tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53817740905308845812023-11-16T12:50:46.092+00:00The Descent of MillsReflections of motherhood.Deenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855024408526304865noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-36147360651236159752009-10-22T11:50:00.001+01:002009-10-22T11:50:39.194+01:00A new descendent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJxcB-7EmjQhuPnPyTJ0bLuyTVXYijWVRqX3Du514dxCtzJ1y5JI5LpLlxK8YTY6sfYqgeaAFLcdmrjnMvQVH89EshTADwWf2FxgEAA9PP_hE1ONPtT1YOnJoKr__0F4AXj8bD49PwHFj/s1600-h/Javan+at+birth.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJxcB-7EmjQhuPnPyTJ0bLuyTVXYijWVRqX3Du514dxCtzJ1y5JI5LpLlxK8YTY6sfYqgeaAFLcdmrjnMvQVH89EshTADwWf2FxgEAA9PP_hE1ONPtT1YOnJoKr__0F4AXj8bD49PwHFj/s200/Javan+at+birth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233146801341250" border="0" /></a>Introducing Javan Allan Mills, who began as single cell, the union of one demi-potent gamete from Deena and one from Tim, and has been dividing and dividing for ten lunar orbits.<br /><br />That one cell has become a great composite union of diversified cells united to each other by a common blueprint carried in the heart of each one. This great union emerged from his amniotic incubator on the 15th of October 2009, at 2:24 in the morning. Javan was joyfully welcomed into the home of his parents, Tim and Deena, and his sister, Kaia. He was composed of several trillion cells, weighing 4260g (9lb 6oz) and measuring 52cm long.<br /><br />Here are some images of Javan with other cell composites whose blueprints have helped contribute to his (and with his sister, who shares about half of her blueprint instructions with him).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Pt1Y_-UDRxNANdgnZZDedK5XEdSw2KVucvC6EKTkXDb1w4BtDO9h64YG7t9KUph2purxKlKwsxhG9qu2zN9lAY6JaGDnPptjjFfLJtx0eHwRFjgnhR6COVARQfT0EpmfdtArPP14nT6L/s1600-h/proud+mama.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Pt1Y_-UDRxNANdgnZZDedK5XEdSw2KVucvC6EKTkXDb1w4BtDO9h64YG7t9KUph2purxKlKwsxhG9qu2zN9lAY6JaGDnPptjjFfLJtx0eHwRFjgnhR6COVARQfT0EpmfdtArPP14nT6L/s200/proud+mama.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233156201486562" border="0" /></a>His mother, whose cell composites dramatically rearranged themselves to accommodate and facilitate Javan's embryonic cell divisions, is delighted at this first step of his toward independence.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgIC5EjoavbD_5xjydHnHcbsbdShcWVhRjvxs0-mvjpFRcvv1k9CS4e4DxpE96vathIqY3rvJe2uB7eRpuVFAXol3I2k0JF_AvGYgLbsrVg-AFeSt_OXktitnjrZv8SC2wv1gCX3jDyo8/s1600-h/family.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgIC5EjoavbD_5xjydHnHcbsbdShcWVhRjvxs0-mvjpFRcvv1k9CS4e4DxpE96vathIqY3rvJe2uB7eRpuVFAXol3I2k0JF_AvGYgLbsrVg-AFeSt_OXktitnjrZv8SC2wv1gCX3jDyo8/s200/family.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233145063674034" border="0" /></a>His dad and sister are also pleased to see him as something other than a bump.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p1qqLWWWNS5oML-dmpioWoLwWLIeywBjNBvFSQ81D4gwrYH60vDRz2Efj_kfJKSp9wYkzxdgtbcPpXKqH-w7AN9er35nwQEgBGvvNf3A8q5RKo_VMwLsE9ht5tWr9pZo3fbSkMBjBY30/s1600-h/ear+naming.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p1qqLWWWNS5oML-dmpioWoLwWLIeywBjNBvFSQ81D4gwrYH60vDRz2Efj_kfJKSp9wYkzxdgtbcPpXKqH-w7AN9er35nwQEgBGvvNf3A8q5RKo_VMwLsE9ht5tWr9pZo3fbSkMBjBY30/s200/ear+naming.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233139194461810" border="0" /></a>Javan's sister is eager to point out many of the more identifiable specialized sub-collections of cells - in this case, an "ear".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUWVjRrTerSoeCkJu_q7AmljTdhnJxGb9-3e_-bzzzd0_pqTWuwom2rt3d-7WH0CoK9fc5GR65wne9tPHKe7v0Lg3Ns_7agqwlPxVSnvxK0pbfN4cpUOHsyR4fIHzDAV3tGaDlfN0yYa-/s1600-h/Javan+awake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUWVjRrTerSoeCkJu_q7AmljTdhnJxGb9-3e_-bzzzd0_pqTWuwom2rt3d-7WH0CoK9fc5GR65wne9tPHKe7v0Lg3Ns_7agqwlPxVSnvxK0pbfN4cpUOHsyR4fIHzDAV3tGaDlfN0yYa-/s200/Javan+awake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233152797156242" border="0" /></a>He has also begun exploring his world - though for the moment that is largely limited to sniffing for milk and looking around at us with infant-blue eyes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeb7ltjaNLbDl4bbGdUsn7-Efpo_i0kxHNRqJmA8IjW4epESOi_PaRMq-drN3azis5wcbqjbMcWkZvIWx9FMv6cadtbh5KDJbtnS2sj6yQ3b-VA-x0I0edyhR92g2Drqpxppu1BJrUg9k/s1600-h/proudsister.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeb7ltjaNLbDl4bbGdUsn7-Efpo_i0kxHNRqJmA8IjW4epESOi_PaRMq-drN3azis5wcbqjbMcWkZvIWx9FMv6cadtbh5KDJbtnS2sj6yQ3b-VA-x0I0edyhR92g2Drqpxppu1BJrUg9k/s200/proudsister.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233876258763922" border="0" /></a>Big sister Kaia is delighted with the opportunity to share her vast experience with her new brother, having spent two full terrestrial orbits more on the outside than he has. Granny is also a welcome presence, doting on her first grandson every bit as much as she does on Kaia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU_SjXulct2mmfJKAzfzxFIrtizMFgHmrvEZGMwe540ali1D3QpV7vWgdXghGhPH5Ue4OcsobaekaeXCHCCjvgWQkg0IMdX-zpzD9tBlx2SxiPYBgmY4CkHwHaZ1vJREFzy6btaIIY7Uu/s1600-h/proudsister2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU_SjXulct2mmfJKAzfzxFIrtizMFgHmrvEZGMwe540ali1D3QpV7vWgdXghGhPH5Ue4OcsobaekaeXCHCCjvgWQkg0IMdX-zpzD9tBlx2SxiPYBgmY4CkHwHaZ1vJREFzy6btaIIY7Uu/s200/proudsister2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395233878736235778" border="0" /></a>With a great deal of luck, we will post further updates on the lives of these two descendents as they progress. However, judging from precedent, this blog will remain a birth announcement blog and little else. We hope you have enjoyed it.Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-13905704499604960152008-02-08T11:47:00.000+00:002008-12-10T06:31:45.909+00:00Where have we been? (part 3 of 3)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI8UCCaYoSWfBTz23zfogQYAUZLIZs4EZSJPARdfPhOe3rp5HmpG1xSllxCM_sZKk19H9qLWhPA4B3IgpsuEWKwUZ4DAKHjnmHUywc3gVU-RFkNCgiMUeqhkZFzf01S2Y7EQwSo06PMjM/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI8UCCaYoSWfBTz23zfogQYAUZLIZs4EZSJPARdfPhOe3rp5HmpG1xSllxCM_sZKk19H9qLWhPA4B3IgpsuEWKwUZ4DAKHjnmHUywc3gVU-RFkNCgiMUeqhkZFzf01S2Y7EQwSo06PMjM/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575414665803122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look who arrived just before Hogmanay (that's New Year's Eve to all you non-Scottish people).<br /><br />It's Uncle John!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkd4mr6q-xyCyc61SjxOZGcALWo2BjX8ZJJobkBb6Y0AlUVEoJHHsMf0ZAdmRAPQt5hl1qiRfKn5OoncqDb79YawMCDfDy8AOY0JeAfFN3MT29H_-UPFCjGv-0cl0sXRcZ0kRQxjOJObg/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkd4mr6q-xyCyc61SjxOZGcALWo2BjX8ZJJobkBb6Y0AlUVEoJHHsMf0ZAdmRAPQt5hl1qiRfKn5OoncqDb79YawMCDfDy8AOY0JeAfFN3MT29H_-UPFCjGv-0cl0sXRcZ0kRQxjOJObg/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575423255737730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />He seems to connect with Kaia on a very basic level.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxzwvuzBn-bWTvfnS8vxhhzvnfxY32uQWDsS1-bDvkV4WQIg9md5Ryl_nfRxjWCEKx95v9b6WbB21bYiLTWklnSDO63deHzOIXnHQ6NW4WzOaKEXwH3ywOwrHhde_LosKXfLlCpYENrFF/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxzwvuzBn-bWTvfnS8vxhhzvnfxY32uQWDsS1-bDvkV4WQIg9md5Ryl_nfRxjWCEKx95v9b6WbB21bYiLTWklnSDO63deHzOIXnHQ6NW4WzOaKEXwH3ywOwrHhde_LosKXfLlCpYENrFF/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575431845672338" border="0" /></a><br />John and Rayelle enjoyed the fireworks much closer.<br /><br />No, that's not a nuclear explosion - it's a firework, at night, exploding in a cloud of smoke from previous fireworks, caught on camera by Kaia's photographically naive dad.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmb0AHscRUoRQLHYoHVPEB0MDSPVq7gkS_gXz9qcyH28bM3PEYxrNN6JX9Y6OkLXTt75Xnzit5FBsrIDksKxgVZVqQ0xT3NFRtcGW-3KctR-9y1QEQ8NzyroJAmnQIdxauEDAr0vFtFOW/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmb0AHscRUoRQLHYoHVPEB0MDSPVq7gkS_gXz9qcyH28bM3PEYxrNN6JX9Y6OkLXTt75Xnzit5FBsrIDksKxgVZVqQ0xT3NFRtcGW-3KctR-9y1QEQ8NzyroJAmnQIdxauEDAr0vFtFOW/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575436140639650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fireworks everywhere (these photos are from our kitchen window, by the way - we have a great view).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhees0Y8pijDJOYnwQPRmvciOoYOpLQ3zBPSYAiQs3IdgeY7gsRhHQ3P6vCPQsYo3OhgyglWeVL-Xde8uxiOmYvU7QPqTiQ9ciqcM7QdiaDu0KtqLsKiK-NX1t3HbsL1WsAEr5h3-cQ-Al3/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhees0Y8pijDJOYnwQPRmvciOoYOpLQ3zBPSYAiQs3IdgeY7gsRhHQ3P6vCPQsYo3OhgyglWeVL-Xde8uxiOmYvU7QPqTiQ9ciqcM7QdiaDu0KtqLsKiK-NX1t3HbsL1WsAEr5h3-cQ-Al3/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575088248288546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We also did a bit of touring with John and Rayelle.<br /><br /><br />This is Kaia and her mom taking a break in a cafe on the Royal Mile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdNWL1HfxrCrJLtP0OFMYb3ogWxhx-M8eNPRW5ZZ1A-PlyDauuej21_jQ47YYKQ3OrQ1FBPkCCnEVo0Nm0SyWIHloiuyvIlFGWBBUzEiDvQloUkjcd9R_Oull-x6pmmQN3nOPlD16L3tC/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdNWL1HfxrCrJLtP0OFMYb3ogWxhx-M8eNPRW5ZZ1A-PlyDauuej21_jQ47YYKQ3OrQ1FBPkCCnEVo0Nm0SyWIHloiuyvIlFGWBBUzEiDvQloUkjcd9R_Oull-x6pmmQN3nOPlD16L3tC/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575092543255858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And dad joining them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEEOQpbrUqjY1poW4iMWomk_cnE2TBKYgtY4oisbRmCCy_3DIp0AGJpWdnRF_arWmV738QTFygOSMyvulWpMPD6kmb33ge_IwAIeVGXd6x1Y2dZTHW2mOVqDTe_Zbj8mGur1tjkx7Ko8-/s1600-h/Kaia2008-01-15+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEEOQpbrUqjY1poW4iMWomk_cnE2TBKYgtY4oisbRmCCy_3DIp0AGJpWdnRF_arWmV738QTFygOSMyvulWpMPD6kmb33ge_IwAIeVGXd6x1Y2dZTHW2mOVqDTe_Zbj8mGur1tjkx7Ko8-/s200/Kaia2008-01-15+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575096838223170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here's something in case that earlier "primal roar" image worried you.<br /><br />See, they get along just fine.