Boating is the Life for Me

The Cajun Queen has had an active spring and start to summer. Andy's taken her out and brought home king and silver salmon, halibut, dungeness crabs and little tiger shrimp. We've also gone family camping a couple of times among other outings for the fun of it. What's exciting and different this year is that we got a harbor slip for the boat to live at. I'll have to take a picture of our set-up and share another time. It makes for ease and motivation to just head out.

Here's a brief glimpse into some outings over the last couple of months:

 Legal Keepers!

 This pic. is from Miss A's first overnight onboard. 

She looked like a little beached walrus in the warm sack on Andy.

 Tiger shrimp netted when we really want to get bigger prawns. 

Enough for a cocktail though!

 Waking up one morning we had the bay to ourselves.

 Excited to help Dad steer on Father's Day.

Perched sea lion. 

This past Saturday afternoon we saw part of an orca pod that was giving townfolk and boaters quite a show. We watched two of the whales rise and dive.  The weather was so hot and perfect that I could actual lay out and sun, while A gave me a short break. Throughout the nice weather I managed to sunburn my arms. The change in skin shade and familiar feeling of sting is actually a welcomed change of pace. We set a temperature record for June 23 in Sitka at 80 degrees. The spring was awful, not even hitting the average of 50 degrees. We're back to overcast and wet, but it felt glorious to just tool around with the boat after enjoying an overnight near a black sand beach with friends. Miss A played in that loose sand for a wee bit Saturday morning.

We love our time on the water and there's much more time to conquer this summer!

*Amy

Six Months Old

Half a year with our sweets as of Father's Day? Wow, Miss A, time is flying by (as we were warned it would).

Miss A has two bottom teeth, uses both hands in coordination, continues to be a social butterfly, and is rolling from her tummy to back. In fact, last night it was a rolling kind of party as she is really clicking and enjoying new found ease with this movement. Right now I'm watching her trying to master the same fluid motion from back to tummy.

She eats up rice cereal infused with infant Vitamin D (suggested by the doctor) and is officially eating her first vegetable: pureed sweet potato. She'll hang her mouth open like a little birdie!

A's Grandma Judy visited again (more on that soon) and she has camped overnight on the Cajun Queen. Sitting upright is getting better, longer, stronger.

And as was hinted at last month, keeping her still for the monthly photos is impossible. Of course it's fun to document and see her curiosity. Like pulling off one polar bear shoe, licking it, getting it taken away, and then moving on to the second shoe.

And that darn 6 months sticker didn't have a chance. She pulled it right off her onesie.

She still weighed very small at her doctor appointment but hopefully solids will boost that up. Her length is at the 50% percentile though. Lots more fun to be had in the second half of her first year!
*Amy

Recent Travails Part Two

Part two of highlighting some work details and updates from us.

Andy was nominated for a state employee award, called the Denali Peak Performance Award. He was recognized for some specific accomplishments at the Academy this past year. It was quite special to read what was written about him in the nomination. Then, an announcement of the nomination was made just over a week ago at the recent Academy graduation for the law enforcement recruits. His Colonel announced it and read a bit of the nomination for all to hear at the ceremony. Miss A and I were very proud of him! Well deserved!

Great news from the graduation is the return of Andy's very close friend to the Troopers. B & Andy went through the Academy together. About 4 years ago he and his wife left the State and served deployments in the Middle East. Now they're back in Alaska...for good, and B has made a lateral move to become a Trooper again! So he's back at the Academy for an abbreviated stay, and he's back in the blue. B's wife will visit us all in Sitka soon, before B goes back to patrol. In the meanwhile, Andy officially "pinned" B with the AST badge at graduation! They look handsome and squared away.

As for my update, this week I officially go down to part-time work for RurAL CAP. I'll be working 24 hours/week given some funding changes. And as that shifts, another opportunity presents itself. For the rest of this summer I will be interim Program Director for the fabulous and amazing local public radio station, KCAW-Raven Radio! I'm jazzed for the chance to use and return to more radio skills such as production and scheduling. I will be trained by a talented friend, and I hope the station finds the perfect match for a full-time, permanent PD in the coming months. It's an exciting time to increase my employment with KCAW as they celebrate their 30th anniversary of being on-air ,and have many exciting happenings lined up around the 4th of July.

I'll keep busy during the week but there will be a bit of open time to enjoy summer with my girl, A. We'll see how this new schedule plays out! Andy and I are so blessed for the professional work we have and our job satisfaction.

*Amy

Recent Travails Part One

Two weeks ago Miss A and I were starting our work week in Dillingham for my 4th Rural Providers' Conference. It was nice to be back in Southwest Alaska for our second RPC there, and the weather was nice to boot. Miss A rode in her smallest plane yet, for 30 people. We stayed in a B&B with others from my work (again) and it was fun to end our hectic, busy days together munching (devouring?) smoked salmon strips. A and I had a bedroom to ourselves which was nice, and aside from maybe two meltdowns that week, she was a perfect baby.

