Blog MOVING

Posterous will be shutting down in a couple months.  Therefore we have moved our family blog to WordPress.   You can read and follow our blog there:  http://mylescrew.wordpress.com/

If you are one of the two people (he he) who likes to get an email whenever we add a new post, you will need to sign up again on the WordPress site (see "Follow Blog via Email" on the right sidebar).

We also realize we haven't been overly consistent with our posts, but do hope to change that going forward.

Cheers!

http://mylescrew.blogspot.com/

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3 Months

A few photos from Jake's third month.

3 Months

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This BLOG has Moved

We have moved over to posterous ... it makes KT's life easier to be able to email short videos and photos with little text tidbits (posterous does a great job of auto formatting emails into posts)!!!  While we had been sending out regular emails to our immediate family, other family and friends kept asking for new photos and such ... finally we should be able to at least keep the blog updated regularly w/ lots of photos & videos and occasional posts about our adventures in returning to land!!!  The posterous blog has its own email and/or rss subscription - so sign up there if you want to get regular updates.

Cheers,
Chris, KT & Jake
http://myles-crew.posterous.com/
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That's what I have to say about That!

Mom and Dad have been very excited this past week, as I have been more and more vocal. Personally I don't see what the big deal is, but it really cracks them up, and hey I figure I should throw them a bone or two considering all the work the do to try and keep me fat and happy! Now, if you aren't related to me, you might think two minutes is a bit long for just baby talk, so feel free to hit the stop button anytime, but I figured all those relatives back home, who I have yet to meet, might get a kick out of this.

Jake "talking", 2 months old. from SV Billabong on Vimeo.

Am I the cutest thing ever or what? Can't you just wait to meet me???
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Internet Mom

Some might say that I'm bordering on a Type A personality, or they (aka Chris) might say I can be just a bit anal (I call it organized). And to help me in my anal-ness, 'er organization, is the internet. The Google search engine is my best friend. I use it for everything, there is nothing I won't research. How I ever lived without Google search I don't know. After these last six month with internet (and Google) I'm not sure how I survived our five years "unconnected". Of course there is a downside to having all this information at my finger tips - it can be too much information, and I don't doubt that I have wasted many hours of my life over-researching things, with no real gain to my over all well being!

Jake is no exception to my internet obsession. If anything he as only stoked the fire. I can Google every hiccup, every cry, every snort, smile, blink, and ... well you get the picture. On one hand this is a huge benefit to me. Still far away from friends and family, with no one to easily call and ask some of those first time motherhood question to, Google has become my lifeline. On the other hand I get carried away, and I know it. I mean do I really need to Google about his bowel movements? And there is WAY too much information out there ... it can take days just to sort through all the crap (wink, wink) that comes up on the search. There is also a thing as "too much information" ... for every good piece of information there is bound to be hundreds of crap pieces, and for every opinion that recommends method A there will be an opposing opinion that recommends something entirely different. So, I can't really win, I'm bound to just be more confused after a days worth of researching, but still I can't stop myself ... as part of my Type-A personality I want to be the perfect mother, and I'm convinced that somewhere out there in Google land there is advice that will help me. (Hey, before anyone starts to think I'm off my rocker, I am exaggerating just a bit here folks).

As of late I have been spending my time on the internet trying to figure out how I can get more sleep ... which of course means how I can entice Jake to sleep more. I realize that with infants come the sleepless nights, but I am also one of those rare breeds that requires, desperately needs, a good 10 hours of sleep in order to function ... so you can imagine that I am barely running on two cylinders since Jake has come into my life. Still I was managing pretty well ... until a couple of weeks ago, when Jake decided that napping was overrated and he now fights sleep to the point of pure exhaustion (and crankiness). My little angel who used to nap in 2-3 hour stretches (during which I would also do a bit of napping) now barely lasts 30-45 minutes at any one time (and it takes about that long to get him 'down'). So, what do I do, call Google of course. And what do I find? Well, I'll let Jake's Grandpa Dave tell you:

When I got to Turkey I watched as KT set up a CD player to play Mozart for Jake while he was in his little chair. KT spent some time telling me how "studies" have shown Mozart songs help in brain development, and over all well being of the child. She had researched this thoroughly and I was impressed.