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tbHgN1xZF8zmTqtf-Gl6jWbuhaYK_1aBLy2JTP_VZ-bMGLrzgDfY7t37SynNRLppZrhte7_uP6ek4WFvz89B-MKgRciv5CrokjTs-uGe4nPHc2iAYYnsj0ezbSd5sR1k05XDp3qqYobO/s1600-h/Kaia2008-02-01+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tbHgN1xZF8zmTqtf-Gl6jWbuhaYK_1aBLy2JTP_VZ-bMGLrzgDfY7t37SynNRLppZrhte7_uP6ek4WFvz89B-MKgRciv5CrokjTs-uGe4nPHc2iAYYnsj0ezbSd5sR1k05XDp3qqYobO/s200/Kaia2008-02-01+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575105428157778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Kaia has been trying out new sling carries recently - she's grown so much (just look back at our <a href="http://thedescentofmills.blogspot.com/2007/09/descendants-tale-begins.html">first</a> <a href="http://thedescentofmills.blogspot.com/2007/10/does-anyone-claim-these-genes.html">few</a> <a href="http://thedescentofmills.blogspot.com/2007/10/passing-on-bad-habits-already.html">posts</a>).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTobLmg31Z1qXNMWZ1BthAlAHdUOqvSinKhOjKMP0Chhza-iLvwmYVPSibkA680-i6n1P_5FmZ4Gx6sNFeTM74JYpiG5Zu2snH_sFm7IuKSiwGmOYuNtBZOvrqzQ_t6q1tSe-hf7mba-q/s1600-h/Kaia2008-02-01+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTobLmg31Z1qXNMWZ1BthAlAHdUOqvSinKhOjKMP0Chhza-iLvwmYVPSibkA680-i6n1P_5FmZ4Gx6sNFeTM74JYpiG5Zu2snH_sFm7IuKSiwGmOYuNtBZOvrqzQ_t6q1tSe-hf7mba-q/s200/Kaia2008-02-01+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164575114018092386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's Kaia (visible only as a hat) being carried by Tim.<br /><br />We like our walks. Here we're walking with Sandra and André.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, that's us caught up. Pretty much. No promises about regular posts in the future, though, because we're still quite busy. But we'll try.Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-74331998645066976212008-02-08T09:43:00.000+00:002008-12-10T06:31:47.971+00:00Where have we been? (part 2 of 3)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTnpOn6nu-xBh1bfwkUzVL-7WC0bzv3Gy4OEVhNINvcbgIjTdAJwOwM6HzGh_kcnojxf8Qpt2hdICqBTcl4XE4cWihdSuV5jhIy05feaTFRpsvwSaaDQ1IP_v0bCqWKjuYUKdmCCweLe0/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTnpOn6nu-xBh1bfwkUzVL-7WC0bzv3Gy4OEVhNINvcbgIjTdAJwOwM6HzGh_kcnojxf8Qpt2hdICqBTcl4XE4cWihdSuV5jhIy05feaTFRpsvwSaaDQ1IP_v0bCqWKjuYUKdmCCweLe0/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164544143008920802" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a funky little pose sitting up.<br /><br />That amazing jungle quilt behind her was made by her Granny Liz.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3GI3BqxL99ACDcj25BgfoKhZMbRveLzgStKYVqfVS0TV9pME7JnJ1cJVjoOYitipXNO7J_BnjMo5dduy8SEgcLZaNlt8fneKw1jFeZnGRT-GsVxe-fcZyRhyphenhypheneFRLN84BOzbmrCrOcCek/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3GI3BqxL99ACDcj25BgfoKhZMbRveLzgStKYVqfVS0TV9pME7JnJ1cJVjoOYitipXNO7J_BnjMo5dduy8SEgcLZaNlt8fneKw1jFeZnGRT-GsVxe-fcZyRhyphenhypheneFRLN84BOzbmrCrOcCek/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164544147303888114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Like her parents, Kaia is very fond of her sleep.<br /><br /><br />But this is a rare position for her to sleep in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7dtNPvjzqO2zzMJRRw2vQVyhtpbx28ZkeTXJaeTwFp1yitynEOoSWpAMESm9HqZlP7Vhi74TN7K_VrWYCUIRTH31uESIDd2RoJjFpYn_jW5L7dMAXaUgALFau_JjStjP7BninGjoqTgl/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7dtNPvjzqO2zzMJRRw2vQVyhtpbx28ZkeTXJaeTwFp1yitynEOoSWpAMESm9HqZlP7Vhi74TN7K_VrWYCUIRTH31uESIDd2RoJjFpYn_jW5L7dMAXaUgALFau_JjStjP7BninGjoqTgl/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164544151598855426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For reasons beyond our ken, she often likes to sleep like this.<br /><br /><br />Perhaps she's dreaming of a future as a flying superhero.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19JL6CNoBjs-lc3KbD_W29Wig8tb0pUVVGI5IpXA6FqzyUt60U5ZsCWFssvzq512FebEkwQUstCpnpgFpzrN8mcecdS_lJvlsjIBCidFxn7hI092nj9rhlkeIdVxGeWxW_koRF95IObD9/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19JL6CNoBjs-lc3KbD_W29Wig8tb0pUVVGI5IpXA6FqzyUt60U5ZsCWFssvzq512FebEkwQUstCpnpgFpzrN8mcecdS_lJvlsjIBCidFxn7hI092nj9rhlkeIdVxGeWxW_koRF95IObD9/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543726397093010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Deena says Kaia has my lips.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoCLIdv4iKshZUazgkP6pYHaW7G5BJGTrS5NIa1GMlnzcbZaYeplhnW6ExrnoAD6ARcqA4mqd6wFoplvvQSKfFkRh7dpLG7asdTtUGGfhYC7FjfQhyuJTdFRAVqvGArOPN1MXGukMeQNz/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoCLIdv4iKshZUazgkP6pYHaW7G5BJGTrS5NIa1GMlnzcbZaYeplhnW6ExrnoAD6ARcqA4mqd6wFoplvvQSKfFkRh7dpLG7asdTtUGGfhYC7FjfQhyuJTdFRAVqvGArOPN1MXGukMeQNz/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543726397093026" border="0" /></a><br />We flew down to Essex for Christmas this year.<br /><br />Kaia really enjoyed the company of her big cousins (technically second-cousins - they are Tim's first cousins).