My boy wears fur - Luke's first year in review

A few years ago, if you told Layla and I that our child would stay up well past sunset, rarely go outside, wear fur and eat protected marine mammals, we would have taken your keys and offered to call you a cab. But here we are, celebrating Luke’s first birthday, and until a couple weeks ago when the sun finally outlasted Luke, each of those unthinkable prophecies had proven true. So how in the pigs flying heck did we get here? I barely know myself, much less feel able to write it, but maybe these photos can tell just what’s gone down since a few months after that sunny, warm late summer day when Layla and I were both fit, energetic and planning our winter climbing adventure in Thailand. Why that day? That’s the day we had the “Babe, I’m pregnant,” pause, “Are you sure?” conversation. And the rest is in pictures…

March 2006

Yup, she was sure.










Little man is freaking out the doctors, so off to Seattle we go on the midnight jet medivac. A week later, we’re back in Juneau.








April 2007

Three days after we get back, Luke is born in Juneau 6 ½ weeks early. He and I are medivaced to the NICU in Anchorage.







Less than 48 hours later, Layla joins us in Anchorage after fast forewarding her recovery from surgery. Here with Luke in the Babytherm 3000 (it’s real name I promise) on day 6.








After a week on the “serious” side of the NICU, Luke graduated to the “stable” side.








May 2006

We spent the next five weeks encouraging Luke to feed himself however he could. This is the first time he took a full feeding from the bottle, four weeks after we got to the NICU.








Nic-you, NICU! In the airport heading home after 6+ weeks in Anchorage.









Luke was unimpressed,









But we were very relieved.








June 2006

Still little, but slowly growing…







…and growing…








July 2006

…into a happy little man.











Luke stole the show at the wedding.






“Hey Nonna, why are all these people hugging mommy and daddy? They’re supposed to be hugging me!”









August 2006

By August, he was very happy to finally be able to hold down most his food and sit in his chair.









Still needed some help, but was getting much stronger.








So we took him on a day cruise to Ford’s Terror and the Dawes Glacier,








And then on a float plane to the Taku Glacier Lodge,








But he had had enough of glaciers.








He much preferred making new friends like his buddy, Wilder.








September 2006

But we were restless after spending too much time in hospitals and not in the wilds of Alaska, So we went to Katmai National Park to see some brown bears like that one…




…and this one. It’s amazing how close to the red salmon you can get there.










Phew, what a month!








But it’s not over, back on the big plane…








...to Milwaukee to see Great Grandma! Four generations of Gnadt’s.








October 2006

First “real” food, if you can call rice cereal “real” food.








Fun with Mom,








And more fun with that cute baby in the window.








New spacesuit for winter.








November 2006

Two feet of snow in Juneau just before Thanksgiving,










So we went to Mexico en route to our new home in Barrow.








Luke on lifeguard duty in Akumal.








December 2006

Christmas a couple weeks early in Barrow










Then off to the east coast for the holidays with family and friends.

Four generations of Hughes’.








Grandma Gnadt better watch those grabby little fingers








Nonno and his horse.








January 2007

Back in Barrow to play with the new toys!











February 2007

No travel! But a lot of new tricks from Luke.










Out on the Arctic Ocean.








March 2007

A week in Juneau for a visit with our friends and Luke’s favorite sitter, Lis.








Ok, so we let him open a couple birthday presents early, but he sure does like it!








Are we done yet?












April 2007

Happy Birthday Luke!







Let’s eat some…








…table!








Hey Felix, I’m One! Woo hoo!









So just a month into his second year, and at least we’re now getting out more. It’s warmed into the 20’s this week, and the winds are light, so out we go! Luke still loves his furry mukluks. The whalers are on the ice now, and the migratory birds are on their way back to the tundra, so I’m sure he’ll get his chance to eat some more protected species. But hey, he’s a great kid. It’s amazing how far he’s come. I’m sure we have many more nervous moments to come, but right now, all is better than well. What a year.