In fact there is no end to the studies available on the Internet. So many that I have watched KT spend hours researching Jake's every action or inaction. Watching all this has made me very happy none of it existed when I was raising the kids.

Today I came into the living room and KT was setting up the CD player. Less than four weeks from Mozart, the player was playing, are you ready, hairdryer noise. It seems the kids have not been getting enough sleep. The "studies" indicate Jake is not sleeping enough during the day so he is awake at night more than, well, more than KT and Chris would like. KT noticed that when she vacuumed the house Jake went to sleep right away and when the vacuum stopped he woke up. She could not find vacuum noises that she could download for free (that's my daughter) but she could find hairdryer noise, so Jake is being bombarded with hairdryer sounds so he will sleep.

Mozart and brain development will have to wait, there are priorities in life.

So, you must be wondering ... does it work? Yes and No. First I found that Jake prefers pure white noise or dishwasher sounds over the hair dryer (even writing that sounds ridiculously funny to me). It helps him fall asleep, but unfortunately does not keep him asleep, and so his naps are still ridiculously short and I am still Google-ing away!

Grandpa Dave just departed to return home. I was quite worried how this would further effect my sleep, as we were doing a 5/6am hand-off to Grandpa Dave every morning while I crawled back into bed for a blissful 2-3 undisturbed hours. Thankfully Chris and I have worked out a plan that involves Chris removing Jake from our bed around 6 am (after his feeding and when he starts to get all fidgety), and Chris then takes the next feeding. No, Chris has not magical found a way to produce milk, I am pumping, and it is the best decision ever made ... that extra couple of hours is pure bliss! My dad, Grandpa Dave, wrote a funny blurb about his mornings with Jake in one of his emails home:

Since I am an early riser I have been getting early morning time with Jake. KT finishes feeding him about 6:00 or so then staggers out to the porch where I am drinking my coffee and passes him off. She goes back to bed and I try to keep Jake happy until he’s hungry again. What is really an interesting sight is how KT and Chris can look so beat up at 6:00 am and Jake looks so refreshed. It would seem that every two hours at watch on the boat is easier than doing every two with Jake. Its great being a grandpa, sleep through the whole night, every night.

I’ve been trying to pass on some good tips to Jake. Like “honey coated cheerios are better than plain” and “why West coast teams don’t get a fair shake in the sports writers polls” and “why my generation’s bail out is really going to be his generation’s bail faster”. Jake pays attention to every presentation, but I am sure he’s just being polite. Sometimes polite is all you need.

Well, I'll keep you posted if I discover any sleep miracles for my little bundle of joy ... in the meantime here are a mix of photos from Jake's first eight weeks of life.

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Wrapping Up

We have said goodbye to Billabong. I never thought I'd be sentimental about a boat, but there is no doubt that I'll miss the 'ol girl. She is a great boat, but more importantly she allowed Chris and I to see parts of the world that would've otherwise gone unexplored. Aboard Billabong we learned more abut ourselves and each other in 5-1/2 years then we probably could have in twice that time. But still I can't seem to shed a tear. Actually that is not entirely true, when we first received the offer on her (and I was still quite pregnant ... aka emotional) I woke up one morning and pretty much sobbed, yep uncontrollable sobs. It wasn't so much for Billabong (sorry Billabong), but rather for the end of an unbelievable journey, and end of a lifestyle that I had grown to love. I had thought that as we moved our belongings off Billabong I would be emotional, that it would be hard. It hasn't been though. Actually the whole things feels a bit unreal, like perhaps it hasn't hit yet. Chris seems just as unattached as I do. My guess is that three months from now it will hit us both, and for me it will be a very emotional moment.

The new owners, Bill and Caroline, are terrific. They are the perfect match for Billabong, and I find myself surprised that I care so much about the match. I suppose it is because I've watched as Chris has poured his time and energy (and yes, even some of his heart) into Billabong, perfecting this and sprucing up that, such that I am thrilled to have Billabong transferred to a couple who appreciates all of this work and who acknowledges its value.

