Wading in the Waves...

This past weekend we experienced a bit of a heat wave in our neighborhood.  To escape the hot weather, we headed to the beach.  There, it was gray and cool;  a perfect temporary reprieve and a stellar spot for a dog walk.  G is getting increasingly bold and quick on her feet.  She LOVES the water, with a fearless abandon.  Eventually our walk became more of a monitored wading session, which ended in a soggy and sandy face plant.  Irregardless, fun was had by all, which was our goal.  Mission accomplished!

A Harvester in Training...

This past week I was delighted to share one of my greatest joys with G.  We went blueberry picking.  Last year I took her, and she spent the whole time nestled in the Ergo.  This year, however, she actually picked.  Not all of the berries she selected were blue and ripe, though she was very careful and focused on the task.  I was impressed.  She is so much fun!  I look forward to future fruit harvesting adventures with her.

Top Five Banff/Jasper Trip Highlights, Eh

We spent last week visiting our northern neighbor, Canada.  What a wonderful time we had.  It was G's first time flying, a feet that she accomplished with relative poise.  There were a few restless and boisterous moments, though overall she did well.  From Calgary we headed to Banff, and then up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.  Along the way we saw incredible mountain vistas and loads of wild animals.   After a couple days in Jasper, we ventured back towards Banff, to a small railroad town in BC called Field.  It was quaint and full of character, a nice reprieve from the tour buses and general madness of the popular national parks we were visiting.  From Field we completed the trek back to Calgary, stopping for another hike outside of Lake Louise and Banff.  We were blessed with pleasant weather, safety, and joyful memories.  It was a fun adventure.

#5  Field B.C.

#4 Views of the Canadian Rockies and Lakes (Alberta)

#3 Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House (Lake Louise)

#2  Wildlife Spottings (Grizzly Bear)

#1 Icefield Parkway Drive and Wilcox Hike

Happy Father's Day, DaDa

Time flies when you are having fun, which apparently means that this past year was an absolute blast because it passed by so quickly.  If G could completely communicate her thoughts and feelings I think she would say thanks for being such a great DaDa, and also that she loves you a lot.  This parenthood adventure has been quite the ride.  I am glad to be sharing it with you.  Thanks for all you do!  You truly are a stellar dad to little G. 

G's New Ride

A few weeks ago, a coworker gifted us with a bike trailer.  Today was the first time we were able to take it out for a spin.  Getting the helmet adjusted was the biggest obstacle, and G did not like it at all initially.  Once they were on the road, however, she seemed to enjoy herself.  Hopefully this will be the beginning of increased family bike and/or bike and running adventures.  We'll see.

Gwyneth n Ybike

Harvesting New Memories...

Today we celebrated Father's Day by taking a little drive to Avila Beach to pick olallieberries and walk the pier, after enjoying a breakfast of aebleskivers at home. G was a trouper and daddy had a good time as well. We are loving the simple joys that come from parenthood.

L.A. Outing

This weekend we took Gwyneth on a mini road trip to L.A. We were curious to see how she would react. To our pleasant surprise, she tolerated it all very well. She rode peacefully in the car seat, was a happy camper inside the Moby as we wondered around, and she wasn't disruptive at the hotel. Overall a successful venture with our little 6-week-old.

Here are a few photos from the trip. First we went to REI in Santa Monica, and then we walked down by the pier.



The next day we drove around the Hollywood area, making a pit stop at the Graystone Mansion.


Finally we walked along Hollywood Boulevard, stopping to pose by a famous actor's star.


It was a fun mini vacation. We look forward to many more family adventures in the future.

First Few Weeks...

Gwyneth has been out in the "real world" for a little over three weeks now. Since her birth, she has gained a few pounds and grown a couple inches. She is getting more and more alert, though she still does sleep a lot. We are discovering that she likes to have at least one arm out of the blanket when she sleeps, and her thumbs tucked into her palms. To calm her we often bounce on the yoga ball or rock her gently around the room. Motion seems to soothe her. Each day we fall more and more in love with her. It is amazing.


