Anchored in Anchorage

Last month I spent 15 days in Anchorage for work. Time flew by, it was really fun, and I accomplished a lot for the office and myself. Can't beat being in the city during AFN time when people from all over the state travel for the biggest Alaska Native gathering. The opportunity to see, bump into, and spend a little time with friends, acquaintances and "Alaska family" blew me away. I reconnected with so many! It was hard to miss home when you're always surrounded by people special to you.

I've been trying to create my first picture collage but it is an epic fail with major frustrations. I took photos of nearly everyone I got to see but it's just not working out to arrange those photos. So I'll include just a couple although it's a sad representation from what I hoped to post.

While running around Anchorage for work events, presentations and trainings, I also got back out to the Valley, down the Kenai Peninsula for a visiting blitz, and of course shopped for home and Guppy Gorn (and even supplies for Andy's next batch of home-brewed beer).

It was like a big chicken soup for the soul couple of weeks. From meeting two friends' babies, to hanging out with a Nome elder whom I used to meet for coffee up North, and even getting my mother-in-law  from the airport on a layover, it was just awesome.

Here's my amazing Anchorage work crew (well, a couple of former co-workers showed too). They didn't mean to surprise me but they did at a staff lunch that was meant to celebrate bebe and me!

Getting back to home and my husband was quite sweet as well. He even had the house cleaned for me!
*Amy

Fall Time

Early November and I finally got out to track down a deer. In all honesty, I was just as excited to set a skate line for some halibut and and to throw down some crab pots as I was to hunt a deer. My neighbor (Matt) and I put the Cajun Queen in the water and headed out in our quest for local dinner fare. First the skate line went down, then a couple of crab pots, and finally we rowed the dinghy to shore to hunt some deer.

Who would've guessed it as we happened across a fat buck after a short time on land. He was chubby as far as Sitka blacktail go. One 30-06 round, a high five with Matt, and a bit cleaning got us ready for a short haul to the beach and dinghy.

A quick row to the Sea Sport and it was time to check the crab pots. Unbelievable, success in the pots. Local Sitka surf and turf!

The day was more than a success. Maybe next time we'll complete the trifecta and scoop up a halibut on the skate line! Here's to hoping.

Gorneration @ 34 weeks

We're deviating from the traditional in terms of type of pumpkin carved and the arrangement of our 4-week belly update. Gotta have some fun on Halloween, right? We picked out a sweet lil' pumpkin from the patch.

For real, though, I couldn't resist already exploiting our poor unborn daughter.

All continues to be pretty peachy-keen in pregnancy world. My feet did swell big time over night in Anchorage giving me the charming characteristic of "cankles." But they've gotten a little better and there are no medical concerns since my blood pressure is rock solid and I gained just a couple of pounds in 3 weeks. The doctor did inform of some important news that really supports my desire for a natural birth. Sitka has never offered epidurals and despite a new doctor starting, it won't be until the New Year that epidurals will be offered here for the first time. So I won't be tempted away from the birth plan I'm hoping I can handle. The nurses are used to methods and strategies for pain-free deliveries and my doctor has been known in another town as "Dr. Midwife."

To add to the fun of our remaining child-less time is that both Andy and I are up for trial jury service. We've both deferred before given travels but now we gotta face the music. Personally, I wouldn't mind serving in a trial but there's never a convenient time for it, right? I consider all I have to do with work before maternity leave. So when we have to appear Andy plans to wear his uniform, and I'll stay by his side trying to look as if I'll go into labor any minute. That might get us excused!

We're definitely in the homestretch now.
*Amy

Oh! The Places You'll Go

I just returned home after more than 2 weeks working in Anchorage. For me, the time absolutely flew by and was very busy. More on the trip another blog post.

As I flew home last night, my last flight without a child to watch and take care of for a long time, I thought about all the places Guppy Gorn and I have already traveled to together. We averaged at least one trip (by plane, or one trip by ferry) every single month. For now, we're grounded on the island until delivery time.

Maybe our getting around will instill a sense of travel and adventure within her! That would be so neat. I tracked the places we flew to during the pregnancy (or flew to and then drove to) for a little something I could print and put in her baby book.

It will look similar to this: [click here: MAP.] Most of these places were spurred by work.