Saturday, August 1, we had a little ceremony ...
well ceremony might be a strong word, but we struck the colors (translation = took down our American Flag) while Bill & Caroline raised the Australian flag. We also strung together all of the flags from the 25 countries we had visited and hoisted them up the mast for a photo op. It seems amazing that we have visited so many countries, however when I look at a world map I realize that we have still seen so little! This ceremony of sorts seemed to make the transfer official. It feels a bit odd to step aboard Billabong and no longer be her Admiral (as Chris calls me). It didn't really hit me that she was no longer "my" boat until just the other day when, after finishing a little maneuvering practice with Bill & Caroline, they served us lunch ... food and entertaining visitors was always a big thing for me aboard Billabong, and this was the first time that it was I being served rather than scurrying around doing the serving. A very strange feeling!

My dad, aka Grandpa Dave, mentions that perhaps Chris and I are not as emotional as we could be because of Jake ... Jake, as he says, is our new Billabong. He is probably pretty close to the mark. Here is his "five cents worth":

Today we went to Billabong to take some pictures and to strike Old Glory so that Bill and Caroline could raise the flag of Australia. It was a sort of ceremonial Change of Command.

First Chris ran up the courtesy flags from all the Nations they had visited in their trip. It was a very impressive string of flags. Then Chris struck the Stars and Stripes, handed it to me and I folded her and put her away for the Myles family. She will always bring great memories and I think good fortune.

I expected the turning over of Billabong to be considerably more emotional and maybe even a little difficult for KT and Chris. I kept looking for signs of loss, but I have not seen any. Then during our brief ceremony something became very clear to me. Jake is the active ingredient to the change here. In an emotional sense Jake has replaced Billabong. Chris and KT now have a different boat to sail.

Jake was here before Billabong had to leave. He needs the attention of the crew every bit as much, maybe more than Billabong. This has made leaving Billabong seem a natural step. Jake has brought a new challenge; family.

So, while I am sure the kids will shed some tears and miss the lovely Billabong, Jake has brought some pretty strong winds of change for this crew and has given them no time to morn.

I am reminded of the comic strip Peanuts and how Lucy would set up a Psychologist Stand (like a Lemon Aide stand). The sign said 5 cents. So, that’s my 5 cents worth.

Repeat of photos from above link, in case you missed them!

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The American Male

Jake is one month old tomorrow! I knew time would fly, but this is ridiculous ... who knew it could go this fast (well, other parents I suppose). I was just looking at a photo of Jake from the hospital and it amazes me how much he has changed in such a short time. And it's not just his appearance- his focus, attention and "skills" have all grown exponentially. Of course that also means he demands more attention from Mom & Dad - he no longer just sleeps away the day, but prefers to explore & interact (while in our arms of course).

He is not the only one demanding our time. We've been busy moving off the 'ol Billabong. We are officially homeless and no longer Billabong's captain/admiral. It hasn't really hit either of us yet, but I'm sure one day we will wake up and be in shock that we are now land-lubbers!

Because of all this activity in our lives this will be a short post ... but we wanted an excuse to post some more photos of Jake (from Weeks 2 and 3) and to publish this Guest post, "The American Male" by Jake's Grandpa Dave:

Thursday, July 16, 2009

I am witnessing a miracle. Jake Dylan Myles has a full time job. He eats, poops and sleeps. It’ a grind. He also must discover things, things like his own hand passing by his line of sight.

I am in awe watching KT. She provides everything Jake needs. She is in tune with him. They are for now in his life as connected as they were when he was in her womb. It is beautiful. It is incredible but it is not the miracle I address here.

While the mother is the provider of all needs the father is, well, somewhat left out or so I thought. But I am witnessing the development of the American male psyche. I am seeing firsthand how it is we are what we are. How we get from “he’s so cute and adorable” to “your gross”, “not here”, “do you have to”, “where are your manners” et al. let me explain.

While the mom is busy providing all things needed the dad is left with the by-products. This is the only area he can work. And he makes the best of it. He plants the seeds of the American male psyche. It works like this. Jake farts, dad jumps up and rushes to his son. He carefully lifts one arm and moves it up and down in the arm pump motion while singing praises like “you da man” similar excitement and encouragement are shown when he pees in his own face or poops a particularly messy diaper or belches load enough to be heard in the next flat.

Chris is beautiful man, he is on this stuff. The day will come when Jake will be able to empty a room with one noxious loud release and stand alone in the center of the room and pound his chest in triumph.

He will be one of us. He will be An American Male.

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