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD1NBtRn84LqfkLbuXtbbtcnC9SUTRI2qxulSurO_VrFIvPUEfqvmffO5AVqoIYlEnUfmLxTysWnI-8Xf8VtDQzv7FTqNg3sREjgG7bkxT9oEfFGmYE0YAvslv2pDyHbms5jT2Vw-e56D/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD1NBtRn84LqfkLbuXtbbtcnC9SUTRI2qxulSurO_VrFIvPUEfqvmffO5AVqoIYlEnUfmLxTysWnI-8Xf8VtDQzv7FTqNg3sREjgG7bkxT9oEfFGmYE0YAvslv2pDyHbms5jT2Vw-e56D/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543730692060338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />They enjoyed her company too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7FuucAdlMXDT5Zmps8KDJhsi5wTVC3nwS2RWVGH0FmHDNTHdvzQJs9kwP7XbX8Fg1a55kci2_VgEyu7MtcMu6bA-C3v5ommtHZLIqe_GmE4M2xfMvhDbD-8BmSGidiR_dsiQqH1An6Sc/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7FuucAdlMXDT5Zmps8KDJhsi5wTVC3nwS2RWVGH0FmHDNTHdvzQJs9kwP7XbX8Fg1a55kci2_VgEyu7MtcMu6bA-C3v5ommtHZLIqe_GmE4M2xfMvhDbD-8BmSGidiR_dsiQqH1An6Sc/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543734987027650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Kaia and her dad participated in a tradition that Deena has praticed for many years.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIDOWlCh9S_XDbMBtVHHj72TvGM1Q33gzZDDm3r_oA_ik8qIPxOAvYiZysSRivwGXYvQe9pqgUoDQad44Pjw0A8j1R5nszO_dXrAltBUd3PDwlNysAflVC7uvNykFZtCDdTGZeabNhI7T/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIDOWlCh9S_XDbMBtVHHj72TvGM1Q33gzZDDm3r_oA_ik8qIPxOAvYiZysSRivwGXYvQe9pqgUoDQad44Pjw0A8j1R5nszO_dXrAltBUd3PDwlNysAflVC7uvNykFZtCDdTGZeabNhI7T/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543747871929554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The making of the Gingerbread House.<br /><br />What do you think of our first attempt?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJgQ3rDLlPBjT3nc0OffmEFQ72_lTnjV8oE-J3PUk_69u3HA9LMvuvsPNGYA-K7CVKb5qMRLUwG5JKdITZY8biMh4v_Z1ZvR5vQc9bccxBCxhFmJA-Kv8BCaHlGSSKnv0VSqpp88mMEhV/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJgQ3rDLlPBjT3nc0OffmEFQ72_lTnjV8oE-J3PUk_69u3HA9LMvuvsPNGYA-K7CVKb5qMRLUwG5JKdITZY8biMh4v_Z1ZvR5vQc9bccxBCxhFmJA-Kv8BCaHlGSSKnv0VSqpp88mMEhV/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543322670167106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And of course, what Christmas would be complete without the modelling of cute, cheesy Christmas outfits<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSiZNHVUxQYGD6lCLATWsVcDcY311zRVwxQ_ikIukF3f4mnsy_RqEkbrVGCnHd5knQxH1XZCTfbQqR-KplUZ0h6Zs4AzPoWg-IC_at-3-_LTeL0UivSA2EOmxXjw_cW4NKeG0pOmqgicr/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSiZNHVUxQYGD6lCLATWsVcDcY311zRVwxQ_ikIukF3f4mnsy_RqEkbrVGCnHd5knQxH1XZCTfbQqR-KplUZ0h6Zs4AzPoWg-IC_at-3-_LTeL0UivSA2EOmxXjw_cW4NKeG0pOmqgicr/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543326965134418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />and beautiful, very-not-cheesy outfits<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmx5KpL6FqyzRfwi8jpiNOz4W7_SGVcRXLnYDJdFlt9MlO1aurObcCZt8V4AQZ6Jf2xy_w9vgQ_AYcVe_C55YrMz1UC7__c7nKdGeatuaVl4HVGwaZELv6JCTIGFVwtJDWKCpYVYu9D27/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+154.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmx5KpL6FqyzRfwi8jpiNOz4W7_SGVcRXLnYDJdFlt9MlO1aurObcCZt8V4AQZ6Jf2xy_w9vgQ_AYcVe_C55YrMz1UC7__c7nKdGeatuaVl4HVGwaZELv6JCTIGFVwtJDWKCpYVYu9D27/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543326965134434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />in which to celebrate the season with cousins.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz9cTHZJmRRrn1KoB1sU-HWdSgubrCmggHQwhJCZGd9sg2TwPtVcf4nkknPWcPeJIBS56EnuOuvDsYbly1rpgZV84PA0Td-U8UcHMTiusvSeNiTRRpFco3EGOo2yC1U7YNTxYdi3erJNU/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz9cTHZJmRRrn1KoB1sU-HWdSgubrCmggHQwhJCZGd9sg2TwPtVcf4nkknPWcPeJIBS56EnuOuvDsYbly1rpgZV84PA0Td-U8UcHMTiusvSeNiTRRpFco3EGOo2yC1U7YNTxYdi3erJNU/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164543331260101746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just so you don't think I'm picking on cousins, here's a photo of Kaia hanging out with me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqJ9F4ZFzVAThn-_hHn7xQq52SylEn7hQnK4PACc3BHUWcO4UAJZxke3E_6PdnxPxuEPr2-s03AxWHkB0aRRBqKD48pVrVwK50ZFsa8MQl7dzYpN3rqKPyLlXSR5n5HxNDwVF4TV-Y2N0/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-28+206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqJ9F4ZFzVAThn-_hHn7xQq52SylEn7hQnK4PACc3BHUWcO4UAJZxke3E_6PdnxPxuEPr2-s03AxWHkB0aRRBqKD48pVrVwK50ZFsa8MQl7dzYpN3rqKPyLlXSR5n5HxNDwVF4TV-Y2N0/s200/Kaia2007-12-28+206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164573181282809106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A couple of cool characters or what?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />(Next installment: Hogmanay visitors!)Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-74543396577503039532008-02-08T09:17:00.001+00:002008-12-10T06:31:49.648+00:00Where have we been? (part 1 of 3)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlzz5F3u0qnQg5zanychQUn9R8WqJCSTVqUu_sW1YdJXqTMptDSpHxUB1FeGBM6hzM_IzLf28cqv8lo3FRGyV1EURHBbWbIeLaJjZgy3bbYx4bEPYkkFTONgs_9rsk8FYXGVbmca8bsPH/s1600-h/Kaia2007-11-30+055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlzz5F3u0qnQg5zanychQUn9R8WqJCSTVqUu_sW1YdJXqTMptDSpHxUB1FeGBM6hzM_IzLf28cqv8lo3FRGyV1EURHBbWbIeLaJjZgy3bbYx4bEPYkkFTONgs_9rsk8FYXGVbmca8bsPH/s200/Kaia2007-11-30+055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538911738754082" border="0" /></a>This is a catch-up post, with apologies to all of Kaia's fans out there. I think I'll do this in batches - look forward to 2 or 3 more catch-up posts in the next day or so.<br /><br />This first photo is Kaia attending her first wedding.