Not Just A Layover

We hadn't really spent time in our new hub, Seattle. For me, it's been a layover airport on Lower 48 travels.  This month we explored the big city and loved us some big city livin' too. We figured out Seattle's excellent public transit system, walked many, many city blocks (with more steep hills than we ever expected), ate all the time, got Andy a pair of jeans at Nordstrom Rack (big success!!), visited REI's mother-ship store, caught a couple of movies, and shopped a little bit more.

Oh, and we were lucky to find out at our first purchase that Alaskans have sales-tax exemption status. That's important considering their 10% sales tax. It's worth saying you're from Alaska, and getting your license ready to show while at the cash register. That's a bit of savings on our end.

Two meals that really stick out was at Tulio's and Fado's. Tulio is rated online as an excellent Italian place, cuisine that really appealed to me, so we hiked uphill to find an exceptional (and expensive) little restaurant. We did not hold back and stuffed ourselves as a true-blue belated anniversary meal. Can't get bone-in veal stuffed with spinach, cheese and truffle oil in Sitka!

Fado's is a fab, comfortable Irish Pub and we just wandered in during a mid-afternoon for a late lunch. Andy got some great Guinness pours and our pub grub in the dark-wood setting made us just feel right with the world.

Often, we'd walk several blocks from our hotel, in the "Alaska building," to the famous Pike Place Market. It was always bustling, and full of visual and olfactory stimulation. We saw the market a bit subdued and filled with locals an early Sunday morning as we picked up some groceries before flying out.

We also made our way up the Seattle Space Needle for panoramic views of the city and Puget Sound. While at the City Center we also took advantage of the huge Taste of Seattle (can we say big corn dogs??).

I was especially excited to see some live music, an actual real concert. The AVETT BROTHERS! We drove out to Everett, WA for a VIP dinner before the show and then lived up the high-energy music. These guys didn't stop moving, and the cellist actually jumped up and down with his instrument as he played! Here are a couple of precious video clips. The first song is "January Wedding"--one of the three songs we included in our wedding slideshow last summer.

Ah, I could go back and have that night over and over. Andy would probably say the same for our very next night in Seattle--seeing a Mariners game.

Seahawks stadium on left, Safeco field on right.

Yes, we saw a loss during their horrible streak this season. Andy's summary is brief and to the point: "great stadium, great weather, poor team." I have a feeling we'll be back to this ball field as we stick around SE AK. We only had to walk from the field to our hotel, through historic Pioneer Park. City life! Again, it's healthy and important to get out and find the things that make you happy: like music and baseball. If you gotta fly to do it, well, that's part of the travel adventure.

We're feeling more confident to tackle Seattle in the future and I think we have a few favorite "haunts" to see next time.

*Amy

Gender of next Gorneration Is....

Who Am I?

WHAT am I?

What am I doing?

We'll tell you after this next commercial break...
[dramatic music, flashing lights, drawn out pause, studio applause]

Yesterday we learned, with double confirmation, that the Gorneration is growing to include a FEMALE! Hurray for little girls! Kudos to Amy's Dad, Grandpa and future father-to-be, Andy, for staking their unwavering claim on a girl. You are some smart guys in my life (or the lucky side of a 50/50 chance)! 

And we were not prepared to learn the gender as quickly and easily as we did during the ultrasound. Within 2 seconds bebe showed us her bottom side as clear as could be! After digesting the revelation so quickly, we excitedly moved on to enjoy the rest of our HOUR AND A HALF-LONG ultrasound. It was the ultra-session with thorough measurements, examinations and watching our girl hang out in her world.

So what's she doing, above? Baby yoga of course! I like this scan even though it's a bit blurry because the straight lines above her body are her legs--completely flopped over top of her! We watched her grab her toes, yawn, hiccup, swing her little arms around and eventually flip over for pictures of her spine. We saw all 4 chambers of the heart beating and we were told "that's a nice umbilical cord." A comment or compliment (?) I never expected to hear in my life.

The double confirmation arrived after our student technician gave the controls over to her supervisor. She made a couple of last measurements and snapped a few more stills, and announced 'girl' all on her own too. Wow, naturally, that was a fun and special time for Andy and me. We're still smiling and chuckling about some of those movements we witnessed. 

Let the girl prep, and name selection, begin!

Gorneration @ 18 weeks

4.5 months into our pregnancy and I feel like (and look like) I'm really popping straight forward. My current pants are busting open, but I've bought a lot of time with the help of the Bella Band. However, even that isn't enough anymore!

Been feeling....normal and good...for awhile now. Woo-hoo, second trimester! We were borrowed a friend's doppler so we've checked in on the heartbeat a couple of times. Andy has a knack for finding bebe pretty quickly. He/she is always about 140-142.

Our dear friends, Joseph ad Jessica, coined the term "Gorneration" awhile ago, which we've really taken on as we expand the lineage. So it's been one of our fun names to use, as well as "bebe." Whenever we try talking to, or talk about, the "baby" we say "bebe" like we're French. Hopefully bebe will cooperate on Monday the 18th when we have the big ultrasound to find out the gender of the next Gorneration. Right now Andy and I are split on what we think we're having! We'll keep you posted on the next big bit of news if we have any to report from that day.

