Pre-Baby Post-Birthday Mid-Summer Trip Home to Seattle

What a difference a year makes.  A year ago I was back in Washington for my best mate Randall's wedding, catching up with old college friends and family, and still getting used to being an expat.  This year I travelled home to meet my new nephew Hudson and spend a bit of quality time with family and friends before our own family grows a bit larger (and a whole lot more cute!).  Instead of stories about work and fun Australian expressions, I was sharing stories of ultrasounds, baby name ideas, and constantly explaining why our baby won't be an Australian citizen.  Oh and lots and lots of apologising that we are having the baby in Melbourne (sorry family - we hope you come visit!).

mom, Saralyn and me on the ferry

My arrival was wonderful - lots of hugs from Mom, Saralyn and Amare, then a trip to Qdoba for some queso dip.  I wanted to get some exercise after spending a day on a plane, so after lunch we headed to Green Lake and spent the afternoon walking around the lake enjoying the beautiful weather.  That night we had dinner at Lindsay and Ryan's and I finally got to hug and hold my new nephew!  It was such a joy to finally have some time with Hudson, to show him that the best uncles have beards, and to get some much needed practice at cleaning up lots of spit-up.  Keeping in touch through video calls works with my older nephews and helps me feel connected with them, but with a baby it's all about the holding, bouncing, and snuggling, so I'm glad I could finally enjoy some time with him.

finally hanging out with little Hudson!

visiting Grandma Sally

with Lindsay and Ryan

enjoying the sunshine with Saralyn and Amare

someone might be jealous of my birthday presents...

with mom at home

The next two days were packed with activities, from a visit with Grandma Sally, happy hour with my good friends and co-workers in downtown Seattle, a delicious bagel breakfast with Aliza in Capitol Hill (which is all decked out with lots of colourful rainbow sidewalks), back home to Dad's house on Whidbey for a walk in the woods, spending some quality time catching up with Somer, and a delicious dinner out with Dad and Sarri at a great new Asian restaurant.  I even took the bus for the first time since I moved away and got stuck in terrible I-5 traffic, which I realised I don't miss at all!

Capitol Hill

reunited with Romeo at dad's house

On Saturday Dad took me out on his boat to explore Cypress Island, one of the many islands that form part of the San Juans.  Despite constant rain almost the entire day on Whidbey, the weather on the water was excellent.  Our first stop at Cypress Island was a quiet, secluded harbour where we had lunch and were greeted to visits from seals, a harbour porpoise, and bald eagles soaring among the trees.  The rest of the afternoon was spent cruising around the island, and on the way back Dad took us through Deception Pass, where I was able to get some great photos of the bridge as we cruised underneath it.  It was so peaceful being on the water, and to be surrounded by so much wildlife.  Thanks for the great adventure Dad!

Deception Pass

me and dad

The rest of my trip included more brunches and happy hours with friends, my belated birthday celebration and baby shower (mooncake got lots of adorable outfits and mooncake's 31-year young dad got lots of Ninja Turtles stuff and his favourite game, Cards Against Humanity!  Also thanks for all the awesome toys Caiden!!), and of course shopping to stock up on toiletries and clothes.  Mom and I also took Caiden and Amare to the zoo, which was a blast.  We had such a great time seeing all the animals, especially the massive brown bear that decided to take a swim right in front of us.

at the zoo with the nephews

hello brown bear!

The trip home was really special and it was great to see so many friends and spend so much time with the family.  It was also bittersweet as it reminded me how fast kids grow.  Hudson is already 5 months old, a cute, babbling and pudgy baby who is well on his way to becoming a talking and walking toddler by the next time I see him.  Amare and Caiden keep getting bigger and more independent, and they are beginning to interact with me more as little men and less like little boys.  For months before my trip Amare kept asking me to come over to see his house and help him beat a level on Super Mario Galaxy 2 that he has been stuck on.  Being a man of my word, I went to his house and helped him beat the level.  On the drive home, I was struck by how he has grown.  Now he's old enough to remember specific parts of games and isn't at the age anymore where he just puts down a game if it's too hard and does something else.  He works at them until he can beat them, or he seeks help when he can't.  And he not only remembers that I promised to help him, but he holds me to that promise.  Gone are the days of saying "we can wrestle tomorrow buddy" knowing he probably won't remember.  Now he and Caiden remember and they make sure I don't forget.  It's exciting to see how they continue to grow, and I feel so loved and overwhelmed that even though I only see them once a year, I'm still the center of their world for those few days I get to spend with them.

Perhaps that's a small example of what it's like to be a father.  To be looked up to, trusted, loved and the focus of a child's life all the time.  What an amazing feeling that must be.

getting ready...

Thank you Washington, for the great weather, beautiful scenery, and the excellent craft beer.  Thank you Qdoba for still making good queso dip.  Most importantly, thank you to my loving family and friends for all the great memories, laughs, hugs and for making time to spend with me.  I miss you all very much and can't wait for my next visit (this time with Candice and our baby!).  Go Hawks!

birthday celebration with the family

-BK