Time will tell.......

Nerves are a little high in this house.  Twelve hours from now we will be at the airport and we just aren't sure how Nory is going to respond to the adventure that awaits us.  This morning I told Phil to "sleep in for as long as possible" - just in case we don't sleep again for over a day.  Or a week if you consider the effects of jet lag.  Or EVER if you think about the lasting impacts of a really haunting plane ride with a four month old who could in theory hate air travel as much or more than her father. 

I suppose we could be optimistic and imagine her sleeping the entire way, brightening the experience of every passenger on board, and receiving a "best baby to travel EVER" medal as we disembark the aircraft at Pearson Airport in Toronto.  But in this case, I think preparing for the worst is the only option.  Ergo-ing Nory up and down the aisles enough to constitute a full 26.2.  Making worse-than-enemies as she shrieks her discontent the flight's entire duration.  Projectile vomiting onto a fellow traveler who is simply not the right size to fit into the change of clothes in our carry-on.  Oh, it could be bad.  It could be real bad.

Hmmmm.  Perhaps we should just stay.  Invite all of you here instead.  Daily high's near 50 degrees, dust rather than rain, and a REALLY, REALLY good mall.  Are you in? 

Narrating the CAMERA ROLL......

Here's Nory enjoying some playoff action.  This moment also marks Kumari's first exposure to the good old game of HOCKEY!  You'll be happy to know that Nory was introduced to the sport quite quickly after birth :) 

Heather is getting married this summer but Emily told us that she didn't want a Bridal shower.  So.  We didn't give her one.  HA!!!!!!!!!

Nory's first animal!  Who knew that Loomi would be so afraid of her?!  I have a feeling that Coco and Oscar will respond in a completely different way.....

We spotted these mugs while walking the mall last weekend.  LOVE THEM.  Since there wasn't a P for PHILLIP, we decided to go for MOM and DAD mugs instead.

On Saturday we celebrated Emily and Heather's upcoming birthdays (or "death" as Emily believes....).  Check out all of these treats served during our tea party at the fancy "English Tea Lounge"! 

Patches is official.  We can't wait to take him around the world and have his passport stamped by the Build-A-Bear Workshops we encounter.  Windsor just might be his next one! 

You can spot a loved toy from miles away.  Guess how Nory holds this guy?  Haha.  In Toyland, I believe "injuries" are dreamed of. 

It's official!  I'm signed up and excited to take my ABQ Primary this summer!  In the end, I will be able to teach Kindergarten to Grade 3, as well as Grades 4-12 :) 

Lunch time at the souq.  Cheap, cheap, cheap and SO DELICIOUS. 

One of my favourite signs of all time. 

Our little chicken ADORES this thing.  We might be lost without it this summer.  Ah-hem, we might have to become garage sale enthusiasts! 

FREEDOM AT LAST!

A jumping picture is the best way to celebrate anything.  Here we are right after check-out!  HOORAY FOR SUMMER!!!!!  Forever weekends have begun. 

Now, I wonder how long my napping beauties will sleep for..........

WORKING. LIKE A CHARM.

We've got windows to tape up, moth balls to disperse, suitcases to pack, a fridge to clean out, and laundry to finish up.  I could be thinking about this.

Today is our last day of school for the 2012-2013 school year.  I have a few things left to do in my classroom and some sad farewells to survive before noon.  I could be thinking about this.

We fly out on Wednesday night.  The diaper bag needs packing with triple-checking and I need to re-read some airplane tips posted by other moms in my moms group.  I could be thinking about this.

However.

The ONLY thing that has my mind racing with curiosity, full of frustration, and pondering non-stop is this:

WHAT DID KIMYE NAME THEIR BABY GIRL?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to this time zone, their little darling has been around for TWO DAYS and the only clues we have been given are:  it starts with a K (obviously) and the middle name is Donda.  I vote 48 hours with these limited details is simply unjust.  They are at risk of people calling her K.DONDA forever.  

So, I've been thinking.  Would it be Kensington, Kenzie, Kandi, Karissa, Kaleidoscope (ha!), Korie...........????  Talk about a publicity stunt that works.  From my computer alone, Kim Kardashian has at least 100 hits!  Haha.

Now to be a little less dramatic......TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Off I go to wake my hubby and spread the good cheer :)

DADS RULE!!!!!!

To Dad P,

Because of you, Phillip is the most incredible husband and father.  You have taught him to be a loyal, hardworking man who puts his family first in every instance.  He would do ANYTHING for us - without complaint - to ensure our safety, security, and happiness.  Thank you for raising the MAN OF MY DREAMS!

Love, 

Lindsay

To Lindsay's "Daddy",

Because of you, Lindsay has all the qualities of the person I've always wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  She is the most caring person I have ever met, and will forever support me and guide Nory to be her very best.  I am blessed to have her as a best friend, a wonderful wife, and now an amazing mother.  Thank you for raising her, and I look forward to you helping me raise my daughter.  

Love, 

Phil..... "GO WINGS GO"

Date Night: Romance at its BEST!

The plan was to partake in a much anticipated Thai cooking class. Well, that didn't happen. Here's what did:

First of all, we believe in being on time and leaving early just to make sure you find the place you're headed.  Well, thank goodness we did that.  The map that was given to us didn't really speak the truth and we very quickly realized we were living The Amazing Race.  We drove circles around the area and eventually, after superb scouting on our behalf, we spotted this wee little Chef that flagged the cooking location! (Sometimes it seems like signage is a Canadian thing).  Anyways, we parked the car and ran up to the front steps.

Ding, dong!  Hello???  Knock, knock, knock.  NOTHING.  

