Portage etc.

So a month ago we ventured out of Anchorage. Blogger has been giving me major problems, so I am just no able to get the pictures up. We went to see the nearby Portage Glacier. It's about an hour from where we live. You drive right between the coast and the mountains. It's probably one of the most scenic drives in the country. You probably don't remember but in Novemeber I posted a video of the same road and it was all covered in snow as were the mountains. It was very different this time! I took a couple pictures on the way there.

We went to see the glacier as I said. This is the second one we've seen. We saw the Mindenhall in Juneau. This one you go on a short one hour boat ride to see it up close and personal. I keep looking at the pictures and find it hard to believe we actually saw it...it seems like something I'd see on a calendar! The lake it was on was just gorgeous...of course everything is at this time of year. One of my favorite things is seeing the shadows of the clouds on the mountains.

After the glacier we went to a conservation park...which sounds nice but it was actually like a drive through zoo I think. It was kind of crazy because they had the remains of cabins that were destoyed in the '64 earthquake. So we saw more caribou, moose, musk ox, buffalo and bears. And I used my very first outhouse. Not a portapotty...an outhouse. Not much better though.

Uncle David comes to visit

My Uncle David came to visit. All the way up from San Antonio! It was a 13 hour travel day for him! We had such a good visit. And it was really nice having Zach get to know some of his family too because he has a big ol' loving, happy family!

This was the first full day he was here. We went to the Summer Market and Festival. It was basically an excuse to get outside and spend money....which we did! We all got T-shirts that say, "Alaska-Pissing off Texas since 1959." The joke there is that Alaska took the largest state title from Texas when they joined the union. There are a lot of other things that feed the rivalry too. What is really funny is I lived in Texas for 20 years and didn't know that Alaska had so much drama with Texas. Us Texans are better than that! :P

Then we took this picture. Isn't that funny! Chris and David look like they're about to go ice fishin' for the women and children, lol! Zach wasn't too keen on this and that's why you can see his shirt, lol. I am not going to lie to y'all...I've never even had a passing fancy for a fur coat...until I put that thing on. It was mountain sheep fur. And it was possibly one the best feeling pieces of clothing I've ever put on. Sorry. But it is true. And that one was used and it was summer! :)

So David got this for me for my birthday. It is a russian style fur hat made of fox fur. You may be rolling your eyes. But next time I go to a parade when it is in the 20s and snowing (only crazy alaskans)...I'll be nice an toasty. Or at least my head will. I love it! It kinda makes me look like I have a mullet though.

So after the market we went to have lunch with my second cousin Dean and his adorable family Judith, Jaylee and Jared. Jared will be one next month and Jaylee turned three earlier this year.

We are going to have to work on Zach's table manners.

Here is the obligatory Balto statue picture. I think we're going to make all visitors get their picture with our famous dog!

We went to Chili's while David was here because we discovered we both love it! We tried to get a laugh out of Zach by giving him a lime. He ended up liking it...so there were no silly faces. :(

While David was here he insisted that we go out while he stayed with Zach. It was to be our first outing since we've been here, about seven months. Now they will tell you I was all worried but I really wasn't! Although I did ask a couple times if David was sure he had our cell phone number. And then...we go to the movie...and they ask to please silence all phones and I went to turn mine off...guess what? I FORGOT THE FREAKING PHONE. Can you believe that? Other than that it was a really nice time and we owe David one!

Some finale pictures with Uncle David! If you blow the one to the right up you can see Zach's newest tooth, lol. David got sick at the end of his visit and had to fly home that way! Then his flight got delayed and he missed a connection. What a nightmare! But we had a lot of fun and made some precious memories!

Catching up

Hello, all,

I realized it's been a while since I checked out your blog. I'm so sorry Zach was sick - it is horrible when your child is sick and you can't make it better. But, boy, you have been lucky to make it this long! I imagine it has a lot to do with it being winter in Alaska when he was little - he wasn't out enough to get exposed to much.

So what are you going back to school for - and where and when, etc, etc. Are you working on a degree, or proram, or continuing a degree? I didn't realize that was in the works. Will your long leave cause a problem?

Good to catch up. Talk to you later.

Love, Aunt Karen

Ugh

Well there is nothing like a child being sick to make you realize how out of control you are. You think you've got things down and BAM! (we've been lucky though...almost to nine months w/o being sick)

Today after Zach had thrown up each of his three bottles we took him in to the ER. Diagnosis? Stomach bug, something in his stomach (most likely pockets of air?) and a minor ear infection. AND he is cutting a tooth (I figured that one out myself).

