More Alaska

Ketchikan - Patrick went zip-lining and I say totem poles and a logger show with the berry.

Juneau - Patrick went hiking and I went on a bus tour and to museums. Did you know that the Alaska purchase was signed on the Riggs' desk!?!

British Columbia - I went to high tea at the Empress Hotel and Patrick and Grandpa did Butchart Gardens and Pubs.

My school nurse Cynthia's husband was the pilot on our cruise ship so we got to go onto the bridge and see the glacier with just a few other people. This was awesome!

Overall, a great family vacation. (minus my respiratory infection and the 90 degree weather.)

Out of order - Garden Bounty

When we got home, we did a first 'harvest' of our backyard garden. We had lots of large heirloom tomatoes, but my basil is flowering like crazy and attracting bees. Also, I discovered that japanese eggplant have thorns. Patrick made some sun-dried tomatoes and I made pasta sauce. I think bruschetta and some homemade baby foods are next on the menu!

On the ship

Believe it or not, Alaska was hot. Much hotter than at home! We did not pack well for our vacation because weather.com said 60s, but it was 80-90 degrees everyday! The boat had 12 floors and a packed schedule everyday. 

Some of the things that I loved were: hearing the naturalist, Brent Nixon, talk about sea life each day, the Celebrity dancers, not cleaning or cooking and BINGO! Some of the things Patrick loved were: getting a hot stone massage, naps, walking around the decks with ocean air and NOT WORKING! Emma liked getting held a lot, staring at her cousin and playing in the toddler room.

Vacation - getting there

We went on a cruise to Alaska with Emma and my all of my family. She did great on the flight and overall things were good. The first and last day were seriously long traveling days, but the days in between were fun and busy. 

Some observations: cruises are not relaxing  - the amount of food  and activities are stressful And babies are pretty good traveling companions (except in the evening hours). I got a upper respiratory infection half way through the week and was out of commission for the first time since I recovered from my morning sickness.  

Here are me and the bug in her first plane ride, Patrick getting onto the boat and our girl in our tiny room.

6 Months

Emma is already 6 months old today; it went by so fast and so slow all at the same time! She had her check up and no surprise is still a long, skinny minnie, but in great health. She is ready to eat more solids and (hopefully) start sleeping through the night. Emma can sit up with occasional intervention, roll over and over and Patrick thinks that she waves to him sometimes. Most of her hair has fallen out, but very little has come it to replace it. Still no teeth. We love our perfect, little berry. Here she is helping me fold her diapers, sort of.....

Is the grass greener?

My parents came to visit last weekend. My mom helped me with Emma while I packed for our upcoming vacation. My dad did gardening and helped Patrick pickup our fridge (and some rose plants) from the old house and move it into the new one. I am SOOOO excited about having another freezer. I cleaned it right away and put in my milk and some frozen dinners. I know we are gonna love having extra food space so I can cook ahead for when I go back to work full time :( Boo for me! 

Here is Emma out in the sunshine. She is glad that Daddy planted grass for her yard, but she is not quite sure if she wants to touch it.