For the 4th Youth Track I've coordinated, we had 45 youth attend from Dillingham and other villages across the state! It was huge! (or felt huge)

Each youth is precious to have involved. During the last "Circle Talk" of the week (all conference attendees--a couple hundred--circle chairs in the gym, layers around one another and then a facilitated discussion/sharing takes place) the youth were put in the center with "the conference" circle around them. And they shared. And they were honest about the impact of alcohol and drinking in their lives, with their families. One of the youth, whom I've known for two years, shared and in his courage he encouraged his mother to embrace her courage and make a pledge. It was an empowering moment for him, with a possibly life-changing outcome.

How did Miss A experience the conference? Pretty much packed in my Ergo carrier. She hung out and she napped in it. She was also held a little, socialized up a storm and quickly gave away many, many smiles. 

 (photos courtesy of A.Gonzalez of RurAL CAP)

A great contribution and presence at the conference were three Alaska Native Wildlife Troopers who came to share their message of suicide prevention (they snowmachined across Interior Alaska this winter with their message). The youth really enjoyed having the guys hang out with them. Andy knows one of them and so Miss A was well received by others in the Trooper community!

As I posted on Facebook, A met Alaska's Governor opening night of the conference. He flew in to attend a special ceremony, speak at our opener and sign a bill into law (for the preservation of Alaska Native languages). When I went up to him to say hello he actually asked if we met before! I said, yes, (twice before actually) and he said he doesn't remember names of course but faces he can.

Well, just a week and a half after this picture of Miss A mugging it with elected officials, her dad's image was captured with him too! The Governor came to the Academy last week to speak to the recruits and check things out. Go Andy! (photos as screenshots from the Gov's protected Flickr page)

So we'll end part one here. Next part will include a special happening and honor with Andy's, and a work update from me....

*Amy

Five Months Old

We are in exciting times, family and friends. Miss A turned five months old last week and she's got momentum. Breaking news is that we have, suddenly and surprisingly, a tooth busting onto the scene. I mean, I don't think she was even teething and yet here's a white spec poking through her bottom gums! A little drool here and there, but she hasn't needed to wear a bib yet. Maybe that explains her fussiness on Mother's Day? Who knows. Angela, who watches her twice a week thinks there could be actually two teeth coming through on the bottom. I first felt the one on Saturday. She does like everything in her mouth but I had chalked that up to exploration and curiosity (which it must be too).

Miss A ate rice cereal for the first time Sunday night. She smiled and ate up the entire time. There was a bit of a mess, of course. We need to assemble her high chair. The bumbo seat is decent for the interim as we sit with her at the table, but she only handles the bumbo in doses.

What other developments can happen at the start of five months? Well, on the very date she rolled over for the first and only time! She went back to tummy. I was working while she laid in her activity gym and then I heard some crying. I looked over and she was in a total different position! Hasn't happened since.

 "My polar bear tipped over! How could that have happened? I couldn't have caused that, could I?"

 "Sweet. I realized there's a sticker on my onesie. Can I taste it?"

 "Lick. Lick."

 Paper sticker distressed from prolonged contact by baby's mouth.

And, the tousled hair look. Maybe the length of her hair is an inches-to-months-old ratio.

She's also been sleeping in her crib for a week and a half now! We moved her from the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper in our room to the crib in her room downstairs. That's right, she sleeps on a different floor from us now. I was sad at first but have actually enjoyed reclaiming our area upstairs for getting ready in the morning. Miss A doesn't fight the crib (just going to sleep sometimes) and continues to wake for food throughout the night. I was worried we'd be called down for comfort (doesn't she miss us?!) or fixing a pacifier, but she doesn't seem to want or need it as much anymore.

A couple of weeks ago, at 4.5 months & while visiting Nome, she started lifting her head off the floor. She's trying to sit up regularly and lifts her head anytime she wants a better view. Miss A is also a good supported sitter. So much happening all of a sudden!

I must say, Month 4, and 5 so far, are really, really fun. The interactions as she recognizes us more, exchanges, laughter, smiles, talking, playing are all such good stuff. Last night she didn't just play in her Jumperoo but she started jumping! Her hands are more coordinated with moving items around where she wants them. Manual dexterity improves daily, says Andy. Her gas pains of Months 2 and 3 seem to be all gone.

She's still petite, weighing 13 pounds.
Her two flights to Nome and then return last month were flawless. Let's hope that continues as we soon fly to Dilligham in the Bristol Bay region for another week-long work trip. We're staying in a B&B with my supervisor and other co-workers and colleagues. It's going to be fun times with the gals!

*Amy

Nome-Such

Goodness, it's been awhile! Lots of misc. happening, mostly to share with Miss A of course. A couple of weeks after New Orleans, in early May, her and I journeyed north to my old home of Nome. I'd been looking forward to this trip since I found out about it last summer. There would be an annual conference happening there and I coordinated the Youth Track portion of it. That meant Miss A got to meet her Uncle, Aunt and cousins, along with very special friends.

