Herring Eggs & Brown Bears

Life in Sitka is returning to normal, well as normal as it can be with Phineas. One of the things that is "normal" this time of year in Sitka is collecting from the beach herring eggs on seaweed.  The eggs and seaweed are full of nutrients which Sitkans use to fertilize garden soil.  Since we are trying to get our garden going we went to the beach next to the Starigavan boat launch with a bunch of buckets to do some collecting.  We kept Phineas close by as he sleept in his car seat "bucket" on top of another bucket.  We finished around 8:00 P.M.

Val collecting herring eggs on seaweed.

Brown bears are another normal thing in Sitka.  The police blotter in tonight's Sitka newspaper says:

"At 9:11 P.M.  a resident reported a bear sow and two cubs in a yard in the 5300 block of Halibut Point Road.  Later the bears were reported near the Starigavan boat launch."

Looks like last night we missed seeing our first bears of 2010 by an hour or two.  I have mixed feelings about this.  Part of me sees that it is risky to take our new son anywhere bears may be wandering around.  However, living involves some risk-right?  I compare risk of being mauled or eaten by brown bears on the beach  to the everyday risks others take such as being crushed in a car accident on a freeway.  I haven't crunched the numbers but I am pretty confident that beaches (even beaches with bears) are safer than highways.  A big part of me wishes that we could have seen the bears last night.  To better our odds though next time we will bring bear spray. 

Have boobs will travel.

Since our last posting, little Phineas has grown bigger and continued his adventures.

Phineas poses in his tie dye onesie in front of the Golden Gate Bridge

After spending half of his life in sunny Arizona, it was time to move back up North.  We hopped a flight to San Francisco, where we spent a beautiful spring weekend.  Highlights included seeing Audrey radiating beauty, joy, and love on her wedding day; introducing Phin to good friends; and exploring a big city.   We navigated all sorts of public transportation. Phineas took his first "choo choo ride" on the BART, his first bus ride on the Muni, and his first cable car ride.  We doubt that he will remember any of these firsts. The weather was perfect.  We wandered through various neighborhoods, Golden Gate Park, and the waterfront area.

In all of these travels, we've become quite appreciative of the convenience of breastfeeding.  "Have boobs, will travel" has become a slogan (thanks Jodie!).  Brent and I undertook an exercise of thinking of all of the public places where Phineas has nursed.  I have no interest in hiding in bathroom stalls to feed Phinny, so that means I've had to get comfortable nursing him wherever we may be when he gets hungry.  It makes me proud to know that I've gotten out of the house and been fairly active with this little guy during these first two months.  I have pretty strong feelings about the importance of breastfeeding, and how our culture should embrace it.  I believe that the more people see women nursing their babies at the mall, at parks, and even on the bus if necessary- the less "weird" it will be, and the more women will be encouraged to do the same.  So, for the sake of encouraging more mommies out there to get out of the house, bring baby along, and nurse the little ones in public- here's the list:

Alaska Airlines flights to Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Sitka; Sitka Airport; Sea Tac airport (two or three times); Paradise Valley Mall,  Fashion Square Mall,  Kierland Commons Mall,  The Promenade shopping area, Cubs spring training ballpark, Arizona Diamondbacks major league ballpark, Vincent's Market restaurant,  Crissy Field park, Snack shop at Crissy Field, corner Italian restaurant in Union square,  bakery & coffee Shop in Union square,  New Dehli Indian restaurant (and Audrey's wedding), Irish Pub in Union square,  Golden Gate Park, The Larkspur restaurant in Sitka; The Back Door coffee shop, and Totem Park National Historic Site.
Of note, dirty diapers were changed in all of these places (and more!).

While on the subject of breastmilk... special thanks go out to our "Milk Sponsor" and our "Milk Shepherd" who helped facilitate the transport of 35 bags of frozen breastmilk via FedEx from Scottsdale to Anchorage.  We'll retrieve them there, and fly them back to Sitka on ice.  I'm learning why it's called "liquid gold".

Enjoy these photos!

The lovely bride with friends

Forget the crib!  I like this thread count! (Doesn't he look like he's dancing a little jig.)

See much resemblance?

Phin ends the night tuckered out in sweats and a toga. What a party animal!

Raising Arizona

We bring you this update on the Sitka Edwards Family from Scottsdale, Arizona.  With Brent's parents snowbirding down in the sun belt, we decided to join them for a month of my maternity leave.  What a stroke of genius that was!  We're producing our annual supply of vitamin D in the sunshine and enjoying the climate contrast from our hometown rainforest.   But of course, the very best part has been getting to share our little guy with our families.

Phineas has gotten to be held, rocked, walked, put to sleep, played with, and adored by both sets of his grandparents (the Prendergast set drove all the way here from Illinois to spend a week oohing and ahhing over their first grand baby!), his cousins, and his Aunt Nicole.  

With so many other people taking care of little Phin, mom and dad have snuck out for some time on their own.  Brent and I have found an outdoor pool and fitness center, and are spending time every morning swimming laps in the sunshine. 

Other Arizona adventures have included Phineas's first Cubs game (we're teaching him to cope with disappointment from a young age), his first hike, and best of all- his first real smile.   Our little guy is growing so quickly!  It seems like every day I look at him he seems to have grown overnight.  We are enjoying every single moment with him, and trying not to take anything for granted.  We are more fortunate than we could have ever wished.

The Grandpas getting to know their grandson

Aunt Nicole with cousins Hailey, Jacob, and Nick

Proud Grammy Smile!

Phin's first hike. Sqaw Peak, 6am, just the guys.

Phineas doing his best impression of his late Great Grandpa Joe Klansek. Looking good in his Easter best. What a handsome guy!

Getting out the door on Easter Sunday.  Gone are the days of traveling light.  Welcome to parenthood...