Special Weekend!

We had such a great weekend! It started late Thursday night when Nikki and Baby V flew in from Anchorage! We had the gift of their company until Monday morning.

Sunday morning of this weekend Miss A was (finally) baptized.  It was a special time and very smooth with Baby V (13-nearly 14 months) and A at Mass. Father Jim was laid back and encouraged their happy noises as we sat up front.

The two girls met one another 3.5 months ago but this is the first time they've had "quality" time together with parallel play and interactions. Baby V is obviously mobile and we took our first stab at baby proofing the house. She loves to say "Hi" and I loved saying "Hi" back!

However A was not as friendly. If Baby V tried to get close or touch her A would melt down. Obviously some personal space issues!

Baby V got to explore around our little house.

Poor gal was just visiting Miss A when she had to watch this reaction!

I always wonder why I don't take more pictures. Shame on me. We had a couple of days of rain together but got out on the Cajun Queen nonetheless. At one point both girls triggered each other and we had a double meltdown going on. It was hard not to laugh at the situation! But Baby V spent time on the ocean and her mama caught a ling cod that was all head waiting for its body to grow. Andy even plucked a tiny halibut out of the water.

The rain disappeared for "brilliant sunshine" on the day of the Baptism. Hurray! What a gift and a chance to also go walking and hang with friends at the beach later in the day.

As I said, Fr. Jim was just great for the sacrament. He didn't flinch when A tried to take his Baptismal reading booklet from him as he read (he even offered it to her), and he seemed to enjoy when A and Baby V talked back and forth at one point.

Miss A only cried out once a couple of scoops of holy water dribbled down, but once she was patted dry all was well again. A seashell with "Peace" inscribed was used for the scooping and pouring of water. Pretty neat and appropriate for here.

 Her lovely and special gown was a gift from Grandma Judy and Grandpa Tom. It fit perfectly and I'm happily surprised she didn't mess with the bonnet.

 Thank you special friends for joining us!

Sunny Day! Thanks for the scenic memory, Nikki. 

It was perfect for visiting with friends on the porch after the service.

Miss A managed to swipe a bit at the cake frosting and maybe got a little to her lips. Not sure, but we didn't offer cake to the newly baptized. In fact, she went down for a nap a bit after the activity. It's tiring joining God's family! We are happy.

We miss you, Nikki and Baby V! I'm glad we got in some adult Euchre playing once the babes went to bed. Can't wait to see her walking soon.

*Amy

Eight Months

Miss A could be a motorcyclist the way she is always twisting her wrists and waving her hands. She would handle motorcycle handles like a Sturgis veteran. You look or smile at this gal and the kicking machine ignites. She is moving all the time, just in place. Her tracking

abilities are excellent and A is always keeping tabs on our movements and whereabouts.

She has 3 solid teeth (2 bottom/1 top) and at least one more is prepping its way.
The food lists grows with apples, pears, nectarines, apricots, tofu, kiwi, grapes, avocado, zucchini and prunes. Success is growing in the second cycling through of peas and beans. I'm bettering how to make these foods and she's taking to how they taste. You'd think her peas/tofu combo last night was the cat's meow! A will eat applesauce with anything--its her new base. Food is fun!

Pinching is NOT. She went for days pinching my arms as hard as she probably could while nursing. She's eased up on the unknown torture but a small bruise remains. While trying to deflect her claws, and failing, I would try to convince myself that it was for the greater good of her pincer skills with fingers foods!

We made the transition to a new care provider and I'm very happy with how it's going. She is literally a 3 minute drive away from me and maybe learning Spanish throughout the day too. A is one happy girl when I drop her off or pick her up.

No crawling yet but she's good on push-ups during tummy time. She does better with walking motions when supported than crawling ones. We'll see how it proceeds. The house needs to be baby-proofed for that anyway.

We had an appointment with the Doc in early August and saw good weight gain and she is aligned on the growth curve. Petite but proportioned and perfect.

dfl

I just have to throw in these two pics. from a couple of weeks ago. Not only is bath time a fantastically fun time that leaves us all rather wet from major splish-splashing, but it points out to me how long her hair is getting. Her "tail"is widening in the back!

Her hair is starting to creep into her eyes. Not sure when a first haircut should be done so instead I'm doing clips and mini pony tails.

*Amy

Sea Creatures

When the Nome boys came we clearly did a little bit of fishing.  A run north of Sitka found a few halibut and a nice lingcod.  Those lingcod sure look nasty and prehistoric but they cook up extremely well.  Ling are also a kick in the pants to catch.

G2 displaying our first days halibut. 

