From the City by the Bay to the City by the Lake

We came home to find Rikki's social security card waiting for us. Davis says it's time to put her to work... This was my first flight alone with Rikki. Didn't get my usual Dramamine doze, but I sure will sleep well in our air conditioned apartment. Our last week in Berkeley saw temperatures in the high nineties. Pretty tough without AC.

Three generations...

We had a great visit with Nana and Aunt Eunie, and we were sad to see them leave.

The third generation could barely stand still long enough for the second to take the picture (that and the iPhone are my excuses for the poor lighting).

She is now darting across the room even when we don't expect it. She loves every minute of it, and so do we.

Also, she now has 12 teeth. Numbers 11 and 12 snuck up on me while I was watching 10 come in.

Her other new skill is blowing kisses at everyone who comes and goes.

We will be sad to leave Berkeley but
it will be nice to get back to our Chicago home.

Heat wave in Berkeley

Finally wearing our summer togs.

PanPan is a Swinger -- fourth try

She loves to try out all kinds of movement... (except sometimes her stroller and her car seat -- now that she's a toddler, these have less appeal).

Here she is all suited up at Codornices Park, before the sun came out. The mornings this month started out in the low fifties, but it is warming up as fall approaches in Berkeley. By the time we get back to Chicago, she's going to be moving around pretty independently (though she will need her fleece and then some pretty soon...)

Showing Off Some Berkeley Fashions

Unfortunately the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" parade has been called
off this year (perhaps their corporate sponsorships went down?), but
everyone thought that Olive fit right in. You'd never know she wasn't
a native.

Escape from Alcatraz

Watch out ... she's on the loose!

Back Together By the Bay

The four of us spent a fun-filled weekend together in Berkeley, including a belated birthday celebration for Olive at Codornices, where she joined the other kids in going down the giant slide on wax-coated boxes.

Toddlin'

Since we live in Chicago, we need to know how to toddle, and it looks like we almost have a toddler among us... See for yourself.

Actually this was days ago, I already need a new video. Yesterday, she walked across the kitchen floor when I was getting dinner together. I guess the days of sitting her down in front of the refrigerator magnets are over.

Reunion

Rikki (second from left) met her sisters Kira Olivia and Lauren from Jiangxi province this morning. It was great to see the Bay Area families we spent three weeks with in China.

P

Friends and Mispacha

Another full day of meeting new friends. I'm getting better with the iPhone camera. Isaac K (of YouTube fame) and his family, Panpan's "cousin" Claire, and her new friend Matan. Matan is certainly challenging Kubla for Rikki's affections: He spent three hours before our visit practicing saying "Rikki Pan Pan" (his pronunciation was a little cuter though - 'piggy pan pan') and he even served her water just like Kubla did.

Pan Pan really likes the Berkeley porch. After living in apartment buildings with elevators, she seems excited to be able to just walk directly outside. She does not seem to notice the cooler weather -- today was quite pleasant actually.

Look at Rikki's new friend...

Her friend Isaac Koontz is already famous on YouTube. They are
kindred spirits in their love of music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYu07phaUFs&feature=related

Kissing a Frog, the Movie

Wow!

There is so much new to experience here in California, but our little dumpling, optimist that she is, doesn't seem to be missing a beat. She's well-acquainted with our Berkeley house now, and she seems to love being able to go out the front door straight into the outdoors (though, granted, she missed out on pushing the elevator button). She had fun meeting new friends (our housekeeper Evelyn's son Jason) and seeing old friends (her friend Lilly, whose parents - the traitors - just moved back from Chicago to the East Bay), not to mention trying out her new equipment.

She is now crawling up a storm, and is just about ready to walk on her own too. We visited her California OT today (introduced by her Evanston PT, who used to live in the Bay Area). In addition to saying Rikki is making great progress, she was impressed by her self-esteem: As one of her many props, the OT used a baby book with mirrors on every spread, and PanPan kissed herself every time. She did it at home too, but added a kiss for the frog.

Davis is back in Chicago for a week, and will celebrate Olive's birthday. We will celebrate again with her soon.

Busy by the Bay

Can't believe I've gone more than a week without posting -- getting ready for our trip to California, planning for September (I'm going to start working part-time), and then immersing ourselves back into the Bay Area, not to mention jet lag, have had me worn out every night.

Fortunately, Rikki seems to be having fun out here. She was quite content in our home in Chicago, but Berkeley has given her new things to try and explore, new people to meet, and .. new weather. Though the days have been lovely, the mornings have been chilly. Here are a few shots of her trying out some warmer garb.