Hmmmm........seemed strange.  Phil got on the phone and called the lady in charge.  I could tell from his mannerisms that whatever was up was NOT good.  The lady directed Phil to go through the gate, down the stairs, around the pool, and into the kitchen.  In the air conditioned space (ha!  what a tactic), she told us that the class was cancelled and she forgot to let us know.  BIG BUMMER.  Our first night out since baby and our date was bombarded with disappointment.

See him?  Tiny and cozy at the back of the porch?

I'm telling you, I was SO UPSET.  Eyeballs filling up with tears upset.  What were we going to do now?  Date options aren't exactly endless in this place and in the moment I wanted to kill somebody.

Well, sometimes you can do as you feel in a SAFE and COMPLETELY LEGAL way!  My negative emotions led us to...............the shooting range!  HA!  There's nothing like blowing off some steam with a 9 mm.

Kidding. 

The entire time I was sweaty.  Shaking.  Afraid for my life.  Praying for all 20 bullets to fly out of the gun without my assistance.  Of course that didn't happen and I had to do the job solo.  BAH!     

That being said, you can see that I performed well :)  BULLSEYE!!!!!!!

(Phil actually did a better job - hitting closer to the target WAY MORE OFTEN than I did!)

Following this heart-pounding excitement, we decided to tone things down a bit with dinner at Pizza Express.  We ate delicious pizza and made up actions to the "colour orange" song for Nory.  Onlookers seemed curious but we were having too much fun alone to initiate a full-blown concert for other diners.  

YUM, capital Y, U, M!

During dinner, we also played "The Bachelorette" and took turns being Chris Harrison - asking the typical date questions that make viewers roll their eyes but keep watching.  It was a great time :)

Despite the initial letdown, this date night is another fun memory to add to the love story.  Our Thai cooking class is being rescheduled for the fall and it has been upgraded to a private session.  In addition, we have been given a free voucher to attend any other class we like!  If these two classes don't work out, there's always paintball.  Or bumper cars.  Or......the shooting range. 

Making Friends.

Because we live so far from Nory's cousins....and because we work at a school with baby-less colleagues....and because we want Nory to share and care better than any Spark on the block......we've been doing our best to meet other couples with young babies.  The good news is, we've had GREAT success with TWO families!

Amirah (7 months)

Tallulah (2 months)

I know, I know.  If you were to compare the two pictures, you would assume that one play date went spectacularly while the other was a one-time deal.  But the truth is, BOTH WERE SUPERB!

The first one happened on Wednesday night with Amirah.  Her family came to our flat in the late afternoon and we ordered in delicious Lebanese food.  The girls had multiple staring contests and played with the exer-saucer toys together.  Karen and Hussein shared airport tips with us and we filled them in on the world of swim diapers.  It was fabulous.

The second one happened this morning.  We had initially met this couple (Danielle and James) at the hospital and the husbands exchanged numbers so we could meet up "one day soon".   Alas, you know how it is.  ONE DAY SOON came two months later!  Nonetheless, we made it happen our last week here and it was really nice to get to know them some more.  They are both from Haiti and were living in NYC before they moved to Kuwait.  Turns out they have been dealing with a colicky baby and MY GOSH I am amazed at how calm and patient they remained with each and every cry.  Really - wouldn't you think the opposite would be true?  They've got to be superhuman or something.  Anyways, after breakfast we took them to our favourite Mothercare location so we could show them the "baby feeding" area, as well as browse the Ergo carriers.  You can see the girls had a sad farewell.....or I brought out the camera when Nory was hungry and Tallulah had just plain had enough!  This picture makes us laugh hysterically.  Inshallah we capture something happier at the next meet up.....

The three of us are excited to meet up with some Canadian-born babies this summer!  Cute things belong together.  FOR REAL. 

Things that happened this morning....

Phil woke up at 3 a.m. to go watch a hockey game (THE hockey game) with a friend.  Nory woke up at 5:15 a.m. and greeted me with a smile.  We hung out in the big bed because Mommy was still tired.  Finger puppets, tummy time, reminiscing about last night's play date.  It was a great time until Simone's antenna poked Nory in the eye.  Thankfully Daddy came home between overtimes, during which time Mommy begged him to give her caffeine intravenously.  Coffee was the next best thing.  Girlie is now asleep, Daddy has returned to NHL action, and I am about ready to force myself into the shower.

Thursday.

And the last weekend before "forever weekends".  HOOR-AH!

Peaked My Interest.

THIS and THIS.

This Crocheted Darling.....is FOUR MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!!

I cannot believe it.  I was always taught that there are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day.......but somebody was CLEARLY lying to my face because if this were true, time wouldn't have passed so quickly.   This time last year I had just discovered I was pregnant and now.........well, I'm the mother of a FOUR MONTH OLD babe!  WHOA NELLY.  Or shall we say WHOA NORY!  

This month was especially fun for one main reason:  GIGGLE FESTS.  Yes, we now engage in moments of non-stop, don't-forget-to-catch-your-breath LAUGHTER.  Out of the blue (or so it seems), Nory will get really excited and just LIVE IT UP.  She will giggle with her whole entire body and the magic ripples towards any others that are there to see it!  Emily, Phil, Shani and I have all had the great privilege of participating in a giggle fest with our girlie.  It's THE BEST TIME.  So good I refuse to put her down, walk away, and get my phone to record it.  

My beauty, you bring so much joy to our hearts.  We can't wait to take you home to Canada next week!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy
XOXO

P.S.  These pictures were taken for a local crochet company by the oh-so-talented Auntie Gem.  GREAT JOB, GEMILY! xo