Photographed here is the Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), Alaska's state flower. This lovely and delicate little flower grows in alpine meadows, such as the one at Arctic Valley, just east of Anchorage in the Chugach State Park.
I post this while thinking about the impending arrival of our daughter, Aurelia Zora Mumpower Jones. She's scheduled for delivery in two days, on Friday 17 July 2009. Assuming Mumpower doesn't go into labor earlier, we'll be checking into Providence first thing Friday morning.
On Friday the 17th, the world and my life completely changes. For the better.
Needless to say, we're quite anxious and excited to welcome her to the world. As to be expected, I find myself a bit nervous and slightly frightened. I'm not sure there's any way for me to psychologically prepare myself for this transition... I've tried, but still have more questions than answers -- and I suspect experience will ultimately be the best teacher. What's important, I suppose, is that I'm anxious and damn near ecstatic to learn.
On a whim, I Twittered the following question: Do you have any advice in 140 characters of less for a new parent? I received a handful of replies, my favorite being from Mel who wrote Always follow through on what you say, whether w/ rewards or consequences. It's essential to trust. Listen w/out judgment.
Though I'm not *yet* a parent, I've always found it difficult to understand how a parent could judge or not listen to their child. To try to not see the world through their eyes, from their perspective, from their own unique, personal, perception of reality. For me, writing this two days before the Official Launch, this is one of the things I most look forward to. I can't wait to see the world as Aurelia will see it. New, fresh, exciting. And I want to do everything that I can to foster her own journey of self-discovery and self-actualization. I can think of nothing greater than this responsibility in my life. I can think of nothing more rewarding.
Anyhow, once she arrives we'll do our best to keep posting and updating... But obviously, time management will be a little different on our end.
Again, let me say thanks to our friends, family, colleagues, and internet communities for all their love and support during this most precious epoch of our lives.
We have a second blog/site set up, wholly dedicated to All-Things-Aurelia. We'll be posting photos and videos over there, for our friends & family in the lower-48. So far away, and yet so close in the heart. We'll continue to text-blog here, of course, and I'll provide links to the other site when there are substantial updates that may be of interest. The Aurelia Site is located here:
http://web.me.com/bacchusjones/Aurelia/Welcome.html
- Janson
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