-grandma Nan at the airport and head up the Thumb to Huron City. Here are some lovely family pics.

Please note the Basset Hound socks on Nan.

Four generations of Wagoner Women.

Just enjoy.

BBQ lesson.

Contemplative diaper change in the gloaming at The Farm, site of our rehearsal dinner last year.

Bundled for a walk with her pod racer hat from Oliver and Alden who had grown out of it. She slept in this every night.

Keeping the rashes away.

Post-feed big ol' smile.

Saying goodbye to Claire and Leelah after a great week.

Ainsley, Fiona, and Eliza hammocking together.

A deep, beautiful nap.

Invaded by her parents...

She found her hands and has been working on getting a full fist into her mouth.

Or two.

My people.

Willow creek.

Golf course with Dilsey.

Keeping her out of the sun on the beach. Strategy #1.

Strategy #2.

"Whatcha reading, Ainsley?"

"Umm, how about you, Eliza?"

Grammy noted her interest and helped her with her own book, a gift from cousins Chris and Jeff and Elliott and Graham.

This is a beautiful thing. They're gonna do this all fall.

Look at those huge cheeks. Kissing them goodnight is the best. She's been sleeping 6-9 hours at night pretty much without fail for 4 weeks. Super baby. This also means she eats ALL DAY but I'm not complaining (very much).