All Tucked In, in West Seattle

It has been quite a while since my last post... We are finally settled into our new apartment in West Seattle, and set up with free wi-fi (thanks to the genius of Richie B). Now that I am officially "reconnected" I promise to update our site MUCH more often. And with less than THREE weeks until our due date, we will soon have a new, sweet little addition to our home, family, and blog site :)
Our transition to the Northwest has been very smooth, thanks in a very large part to our family. Thanks to Mom and Ron for opening up their home to us while we found our apartment :) We got to spend a good deal of time with the horses, even attending two races at Emerald Downs - where they took home not just one, but TWO wins. We also thoroughly enjoyed a night out in the city for the Phantom of the Opera play at the historic Paramount Theater. It was quite a treat. The set design and costumes were like nothing I have ever seen before. It was spectacular!
On October 18th we moved into our apartment in West Seattle, right on California Avenue. It is perfect for us! Last night Tucker and I walked down the street a few blocks to a great little Greek restaurant, where Tucker instantly hit it off with the owner Spartos. They reminisced together about life in Greece, while I thoroughly enjoyed a meal of lamb, chicken and lemon soup, calamari, and fresh pita with tzatziki.
While framing photos of our travels over the last few days, I ran out of mat board. All I had to do was throw on my sandals to run across the street (to the frame shop) where they gave me a free sheet. I LOVE this neighborhood! We are living right around the corner from the "original" Gosanko Chocolate Art Factory.. were I had my very first job as chocolate foil wrapper for my dear Grandpa Gosanko. We are also mere blocks away from my Preschool, where all I really recall is a kid named Joey that sat next to me eating glue, and who was unable to color inside the lines, which bothered me immensely.
I have many good memories of West Seattle, and it is nice to be back. Even more, I love sharing these new experiences with my sweetie Tucker. I think he has really taken to the place. It doesn't hurt that we are surrounded by water, seagulls, and marinas.
We had a lot of help moving into our new place.. Nikki, Chad and Jayson were all in town for our baby shower, and my dad was nice enough to drive down from Anacortes to help us unload my entire infamous storage unit into the Uhaul. After the move, we all celebrated with a group photo, followed by Spud's fish and chips on Alki.


Tucker landed a great job with Penguin Windows. He is working as a design consultant and has picked it up very quickly. Everyone at the company has already grown attached to him. I am so proud of him! It has been an adjustment for me to see him off in the mornings. For the past three years I have been spoiled by getting to spend just about every waking moment with him. Luckily his schedule is somewhat flexible, and we still get some long mornings together. He also never misses an appointment with our midwife. He is going to be quite the birthing coach, and I am very blessed to have a husband that is so involved in our baby's birth :) I will be relieved to have him by my side during labor.
Business at the Picture Globe Company is picking up speed for the season. We are excited to have our ornaments featured on the Food Network for their holiday special! Can't remember the date for sure, maybe Nov 12, but I will post it just in case any of you want to be on the look-out :) We are in our tenth season this year, I can't believe it. It feels great to be making special Christmas gifts for so many people.
There are so many things I could talk about that have happened in the last weeks.. but I will leave it at this. There is still MUCH more to come.
My due date is November 24th, and this baby is going to be ready! It is constantly moving around, kicking me in the ribs, hiccuping, and already keeping me up at night. Tucker was just saying that he hasn't had a full night's sleep since we were on the boat together. It's amazing how pregnancy begins to prepare you for parenthood.
The nursery is coming together, with photos of family and loved ones on the walls. This baby is going to be very loved, that's for sure.

Back home, in the beautiful Northwest

My last days in New Hampshire were nothing short of wonderful. Warming up by the wood stove at Kim's, the (seemingly) endless political conversations between Tucker and his Gramps, packing and repacking boxes to ship out to Seattle, and one of my new favorite pastimes - a little something they call mud-bogging (see our photography site for a pictorial explanation:).

Gramps took us out to an incredible going-away dinner at La Meridiana, an authentic Italian restaurant where Dillon and Tucker learned the art of Northern Italian cooking as young men. Piero, the owner and chef, treated us to an incredible dinner in our own private dining room. I had the cod - and wow, it was fabulous.

After dinner Gramps gave me the most wonderful gift. As a going away present he gave me a "family treasure" .. an adorable photograph of Tucker at age 2-3 that has been gracing his wall for over 26 years. It was such a thoughtful gift. I absolutely love it, and already have it up in my room.



I arrived in Seattle on Wednesday, where my mom and I immediately indulged in a latte and scone - our own little tradition. We went right to work on a promotional mailing for our Picture Globe Company, which I finally completed today. Yay! Wish us luck!