Our most recent family photo.
Asleep in the Moby during one of our walks at the beach.


Spending time with Grandpa and Grandma K.

And then it happened...

After a week of anxious expectation, our overdue baby girl Gwyneth Aisling arrived on April 19th at 1:38 a.m. It was a series of bizarre, but ultimately timely events that lead up to her entry into the world.

The previous morning, April 18th, I had a routine appointment with my doctor. She had some concerns about the amniotic fluid levels and recommended that we schedule an induction that evening at 11:00 pm. I went home and began preparing myself for the hospital and impending childbirth. However, due to some developing complications seemingly unrelated to contractions, I ended up at the hospital around 7:30 p.m.

When we checked in, Alison, a Kiwi nurse riddled off a bunch of questions. During this time, my body began to go into labor on its own, though I wasn't fully aware of it at the moment. I noticed a few of the signs, though I was a bit doubtful of their significance, especially since Alison said that I was still just 1 cm dilated. The contractions, AKA cramps, that I had been feeling were perceived as being ineffective by the medical personnel. And so I was given an I.V. of saline solution and left to hydrate a bit more before the induction drugs were administered. Anticipating a long night, Kyle stepped out to get a quick bite to eat and I was left alone with my symptoms. For an hour or so, I sat on the bed in agony. The cramps seemed to intensify. I thought I was going to freak out because I was stuck in bed and the contractions were so painful. Since I didn't think I was in labor, I began to feel greatly discouraged.

When Kyle returned I told him that I didn't think I was going to make it naturally, since the non-labor pains were more than I thought I could bear. We tried to relax for a while, Kyle casually glancing at his watch as I began to breath through my contractions. He commented on their close proximity to each other, though we both still thought I wasn't in labor. The turning point occurred when my water broke. I looked at Kyle, and we kind of laughed nervously and then called the nurse. When she came in, she was shocked. She rechecked me and was even more surprised to see that I was now 5 cm dilated. Apparently, I had been in labor that whole time. Once I knew that the pains I felt were truly active labor, my attitude about the process switched dramatically. Suddenly, I knew that I could do it.

We called our doula, and the nurses busied themselves to get the room ready for delivery. Over the course of the next few hours, I labored, switching positions as much as I could. Rocking through the contractions was pretty effective, though the time I spent in the shower felt the best. The doula kept reassuring me that my body would know when it was time to push. I wasn't super confident of that, and yet I did arrive at a point when I knew the baby was ready to come out. Throughout this whole time, Kyle and the doula were breathing with me, calmly reassuring me with positive accolades, and massaging my back. I felt really supported and strangely energized by it all.

The adrenaline in my body caused my legs to shake violently periodically, though there were enough moments of rest to combat the intensity of that phenomenon. When I did start pushing, I was lying on my side in bed. Once I felt her traveling down the canal, which definitely burned, I decided that I was going to push for all I was worth. After a short time, she emerged, all purple and slimy. She screamed quickly and nuzzled to my chest instinctively. Kyle and I were both so amazed by her and the reality that we were finally seeing our little girl for the first time. The feeling of love that we felt for her was so instant and strong. Life is such a miracle!

For the past few days we have been trying to figure out how to best care for and meet the needs of our daughter and ourselves. The lack of sleep is rough, though we are making a good team. Gwyneth is delightful and well-worth every challenging moment we've experienced. We are honored by the gift of her and are loving our new role as parents. Though I know we still have a lot to learn and that we'll probably make a few mistakes along the way, I feel happy knowing that this little girl has two parents that love her more than we thought possible. Our new adventure of parenthood has officially begun.

Awaiting Labor...

Today is our due date, however, the baby remains safely snuggled up inside me. We are anxious to meet her, and yet at this moment I feel thankful for a quiet pause. Soon our lives will change. The adventure of parenthood will likely challenge and amaze us simultaneously. We feel blessed to have this opportunity and are so very grateful for the gift of our child. My prayer for her today is health and peace as she prepares to make her grand entrance into this world. When she arrives, we'll let you know.