All that and he really was an angel...until we got to the hosptial. Beforehand you wouldn't have known he was sick by his behavior....normal as can be! Once we got to the hosptial it was all downhill...he was tired, hungry and being poked/prodded. Basically five hours of screaming baby time!

I think I handled it a lot better than when we had to take him back in for the jaundice...But I think these times really show you what you're made of mommy-wise. Several months ago the doc heard a murmur in Zach's heart. In the office I was all business and getting the information. In the car I was a hot mess. (murmur is gone now...was "innocent") The same today...he had to get x-rays...they put him in this awful contraption that looked like a torture device.

(that's not Zach)

I was crying on the inside...laughing on the outside.

So they gave us meds and pedialite. He seems to be able to handle the pedialite just fine. I can't believe he isn't more hungry! I guess his tummy just doesn't feel right. I also can't believe he isn't fussy. He was fussy in the hospital for good reason...no sleep/poked/etc. But other than that he has been a very good baby.

He's asleep now, poor widdle boy.

That's all folks.

PS: Not much that smells worse than sick baby poo. Chris is walking around with his shirt over his nose. He says we're gonna have to feg Zach's room when he is better. I agree.

It's June!

Well you can tell it was a long day as my make up is UNDER my eyes, lol. But I still like this picture. I love to wrap him up. He feels so good!!!

If you didn't know you'd say my niece Lili taught Zach this look. I think he looks just like her, lol! And look at Smokey. I swear that dog is like a male editorial model in a dog's body.

He's so good he has gone one handed!!! I guess he thought the overalls came with pockets.

He is as mobile as he can possibly be short of crawling...he does 360s on his belly. Every once in a while he finds Smokey's paws. He thinks it is great fun. He touches one, Smokey moves it. He touches another, Smokey moves it. What a fun game!

How rude!

Yeah, so not much in the way of videos/photos this week. We've been busy being busy. Chris is working long shifts and Zach and I have been tackling moving furniture, reorganizing stuff and just general housework.

I think I've gotten pretty good at reusing things/using things until they are REALLY gone. This is a change from the past where I'd go buy new stuff once a week. Now it's like once a month. That doesn't sound like much but I feel like I am so deprived...of shopping that is. Did I ever mention I <3>

I am trying to come up with a rotation of like 20 recipes...I know I've made many more meals than that but I seem to just keep getting stuck on like the same five and then I repeat them until we are sick of them. So I trying to make a list so it isn't so repititious. Either way it probably beats our San Antonio recipe book...BBQ, Fajitas, Hamburgers, BBQ, Fajitas, Hamburgers...from restaurants! Lol.

We finally went to church last weekend. Zach hadn't gotten a chance for his afternoon nap so he was kinda noisy. He wasn't crying the entire time but he was being honery, lol. They had children's church, but only halfway through or so...and not for Zach. I think I am pro-nursery b/c if you have the baby you're really just concentrating on the baby...not the service. We're on the hunt for a new church though. Sigh. That was just round one, haha.

Zach is huge!!!! When we went to church there was a baby there who was his EXACT age (crazy!). This baby was adorable but tiny! I think he has grown out of his carseat too but he isn't supposed to switch until one year. I may have to call in about that one. Zach also needs a haircut. Anyone want to have a go at that?

Today we spent the entire day outside working on the yard/garage. We'll see if any of it pays off, lol. But I will tell you I'll sleep better knowing the garage is more organized. Laugh if you want!!!

Somehow, even though we are thousands of miles away, Zach is still spoiled! It seems like every week I get a package with stuff for him in it. This week he got some cute stuff from his Nana (Chris' mom) including camo shorts. I just got it washed, can't wait to see him in them, lol.

We got a baby sitter for Friday!!! This is the first time we've had one since we moved! I am excited b/c we're going to go see X Men Legends or w/e it's called. AND I am going to eat a meal uninterrupted...well maybe. I am sure there will be like a fire alarm or something, lol!

Chris plans to be home from 9 Oct to 20 Oct or so. We'll be with him. We're hitting Texas solo though b/c he doesn't have enough leave. Too bad for Chris b/c I see fajitas in our future!

That's all there is to report!

I know my videos are boring but short of setting up a one act play I just dunno what else to do, lol. It's just him being him. Take a look at his roll it back w/ his feet move! Also...I always thought I'd hate noisey toys....turns out I <3>