Tomorrow we leave for about 4 days to Seattle as our first non-work/non-holiday trip together since the honeymoon a year ago. Since we're actually closer to Seattle then Anchorage we figured it's time to get to know the place a little and have a little fun. Maybe it's our baby-moon! So we've got tickets for an Avett Brothers concert in Everett (Amy's super jazzed!) and a Mariners vs. Rangers ball game (Andy's super jazzed!). We're also going to hit up a maternity clothes store so Andy can stop hearing me talk about my tight pants and I'll get back to comfort via big elastic waistlines.

There is really nothing else to note with bebe right now because everything seems so normal aside from growing in size. So I'll end the update with a pic. of G3 from Sunday, halibut rod in hand.

Fourth Fever

Nothing like vendors, games, rain and a festive parade to add to the fun of our sacred summer holiday. The city's fireworks display was on the 2nd (due to the Fairbank's pyrotechnician's busy schedule) and we were delighted FOH SURE. The residents around town are very generous in their illegal fireworks displays because we saw full out professional-level explosions right down our street and many other areas throughout the weekend.

The Gorns and Viators found a great location for the big parade Monday afternoon. The Sitka Fine Arts Camp (expressive and creative students from around the State gathered here for a portion of their summer) brought tears to my eyes (of mirth and merriment) with their music, frenzy and crazy costumes.

Some floats expressly showed the Southeast lifestyle.

Some floats gave more candy than I've ever seen--and not just tootsie rolls but full out mini-candy bars like a rainfall from Halloween. This picture doesn't cover it but the frenzy and movement of kids after this showering was hilarious! Notice the two boys exchanging goods near the bottom of this picture.

And while wildfires are real and a danger in Alaska, Southeast's rainforests are not at risk. Nonetheless, I appreciated seeing Smokey the Bear pay a visit! Last time I saw him must have been 15 or more years ago in MN....forest protection life treats him well apparently.

And to show some final fun special to Sitka's 4th....what I've heard is the annual and anticipated fly-by of Coast Guard helicopters (pretty sweet to see), and a water fight between the local Fire Dept. and the CG Fire Dept. In addition to the rain, 3,000 gallons of water was pumped out for this spectacle!

A year down the road

We were very happy to have friends visiting us from out of state during our first anniversary. July 3rd brought back wonderful memories; I wish we could do it all over again and have so many special people with us in Alaska! Our priest, Fr. Bill, said during the ceremony's talk that we were just starting to write our book together and we've certainly tacked on a couple of chapters this year. New town, new home, new job descriptions, new friends, new boat, and now, future baby. It's been a great year, babe, I love you!

The traditional first anniversary gift is "paper," so we took that into consideration and have decided to pick out together a small print for the home, most likely in Southeast stylings (landscape or culture). We shopped around town last Sunday but haven't honed in an anything yet. I like this mission of ours.

In addition to a fun Mexican dinner downtown and eating some more at the 4th of July booths, I think the big excitement was defrosting and experimenting with the top layer of our wedding cake! Our cake lady didn't charge for the top level as her standard "gift to the couple," and we knew we wanted it in the vanilla with strawberry filling. A short trip down memory-lane to the cake in its prime just as we were about to feed one another.

The next day, the 4th, the mothers kindly wrapped it up tightly, threw some freezer wrap over it, and later on it traveled with our frozen goods from Wasilla to Sitka. Last weekend I unwrapped a fishy-smelling package and discovered that our "birch tree" looking cake now resembled a disturbing mossy green color/tree.

Our friends and Andy were convinced this was a plan of grossness and failure. I just had to believe that Verda's Cake and Things would survive a one-year test. If it was going to taste bad, at least we'd have nice presentation using our wedding cake cutter and champagne flutes.

Andy was a good sport and we toasted the occasion!

And lo and behold, it was delicious! See, good things stand the test of time, eh? We both had two slices and have been munching on it for dessert all week. The only thing that's really changed from last year to this year is the sparking apple cider replacing real champagne in our glasses.

Thanks for the remembrances and well wishes! Does this mean we're not considered newlyweds anymore??
*Amy

Captain's Log

Here's a photo reel of the last three weeks, mostly centered around visiting friends and the Cajun Queen. We went camping with Sitka friends and it was our first overnight onboard! Then, G & J came down from Anchorage and brought back home a filleted king salmon! Lastly, the Viators spent the holiday weekend with us, all the way from New York! They have the honor of catching the Queen's first halibut. I think the boat loves all the company and use. I know we do.

Click on all photos to view larger

Campsite on Strawberry Beach

Ladder Ball!

These tracks were discovered and made entirely by eagles. 

An eagle dance party.

Their talons are BIG!

First use of our dingy...heading out to grab the hot dog sticks on the boat.

Lone eagle Sunday morning. 2 mature and 1 juvenile eagle gave us their company for the camping trip.

I think they had the eagle beach party before we humans showed up.

Brushing teeth after a great night's sleep onboard. 

Check out that calm ocean water!

Totem Park with G & J

Yellow-eye rockfish in protected waters! Andy was stoked.

The Viators on water after a year in the desert overseas.

Welcome back to Alaska!

What a great June and start to July!