Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Seasons..Dec 2008
I am thirty years old and expecting our fourth child in less than 2 months. Rob and I purchased our first home at 10,000 Nantucket Circle in Anchorage two years ago but we do not plan to be here much longer. Opportunities are presenting themselves closer to family and the warm land we crave. To my surprise, it will be a typical departure, happy to go, however, sad to leave.
It is a surprise because at first, I was angry with Alaska, couldn’t wait to leave. But, one year into our stay, Angela was born and changed everything. After her birth, I fell in love with Alaska’s bold majesty. Could this be the same country I found intolerable? Was this the same landscape that made me feel so isolated? My greatest gift from Angela, the truth of life and death, altered my perspective and gave me new eyes.
The Great Land continues to intimidate me, but now my eyes see comfort in its nature and I not only respect its strength but stand in awe of its absolute beauty. I am in love.
The Summer landscape offers consoling delight. Bright green leaves grow abundantly along common town roads. Pines, Birch, Aspen and undergrowth cover the mountains with life below the tree line, and above, small patches of life, only inches high, grow on. Glaciers patiently smooth the land beneath them as they extend towards the sea. Salmon return, every year, following something within that calls them home. Families take pleasure in the traditional dip netting trips where those old enough stand side by side in the water, pulling in their filled nets, while those too young, play on the beach.
In Fall, delicious berries ripen and both man and beast enjoy the harvest; the mountains change from green to yellow, and above tree line the ground cover changes the upper climes to a soothing mix of reds and rusty orange.
To my greatest surprise, I no longer despise the Alaska winter but marvel, instead, at its startling beauty. We haven’t climbed above zero degrees in weeks. The long past snow storms left piles of white and weighed heavy on tree limbs. Even the smallest branches were long frosted over by a beautiful, thick white icing. My first set of eyes would despise the apparent death of it all but, my new eyes see differently. This is a true Winter Wonderland. Despite the Arctic cold, plants and trees in Alaska endure and they return each spring in vivid splendor. Despite its harshness, or perhaps because of such severity, Alaska is alive, and so am I.
My former self would be upset to know that Alaska holds such an influence upon me but I am thankful. Alaska’s vigor strengthens my own I stand more willing to bear with patience the winters ahead. In spite of Death and Darkness, Life and Light go on and so do I.
It is a surprise because at first, I was angry with Alaska, couldn’t wait to leave. But, one year into our stay, Angela was born and changed everything. After her birth, I fell in love with Alaska’s bold majesty. Could this be the same country I found intolerable? Was this the same landscape that made me feel so isolated? My greatest gift from Angela, the truth of life and death, altered my perspective and gave me new eyes.
The Great Land continues to intimidate me, but now my eyes see comfort in its nature and I not only respect its strength but stand in awe of its absolute beauty. I am in love.
The Summer landscape offers consoling delight. Bright green leaves grow abundantly along common town roads. Pines, Birch, Aspen and undergrowth cover the mountains with life below the tree line, and above, small patches of life, only inches high, grow on. Glaciers patiently smooth the land beneath them as they extend towards the sea. Salmon return, every year, following something within that calls them home. Families take pleasure in the traditional dip netting trips where those old enough stand side by side in the water, pulling in their filled nets, while those too young, play on the beach.
In Fall, delicious berries ripen and both man and beast enjoy the harvest; the mountains change from green to yellow, and above tree line the ground cover changes the upper climes to a soothing mix of reds and rusty orange.
To my greatest surprise, I no longer despise the Alaska winter but marvel, instead, at its startling beauty. We haven’t climbed above zero degrees in weeks. The long past snow storms left piles of white and weighed heavy on tree limbs. Even the smallest branches were long frosted over by a beautiful, thick white icing. My first set of eyes would despise the apparent death of it all but, my new eyes see differently. This is a true Winter Wonderland. Despite the Arctic cold, plants and trees in Alaska endure and they return each spring in vivid splendor. Despite its harshness, or perhaps because of such severity, Alaska is alive, and so am I.
