The Baby Routine, Kaya Faces, and a Weird Brother

We have been getting into the swing of things with baby Kaya. We have been thrown back into diaper changes, feedings, and constant soothing. Despite extra hospital trips the second one has been an easier lifestyle adjustment than the first. Here is Nicki multitasking by reading a book to two kids while nursing Kaya at the same time.

So far She has been a great sleeper.

Also true to form, we have been slacking on taking pictures of the second child. Yesterday we made an extra effort to capture some Kaya moments.
Here is our beautiful walleyed baby. Don't worry girl, they will straighten out eventually.

Cheeky little thing is already making faces at us.

Does she look a little nervous in this photo?

Well, you would be too if Leo was your brother.

Sunny Yurt and Kaya Comes Home Again

Ahhhhhhhh. The best thing about February is more sun light. When it isn't cloudy, snowing, or raining that is. When the sun is out and it warms up, we take off our window covers and insulation inserts (which have been closed all winter for heat retention) and let the light pour in.

A sunny day after a big snow.

In family news: Kaya is wearing every one out!

We actually just got back from a 5 day stay at the hospital for a respiratory virus Kaya contracted. She gave us a good scare but is home now and doing well. Here is the happy mama and her bewildered baby just home from the hospital.

Kaya being well again and coming home today was the best Valentines gift we could have received. The chocolates were nice too though.
Thanks to every one who helped take care of Leo, the dogs, brought us things in the hospital, sent us warm wishes, and offered to help us out. It made us realize how fortunate we have been in the past year and a half to make such wonderful Alaska friends who we consider to be our Alaskan family.

Introducing Kaya Rivera Schneider - A New Yurt Baby

Here is Kaya just home from the hospital:

She was born Feb 3 at 2:00PM at 7 pounds and 7 ounces. Look at that hair!

Both mama and baby are doing great!

Kaya has been asleep for almost the entire time.

Papa enjoying the sleeping baby.

Leo got to visit at the hospital but was much more interested in watching TV and riding on the elevators.

The Pressman family will be happy to know that Kaya has inherited Nicki's hic-ups.

First Sun of the Year and Glissading

We have been waiting for 2 months for this and today it finally happened! The sweet sun has finally returned! Here it is in all its glory.

The obligatory hoar frost/sun photo.

I also did a great trip up the ridge behind the yurt today. It extend my sun exposure by chasing the sunlight to the top. Here is the Eagle River Valley just before the sun began to dip back down.

We glissaded (slid down on our butts) off of the top of the ridge. Here is the aftermath of that adventure.

Welcome back sun!

Baby Prep, Sleepy Moose, and and Young Super Stars

Nicki is well into her 8th month of pregnancy. We are just playing the waiting game now since the yurt is all set up for baby sister's arrival. Part of our preparedness was to empty out the pantry and create a baby closet. The crib had to be taken apart to fit inside and there was about an inch to spare on either end when reassembled.

I also set out to build a bassinet. The first step was to find some quality building materials. I acquired some hot pink skis at a ski swap and wanted to use them for the side boards with the word "RADICAL" facing out.

But, the product manager (Nicki) axed the idea, knocked some sense into me, and I just used some birch plywood. The end product was probably a little more tasteful.

In wildlife news, Leo spotted a moose sleeping near our lower road and we spent some quality time looking at it and other things with binoculars.

The yurt and Leo received some exposure on the Pacific Yurt photo gallery. Follow the link and look at photo 29 (five over and 5 down) to see what I'm talking about. http://www.yurts.com/gallery/photo-gallery.aspx
Nicki and I are taking the stardom in stride, but I think Leo is letting it get to his head a bit.

Though, I think he needs to get lunch off of his face before anyone takes him seriously.

My Favorite Alaskan Photographer

I've been following Nathaniel Wilder's photography work for awhile now. He has an exceptional eye and a lot of creativity with his focus and depth of field. While wedding photography seems to be his bread and butter, he also does some great landscape, journalism, and adventure photography. Most of his stuff in Alaska based but he shoots all around the country. He just posted his 2009 favorites and they are amazing. Follow this link to take a look at the slide show.

http://ngwphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/thank-you-2009.html

A Year of Yurt

A year long project has finally come to an end. I've been taking pictures of our yurt almost every day from our well for the past year. The following link is to a you tube video of a year long time lapse of our yurt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSocyQh8W9s



I was able to take 275 photos from January 1st to December 31, 2009.