So now we can get settled and set up for the last SIX WEEKS! That's right, tomorrow (Sat. the 29th) is the six week mark before approx. due date. It's sure nice to have our little family back together again. Andy will have to talk to the belly an awful lot to make up for lost time. :)

*Amy

Winter Surprise

Our neighbors, Matt and Naomi, spent the evening carving up some traditional scary pumpkins with their two boys. Little did I know that they also carved up a pumpkin for the parents of baby Gorn to be. They wrote a note to go along with the carved pumpkin that read "We couldn't think of anything more 'frightening' than becoming parents for the first time!"

Time will tell if Amy and I agree with them.

I thank them. The pumpkin looks great on our porch.

2nd Annual Oktoberfest

A night of friends and drinks came to the "von" Gorn Haus for a second year in a row. Bevies of all shapes and sizes (and alcohol content) showed up for seasonal sampling and enjoyment.

We're missing representation in this photo from the local Baranof Island Brewing Co. (BIBCO) but it's certainly not because it wasn't consumed. I hit up BIBCO not just for a growler of Spruce Tip ale, but for a GALLON--yes, a gallon, of their stellar root beer. In the midst of such special beers, some wine and ciders for Oktoberfest, the root beer didn't catch on with most (except me), including the kids. There's a lot left.

So, if you're interested in an artisan root beer float, just come on over! We also have some brats to offer. For the second year Andy boiled all the brats in beer, grilled them up and then placed them in warm crockpots full of kraut.

I completely forgot to take photos from the event, but we enjoyed having about 20 people and 3 kids over to our place. Any reason to socialize and "Prost!" right?

Andy recommends the Perseverance beer from Alaska Brewing-their 25th anniversary special. We were told at the brewery in Juneau that it will peak in 2-4 years so we actually have a couple of bottles stashed away, for now. By then I'll partake in the sampling for sure!

*Amy

Mama AND Bebe @ 30 weeks

We've enjoyed week 30 with seeing bebe inside and out! On Monday I noticed small ripples across my belly as guppy gorn moved about--and then Andy could see her too! We can now feel and see her at the same time. That's been an awesome addition. Then on Tuesday we had an ultra sound.

The ultrasound was ordered by my doctor as my belly is really sticking out. She wanted to be sure we aren't giving birth, at this point, to a giantess. Despite being on an empty stomach, little girl was sure active during our visit with her! We had a great knuckle appearance, further confirmation of having a girl, flashes of the nostrils, big eyes looking at us, beating heart, and one funny action: at one time she not only had her hand tucked under her chin but the technician was fairly certain she switched to sucking her thumb for awhile!

We were told she has a very round head right now and extremely long legs--tracking ahead in development more than anything else. We kept hearing about the ample amount of amniotic fluid bebe has in her home, and that she is very photogenic. Which is kinda funny because despite the cool stuff we saw, the pictures printed aren't....the best, or clearest. So we chose the two better ones to post here. The profile shows one eye and a fist, and the other--when looked at upside down, (make sure to flip your computer, haha) shows the arch of her wee foot.

In her debrief at our appointment my Doctor said she is tracking size-wise at the 48th percentile. Which is basically perfect, medium-sized baby. With no weight gain to report in these last two weeks I was told we are "perfect baby, perfect patient." Thank goodness! Let's pray this keeps up. Oh, and the Doctor likes hearing long legs and what that means for delivery. As for the bigger belly in the first place? Just how I am, built and my stature. Stomach may be big but my weight, the baby and fluid are, again, perfectly on track.

I had a break through at the chiropractor this week. My massage therapist explained some general pains I was having were probably related to being out of whack and so I went for an adjustment. The doctor pointed out that my hips were completely unaligned. It was so obvious--AND explained why I was pushing forward like a torpedo. After her magic work on me, I could immediately feel and see a more balanced belly. Bebe had more room rather than getting pushed to one side. I felt ....younger? It was so freeing and I am very grateful. I'll keep up adjustments throughout the last month to maintain an aligned body for birth. After this improvement my main complaint right now is that all my nice slip on shoes are getting tighter to wear. Good thing I don't wear shoes while working in my home office!

Yeah, week 30 was pretty sweet all in all. Much to be thankful for. And tomorrow we welcome week 31.

*Amy