All quiet(ish) on the western front...

So remember when I said I'd try not to let this become an exclusively baby-picture blog? Yeah, off to a smashing start, aren't I? :-P

But really, there' s so very little to report. School's out, which means we're just hanging out, getting things ready to leave for WI on Saturday...but otherwise, there's nothing to distract us from the endless joys of little 3-week old Isaac. He's even occasionally cute, as these newest (grandma-requested) pictures may be able to shed some light upon:

Surrendering in his sleep...maybe he was French in a past life?

Loki's been good around him...showing concern when he cries, otherwise leaving him mostly alone. The occasional curious sniff is about it. Just wait a couple years, dog...you'll be good pals, I'm sure.

I've really been amazed at how alert and expressive a little baby can be when he's not crying, sleeping, nursing, or otherwise occupied...

Picture dump...

Extreme close-up! Wooooooaaaaaaahhhhh! (ok, so I'm referencing Wayne's World...have I sufficiently dated myself??)

New kid on the block (there I go again)

Rockin' the camo

Baby's first life jacket!

"Oh dear...I do believe I may have soiled myself. Ever so sorry!"

Home again

We made it!

After a little bit of suspense, we did indeed make it back to Nunap on Wednesday afternoon. We were worried, because, as you may remember, the airport is on the opposite side of the Johnson River as the school and our house, and the river ice had melted just enough while we were gone to make walking/snowmachining across impossible, but not enough for the ice to actually break loose and leave, thus making crossing by boat easy. It's the "break up" season, after-all...an annual event here in the area, with all the expectation and uncertainty it involves. The tension is thick in the air...everyone's waiting to be able to get out by boat and after the birds that are flying around.

So, after discussing and wavering back and forth a little bit on Tuesday about whether to postpone travel for a few days based on river conditions, it was decided that we'd take our chances and hope that somebody'd be able to help us across. Sure enough, Matthew and Raymond were nice enough to meet us on the "across" side of the river from school. So we loaded into the boat, motored about a third of the way across the river, and then us guys got out on the river ice and pulled the boat up, in order to push it across to the next area of open water near the shore we were trying to reach. It was a little nerve-racking for this kassa'q to be pushing a boat across rotten ice, listening to the cracking and groaning underfoot and radiating out from the boat, but I had a tight grip that (I hope) would have ensured my ability to jump right in had the ice gave way. Alas, we made it to the rest of the open water, and on to the boardwalk and home. Home!

Don't get me wrong, Anchorage was great, for a bunch of reasons. But there really is no place like home, sleeping in our own bed, being able to get into our own routine with Isaac here now. Not to mention, we missed Loki :-)

The weather was fantastic for us traveling Wednesday and yesterday, too...really warm and sunny, helping to melt that river ice. Which it was such a shock to wake up this morning to find 6 inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground. Oh well, it won't last long.

Reality

Though wow, that word has a whole new meaning now, doesn't it?

First off, things are all going really well. We're getting into a groove here, learning Isaac's routine and trying to subtly impress upon him that complicated fact that light=day=awake, while dark=night=sleep. I know, I know...babies have a clock of their own. His has been just about perfectly reversed. Overall we've been doing ok, I think, with Sara, of course, being the rockstar...what with nursing being her department and all. I'm doing what I can, of course, but it's not like when the 3am feeding time comes around that I can be the one doing that particular job. I feel a little guilty, but I'm trying to channel that feeling into doing as much of everything else that I possibly can. I'm confident we'll get this whole thing mostly figured out just yet.

On another note...or rather notes...I just want to take a note to say a huge thank you to everyone for your notes, comments, emails, and facebook messages over the last few days...it's been an amazing past, oh, 10 months for Sara and I, and we've just been overwhelmed with how truly blessed we are to have such an amazing group of friends spread out across this planet. We appreciate each and every one of you :-)

Ok, I think I hear him starting to fuss...better run!

eta: Oops, almost forgot...for Karoline who'd asked in a comment a few days ago - our address in the village is PO Box 96, Nunapitchuk, AK, 99641...otherwise my parents' address in Point still works just fine! I'd have emailed you or replied directly, but I can't find a current email for you in anything I have. I suck :-(

Check this out, eh?

You'll have to indulge this proud papa...I've definitely been in picture-taking mode!

More to come, but for now...

Welcome to the world, Isaac Vincent "Alek'aq" Przybylski!!!

Vital stats:

Born at 3:57pm, May 6th

Weight: 8 pounds, 2 ounces

Length: 20 inches

Cuteness: Off the charts :-D

Mom and baby are both doing great...at the moment, we're all here enjoying all the "firsts", which really, at this point, is just about everything.

More to come. You can bet your a$$ on that!