This vacation has been off to an interesting start... not exactly the relaxation I had imagined in my mind for the past however many months. I suppose we are only three days in, but it has been a long three days. We were scheduled to leave Anchorage at 11:25pm on Thursday... We went along with Henry's normal routine, put him to bed at 7, and he slept perfectly. We were able to put him in the car, I walked him through the airport, security, etc. without waking him up. He woke up while we were at the gate waiting for the flight but he was perfectly happy despite it being after 10:00. As we took off, he drifted off to sleep, and that started the fun for us. The poor boy was so tired and trying his best to stay asleep,but no matter what I tried he couldn't get comfortable. We were stuffed in the window seat of the very back row, so no matter what position, his little head would be touching the wall. The seat cushion kept slipping out from under us, and all in all it was just plain uncomfortable. I ended up just staying awake all night holding him upright on my shoulder, but that didn't make for the best sleep. With time changes and layovers, he ended up being awake in the airport for three hours in the middle of the night. Once we got here his stuffy cold came back in full, vicious swing, and his little fever started. And it lasted. He slept horribly again, so I sat awake for another night trying to help him sleep. That's two nights of bad sleep for baby, and forty eight hours of pretty much no sleep for mama. The fever continued and he could barely breathe so yesterday we went to urgent care and it turns out he had a little ear infection in one side. After antibiotics and finally sleeping last night, he woke up like the Henry I know. It's hard to take it slow on vacation though, with so many people and activities, so I think the poor babe still has some healing to do. But he was so much better today and that makes a mama's heart happy. It is beyond difficult to care for a little baby who isn't feeling well, it just breaks the heart a bit. My sister helped me to keep my calm and not be such a worrier, but that doesn't mean I didn't still take his temperature about 2382734 times.

On the plane before things got rough.

Playing during our layover, 4am.

On a walk, exhausted but trying to feel better

A snooze

Past bedtime in the most stimulating restaurant ever.

The blurriest iphone photos to date... I have no clue why, free pass since I've been focusing on a sick babe? :) I  promise I'll have better posts and real pictures soon. A few days later, update is H is MUCH better. Oh how I love a healthy, happy babe!

Fall is in the air

But only until tomorrow!

There is a very noticable chill in the air all of a sudden... The windows have been open for months and it's finally starting to get kind of nippy in the night. Summer has essentially ended in Alaska, and I'm sure by the time I get back from the midwest fall will be in full swing. But tomorrow we leave for a visit home, and then a family vacation where summer is still hanging on. I'm sure the cooler temps of the 80's make it feel like summer is ending for everyone there too, but temperatures like that are sure to leave baby H and me sweating upon arrival. I love no season more than fall. I love fleece weather, cool air.  But I do not feel ready to face another Alaskan winter just yet. I'm chomping at the bit to feel some heat and the sun on my skin, dip Henry's toes in an outdoor pool. The days will be warm and the nights cooler, and when we come back I'm sure I'll be more than ready to embrace the chill. There's no doubt that it feels so good at night, but I'm not quite ready to let go of the summer days.  I had the brilliant idea to not pack a single thing until tonight, so I'm scurrying a bit trying to get ready.  I'll try very hard to update while I'm gone, so check back! 

New Adventures

Henry went swimming for the first time today.  The boy loves his bath time, but I had visions of his skin hitting the cooler water and throwing a bit of a fit at first.  Luckily, that wasn't the case at all, the boy is a fish!  We went with friends to the "riverwalk" at an indoor water park.  Early in the morning for a few hours that is the only part of the park that is open, so it was quiet, with just a few other people getting their morning exercise in the swift little river.  We walked a few laps, slowly going deeper... so far so good.  Henry seemed content.  Then we put the babes in little infant tubes and he was smiley while we floated along.  I was chatting with my friend as we pushed their tubes from behind, and after a bit when we looked at the little peanut's face... the eyes were closed.  Apparently the water was relaxing enough for a morning nap which everyone passing by got a kick out of.  When he was awake, he was thrilled to still be floating along in the water, and we hopped on a large tube together and enjoyed the rest of the ride.  He loved looking over the tube, giggling. All in all, a successful adventure and I think it will be a regular activity for us from here on out.

There are other adventures on the horizon for us-- H and I leave on Thursday night to head home to the midwest! We are going to be in Iowa for a week visiting family and friends, and then we'll head off to Wisconsin for a week of vacation with my mom, sisters and all the kiddos as well. I am so excited and ready for this trip!  Sorry I've been quiet lately... I cannot seem to get organized with all of the change that has been in the air.  I feel constantly behind on things that need to get done, and therefore struggle to accomplish things I want to. If you are a member of pinterest, find me there because in sporadic moments of free time I have been loving to spend time there, gathering ideas and inspiration... day dreaming...
Happy Monday, all of you.
-V 

Something to Share

Tonight has been one of those nights where the little bebe is in bed and I have time to sit and be.  Who's to know on any given night what I'll decide to do with that time, I feel like it's rare when I really have the time to myself.  Well tonight, I got more lost in blogs and photos and pinterest than I've ever been, and I have loved every moment of it.  I listened to no sounds other than music of my choice. I painted my nails too, but that reminds me of another post soon to come... Before I stay up past midnight when I know there will be a hungry sweetheart waking me up before long, I want to share something I found from a blog I stumbled upon.  I love that aspect of the blogging world, each one leads to so many others and in them you can find things you never knew you wanted to find or needed to see. I hope that somewhere along the way here I can share things with you that you enjoy.

