Three Months Old

Miss A turned 3 months on St. Patrick's Day! She continues to delight us in her evolving expressions, discoveries, sharing of joy and overall demeanor. She is truly a happy, happy baby except when experiencing gas pains, which unfortunately seemed to happen more often during this past month. Sometimes during her occasional bouts of crying she manages to simultaneously smile because she can't help but respond to us.

Otherwise she had a big bout with blowing bubbles. That excitement has tapered off as bubbles  are regular occurrences now. Her hands are always in her mouth. Just very, very recently she's shooting her legs straight up into a 90-degree and her feet seem to have a life of their own...according to her. It's a matter of time before she realizes she can grab them and hold on. She discovered her clothes last week and is now grabbing at them and tugging around her knees.

Miss A's eyebrows have grown in some more and her hair has become long enough that it doesn't stick straight out (some of the time). She's batting toys around that hang in her reach and the laughter is picking up. And the T.V. has caught her eye. Yikes! What a sweetie. Getting bigger too fast.

 Pals

So after her photo shoot we put her in green attire for the holiday (thanks to the Grandmas)--to embrace the Flaherty side of her.

We celebrated both occasions by going out to dinner and having a couple of pints. By chance the place we chose (with live music) seated us next to a table of hospital employees. Including my doctor who delivered Miss A and her surgeon husband who made it happen. Even a couple of nurses we saw during our hospital stay were there. They enjoyed getting to see her. It's nice to have a social and unofficial "3-month" check-up by Doc. Small towns are lovely. So is Miss A.

*Amy

Pat's Sitter

On Monday night we went to a "body art" contest as part of Artigras happenings in Sitka. That's right, we took our daughter to a (smoke-free) Pub to see tattoos compete. It was fun, and brought out a different demographic to Arts Council events. Just before leaving (after Miss A let us eat our buffalo wings as she slept in her car seat) I overheard a patron near us. (paraphrased) "That baby looks like a baby Pat Benatar!" I felt motherly pride that this denim-jacketed fellow was impressed by A's hair and likened her to a rocker, as she hung out with many folks sporting impressive tattoos. She may grow up well-rounded. Andy liked the show but wouldn't enter his tattoo, newish from last winter. I had high hopes for some tattoo trophies.

"We Are Young..."

image from last month

Today was the first full day I spent apart from her. Andy's been used to the work routine for awhile. I've had the luxury of keeping her at home or having Grandmas watch her as I earn a day's wage. But today she finally went to our friend's house for care-taking. If all goes well, which we're expecting it will, she'll go to our friend's twice a week and then stay at home with me the rest of the week. Our friend has a 17-month old and she currently adores Miss A. It's so sweet and she was borderline upset as I left with A.

So last night and this morning I went through all the emotions of "letting go." I swear she was going off to college in just a matter of time. Rather than have a nice farewell after I got her things settled, I had to take off like a bat out of hell. Who forgets to bring the bottles of pumped milk (lovingly gathered during sessions at 1:30am)? Yeah...thank goodness we live on an island. Before my morning Skype meeting I raced to our house on the other side of the island, plucked the bottles of milk from the fridge and raced them back. So much for a fond send off to a good day. But I made my meeting and was welcomed by her smiling face for pick up. We all did it. We all survived and I'm glad to have her home. We have until Monday for take two.

*Amy

Taking Flight

Baby girl finally took her first plane rides this past week. I write "finally" at 2.5 months old because Alaskan babies tend to start travel at a very young age (often just days old depending where born and where baby lives). We took the route to Anchorage via Juneau for my work. Whew--going solo had me a bit apprehensive, but the entire 3-day/2-night hotel stay went very well! No crying on any flights and she nursed perfectly during landings. We even had the entire row to ourselves 75% of the time.

It wasn't long into the journey when I realized going to the bathroom would be tricky or delayed. I feel so fortunate that my co-workers, and then everyone attending the same training were so supportive and open to having a baby around.  There was someone eager to hold her as I presented. Someone in the office even remarked how happy everyone sounds when a baby is hanging out. Her easy going nature to nap in strange places and with loud noises worked well at the Central Office.

Miss A had many moose sightings from the pair hanging around our hotel and the training site. She slept through Costco and adjusted to much cooler weather. I didn't want to pack in a lot during the quick trip so as not to be overwhelmed. But Miss A did get to meet a couple of special people.

And to try something entirely new I bought too big Little Swimmers diapers which I doubled up for a 10 minute swirl around in the hotel pool.

