First Vacation to the San Juan Islands

We are home from a successful albeit cold and rainy trip to the San Juans aboard the Rock N Roll. Normally, Myles and I take up our sailboat every summer to the San Juan and Gulf Islands but this year we decided it would be too difficult to do the trip with our 2 1/2 month old daughter. So fortunately my parents were up in the islands all summer and invited us up for a week to stay and cruise aboard their boat.

We started in Anacortes and lugged all of our "baby crap" on the boat. Dad had made extra room for us and our stuff by off loading their golf clubs and bikes. We toured and stayed at Sucia Island, then headed into Canada (Anya's first trip abroad), staying in Otter Bay, then Tumbo Island and finally Poets cove. We came back into the US and stayed in Friday harbor where Myles caught a ferry back to Anacortes a few days earlier then Anya and I. We remained on the boat and went to La Conner and then headed back through the locks into Lake Washington on Friday afternoon.

The weather was rainy off and on and cold usually but we had a few nicer days slipped in too. Anya did very on the boat and got to wear some of her cute hoodies and warmer clothes she hasn't been wearing at home due to the hot weather. The real treat was for her grandparents and dad to spend quality time with her. We relaxed and played watching her discover her hands and start to use them to bat objects around that we hung over her head. She also started drooling a lot and blowing bubbles with her spit- very ladylike! By the end of the trip we left her alone with her grandpa for 1/2 hour and he did fabulously even though he was panicked every time she whimpered or cried. He just wanted to "fix it" and sometimes babies just cry so dad was always relieved when she was happy and cooing in his arms.

She has been sleeping well, but the night Myles left her sleeping went totally awry. She was up all night fussing and grunting and since we were sharing a cabin I heard everything and didn't sleep a wink. After she had proceeded to do the exact same thing a second night in a row we decided to come home a day early and get her back in her regular environment. At least at home I can stick her in her room and let her fuss instead of having her right next to my head. Thankfully upon our return she has easily slipped back into her sleeping patterns that allows me (and her) to get some good rest.

Just in the last few days her coos and smiles have been accompanied with some giggles. It is absolutely adorable. She grins her huge toothless gummy grin and giggles at you.... nothing is funnier or more sweet.

Two months and counting

Today Anya is 9 weeks old. These first two months have flown by (so has our summer!)

We went to the doctor today and she had her two month checkup complete with vaccinations. Watching her get poked and then her face turned bright red in pain was just about as much as I could stomach. That has got to be one of the toughest things to watch ever. She is on Tylenol tonight and is much fussier then our normal sweet baby. I guess this is a little taste of what life would be like if she was a cholicy or fussy baby normally. Usually when she cries there is a definite reason and Myles or I can easily take care to relieve the source of her frustration. Tonight it's just fussy cries- poor girl.

Here are her latest stats

weight 10 lbs 5 oz 48%
length 22 1/4 inches 50%
head 15 inches 45%

So yes, sadly she has fallen from 75% in length to 50%. Looks like she will be more in line with her Mom and Dad in the height department!

Developmentally she is doing very well. The Dr commented on her affinity for standing. YES she stands with assistance of course and has been doing this since she was a newborn. The Dr suggested we buy a jumper for her soon since she loves to stand erect so much. Her head control is very good now and she has almost rolled all the way over. She gets very close and is drooling and concentrating so hard it is only a matter of days before she gets all the way over. I'm not quite sure what she will do once she does finally flip though because she isn't that fond of tummy time. We shall see.......

Last week was HOT. We survived by trips to the mall and even hanging out at a friends house with AC on Wednesday. Breastfeeding in a 90 degree house is miserable for both mom and baby. We are VERY happy the cooler weather has returned.

I continued to teach my cycle class for two days last week and Diane Sweeney came to our house and watched Anya while I taught. It was so nice to have her around and Anya absolutely adores her. On Thursday we went out to lunch and Anya was being a little fussy in her carseat so we took her out and let her lounge on the booth bench. So funny!

This Friday Myles, Anya and I are leaving to meet my parents on the Rock N Roll ( boat) up at Anacortes. We will be travelling throughout the San Juans and possibly Gulf Islands next week. We are all very excited. I think the grandparents are just as excited to spend some time with their granddaughter- finally!

For our sailboat and our trip aboard my parents boat we purchased an infant life jacket for Anya. They fit babies from 0-30 lbs! So the pictures say it all- it is mammoth on her but it is worth it for the extra protection on board.

I have added a quick video just to see if it works. Nothing special but I will be taking more if this works.