I realize that some of the points below are a bit cheesy... but there are also many that are true. Many that I'm working on. Many that I need reminders of.

Happy Weekend!

-V

Health:

1.Drink plenty of water.

2.Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3.Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4.Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5.Play more games.

6.Read more books than you did in 2010.

7.Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

8.Sleep for 7 hours.

9.Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1.Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

2.Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

3.Don’t over do. Keep your limits.

4.Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5.Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

6.Dream more while you are awake.

7.Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

8.Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

9.Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

10.Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

11.No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

12.Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

13.Smile and laugh more.

14.You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

1.Call your family often.

2.Each day give something good to others.

3.Forgive everyone for everything.

4.Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

5.Try to make at least three people smile each day.

6.What other people think of you is none of your business.

7.Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1.Do the right thing!

2.Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

3.However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

4.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

5.The best is yet to come.

6.Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Guest Post!

Happy Thursday All!
Today I am lucky enough to be sharing a post about one of my very favorite things- BREASTFEEDING at the lovely blog Milk-Friendly! I stumbled upon the blog a while back and have loved visiting it ever since.  Maryam blogs about nursing-friendly style, and other fun things. You should absolutely stop by and visit! There will be other guest posts over there while she is out of town with her family, so it's a great opportunity to find other bloggers!
Thanks so much, Maryam!
-V

The End of a Very Good Thing

My Sweet Boy,

Tomorrow morning I'll be dropping you off at a new house, with new people, new routines, and heading to work without you.  Every day for over a year you've come to work with me.  For 9 months I carried you there every day, and for some of those months I felt you there with me.  Four weeks after giving birth to you I carried you back into that office, in my arms, wore you against my chest, and continued to work that way up to today.  Having you with me has made going back to work doable for me, but knowing you won't be there anymore is truly frightening.  We have had such a hard time trying to decide who would take care of you while I go to work... I think we've found someone who will make you feel comfy, will provide you with all that you need while I'm away.  We have been able to arrange our schedules so that you only have to be away from us for three half-days a week, and although it sounds silly to be so upset over so few hours apart, I am. I miss you already and I'm already wondering what you'll be doing, if you'll be smiling and having fun, if you'll be frightened and confused... These thoughts are hard for a Mama to have because frightened and confused are the last things I want you to feel, and it's difficult not knowing exactly what you are capable of thinking about at four months old.  I hope tomorrow you're your happy self, and I hope we've allowed you to be secure enough to know that we will always come for you.

Excited to pick you up already...

Love, Mama.

Henry's first time at work, the day he was born. 

First day back after maternity leave

Blurry phone shot of H in an office meeting.

With the other office baby

Play gym under the front desk

Everyone loves his cuddles at work

A little break outside the office.

Sorry for all of the blurry iPhone photos. 

Outside

We've been spending the last few weekends outside and out of Anchorage which has been such a breath of fresh air.  I get so stir crazy in the same routine right here in town.  I crave even just a drive alongside the water with the mountains surrounding us. And that is exactly what I've gotten 3 weekends in a row. Taking the drives has helped with Henry's carseat protests as well, although sometimes it involves me sitting back there pulling out every single entertaining trick in my book.  Oh well, at least we aren't serenaded with screams for hours on end!

When we got back from our trip last weekend, H got another cold.  He's gotten more than I imagined he would being exclusively breastfed and only 4 months old.  For the most part, he handles them like a little champ and they don't put a damper on his big smile and sweet mood.  This particular cold seems to have gotten him, but I also think that he just switched over into "big baby" the minute he turned four months.  I swear, although he's still just a little guy, he suddenly acts older.  Not newborn at all.  He is reaching for food and anything in his reach, every single thing goes straight to the mouth.  He doesn't like having his nose wiped or his face washed or anything relating to it and he'll arch and kick to ensure none of that happens.  He has some pretty strong opinions now... my babe is growing so quickly. I'll let photos do most of the explaining of what our last few weeks have looked like. Hope you're all doing well!

Hiking around Eklutna Lake

Our campsite at the Upper Kenai Lake

On the spit in Homer

Gardens in Palmer

Cabbage Patch Kid

                            

And We're Back!

Sorry for the break, friends! It's been a busy week, and as of today... our computer has been fixed! You have no clue how this thrills me. I have to get organized, and then you'll be hearing a lot more out of this little blog of ours! I have adventures and photos to share with you.  For now, a sweet picture of our big 4 month old!