<br /><br />Well, not <span style="font-style: italic;">her</span> first wedding, of course!<br /><br />I mean, it's the first wedding she's ever atten-... oh, never mind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM9-jmE2AmQtqenCZ-NE_g0dfnhPxAt9Krn1ywhiMWQW2MW3FrsPgyGSfj4RMl4uuA9_aY78U9tiTSFevCe7mDiL1pvj3r4CICVraa8CvWAKv3AYyipvNN-Srjy-2QYurHYCT9ETUqSq7/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM9-jmE2AmQtqenCZ-NE_g0dfnhPxAt9Krn1ywhiMWQW2MW3FrsPgyGSfj4RMl4uuA9_aY78U9tiTSFevCe7mDiL1pvj3r4CICVraa8CvWAKv3AYyipvNN-Srjy-2QYurHYCT9ETUqSq7/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538916033721394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Occasionally we'll catch her in a show-off mood<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC305n1tyfroy1T_JqT6AjgXtJGPs3TBPNlxdfUrqYahxJV1lPexNIiV3qsSu1XYDTQR_ml3Xuz6cGZdjL3uhLMDBn44nfySdo2Q-U5m7iObL0DbElMFdzV_ihyphenhyphenXZ0dCp95a-KOde0aM_/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC305n1tyfroy1T_JqT6AjgXtJGPs3TBPNlxdfUrqYahxJV1lPexNIiV3qsSu1XYDTQR_ml3Xuz6cGZdjL3uhLMDBn44nfySdo2Q-U5m7iObL0DbElMFdzV_ihyphenhyphenXZ0dCp95a-KOde0aM_/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538533781631954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />and we'll get a whole series of pictures<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0o7zusMxda-Iu1h7aoQhIClHloNn0_NToEdrEEpzAXc_odp2IxtNBeQLeBBmY6pCnG5NLfjPbEK9D7Ffa837SCk-yNEbcG23PE3GrdtKy7VW_tgm_tHbt39d5hBpO_LE6iOhbBI9iPy/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0o7zusMxda-Iu1h7aoQhIClHloNn0_NToEdrEEpzAXc_odp2IxtNBeQLeBBmY6pCnG5NLfjPbEK9D7Ffa837SCk-yNEbcG23PE3GrdtKy7VW_tgm_tHbt39d5hBpO_LE6iOhbBI9iPy/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538538076599266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />each one with a slightly different expression<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_AdKLUmPJOi7HVP0XW4-7o6aiVot59H13h8vFvEnifZBWsJFUuAVDhz_8sdkxsz47mK07DM-gXXWw66AfsjZ5jtEBoeKv6sdA6rCht6wFVp1dgVr9GLeuA37bnKIf2LXvRCoMxo_JP6n/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_AdKLUmPJOi7HVP0XW4-7o6aiVot59H13h8vFvEnifZBWsJFUuAVDhz_8sdkxsz47mK07DM-gXXWw66AfsjZ5jtEBoeKv6sdA6rCht6wFVp1dgVr9GLeuA37bnKIf2LXvRCoMxo_JP6n/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538550961501170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />like she's posing for a professional photo-shoot.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDn3GsErJae4X5-Dy0Y2Bx9kPHbCmGjOxJMSGxRAXnZEnEaNuCnAz9pb9HfnbbCvSdcR9d-MIhQ3qgSzsD3MagIVO5ZoX68vijhSUr6prt3UTFliWm1UwPl_2Rh4BvWMEjOun_k8mDcgH/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDn3GsErJae4X5-Dy0Y2Bx9kPHbCmGjOxJMSGxRAXnZEnEaNuCnAz9pb9HfnbbCvSdcR9d-MIhQ3qgSzsD3MagIVO5ZoX68vijhSUr6prt3UTFliWm1UwPl_2Rh4BvWMEjOun_k8mDcgH/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538555256468482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then she'll get this thoughtful look<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i7ueF7o-Gr50bDzUouMbG7mkOo2LmUyZ82G79k94BsUaJh-w2eAMJci1yEYAvDTVy_HAamUKelaLnSx40qFi93cUjTR7chlXwSofgiUNfyK205vrj73pue8PFL8eyd_jmWSoW9ejCT1G/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i7ueF7o-Gr50bDzUouMbG7mkOo2LmUyZ82G79k94BsUaJh-w2eAMJci1yEYAvDTVy_HAamUKelaLnSx40qFi93cUjTR7chlXwSofgiUNfyK205vrj73pue8PFL8eyd_jmWSoW9ejCT1G/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538563846403090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />and you'll think, "Are you doing something I'm gonna have to clean up?"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0YxICLSwmBBo9GAPuB6aMX6LVBTisLrdTBZDbhhnEG2-Fp5-Ir11LmcB9l6DsPhh5PKOaqDzDJUYYEz5dbqZK8dBlAkDChvzQaSbKtvONTLWiI2KTVrFeQ3Fwd-Yjw5cqyezfgJPCq3X/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0YxICLSwmBBo9GAPuB6aMX6LVBTisLrdTBZDbhhnEG2-Fp5-Ir11LmcB9l6DsPhh5PKOaqDzDJUYYEz5dbqZK8dBlAkDChvzQaSbKtvONTLWiI2KTVrFeQ3Fwd-Yjw5cqyezfgJPCq3X/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164538112874836930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And she'll look thoughtful and ... active.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqTSIMgLvFvqXQtrwBLiDL5x8fq7ajfKmotYrM8da9uc9rYkzrsCXAW_okGYLvPUGD_OkMUiEebfXdCVIPC9KM9vfKtk4ncu915hkvWefP82dD-_6WFwp2WU4QVd5PRSHjuQMFiNwgHo2/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqTSIMgLvFvqXQtrwBLiDL5x8fq7ajfKmotYrM8da9uc9rYkzrsCXAW_okGYLvPUGD_OkMUiEebfXdCVIPC9KM9vfKtk4ncu915hkvWefP82dD-_6WFwp2WU4QVd5PRSHjuQMFiNwgHo2/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164537915306341298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yup, time for a clean nappy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EbaIOUhM7wcWTfMz5I6dCJKj0vp6opgJeEXkUXaKCsaJuC16iF4GsroSm5zy1t-1Bp0tBblnB64kE80PW0pRVqgl8rGMFOx8OYduD9h_HIemxSDsfbYFp_KN2_bkzMcATPfA93ZueRUA/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EbaIOUhM7wcWTfMz5I6dCJKj0vp6opgJeEXkUXaKCsaJuC16iF4GsroSm5zy1t-1Bp0tBblnB64kE80PW0pRVqgl8rGMFOx8OYduD9h_HIemxSDsfbYFp_KN2_bkzMcATPfA93ZueRUA/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164537743507649442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />But messes are