Like anyone who fishes you occasionally  need to prospect for some new secret holes.  We dropped anchor, plopped down some herring, and waited for the Mud Hole to produce.  G2 was the provider, and somehow caught an Octopus!  Extremely unexpected and hilarious.  I've since learned that this is excellent bait because it doesn't come off the hook.  Live and learn.  Nice creature G2.

 G2 scooped up this 'but in 50 ft of water using light tackle.  It was pretty funny.  I thought he had a rockfish or at best a nice lingcod.  He asked me if the rod would break, I shrugged off his comment.  Then he yards up this halibut.  Unbelievable.

The halibut was roughly the same size as G4!

The fishing was pretty good but the company was obviously great.  I've been promised a return visit in June.  We need to net some Kings.  June G2.  June.

the Nome boys...

...came down to Sitka. Fantastic. Tony (G2) and Cole (G4) spent nearly a week with us at the end of July. Man, did those guys fish! And they did awesome. Andy has to show off pictures of the catches, including an interesting sea creature hooked from the "mudhole." Cole took to Southeast like butter on bread. I couldn't wait for the end of my work day when they'd come back from the boat. The excitement was explosive as 6-year old Cole told me every critter they spotted and all that was caught. Every day on the boat they wrote down the wildlife list on a paper plate with a Sharpie and Cole would wave it at me as the day's stories spilt. Three Gorns on a boat get things done.

We also enjoyed a couple of days at the Tom Young cabin. The cabin is owned by the City of Sitka, about an hour boat ride away. Andy reserved two nights (just like a public use cabin) last winter and he was stoked. It's just across a little body of water from the Goddard (natural) Hot Springs!

We all went along with our good friends and their two boys, same age range as Cole. I think the boys got along swell. We had lots of excitement on our adventure including regular visits from a male deer on our beach (or, its beach?)--just one week before deer hunting season! That was one lucky critter, for that weekend anyway.

Miss A approved of the cabin's rustic comfort.

One afternoon some of the guys returned after a small fishing excursion on our friend Matt's boat.  A line was thrown into the water before returning to the cabin for the fun of it. Cole called it (he had a knack for knowing when something would hit and what it could be), and a 100+lb. halibut was given over! G2 got to harpoon it!

 Bravery in touching the eyeballs.

 Cheddar jalapeno moose dogs over an open, contained fire

Cole often sought out his little cousin to play or interact with her.
It was the SWEETEST. 

 G4 never tired of spotting & catching tiny crabs near the shoreline.
And they were EVERYWHERE!

First time solo in a kayak

 Behind the cabin in the woods are suspended old fishing nets, Swiss Family Robinson style. Miss A's friend Naomi put her in it and played with her.

Jetting across the water to soak in the warm springs on a sunny day was what the doctor ordered. The paddle back to our beach was great too. Plus beach fun, campfires, happy kids and good weather (eventually) made all the gear packing and hauling worthwhile.

We are grateful for the great visit. These guys are welcome anytime. And I think they hauled back to Nome enough fish to not forgot us on the other end of the state. G4 asked his Dad if they could come back to Sitka in 2 weeks. Miss A loved the head rubs and funny talks with her cousin. 

We miss you Uncle Tony and cousin Cole!

*Amy
ANDY: you're up next on the blog, okay??! You gotta show the captured sea creature.

Ahhhhhhhhh!

The other week while I was at the radio station for the evening Andy said Miss A yelled, shrieked and played with her voice for about 20 minutes straight. Rather than take video he decided to capture a montage of photos. They are pretty funny.

Here's just a sample from the series; you don't need volume to hear the baby delight. My favorite is the pose, "word to your motha."

You can unplug your ears now. :) *Amy

A Hairy Attempt

Andy's profession doesn't allow him to have facial hair. There are actual Policies & Procedures for allowable mustaches, sideburns and such. So when he took leave in July he didn't shave the entire time. That makes it the longest he's EVER gone without shaving! And it was confirmed that he doesn't have a knack for big growth.

Okay, I'm picking on him a little because he's not here to stop me (en route from Anchorage)!

Though I'd say he did good and looked good too. Near the end of this hiatus--about 2 1/2 weeks?--he was more than ready to shed the scruff. I talked him into finishing through a weekend. I will add that the various stages of removing the "growth" were pretty funny. Snakey goatee, creepy stache, etc. It was like he kept appearing as different characters.

Miss A didn't care any which way. It's just her Daddy. I do think she tried grabbing on at one point.

What do we prefer? Shady Andy? All American Andy? I think we both lean towards what we're used to. I labeled this blog under "projects" because that's what it felt like a little...perfect for a guy doing a lot of fishing.