Boat trip

Last weekend Steve, Chase & I went on a boat ride from Igloolik to the Melville Peninsula (or as the Inuit call it "Canada") with our friends Lily, Steve A., Maren, Jay & Jay's dog Sam. It was a beautiful day in the 50s. Steve A., Jay, and Maren all caught ocean char on spinning rods and Steve V., with help from Chase who was in the sling, caught his first ocean char on a fly rod - he was excited! Steve's hoping Chase is a fish whisperer already. We went on walks and saw Phalaropes (& their chicks), Snow Geese, Eiders, Terns, and various other ducks & gulls. The flowers, including arctic poppies and dwarf fireweed were in gorgeous bloom. We saw harp and ringed seals on our boat ride back - it was a wonderful day! Oh and the first photo is of Steve & Chase last week catching one of their first lake char on a fly rod - this shows the sling method, complete with the fly in the fish's mouth :)

Out on the land

Mom and dad took Chase out on his first fly fishing trip on the land - he was 3 weeks old. Steve caught fish on a fly rod at the lake, sweet! Hillary carried Chase in her Amautiq. An amautiq is the traditional baby-carrying jacket used by the Inuit. As you can see, the weather was beautiful. Chase is fond of his monkey blanket. Chase likes to coo and look out windows at the great outdoors :)

Baby Chase arrived June 20th

Well, baby Chase arrived June 20th at 12:30pm. He was 8.75 lbs and 21.5" long. After a few days in the hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut, the three of us flew back home to Igloolik. It was Chase's first plane ride! Grandparents Betty & Bruce came to Iqaluit on June 18th and got to hang out with Steve and Hillary before Hillary delivered. We went for a walk in the regional park and visited some museums and exhibits, which was fun. When Steve, Hillary & Chase got back to Igloolik, grandparents Betty & Bruce and sister Heidi were there to greet us along with many friends. Grandparents Betty & Bruce and sister Heidi stayed for a week or so, which was great! Since then Steve, Hillary & Chase have been getting to know to each other and Steve and Hillary exploring the trials & triumphs of parenthood.