Of course my camera battery died early in the week-long trip and I forgot to pack the charger. Small items like that were forgotten as I focused on the quantity of diapers to get us through the trip (buying them in Nome is not economical). You can see here that she got to meet her friend, Victoria! I loved seeing V crawling around and talking away.

We settled right into the family home and am so grateful for the hospitality in giving us niece Taylor's room and just having us around for quite awhile.

Uncle Tony took this picture of a splish-splash bath in their kitchen sink!

 Cousin Tay helped her play dress up. Lots of accessories for this fun.

A couple of pics. were taken of Miss A and I in KNOM. I hope to get a copy. It was quite something to be in the radio station with my daughter. As I think about moving to Nome and working there for years....to having my daughter in that actual building, with very special people was emotional for me. Here, she's playing around with KNOM's talented News Director in a hub for Western Alaska's information: the Newsroom! I think they're editing some sound files here. I was in the studio working on public service announcements with one of my teen travelers to the Summit.

Here are some of my teens representing nearly every region of the state. The Summit was focused on tobacco prevention and control. Our Youth Track was titled: "Tobacco: the REAL Deadliest Catch." As an icebreaker to get everyone bonding with one another, I initiated the Human Knot. Except that it was framed as a crab boat net of the tobacco industry trying to "hook" teens into a lifetime of addiction. I needed them to break free of this net/knot and in order to do so they had to work together, think outside of the box, stay united and committed to their cause. Captain "Cig" (cigarette) rooted for them to fail. But alas, after nearly an hour working together, and no one quitting, they made it out of the net/knot. What a team. We had a great experience. I miss this group, but thankfully we're working together long-distance via our tobacco-free coalition.

It snowed while in Nome! And the mornings were around zero with windchill. Good thing I packed the winter gear to use one last time this season. I'm so glad for the trip.

Even as Miss A gets bigger and more independent, its still nice to cuddle with Dad.

 And it's fun to play with the hallway mirror while Dad's on his lunch break!

 My first Mother's Day, with a gift of outdoor flowers. She was actually fussy for most of the day.

 Like I said, fussy. She doesn't smile all the time.

And now tummy time happens more often, in different places and with more positive results.

Whew! That's a lot. More to come as Miss A turned 5 months old Thursday. And more from the Cajun Queen. Andy took her out for an overnight while we spent time with his brother in Nome. He caught an eel. Maybe if Andy ever blogs again we'll see it (nudge, nudge). haha!

*Amy

NOLA & Baby

Nothing says party like taking a baby to New Orleans! So that's what Miss A and I did last week. We traveled more than 15 hours each way (that's about 5 flight segments) for a two-day conference. It was fabulous! I can't emphasize enough how well baby girl did. I kept wondering how I could thank her and show my appreciation for being such a dear (not perfect, but impressive) throughout the journeys I put her through.

As I remarked on Facebook, we arrived to the hotel in NOLA at midnight and discovered the hotel gave away my room even though I had confirmed it hours before during a layover. There was no way around a full hotel so they sent us away in a taxi for a free stay elsewhere, nearby. Now, even as Miss A had been out of her element, in a different time zone and carted all over, she didn't show it. Had she been cranky or fussy (understandably), my stress level would have certainly risen. But instead the sweetheart smiled as I wheeled her around in her new umbrella stroller.

We finally got to bed after 1am and my mind was reeling; anticipating a check out first thing in the morning to get back to the Sheraton. I stared at A and she stared very calmly back into my eyes. She smiled and I just gave prayers of thanks for surviving the day. It was a special moment, and then, before I could get too poetic or deep, she blew a tiny raspberry without breaking her gaze. She reminded me she's still a baby.

The start of the trip was indicative of the rest. It all went well. She came home with a big baby head from all sorts of lovely comments.

Sunshine and warmth really arrived our last full day. We went strolling around checking out shops with a friend from Anchorage also attending the conference. Here's Jackson Square, and then outdoor seating for dinner (with a mojito!). Had my fill of shrimp creole, seafood okra gumbo, jambalaya, and rice and beans. Yum!

The conference was good and there were nearly 20 Alaskans in attendance. The main highlight of the trip for me was an evening with FAMILY! I have not seen my cousins in over three years! You grow up together, and then one moves to Alaska and the other to Louisiana. Times together are not often to say the least. And now my cousin is a Professor! What an accomplishment! They drove all the down from Baton Rouge for the visit. I'm still grateful and happy. Miss A loved them too, even if she started to fade over beignets at Cafe du Monde. It was a little meltdown.

 And then her second-cousins (is that what they are to her??) helped make everything alright again!

Look! What naturals. And all in due time to use these talents, with about less than 3 months before their precious boy arrives! Yay for putting love to that sweet boy. Thank you for seeing us again! Next time they'll be a family of 3 too.

And then the conference ended and we were on our flights back North. Miss A slept so much that I actually read an entire book during the two days of travel. The southern climate, food and hospitality was a great getaway. I hadn't been to NOLA in ten years. Sometime I'll go back, with Andy. A stroll down Bourbon St. is different with my daughter along for the ride!

*Amy