My former self would be upset to know that Alaska holds such an influence upon me but I am thankful. Alaska’s vigor strengthens my own I stand more willing to bear with patience the winters ahead. In spite of Death and Darkness, Life and Light go on and so do I.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Baby, Baby
Corinne is a sweet baby. She is smiling a lot this week, whereas before it was still a little random. We love her. This morning at breakfast she gave the girls big smiles. You should have seen how happy it made them! I love her cry and its variations too. When she starts it's like she's trying to sing with the soft jumps between tones. (I try not to let it go on too long but when it does she has a great bravado!)Goodbye Winter
Today when Susanna went off to school, she was not wearing all of her usual gear. Wow. 40 degrees outside and it's spring! Yay! I have to say, I really enjoyed this winter. One first we experienced was taking the girls ice skating, the babe (in tummy or in arms) and I watched from the sidelines. It is awesome to watch the girls half slide, half walk across a frozen lake. Better yet, it's free!! Just have to have some good ice skates. There are a few options to ice skate in Anchorage to do this, Potter's Marsh, Cuddy Family Park near the Loussac Public Library as well as Westchester lagoon (pictured below on a beautiful March afternoon), and more! Susanna's kindergarten class took a field trip to Jewel Lake, in town, to go ice fishing with the Dept of Fish and Game. (This is the same class that went to Campbell Creek, still in town, to see salmon spawn and then harvest salmon eggs to take back to the classroom to raise through the year!) We will miss this.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mount Redoubt
Our neighbor, Susan, works for Chevron which has a plant at Drift River near the volcano. She shared some photos with us. Oddly, we were looking at them Sunday night, just hours before the first eruption. The ash did not come to Anchorage but we could see it hovering below Sleeping Lady across the Cook Inlet.
UPDATE-APR 15
On March 28 just after Rob came home from work ash started falling, we could see it on the snow, small little gray specks. It was enough to cover the snow, roof, and decks but that was it, only a dusting. Still, to protect the wee ones, we took all precautions to keep the ash out, taping up the sides of windows and doors, etc. Church meetings were cancelled. Rob still had to work that day at the hospital but the girls and I had a nice Sunday at home. I wondered when I would dare go out with little Corinne and my asthma prone girls. On Monday I was relieved to see that it had snowed quite a bit, covering the ash, and freeing me from my home! We also wondered how it would work trying to sell our home during this time but, so far so good!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Corinne Boyle
She's here! She was born on Wednesday February 18, at 1420 at the Elmendorf AFB hospital. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 oz., 20 1/2 in., and all love. Corinne is beautiful and we're all enamoured, especially her sisters.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Eruptions and Inductions
Susanna and Lucy are all excited about the recent developments with Redoubt, a volcano about 100 miles away from Anchorage.
Susanna came home from school and told us that they are covering the computers with plastic every night. She also carries a face mask everyday to school in her backpack.
Lucy just told me, "If the lava gets on you and you die, then you have to go to a dentist appointment." Also, "If you get hurt, the policeman will climb up the mountain and carry and carry and bring you to the hospital."
The doctor is planning to induce me on my 39 week mark (Feb 18), if the volcano goes it will make this birthing thing a bit more interesting. I haven't ever considered having a child at home....yikes!
Here is a link to the latest updates on Redoubt
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/
Susanna came home from school and told us that they are covering the computers with plastic every night. She also carries a face mask everyday to school in her backpack.
Lucy just told me, "If the lava gets on you and you die, then you have to go to a dentist appointment." Also, "If you get hurt, the policeman will climb up the mountain and carry and carry and bring you to the hospital."
The doctor is planning to induce me on my 39 week mark (Feb 18), if the volcano goes it will make this birthing thing a bit more interesting. I haven't ever considered having a child at home....yikes!
