A Day in the Life of Zach

I am still getting up everything from the family visit but I wanted to get this video up for y'all to see. Just five minutes of Zach's typical day! =D

Balto

I've been catching up on your pictures. As usual, they are great!

But what happened to Zach - he looks like a 2-year old? He's not even 1 yet! Good grief - Alaska must grow 'em fast!

Karen

Eagle River!

On our first outting we went for something easy...Eagle River! Eagle River is a town in the mountains about ten miles from our house that's basically made up of military retirees and active duty. This was Michelle's birthday...so we took her to eat Mexican food, which is her favorite. Yes, they came from Texas to Alaska and the first thing they ate was Mexican. But it was good. Zach also enjoyed his first salsa! If you drive and drive up through the mountains you get to the nature center. That's where we went next. Then we got some ice cream from McD'sFinally Finally, we did some shopping where Mom spoiled the crap out of me and Zach.

Happy Birthday Michelle!

He is his mother's son! Loved the salsa! (don't worry it wasn't spicy!)

The Eagle River Nature Center basically has three scenic hikes you can do. One is only one mile, another is like seven miles and the last is 26 miles. Guess which one we did? :) I plan to go back and do the others though, eventually. Anyone want to babysit for a couple of nights for the big one?

Unfortunately the entire time they were here it was hazy like this due to the dozens of forest fires going on in the mountains. It really took away from the view. But it was still nice!

After all that hard work we went to get some ice cream! Zach is looking out the window at his Grandma here.

When we got home Zach played with the toys Grandma bought him!

Zach's First Haircut!

Ok so I have a huge folder of pictures to go through from when my Mom, Aunt Kelly and Aunt Michelle came to visit. I have to break them up! I'd like to start with his first haircut. I know it's silly but I wasn't really emotional until afterward...for days after I would look at him with his new haircut and it seemed so strange to me...he made the transition from baby to little boy. *cry* Anyway these pictures are from the day he got his haircut.

We all got our "before" shots. As you can see he REALLY needed a haircut. I could BARELY wait until Mom got here to do it!

The place we went was called Haircuts for Peanuts. They were great. The lady saved his hair in an envelope for me and gave me a certificate! These people know us moms well!

All done! What a handsome boy!

Of course we got it on video!

After the haircut we went to the market to pick up a few things. Now everyone got their "after" shots, lol.

We did the fur photos. I've decided if people visit me in the summer they are required to do this. Come in the winter if you don't like it! =D I was cracking up SO hard while we did this. Kelly's jacket was barely wearable...you can't tell but it was like patches of fur barely taped together or something, it was soooo funny. And on the other side I am pretty sure they gave Chris a woman's coat. OMG it was hilarious!

We did some other obligatory Anchorage pictures...with Balto...and the bear/fish...it's good luck to rub his belly!

Father's Day Flattop Hike

Yes I know Father's day was a month ago but Blogger hates me so I have just now been able to get these up. First we had a deluxe breakfast and gave Chris some gifts. Then we headed off to hike!

We hiked up to the (almost) top of a mountain right outside of Anchorage. It was great exercise....but it was also a little scary! You're going straight UP a mountain! Zach was in a backpack we borrowed from our generous neighbors. It was our first hike together and we learned a LOT of things...1) less is more...2) need better shoes 3) be prepared for unpredictable weather 4) Alaskans have a skewed idea of "easy"...there is a lot more...but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

We started out with Zach on my back. There were too many things working against me to continue...blonde, tennis shoes, clumsy, hair to pull...you get the idea!

So we switched. Zach crid a bit off and on...the weather didn't help. We conducted two feedings and two diaper changes on this hike.

This is a picture taken within the first ten minutes. You can see Anchorage and the coast right off the bat.

What a goon! Check out the facial hair Chris grew in a couple days.

Can you see the rainbow that we were ABOVE? How cool is that?!

Now these pictures were taken at about 3500 feet. That's about how tall the mountain is. You only climb UP 1200 feet though because you drive a bunch of it. Listen to me...ONLY 1200 feet...that was no picnic...but I SURE slept well that night!

This was basically the farthest we got up. About 50 feet from the top. There were a lot of things working against us. Weather, fussy baby, scared Mommy...you get the drift.

There were no pictures where you COULDN'T tell Chris had a mouthful of sunflower seeds. I have to confess though, they do assist with the hike. Come visit me in Alaska and go hiking, I'll show you what I mean.