My wonderful grandparents drove all the way from Anacortes to see me (and the baby bump) on Thursday. They both look incredible, by the way, and I think they got a little teary-eyed when they felt the baby kick. It was special, and precious, as grandma would say :). They brought lots of sweet little gifts for the baby. They are quite the doting great-grandparents already.

I was absolutely ECSTATIC to receive the painting that my grandpa had done for me a few months back. It is a work inspired by a piece from his early years as an art student (one that I have a great fondness for). I can't wait to hang this painting in our new home.



My sweetheart (Tucker) is still in New Hampshire until this coming week. He has been keeping very busy... chopping, transporting and stacking quarts of wood for his gramps and mom (what a sweet guy). Today they drove to Maine to pick up another 350-pound wood-burning stove. Those New Hampshire winters must be something else. I am hoping to experience it soon :).

Of course, I can't wait for Tucker to get here... I think he will be surprised at how much my belly has grown in only one week. It seems to change every day. I am convinced that the baby has inherited Tuckers sharp elbows, because I am getting little jabs in my side on a regular basis now :) I love it.

Things are changing fast around here. I'm sure we will have more updates for you soon. Next on the agenda - filling Picture Globe orders, finding a midwife, reading about the "Bradley Method" for natural birth, and making blackberry pies with the TONS of blackberries I picked today. We are so blessed!

Lots of love,

Heather and baby

Yesterday was a perfect New Hampshire late-summer day. We spent some unforgettable time at "The Fells", an incredible estate dating back to the early 1800's, with Gramps, Cally and Dillon. The gardens and landscape were beautiful! Afterwards, we finished our day with sailing and kayaking in Lake Sunapee.
Although I am really going to miss this place, I am looking forward to heading back home to the Northwest in one week! Now that I am SEVEN months pregnant, and ready to nest :) Tucker and I are on the road to Seattle! Hooray! See you all soon!

Annapolis, Maryland... "The Mustache Passage"

Today we are in beautiful Annapolis, Maryland! My 9 hour drive went smoothly yesterday, and I was greeted in Annapolis by four salty sailors bearing new mustaches. This has officially been dubbed the "mustache passage". In case you aren't aware, it is usually tradition for the guys to grow out their facial hair while on long passages (something to do with lack of water and showers, I believe). It seems that tradition has grown old with this crew, and they have decided that a mustache demands more respect around the docks that a full beard. They all are beginning to look like Burt Reynolds. Scary!


Their sail from Charleston went smoothly, with up to 2 knots of current bringing up their speed to 12 knots! (Which is great for the Alemar). The next leg of the trip will be to New York for a pit-stop, and then on to Newport, Rhode Island.


I will be leaving early in the morning to finish my drive up the coast, with a stop in New Hampshire for a few days to show Tucker's mom, sister, and gramps my big belly :) I can't wait to see them! New Hampshire is incredible this time of year, and much cooler than the South. I am really looking forward to getting there.

Alemar Passage North - Charleston to Newport

Here is the current route for the Alemar.. at least it is my version :)
The guys should have rounded Cape Hatteras by now, which is known to sailors as being "The Graveyard of the Ocean"... please keep Tucker and his crew in your prayers - it is another world out there.
Fortunately Tucker has become quite the forecasting expert, and is tracking weather patterns daily, along with a professional weather router. These guys really know their stuff.
I should get another satellite call this evening - and will keep you posted :)

heather

Heading North

This has been a busy week for me and Tucker. Besides finishing up an engine change on Alemar and preparing the boat for passage... Tucker and I just celebrated our very first wedding anniversary on July 21st :) Today is my 29th birthday, and I am 22 weeks pregnant!

We have been fortunate to spend the last month (or two) in Charleston with Tucker's sisters Ann Chambers and Vanessa, brother Dillon, dad Dig (Doug) and step-mom Lisa. Last night, Tucker left Charleston City Marina for the next stop on our list, the sailing capitol of the U.S., Annapolis! I am looking forward to driving up the coast and meeting them there on July 25th. Afterwards, we will all be making way to Newport, Rhode Island (which you just can't beat this time of year)... It's going to be beautiful.

Well I just spoke to Tuck over satellite phone... he, brother Dillon and the rest of the crew just made it through the first gale of their passage with winds at 50 knots! Wow - Glad I'm not out there!

all tucked inn

Welcome to our new blog!

Tucker and I have been so incredibly blessed with a huge, loving family... the tricky part is that we seem to be scattered all over this beautiful country. We think that this will be a great way to keep everyone in the loop.

As you all know, we have a lot going on these days.. with a baby on the way (yay!).. and a move to the Pacific Northwest in our near future. With everything changing so fast, it is more important than ever that we are able to keep up with the people we love most :)

Heather (and Tucker, and baby)