Alaska Day

Alaska Day! A State Holiday! It was October 18th and Sitka was the site of Russia's transfer of the Great Land to the U.S. Our town celebrates like no other location in the state. Sitka has a lot of parades throughout the year and I've been told Alaska Day is the biggest. That's right, I had not been part of the festivities yet as I was in Anchorage the last two years during AFN week.

So this year I booked my ticket back from AFN to partake in Sitka's Alaska Day. What a super decision. It was a fun day off from work!

My plan had been to merge a bunch of iPhone gritty video together into a montage. But, the reality is I just don't have the time or attention span to do so. In order to share some of the fun, and really, it's worth sharing, I'll just post a couple of short vids. I hope you'll put up with it and try to understand.
First up was my favorite, the Sitka High marching band. Can you pick out the tune and theme attire?

I really chuckle at the creativity of the Coho lyrics.

And, why not?

There was much more like the Seattle bagpipers and people shooting blanks in period costume. But if i can't make one video I won't put up every single one I recorded on fair Lincoln Street. We love Alaska Day, a day in which we saw rain, snow and sunshine.

*Amy

Ten Months

While we were on a trip to Anchorage last week Miss A turned double digits in months. It was a sunny day mixed with work and fun, before flying back home to Dad.
So we took pictures two days later. :)

Miss A is eating a great variety but her inclusion of meat has been slow-going. I think the most success we've had is with pork. Venison was not a winner...yet. She is feeding herself more and more which is fun to watch and support. We think avocados are her fave. I am still breast feeding although there were a couple of days into month 9 that nearly convinced me it would end abruptly. With some creative thinking and perseverance we were back on track, for as much nursing as she's doing at this age anyway.

She's not crawling but if you hold on to her by the mid-section she will walk and cruise around pretty much everywhere (for as long as you have the stamina)! She is pivoting around while sitting, scooting backward and some other fun motions but we haven't had to full-on baby proof the house.

A's babble is vibrant and diversifying. Ma-ma and da-da, or dah-dee, is repeated often but we haven't felt it directed at us. We think her first real word, or near word, is "bah" for ball. She says it when we actually play with it!

She just loooves loud noises. Coffee bean grinder and the like bring big smiles and even some head banging that causes her lengthening locks to float about. Her liveliness, joy and energy in these moments are just beautiful and perfect.

Fall Festivities

Fall time brings with it a certain festivity that I am extremely fond of.  Oktoberfest.  We hosted our 3rd annual Oktoberfest.  It gives us a reason to eat bratwurst, slather on sauerkraut, drink a few choice brews, and hang out with friends who also enjoy the suds.

We have a simple request to our guests.  All we require is they walk into the house with a 22oz bomber of something they normally wouldn't purchase.  We end up with all types of beer. German brew, IPA's, Porters, pumpkin beer, and even Lambic's make an appearance.  We welcome all flavors.  As long as it fits into the beer category, I'll give it an honest shot on Oktoberfest.

It brings a grin to my face just thinking about it.  This is a very small sample of what our fridge contained.  Pure goodness. 

Of course Amy enjoys the event and sinking some suds nearly as much as I do.  Even our little A got in on the festivities this year.  No, A didn't consume this year.  Maybe next year. She was definitely dressed for the event though.

As has become customary at gatherings, we headed to the local Baranof Island Brewing Co. and brought home a beverage for all to enjoy.  This was the Back Draught Ale made for the local Firefighter convention.  My wife is great, she decided to go with the whole gallon vs. those tiny 1/2 gallon growlers.  Excellent choice.

Until next year.  Enjoy your Ale, bratwurst, and sauerkraut.  I hope you enjoyed your own Oktoberfest.  Cheers. Prost!

ps-Amy says to never underestimate the party value of an unexpected Etch-A-Sketch.

Thanks, Alaska!

Last week over 600, 000 Alaskans received their annual pay out from the state of Alaska: the Permanent Fund Dividend. One baby was excited to receiver her first. For some reason her parents didn't choose direct deposit, but an old-school check. So the deposit is ready to be made, an investment for her future.

Miss A is so thankful for the treat she tried to eat her original check. Therefore I made a photocopy to memorialize #1 in pictures. She tried to eat the fake as well. Clearly she's teething again at the moment. Our task is figuring out a smart way to invest (some of) her savings for the next 18 or so years down the road. Ahhh, the decisions parents must make.

Truly, the jackpot is actually living in Alaska. That's what I thought while on our mountainside afternoon stroller "hike" today.