Here is a link to the latest updates on Redoubt
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Countdown to BABY
So, we haven't been keeping exact track of the days until my due date, but here it is! I have 8 weeks to go! We are totally excited. We didn't confirm the gender of the baby with the ultrasound but, look forward to having Christmas in February. We think it's a boy, though we're not much prepared for one.
It has been a rougher pregnancy but, overall, it has been pretty good. I am thankful for answered prayers and peaceful assurances.
I am carrying lower, Rob and I had a good laugh last night at how much my belly looks like a big ball. With all of the girls I carried up near my rib cage, with this one I am really low. This has been nice for the breathing aspect, although the regular tightenings and heart flutters with this fourth pregnancy get my body going too.
This baby is a mover and a kicker! In December I had my first experience with being "sea sick", he is really mobile and one day caught me at a moment when I was nauseous and it was no fun. Donna, one of my faithful Visiting Teachers, noted that the moving talent of this one is likely a blessing, he moves pretty faithfully for me. I can be thankful for that.
Angela's stillbirth at the native hospital was surrounded by great, sensitive people, making it a precious memory. I didn't want anything with this pregnancy to change that. Our previous doctor had a baby 9 months after Angela and was no longer doing the OB portion of practice. So, I decided to change. Our plan is to deliver at the base hospital across town.
Susanna and Lucy love the baby and I realized as my belly grew, that not only was my belly no longer my own on the inside but, on the outside as well. They hug and talk to the baby during the day and at bedtime. Tonight, Lucy said, "Baby, you are an egg, and soon you are going to hatch!" Susanna always asks what the baby is doing, sleeping or awake. Both of them enjoy feeling the baby move and giving zerberts.
I've been holding other babies lately and I know I am totally out of the baby season as a mother. We have been out of the diaper phase for over a year, little pieces and toys abound in the toy room thanks to a love for Polly Pockets, and no one takes naps except for mom these days. It is going to be an interesting adjustment, although one I welcome willingly. Seeing Rob hold a baby last weekend made me even more excited. He is excited too. I think we have been more apt to visualize this one, for me, it was staring at them laying on my bed flopping their arms and legs around and for Rob it was picking them out of the crib to bring to me at night.
It has been a rougher pregnancy but, overall, it has been pretty good. I am thankful for answered prayers and peaceful assurances.
I am carrying lower, Rob and I had a good laugh last night at how much my belly looks like a big ball. With all of the girls I carried up near my rib cage, with this one I am really low. This has been nice for the breathing aspect, although the regular tightenings and heart flutters with this fourth pregnancy get my body going too.
This baby is a mover and a kicker! In December I had my first experience with being "sea sick", he is really mobile and one day caught me at a moment when I was nauseous and it was no fun. Donna, one of my faithful Visiting Teachers, noted that the moving talent of this one is likely a blessing, he moves pretty faithfully for me. I can be thankful for that.
Angela's stillbirth at the native hospital was surrounded by great, sensitive people, making it a precious memory. I didn't want anything with this pregnancy to change that. Our previous doctor had a baby 9 months after Angela and was no longer doing the OB portion of practice. So, I decided to change. Our plan is to deliver at the base hospital across town.
Susanna and Lucy love the baby and I realized as my belly grew, that not only was my belly no longer my own on the inside but, on the outside as well. They hug and talk to the baby during the day and at bedtime. Tonight, Lucy said, "Baby, you are an egg, and soon you are going to hatch!" Susanna always asks what the baby is doing, sleeping or awake. Both of them enjoy feeling the baby move and giving zerberts.
I've been holding other babies lately and I know I am totally out of the baby season as a mother. We have been out of the diaper phase for over a year, little pieces and toys abound in the toy room thanks to a love for Polly Pockets, and no one takes naps except for mom these days. It is going to be an interesting adjustment, although one I welcome willingly. Seeing Rob hold a baby last weekend made me even more excited. He is excited too. I think we have been more apt to visualize this one, for me, it was staring at them laying on my bed flopping their arms and legs around and for Rob it was picking them out of the crib to bring to me at night.
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