It took Andy the second night of us away to realize the bedroom was dark at night, missing the nightlight. I think he had some good, hard sleep, although he says he was lonely in Sitka.

And now we're more prepared for our next Anchorage trip in less than two weeks, and for one extra night. Maybe she'll see the inside of Alaska's one and only Olive Garden!

In other news, Andy is enjoying a full weekend off from work and is smoking the last of our king salmon stock. A great way to open up the freezer for some new fillets as the fishing season starts.

*Amy

Grandma J

February was the month of Grandmas. Miss A was held and loved all day every day (not that she isn't normally, but you know...) Andy's mom arrived the day after Grandma C and picked up with the Grandmotherly love and wonderful help around the house. She remembered a lot of things from when A's cousins were babies, and shared stories about them.
Grandma J saw the evolving sucking on thumbs and fingers and the start of blowing bubbles.

 I'm pretty sure Grandma Judy enjoyed seeing her son in the role of loving father.

Andy say, "Thanks for coming and we'll see you in several months!" She's currently spending time with the other grandkids up in Nome.

Since we're now Grandma-less, this week of work with Miss A went really well. It's so nice to have a bit of a predictable schedule going on.

And to add just because, she entertained her parents for a long time last night by stepping up the happy blowing bubbles bit. She's not a spitter, or even a burper, so her drool production was fun to witness.

*Amy

Two Months Old

Miss A is now in month two of life. She's been able to meet her first family members outside Mom and Dad, gone for walks in the fresh air, begin playing in her activity gym and batting toys around, dabbled with sticking her thumb in her mouth, growing some impressive eyelashes, and starting to fill in her eyebrows too.

Her smiles come more rapidly, delighting anyone who sees them. She's mastered the word "goo" and continues to showcase awesome neck and leg strength. Oh, and she only wakes about twice a night now!

She managed to dirty her white onesies this day but I think yellow suits just fine. It is amazing to a first time mother how soon some clothes can be outgrown!

*Amy

Grandma C

My mom met her first grandchild a week and a half ago. For the next ten days they were nearly inseparable. Grandma Cathy took care of Miss A while I returned to work, and well, just about all the time. We were spoiled with all sorts of care-taking, and now A is used to rocking to sleep in someone's arms. They had fun together downstairs as I worked upstairs. It was nice to go down and give A a kiss whenever I wanted, and catch them having good times together.

 Going to watch Eskimo dancing in traditional kuspuks and mukluks

 We were the only guests touring the nearby Raptor Center

 Learning to count already

 Grandma's sweet little Valentine

This book was one of her Valentine's gifts from Grandma.
She absolutely delighted in it!

 A's wild hair before Grandma would style and "tame" it every day with her special product

 This may or may not have been staged

A bucket of dungeness crabs from friends. I'm gonna get you!

My mom was born to be a Grandma. It sure was special relationship-building time for the two, and also enjoyable having her in Alaska. The weather was pretty much nice to boot too! And now we get ready for a visit from Grandma J...

*Amy

Partners

Miss A had her 6-week wellness check today and is doing great.

Weighing in at 9 lbs. 15 ounces
Length at nearly 22 inches
14.5 in. head circumference

She took her 3 vaccination shots, and 1 oral, like a champ. Just some good, hard crying at the time followed up with a deep nap (some preemptive infant Tylenol may have helped). Beforehand a gaggle of nurses came to our room and we were approached for some photos. I signed a release form allowing her image to be used in IHS stuff or promotion of hospital services, if so used. They all watched the photo shoot, gave her lots of attention and commented on her hair. Maybe she'll make the cover of their annual report! haha.

Andy flew out Sunday to Ketchikan for a week of training. (makes for an interesting last week of maternity leave on the homefront) While he improves in the exciting world of report writing by day and shops at the town's old school Walmart by night, Miss A and I have been taking videos and pictures to send him.

Don't mind that she's wearing the same outfit as the last blog video, but here's some vocabulary and new skills:

Now, the title of this blog is about Andy and I. Of course I miss him this week, and also for the parenting he does with our daughter, but I really miss him. Like more than is normal. It's clear our love and connection has deepened since Dec. 17th. I realize that's not ground-breaking but it's clear that having a child together has really added to our relationship. I won't go on and gush, but I appreciate, love, value, respect and enjoy my husband on new levels. It's just awesome. So I miss my partner right now. And I know he misses his girls too. He's not all that far and he's back pretty soon but life is just better when we're all together.

*Amy