We had a wet, kinda crummy summer weather-wise. I think the number of sunny days can be shown on one hand, maybe the start of a second. I'm not exaggerating. A recent string of lovely fall days has been most welcome. I'm more motivated to get our ugly used Bob stroller rolling. Smell the sunshine, smell the change of seasons.

All else is well and we enjoyed a nice visit from Grandma J last week. Thanks for coming and we'll see you as you come through south from Nome!

*Amy

Nine Months

Miss A weighs a whopping 16# 9 oz. She's finally doubled her birth weight! Still petite and healthy. I don't mind as it saves my arm muscles! She is eating away and starting on some pincer skills for finger foods, namely Cheerios and peas/carrots bits. She has 5 teeth that have cut through.

Her gross motor skills are a bit timid. She can basically walk across a room when you hold on and support. As for moving around the ground for herself, well, she's just starting to scoot backwards. She can pivot and get herself into different positions and directions, but stationary otherwise.

Strangers don't alarm her, but while with the doctor the other day she kept looking to me to make sure all was okay. When Andy comes home and he walks down the hall, she starts looking excitedly in that direction until he appears. She expertly tracks us.

Today, almost a week after turning nine months, she showed her first little dance moves! A couple of seconds of moves upon hearing my singing. I loved it! Bath time continues to be a party with the water a-flying. She knows if I'm trying to hide something from her and the word "No" has taken meaning. I forgot to mention last month but she also has great delight in watching our stacked washer/dryer tumble the contents about.

Last weekend she had daddy time when I had to fly up to Fairbanks for work. When I came back she no longer wanted to be cradled as the last part of her bedtime routine. I don't know what changed and why, but I'm still trying to sneak in a song before laying her down in the crib. She doesn't want to be cradled anymore? What's next independent lady?! A trick I came home to tho was flicking the light switches on and off. Good teaching, daddy!

 The ceremonial end of a photo shoot--when the sticker becomes edible. Happens every time.

The evening of Miss A's nine-month date found us briefly on the boat in sunshine.

It's a funny thing for me to consider that she's alive as long as she was in utero. *Amy

Diaper Me!

One evening last week Miss A became fussy early on so I decided to give her an early bath. Once on her changing table she was fine again. So fine that she played with diapers for half an hour. I called Andy into her room and we sat on the bed and watched her.

She didn't care or become distracted that she had an audience. We soaked in the sounds of her nonstop babble and watched her discover surfaces by running a diaper over her wall and into the crack between the changing table & the wall. The fun ended when every single diaper I had lined out was in a pile on the floor (about 15).

It was some of the most fun yet. Watching her play on her own and do new things was a kick. I wish I could show you more, but here's a bit of "Fun with Diapers."

It's A Bird...No, it's an Eagle

The eagle traffic has been heavy and steady this year. Actually, I think it's just that I'm better at spotting them than from my first year in Sitka. As of late I don't see as many as often, but during the winter, spring and most of summer our national bird flew overhead and around our home and island all the time.

It's a normal day to see several of them playing in the wind passes and currents from the mountain behind our house. They can fly by so close I duck for fear of bird crap. Then there's the dead tree not far off the road whenever we drive toward town. Usually I count 3+ hanging in that tree. I can tell their method of sailing over the harder work the ravens exert to cover the same distance. Their golfball heads pop among the trees while we spend time on the boat.

Sometimes they're not so subtle or natural, but downright obvious, like when a juvenile landed in a convenience store parking lot and just starting walk around. Or when I pulled away from the McDonald's drive-thru (I know, I know!) and saw one also doing a close drive-thru (our McD's has an awfully scenic parking lot view).

When an eagle passes overhead and we're sitting on our porch, I'll point and say to Andy, "bird." He doesn't even look up. I say, "hey, you missed a good one of an eagle!" He said, "then, say it's an eagle, not a bird." Although scientific categorizing says I'm technically right, to Andy--and most of us--the eagle is so much more than just a "bird." Their grace, strength and beauty is so romantic/captivating.

We're amateurs with photos and we certainly don't try to take pictures of eagles, but sometimes the moment comes together for us to document just one of our many encounters.

 Photos by our friend, BV, while playing on our camera aboard the Cajun Queen.

 Golfball heads. One above and at least three in the picture below.

 No eagle eye needed to spot the eagle in the picture, below. 

Just like the look of the moon one evening from our yard in early July. :)

*Amy