temporary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4u9E5x6IMiu5qZ9se55i1l44H06PJ8hW4e-2fM8edsd1KL50Hk8UHXwr50ujRHZXpPA0tO2bMYzi_jdbc35-PkM4jtvcW5BsSewI_ukSTSNSaaNTBDQzdI-FmvtHgWc95vyj9PZ1MD4b/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4u9E5x6IMiu5qZ9se55i1l44H06PJ8hW4e-2fM8edsd1KL50Hk8UHXwr50ujRHZXpPA0tO2bMYzi_jdbc35-PkM4jtvcW5BsSewI_ukSTSNSaaNTBDQzdI-FmvtHgWc95vyj9PZ1MD4b/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164537567413990290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Back in action soon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiA89cIFPJQR87J3ovoJzS5o2Ybxw06bdHWG5lbNtVetNnduD9n51JJFb-Ft39liUBkrw3mi0FrSoshdqVOGxsHE9FcJy9vDgK9Yz64bpNE53THQd-TjWdx071JxTgj8NmOzJ6armToUw/s1600-h/Kaia2007-12-10+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiA89cIFPJQR87J3ovoJzS5o2Ybxw06bdHWG5lbNtVetNnduD9n51JJFb-Ft39liUBkrw3mi0FrSoshdqVOGxsHE9FcJy9vDgK9Yz64bpNE53THQd-TjWdx071JxTgj8NmOzJ6armToUw/s200/Kaia2007-12-10+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164537279651181442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Okay, I know this looks like she's making a rude gesture. But I promise, she's just waving her hand around. Try it yourself - it's good fun.Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-11101290304078474862007-10-12T12:55:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:31:49.816+00:00First ThanksgivingThere is really no way to describe the pleasantly-sedated half-grin and heavy lids of a baby stuffed with Thanksgiving turkey (consumed second-hand via her mother's amazing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_gland">modified sweat glands</a>). So I'll just show it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwz8oLd7E_oY6IFDFHuNesT8hRSQ91Eymc3-4AzsjEO7-nlGrS6sihinmz-Jxa1kVmPhucPOTxDiqoenj5q3erxYEs5NxJTzLdOl1V9bpDk400Wo5Z3k7YQ75Bm7SJQ6X8zZvxzzJdIhq/s1600-h/Kaia2007-10-09+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwz8oLd7E_oY6IFDFHuNesT8hRSQ91Eymc3-4AzsjEO7-nlGrS6sihinmz-Jxa1kVmPhucPOTxDiqoenj5q3erxYEs5NxJTzLdOl1V9bpDk400Wo5Z3k7YQ75Bm7SJQ6X8zZvxzzJdIhq/s320/Kaia2007-10-09+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120418650052971138" border="0" /></a>(Sandy and Uncle Fraser, be warned: this little one can really pack it away. You have a strong competitor-in-the-making for the holiday eating contests.)Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-88972347780666623782007-10-08T13:41:00.001+01:002008-12-10T06:31:50.481+00:00Passing on bad habits already ...?A certain physiotherapist viewing the first blog entry pointed out that Kaia's dad needs to improve his posture: <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXQruJXCYePqlbQXcnhdQnS8SaDJ1GreYfoIlw_ea0VDifpTuL3Q2zrVy2YtNq4EQX9PqFTEzV49uad1MjGnlx3StkCW-oopwNIpvWruYF1AwCNWnvW43QEV41FuEHL_Y54_IYMHHGjwh/s1600-h/DadPosture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXQruJXCYePqlbQXcnhdQnS8SaDJ1GreYfoIlw_ea0VDifpTuL3Q2zrVy2YtNq4EQX9PqFTEzV49uad1MjGnlx3StkCW-oopwNIpvWruYF1AwCNWnvW43QEV41FuEHL_Y54_IYMHHGjwh/s320/DadPosture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118946481292790386" border="0" /></a></p>Unfortunately, it looks like Dad's bad habits have already been picked up by the little ape: <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0gm_RkM6ijICJfWSq_7QGRK9nyJlR8hzl0CqtThw6PDlNYalqkISEocpYTIxeOfgL1r_-B4i8_9Uo3ro8r9wk1OyVCeWvVY_rf2a72oYZEWA1nsGdMSb5DTzfJFGv1wO5MsZgz4KKhTq/s1600-h/KaiaPosture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0gm_RkM6ijICJfWSq_7QGRK9nyJlR8hzl0CqtThw6PDlNYalqkISEocpYTIxeOfgL1r_-B4i8_9Uo3ro8r9wk1OyVCeWvVY_rf2a72oYZEWA1nsGdMSb5DTzfJFGv1wO5MsZgz4KKhTq/s320/KaiaPosture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118946249364556386" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">and:<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpTvKRiZlXnw1uUvqW_j-yAwBhHATHhISOK7OcD7ZYTcgSX41YkLI8gY26rd3ilb57LMuWRd7PvHQ-soTFYOGvCogdZh1YX8ChAEw7UWu8UTR_gv_qhFXxF5wW3VS3-nMstwcg_3dgw6F/s1600-h/KaiaTimPosture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpTvKRiZlXnw1uUvqW_j-yAwBhHATHhISOK7OcD7ZYTcgSX41YkLI8gY26rd3ilb57LMuWRd7PvHQ-soTFYOGvCogdZh1YX8ChAEw7UWu8UTR_gv_qhFXxF5wW3VS3-nMstwcg_3dgw6F/s320/KaiaTimPosture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118945862817499730" border="0" /></a></p>But, if the physio is reading, don't worry. We're both working on it. See how much better: <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC53KZxQW4eBVRmxxEqEYE-1duxA5AS2uq46DOI-UHrOuDcO_jAc_LMBRJflL3WjDUpC3c09KlZgL_yqUewDNdBzEaD4KuFtCzQJC6_v_m62LRYrLGajAEApHajLo9g3UgS-elKpQI-be/s1600-h/KaiaTimPosture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC53KZxQW4eBVRmxxEqEYE-1duxA5AS2uq46DOI-UHrOuDcO_jAc_LMBRJflL3WjDUpC3c09KlZgL_yqUewDNdBzEaD4KuFtCzQJC6_v_m62LRYrLGajAEApHajLo9g3UgS-elKpQI-be/s320/KaiaTimPosture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118945437615737410" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-16479664187616372732007-10-06T21:26:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:31:51.849+00:00Does anyone claim these genes?(This post is addressed to family. However, since it's basically just a thinly-veiled excuse to post more photos showing off our newest flatmate, non-family should also be able to enjoy it.) <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It's amazing. One week since she was born, and already Kaia is changing in so many ways. We continue to learn about her every day.