The Belly

We've gotten numerous requests from family members and friends from afar who want to see my ever expanding middle. So, without further ado, I present the belly update, week 33.

Middle Eastern Babymoon

Last month we went on our official "babymoon" to Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. Traveling pregnant was definitely a new adventure, though it didn't detract much from the overall experience. Our destinations were inspired by the desire to fulfill some lifelong dreams of seeing the famous pyramids, the Holy Lands, and going to "Africa", in addition to simply visiting family. Expectations were exceeded in most cases, though many of the sites were very different than what we had imagined. The cultural experiences were also more vibrant. We feel lucky to have had that opportunity, especially now as turmoil envelopes Cairo. May peace be their reality again soon.

The Great Pyramids, Cairo, Egypt

The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Mountains, Ruins, and Animals...

We just returned from a whirlwind jaunt to Peru and Bolivia. Our time away was memorable and exciting, full of many new experiences and highlights. It was our first time in South America, though hopefully not our last. We barely scratched the surface of that amazing continent. Much of our time was spent in or near mountains. High altitudes humbled us at times, as even a few flights of stairs took our breath away in the beginning. The cultures were vibrant and colorful. We ate lots of potatoes, bread, and papaya. Additionally, we rode in some crazy taxis and buses. We explored endless Incan Ruins, and saw a lot of incredible animals in the Amazon. The sights were unreal. There were moments when we felt frustrated, however, by transportation delays and overzealous salespeople. Working through those challenges, reaffirmed our love for the adventure of it all. Traveling is truly about the journey, and not the destination. Sometimes it is good to practice the art of letting go and trusting that things will work out. For those are the true moment of joy and awe, when you find yourself bumping down a crazy and unfamiliar road, amongst a group of other travelers who are equally in disbelief and shock about their current reality. Though no one is certain of the when or where of an arrival, everyone can look out the window and feel amazed by the same rosy sunset that makes us all feel lucky to just be.

Hiking in the High Peruvian Andes

Machu PicchuMaking New Llama FriendsA Festive Parade of Dancing ChildrenSunrise in the Bolivian PampasSearching for Anacondas in the AmazonANACONDA!!!Fishing for Piranhas, Catching Something ElsePotato Vendor in La Paz, Bolivia

A New Niece...

Early this morning, Kyle and I received a text message from the hospital announcing the birth of our new niece Addison Claire. We are so happy for their little family! What a fun Mother's Day surprise for them all. Congratulations K, K, and A!

Living up to her nickname...

For the past couple of months, Kyle and I have been jokingly referring to Lindsey as Stinky. Though she doesn't typically have an obnoxious odor, sometimes her attitude is a little sour or mischievous, which makes her a bit of a stinker. Yesterday, however, Lindsey's nickname took on a whole new meaning. We were nearing the end of our walk on the bluffs, when Lindsey dashed into the bushes. Seconds later I heard a strange bark, followed by an unmistakable odor. Lindsey had uncovered a skunk, and had gotten sprayed in the process. The clean-up was a bit laborious, though just a faint odor can be detected at the moment. Wow! That was a new experience for us all. Hopefully we won't be repeating it again anytime in the future. Skunked dogs reek!

Celebrity spotting...

It is that time of the year again in Santa Barbara, when the celebrities flock to town in celebration of films. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival infuses the city with some famous faces and lots of gawkers. Last night, we ventured out amongst the masses, to do some celebrity spotting at the local Arlington Theater. We were fortunate to see Sandra Bullock and Forest Whitaker. Celebrity spotting is kind of a silly form of entertainment, though a fun and cheap perk of living in Santa Barbara. Sometimes, it is enjoyable to do things like this, simply because we can!

A wish for a happy 2010...

Happy New Year from the K-deux crew! May 2010 be one of your best years ever! Cheers!

Marathon Finisher!!!

Hurray for Kyle! Today he ran his first marathon, pushing through the pain, to finish strong. I was so proud of him. He is a champion!

Half-Marathoner...

Here's an action shot of Mr. Half-Marathoner himself.  Today, he checked off another goal from his life list.  Fun, Fun, Fun!