Sadie's First Trip!

When we found out Brian would be getting the week between Christmas and New Years off, we decided it would be a great time to take the trip up to Alaska to visit Brian's family. I haven't ever been up there since we started dating, and he hasn't been in several years. We made arrangements with Brian's parents...and our tickets were booked. Gulp. A three and a half hour plane ride with a two month old. I was anxious about it!

 But of course, Sadie was a champion. She didn't make a peep the whole way up. She slept for about half the flight and then looked around, grinned at the flight attendants, and ate a bit. Big relief!

We stayed at Brian's aunt and uncle's house, and had the whole basement to ourselves...which was really nice. I was nervous about staying with other people with a newborn...not knowing how she would handle the new environment....and especially how she would sleep.

I don't remember the order of events of the days...but we met up with Brian's sister and three nieces at the mall- did some wandering and visiting. Then had a fantastic steak, crab, salmon dinner back at the house. We had brunch in a small little bar known for their eggs benedict, then back to the house to watch football. Christie, Aaron, and the girls came over to hang with us, while the 'adults' went out

to a nice restaurant. We went out to a park for some sledding- Sadie was bundled up, but didn't really like the cold much, so we mostly hung out in the chalet, watching everyone else sled. We went over to a cousin's for a big holiday get together...they had fresh caught king crab that was SO BIG. The pieces of meat that were on my plate were like the size of a steak. I have never eaten crab that was so little work! We had another meal out at a pizza and beer place that was pretty fun. Lots of running around- and again, Sadie did awesome. I think the hardest part was for me, and figuring out when/where to nurse her and/or pump.

Sadly, it never snowed while we were there. There was a little snow on the ground, but it was actually colder in Seattle some of the time than it was up there. I guess that just means we will have to go another time!

A little joke we had going the whole trip- I informed them that I don't believe in real moose. I think they are just an animal of cartoons. And everyone tried to convince me that they are real...they had seen them IN THEIR BACKYARD (a likely story...I'm sure people see Bigfoot in their backyard all the time). So everyone was on constant look out for a moose. Unfortunately (or expectantly), we never saw one. But when we were at the airport on our way home, this fellow was hanging out. I love Sadie checking out the moose and then her expression!

 I'm so glad we were able to go this year...it's a trip I have been hoping we would be able to do for quite a while. Also such a relief that Sadie was a stellar traveler (I know, I know...this is the best time to take a baby on a trip because they aren't mobile yet...but still)....

Christmas!

Christmas came too fast this year. I know everyone felt like that a little bit, because Thanksgiving was so late this year...but I felt like I almost totally missed it. I never got a peppermint mocha (apparently peppermint isn't good while nursing). I hardly even listened to Christmas music. We didn't do any decorating until the 23rd when we finally got a Christmas tree- which I do love, and we plan to keep up for another week. We don't have stockings, because I am feeling picky about what kind of stocking to get Sadie (since it will be with her forever!)...every one that I see at other houses that I really like are homemade...and I don't have that kind of crafting skill. BUT, seeing as I have a whole year until we need them, maybe I will figure out how to make one. I did look on Etsy, but the ones I liked were too expensive. We were terrible about Christmas presents/shopping this year. I figure we have an excuse this one year with a brand new baby, so I don't feel so bad (but still a little). 

Brian had to work Christmas Eve, but was able to leave work a bit early. Sadie and I picked him up at work and we headed down to my Grandma Karen's to spend a few hours with my dad's side of the family. There are soooo many people there now- so many kiddos! When I was little, there were a lot of kids...and then we had a few years where numbers went down and there weren't really any kids around. Christmas is a little dull without kids. And then suddenly my cousins and siblings started having kids, and the house is back full of laughs...chaos, but the best kind. We only had time to visit for a bit- we couldn't stay for presents or dinner. Then we packed up and headed to Brian's Grandma's, where Tami had prepared a delicious dinner. Brian's sister Julie was in town for Christmas, so it was fun to visit with her. 

When I was a kid, we always spent Christmas Eve night at my Grandma Cary's house. And then when she moved, I always stayed the night at my mom's house. That is what Brian and I have done the past couple of years. But we decided, now that we have a kid, that we want to wake up in our own house on Christmas morning. So we started that tradition this year. I have to admit, I was a little sad waking up, knowing that Santa hadn't actually come to the house (he always came to my mom's house). We prepped breakfast and had my mom and Ron over. We ate, visited, opened stockings and presents. I hope one day we have the kind of house that we can host a big Christmas. My mom and Ron had a few places they had to be that day, so they headed out, and we drove up to Brian's parents to celebrate with some more grandparents. More visiting, lots more food....and then Gregg and Tami were on their way to the airport to head up to Alaska...where we would join a couple days later. 

I'm sad that Christmas went by so quickly this year...it really is a magical time. I can't wait for the Christmases to come with Sadie...ahhh, so much to look forward to!