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Her head is less funny-shaped than when she came out. The stub of her umbilical cord has fallen off, leaving a belly button that is more outie than innie. We think that might be due to Uncle Fraser.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQlLn1SnpHZCjpmk0xdgXGAOSFASOgZEZjm7o1ug9r2_Uz1tFPfmeR8NqKEKHvHO-fMDNI2reD5AEVPpO2CgWrZqnVjMkoxeGALHB9o-tISnQQn4LWEUvJ1Zgj8I0vRHN976MQtoBFmgh/s1600-h/Outie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQlLn1SnpHZCjpmk0xdgXGAOSFASOgZEZjm7o1ug9r2_Uz1tFPfmeR8NqKEKHvHO-fMDNI2reD5AEVPpO2CgWrZqnVjMkoxeGALHB9o-tISnQQn4LWEUvJ1Zgj8I0vRHN976MQtoBFmgh/s320/Outie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118420012791581186" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Her head is nearly too big already for the charming purple tam her dad knitted for her. He is probably the source of that – big heads are common among the Mills.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4RnT25XvcWMJ0Yn-14pZ2z3WxskVuBdU76sOokL99HseqRjbTC7SHBjwx0LfVWntOAu7w1JaY0bDNTw_D20q_7A3WwV6UOB5aL-vmHjqdrXYEvlE281RWlWsdlAk5NIBRr2o7-JH7_Vs/s1600-h/IMG_4410.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4RnT25XvcWMJ0Yn-14pZ2z3WxskVuBdU76sOokL99HseqRjbTC7SHBjwx0LfVWntOAu7w1JaY0bDNTw_D20q_7A3WwV6UOB5aL-vmHjqdrXYEvlE281RWlWsdlAk5NIBRr2o7-JH7_Vs/s320/IMG_4410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118404237376702898" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Her hair remains delightfully dark and rich, like her mom's.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There are some puzzlers, though - traits that we can't immediately ascribe to any family members.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For example, I don't think either of us can really claim credit for her calm demeanor. She generally fusses only enough to get what she needs, mainly food and cuddles.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUzWYngTzM1ZJKL-lI80flYO3jL0WZt8g2Yf_R1n3UvcYnbA6FrDOAh0HqGFqhPZQhAhJms1OjYAZoWF2In3qQqWOJW3EIEBEsgMsWk2UN-1SkCjdc7OMcT3_S1ch3WEOL5aVkJyJ9Rdc/s1600-h/Cuddles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUzWYngTzM1ZJKL-lI80flYO3jL0WZt8g2Yf_R1n3UvcYnbA6FrDOAh0HqGFqhPZQhAhJms1OjYAZoWF2In3qQqWOJW3EIEBEsgMsWk2UN-1SkCjdc7OMcT3_S1ch3WEOL5aVkJyJ9Rdc/s320/Cuddles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118426785955007026" border="0" /></a>Here are some other genetic markers yet unclaimed. If you can let us know where else they show up in the tree of her genealogy, please share.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">First, toes. Kaia was born with long legs, long feet, and long toes. We can guess pretty well where the long legs and feet come from, but do these Kaia toes really match either parent? They are not as knobbly as dad's toes, and more mobile and dexterous than mom's.<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyilbEvGRdhqVw3lxtLPeTTJBbEypoIbvJ-7gK6qIIPZHLV4v3oq0YZB0CPwH0XhPeD6mCOTwOaE6ed-mCYPusazlDj8TWzlXJJpeIBfFjpLXsTurPiDQnEx6nS9q6b8CLk7gnKeRVVYY/s1600-h/Toes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyilbEvGRdhqVw3lxtLPeTTJBbEypoIbvJ-7gK6qIIPZHLV4v3oq0YZB0CPwH0XhPeD6mCOTwOaE6ed-mCYPusazlDj8TWzlXJJpeIBfFjpLXsTurPiDQnEx6nS9q6b8CLk7gnKeRVVYY/s320/Toes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118411586065746402" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Second, Kaia's profusion of hair extends to sideburns and slightly hairy ears.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfk9y9WkMHCBqEHB22dNVpBTFPQ5i7GHoOB5gpP9IzyZrI1lqpzaKDtzBlP2uIvzOzC2VXlr-iBTS2_Z3vq_FaHR218hXyR-amV1VslS88-z9vBf7C9ZCKCYwebLtqPA_FVWOltV5pnkY/s1600-h/Sideburn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfk9y9WkMHCBqEHB22dNVpBTFPQ5i7GHoOB5gpP9IzyZrI1lqpzaKDtzBlP2uIvzOzC2VXlr-iBTS2_Z3vq_FaHR218hXyR-amV1VslS88-z9vBf7C9ZCKCYwebLtqPA_FVWOltV5pnkY/s320/Sideburn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118418346344270322" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Anyone want to claim responsibility for them?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Third, certain activities that should elicit wails (or at least restlessness) are accepted without a peep. For example, nail care (with a cute little baby emery board):</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxGaEASX_7FtAYdwfyHfXocwUIt1CUqN0TJuwkcsU7oMgAbcbC9GO345Pmv2EEWD_2fdC6Cy9ZstxN0QDXf5V2wNT1WvX4sgHCAYtZhfQz5gf-_gPJ752Ir9YvCv3V91j3tu2OrV7eWlr/s1600-h/Emery.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxGaEASX_7FtAYdwfyHfXocwUIt1CUqN0TJuwkcsU7oMgAbcbC9GO345Pmv2EEWD_2fdC6Cy9ZstxN0QDXf5V2wNT1WvX4sgHCAYtZhfQz5gf-_gPJ752Ir9YvCv3V91j3tu2OrV7eWlr/s320/Emery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118409747819743698" border="0" /></a></p><br />and hair care (this calming effect does not extend to baths in general, just dealing with the 'do): <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSJ6WjO4-aC5a7fQanD7uL_RbEei1tVfw9xauEnrV_qHY_W68mhKzum9ClJLd1K853PlGrWXTr5LX_RVzlfCOVyseqRZG2bSl9SyPN8QFGZLvmHWE73_Hn15SG7q-UuJx0uWtIVanI00b/s1600-h/WholeCamera2007-10-03+133.