Francesca and Jasmine get ready to go to growing seeds with daddy.

Francesca's future is so bright she really has to wear shades.

Good morning Wednesday. We are driving mommy to work, and looking forward to the big SF Chesca palooza this weekend!

The fun this girl can have anywhere, anytime is downright positively inspiring!

You would not believe who's on the cowphone.

impressions of Francesca. . .

Mommy just started swinging Francesca but she's already making the sign for 'more'!

Swing fever never ameliorates...

Francesca steps out for an early evening constitutional...

Francesca can't wait to go on her first bike ride someday.

So very much to see in the great wide world...

Do you need a license to be this cute?

I am revving my engine now...

beep beep ready to go! (again)

And good for standing in, too!

The chair is very soft and versatile!

Francesca is enjoying the new chair from craigslist daddy got for her. (We just need to cover up the "Annabel"!)

It sometimes takes a while to get clothes back on Francesca after a trip to the potty.

Francesca, aka Na-na, often insists on taking off all of her clothes, including socks & shoes if she has them on, before sitting on the potty.

Francesca has a new best friend babysitter! Ashley and Francesca hit it off immediately--Francesca even wanted Ashley to put her shoes on her when mommy was right there! (Mom & Dad are having a date night--at the opera! wowy zowy!)

Francesca is 'all done' -- with attitude!
(This is from the breakfast table.)

about to get on the bus

Francesca stretches out in the doctor's office...

Mainstream news blog profiles Francesca

Check out this link:
http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/blog/indian-dance-and-wrapping-ceremony/

Francesca also says, "yeah," in addition to "da", for "yes." Her shirt says, I do not have a mute button! (That is a true thing!!) Happy Thursday everybody!

The Seeds are Growing!

Francesca examines her little garden. Notice that even the transplanted seeds are growing too! She hasn't had to water because of some recent rain.

Good Morning on Wednesday!

Sweet little Francesca helps daddy take mommy to work in the morning.

Good morning!

Sleeping Beauties

We picked up a little bacterial infection... Our fist clue was Francesca was not the usual energizer bebe. She WANTED to go down for a nap.

Peek-a-boo

Francecsa is feeling better after her nap. The whole family is fighting with a nasty bug... We came home from Pendleton (all the great swing pics are from there) a bit early because of it. But it is good to be home!

Swinging with Daddy!

Speaking of words. . .

Francesca Margot has quite the vocabulary. Of course, her comprehension is fantastic, she can understand pretty much whatever you'd want to say to her. And she can say the following words:
Up --(very clear, this is among her latest words)
ball -- (ball-ball, but sometimes the "l" is not so apparent)
water -- wah-wah mostly but the "ter" comes sometimes
all done -- arguably her first "word"
bebe -- Daddy has heard this more than mommy
poo -- also a recent addition to the spoken vocabulary, mostly while on the potty
da -- this is a common sound but lately it very clearly means "yes"
bah-bah -- we have no idea but it is clearly something specific. Maybe milk?

And finally, this just in the last few days... she says "Na-na" to mean herself. It's kind of like Nana Brooke but the two syllables are the same exact sound, so NOT "NAN-uh" but Na-na, like the first part of "NAN-uh" twice.

Signs for yes and no, more, please and milk are quite common too.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said. . .

"The sky is the daily bread of the eyes." And I would add, "The face of Francesca is the daily bread of the soul."

Another take on the winning smile

Mommy is going to get a mousepad with this picture on it.

Little angel princess recovering from her big trip...

Daddy says how, very traditional.

pose #2

I look indian, right?

More Pendleton pics!

Fransca asleep in the car...mom and dad take turns posing in front of a traditional teepee.

From Pendleton on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Round-Up!

This is the world's longest blanket, made at Pendleton Woolen Mills. This creates a friendship circle, with everyone draping some of the blanket around their shoulders. This and the indian dances take place inside the Round-Up grounds, where the cowboys compete and the broncos buck. We 'Let 'er Buck!' as they say at Round-Up, and now we're headed back to the SE Portland ranch...

Indian girls dancing the swan dance. (Mommy so wants to get Francesca a deer skin dress...)

Francesca thinks the hoop dance is the coolest. And this little indian cannot be more than 6 years old! (He didn't win, but mommy, daddy & Francesca thought he should have at least placed third!)

lots to take in between dances too

Francesca takes in some traditional indian dancing.

super sliding action!
(oh how mommy has missed Francesca and the blog...)

Little indian girl, somewhere in her heritage anyway...

Big Slide!!

Francesca tunnels.

Daddy and Francesca and mommy enjoy the fabulous pioneer play park. . .

Francesca finds the mother of all swings in the mother of all rodeo towns....Pendleton!

Sunshiney girl! Mommy will miss you today in Pendleton. See opb.org/thinkoutloud to see where mom is going and where Francesca and daddy will be tomorrow! Let 'er Buck! (100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo!)