John and Patti and I put our heads together and whipped up a memorial website for Jody. Please take a moment to visit it and pass it along to others who knew her.
I know its September 1st, but this entry belongs here in August. We received a phone call late last night informing us that Jody Watson (John's Jody) had been killed in a car accident. Apparently she was on her way home from the University when a young driver headed out the road swerved into her lane on Brotherhood Bridge, hitting her head on. Mom called to tell me the police were at the house with the news. They didn't have much information last night, but now I hear a criminal investigation may be launched. John is on his way home - he's driving to Anchorage to catch a flight as we speak. I hope he's going to be okay. He seems to be holding up. She was so funny, smart. Just fun. I adored her. I was hoping that she was going to be around for a long time to come.
A big welcome to Catherina Bell, the daughter of Jennifer (Benton) and Brandon Bell!
Catherina Elizabeth Bell July 30, 2005; 7:56 am
7 lbs. 2 oz.; 18 3/4 inches
Also, welcome home to Kevin Mayo, who arrived in Phoenix August 13. He came home for a little R&R from Iraq, where he has been since last fall.
Kevin and his daughter Kaitlyn.
This photo made me tear up.
And congratulations to Jennifer (Hayes) Schulz, who finally married her Nodak man, Ed!
August has flown by (as have July and June). Sydney is getting so big, and changing so fast. I'm going to make sure this site doesn't become a baby site, but I have a bunch more pictures of her to post this month. I just can't help myself. =)
I started back at work mid-July, three weeks after Sydney was born. My boss is soooo cool! He insisted that I bring Sydney to work instead of putting her in daycare. So she sleeps or swings in my office when I'm there.
An office that converts to a nursery!
Linda L. left to return to Juneau on August 6. She is enjoying being able to walk places, and to finally see her dog again (who didn't, despite Linda's fears, forget who she was). The house has been packed to the roof these days.
Kenny stopped by for a few days the second week of August. He pulled up to my office in a huge truck with a snowmachine strapped on the back, and his dog Kava sitting on the front seat. My boss was like "So that's an Alaskan...". Kenny is on his way to Madison Wisconsin, where he will be opening up a new "Palemanies" (I'm sure I butchered the spelling on that). If you're from Juneau, you know what restaurant I'm referring to. When the bars would close we would all trek over to the wharf and scarf down Russian dumplings at this little restaurant. They only served two things - spicy meat dumplings and potato dumplings, but boy were they good at three a.m. Kenny left on Friday the 19th.
Kenny says hello.
Kenny's northern rig.
Janet and Bri came on Sunday the 22nd. Bri stayed with us for a week before school started back up. She bonded with Sydney and met the kids in the neighborhood. I cannot believe how tall she is getting! She is only an inch or two shorter than me now. She's 12 for cryin' out loud!
Bri and Sydney bond.
Tric kept throwing the ball to Sydney.
Mike Haley stopped by to visit and chow on some dinner last Friday. Mike is my cousin from Florida (originally from Maryland). He is Aunt Jane and Uncle John Haley's son. He was in San Francisco on business and came by for a few hours. We hadn't seen each other in 15 years or so. It was great to see him and catch up, as adults (I was a teenager last time we saw each other).He is a great photographer and treated us to his site, replete with photos of bugs and of spiders (his son Ian's favorite).
Mike Haley, meet everyone.
Everyone, Mike Haley.
And lastly, news of Sydney. She is great! She is sitting on my lap as I type this entry (well, slumping). But she is thoroughly enjoying herself -- something that couldn't be said five minutes ago as she lay in her crib. She is getting strong - holding her head up, and starting to turn herself over. The last couple of days have seen a couple of moments when, during tummy time, she rolled from her back or front, to the other side. Its not consistent yet, but it is fun to watch, especially when she gears up for the tummy turn - she sort of revs up, rolling harder and harder. And she now grunts and speaks babybabble. You know. Caaaa, Pppppp, Eeeeeyaaa! We're still working on the sleep issue. Yawn. Well, she is getting squirmy, so onto photos!
Its a bear!!!
Daddy's Princess.
Cranky Girl.
Tummy time!
She grabbed this and was holding it when I came back to her crib.
I couldn't choose between these,
so you get all three.