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSJ6WjO4-aC5a7fQanD7uL_RbEei1tVfw9xauEnrV_qHY_W68mhKzum9ClJLd1K853PlGrWXTr5LX_RVzlfCOVyseqRZG2bSl9SyPN8QFGZLvmHWE73_Hn15SG7q-UuJx0uWtIVanI00b/s320/WholeCamera2007-10-03+133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118404842967091650" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Such unexpected calm would normally be a blessing to parents suffering from sleeplessness. However, in this case Tim is a little worried what these behaviours might presage about Kaia's future tastes.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Do we have a high-maintenance teenager in the making? Please someone share the story of how some family member started off this way, only to become a sensible bookworm with no interest in fashion, fancy nails, or expensive coiffures!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Timothy Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00373801153623991221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381774090530884581.post-13850887380800056092007-09-30T04:15:00.000+01:002008-12-10T06:31:52.661+00:00The Descendant's Tale Begins...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x8zKiTQp1EzCygbhOPTaFuaN907V8ARM7LcmUwt1PxrYVq1j0u7t_uy8XT6-iu_E4FvPJuEchQCbjzwESGK5NVfk6PN3CdRmlio19V-tDv4DzNdmg82FdLf9JQb8aH7g3CfMquU4-vUo/s1600-h/IMG_4307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x8zKiTQp1EzCygbhOPTaFuaN907V8ARM7LcmUwt1PxrYVq1j0u7t_uy8XT6-iu_E4FvPJuEchQCbjzwESGK5NVfk6PN3CdRmlio19V-tDv4DzNdmg82FdLf9JQb8aH7g3CfMquU4-vUo/s320/IMG_4307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115831533722322770" border="0" /></a>Introducing Kaia Elizabeth Mills, latest in a long line of carbon-based lifeforms. Kaia traces her ancestry back to an unnamed protoplasmic replicator which lived about four billion years ago. Since inventing sex about 2.5 billion years ago, every member of Kaia's clan has had not one but two burstingly proud parents.<br /><br />Among that replicator's descendants, most remain single-celled. Kaia's ancestors learned cooperation and have been massively multi-cellular for countless generations. When born, Kaia herself contained 8lb 6oz (3800g) of microscopic cells and was 55.5 cm (22 inches) in length.<br /><br />One of several branches of the family who have (independently) developed sight, Kaia gazes at the world through deep blue eyes.<br /><br />Thanks to a relatively recent family development (mammals, 247 million years ago), Kaia spent the first nine months of her development as part of her mother's body, and so the family have opted to celebrate the moment of her emergence from that body as her "Birth Day" - six minutes past noon on the 28th of September 2007.<br /><br />Though Kaia's family are a relatively hairless part of the ape clan, she was born with her hominid cephalus covered in rich dark hair.<br /><br />Here is Kaia with some of her most recent ancestors:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5xqKjdPAPSpOLiPZEvFPlYUZO6Ol8li6ZAarhD8Nkx044kKFm_8jJeSX2G1OW-9Tjh9cdkfGupb_6v7Qn6VCRWeMLW6RpRZ77rXEvq0qSJIHTWha4ydkZzfQyXKVRk1fsfgkSJwiVMqG/s1600-h/IMG_4218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5xqKjdPAPSpOLiPZEvFPlYUZO6Ol8li6ZAarhD8Nkx044kKFm_8jJeSX2G1OW-9Tjh9cdkfGupb_6v7Qn6VCRWeMLW6RpRZ77rXEvq0qSJIHTWha4ydkZzfQyXKVRk1fsfgkSJwiVMqG/s320/IMG_4218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115841197398738818" border="0" /></a>Not long after her emergence, this picture shows Kaia with her delighted mother, from whom she inherits all of her mitochondrial DNA.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXB6G6vJ8iT2n1IzQfUOBkseE_ZUVgyOxcZeu4PsFsSVRtQEYPM1Eo1rQzYw7HM7vJ9fpEIiG8Q7K9bYxSyJOGL2IXzivSkY4ZXgWMbuIcRqlBCJ5rhyphenhyphen5RidyWcrf9Vw5BCbUpUY1NVBl/s1600-h/IMG_4235.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXB6G6vJ8iT2n1IzQfUOBkseE_ZUVgyOxcZeu4PsFsSVRtQEYPM1Eo1rQzYw7HM7vJ9fpEIiG8Q7K9bYxSyJOGL2IXzivSkY4ZXgWMbuIcRqlBCJ5rhyphenhyphen5RidyWcrf9Vw5BCbUpUY1NVBl/s320/IMG_4235.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115840218146195314" border="0" /></a>Kaia's father, pictured here, contributed the decisive chromosome that determined Kaia's sex. Before her birth, in an attempt to determine whether the baby was male or female, Tim was asked which he had provided. He answered, "I gave you millions of each - which one did you pick?"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_Fo-AsazyE2udNlkdJNLTcci0Uudr1GwjJDWZH1R0H8FLti8Lj93VP4NLnVoN63IettfXn6xKJqpFz20MBVYAqgMBmNQjIYzTx2a6oMDCEcFCnoq9u-qynwOQtFjF_S-lMo9MsU3cmRi/s1600-h/IMG_4270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_Fo-AsazyE2udNlkdJNLTcci0Uudr1GwjJDWZH1R0H8FLti8Lj93VP4NLnVoN63IettfXn6xKJqpFz20MBVYAqgMBmNQjIYzTx2a6oMDCEcFCnoq9u-qynwOQtFjF_S-lMo9MsU3cmRi/s320/IMG_4270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115838886706333538" border="0" /></a>The ovum that gave Kaia half of her genetic material was already present in baby Deena before she emerged from Kaia's granny (pictured), 378 months ago.<br /><br />More details will be posted here about Kaia as she begins to explore this biosphere full of her fellow carbon-based lifeforms. Watch this space, or click on "subscribe" at the bottom of this page.Deenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855024408526304865noreply@blogger.com14