Dama and Dampa See the Mountains

In May, we took an awesome trip to Calgary and Banff (both in Alberta). We planned to travel the 6 plus hours to Calgary at some point anyway to visit the US consulate to declare Hadley's birth abroad and obtain her U.S. Social Security Number and for both of the girls' U.S. passports, so my parents flew to Calgary and saw the mountains with us.  We rented a mini-van for our drive so we could travel as a group for the week.  May is definitely off-season for travel, so we had no traffic or competition at any site-seeing or restaurants. It was wonderful! 

Annabel was soooo cute with her rolling luggage.  She followed Eric and did everything he did with his: set it on it's end, pushed down the handle, carried it.

We spent three nights in Calgary, so we could go to the consulate one day and my parents arrived that night.  The next day we went to the Calgary Tower and OEB restaurant for the best breakfast in the world before going to see Thomas the Tank Engine and then driving an hour to Canmore/Banff area to our rented condo.

Annabel showed no fear on the glass look down.

Looks like my mom showed a little.

She is such a cuddle bug!

We knew Day Out with Thomas, a traveling Thomas the Train festival was going to be in Calgary, so we planned the trip around it.  Annabel is the Thomas show's biggest fan, so she had the best day!  We were so impressed with the organization of the event....it could have been nuts, but instead they pre-sold a set amount of tickets, so Heritage Park wasn't crowded and we didn't wait in lines.

We rode in Annie for a nice 20 min ride or so around the park, with Thomas leading the way.

Free rides!!  This was Annabel's first experience on any type of fair ride.  She yelled in delight the entire time!!  A guy standing by me said, " I think she likes it."

This was a neat old style rocking swing.  I had never seen anything like it.  Annabel loved this too.  She looked to her sides and would say "look, I'm just like those kids."

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In Banff National Park, we thought we would head to the famous Lake Louise first to let my parents get a look at the pristine, turquoise water, but it was still frozen!!!  But, there wasn't a crowd.

Lake Louise

Good thing we had a king sized bed!  Wish I could say the same for at home.

A beautiful walk along Bow River in the town of Banff, Alberta.

Fly fisherman

We hung around this area for quite awhile, skipping rocks and enjoying this beautiful scene.  It got a bit chilly and we had forgotten Annabel's hat, so Hadley's bonnet worked.  

What a rough place to take a break and rest from our walk.

We took an incredible gondola ride.  The views from that height were really beautiful.  

Earlier this day we say a bear on the side of the road, but didn't get a picture.  Enjoyed watching about 10 elk eating fresh grass.  

Top of the Banff Gondola.  It was freezing up there and started to snow so we didn't stay long. Despite the look on Annabel's face, she claims that the gondola ride was her favorite part of the trip.

Hadley, four months, was a great traveler!

View from the porch of the condo in Canmore.  Annabel made Grandpa laugh when he said, "wow, look at those mountains."  Annabel pointed to the parking lot below and said, "whoa, look at that green car!"

On our final day, we spent the entire afternoon at the Calgary Zoo, staying until closing.  Just like the Griswolds, we were the only car in the parking lot when we left!!  It was a great zoo and again, no crowds!!

Eric with his favorite.

I'll close with a few cute shots of Hadley in the hotel bed.  Can't beat a tiny baby in a big, comfy bed.

Thank you, mom and dad, for joining us on a fun trip.  We look forward to more!

A Very Prairie Christmas

We had a very merry little Christmas.  We had plans for all of us to go to Christmas Eve Candle Light service, but Annabel hadn't been feeling well and seemed to be not doing great right before 6 o'clock.  I went by myself, as I had to read a poem and, unlike most Sundays, I didn't get emotional once!  I sat by a single lady so I wasn't completely surrounded by large families, but it was definitely a first to go to a Christmas Eve service solo.  Eric and Annabel were able to call June and discuss her family's recent holiday gathering. When I returned we were able to Skype with my parents as Annabel opened her presents sent by them, including her favorite--a little Lightning McQueen car.

Annabel was really fun this year, as she really seemed to "get" the Santa idea.  (She can identify baby Jesus and she thinks the Pastor is adult Jesus, so we got the messages across the best we could). Christmas morning she walked out to the tree, paused, looked at the partially eaten cookie left for Santa and the chewed carrot stick, and stood with a grin.  She removed the sheet from the play kitchen and got a bit hyper.   She then said, "where'd all those red presents come from?"  She noticed right away that Lightning and Mater were on the wrapping paper.  Recently Eric said something about going to play with the kitchen and she said, "no, Santa brought that kitchen for ME." 

She has used the phone on the kitchen to 'call' all her favorite engines.  We've had many conversations with Thomas, Henry, Emily, Percy, and James.

Last minute, a friend graciously picked up this easel for Santa during his trip to Edmonton.  She has been using it a lot.  I'm glad to have a few more toys that can spark imagination and role play to keep Annabel busy this winter, especially when I attend to the new baby.  

It was wonderful to attend a nice dinner with our pastor's family. 

Our day care is closed this week, so Eric has been having some good days with Annabel while I've been at work.  They've enjoyed lunch out, a trip to Target, a library story time and indoor playgrounds.  My last day of work is this Friday.  At my last appointment, we decided to go ahead with an elective c-section, as Annabel's birth was such a long labor and there was no specific reason why I didn't progress.  My doctor let me debate on my options, so I spoke with a lot of friends and read a lot.  When I told her my decision, she said she truly feels I'm making the right decision as she (and I) have a feeling I may end up doing a c-section anyway.  January 12th at 1:30 is the set time.  Now, I'm just hoping to make it that far, as it's only four days prior to my due date.  I went into labor with Annabel 8 days early, she was born 5 days early.  If I go early, they just won't let me wait and will take me to the operating room, but now that it's organized, it would be nice to stay that way.  It should work great to have Annabel go to her regular day care, have a baby, and have Eric go pick her up!   

Eric and Annabel put the bassinet together while I was resting. Next, we hope to find the sheets and get out a few neutral colored outfits from the bins in the garage.  We don't have a nursery ready (or a bag packed, or car seat ready, etc., etc.) as we have a spare room set-up now, but we can work on that later and transition Annabel into a more big girl room after the baby grows too large for the bassinet.  

Annabel has fleeting moments where she seems interested in the tiny baby in mommy's tummy.  Just the other night, she was showing more interest than normal by rubbing, kissing, and hugging my stomach. So sweet.    

We are working on some name choices.  It's just as difficult as last time.  Annabel goes back and forth between boy or girl, but usually still says we should name the baby Percy.  Lately she's also said Rosie.  (both characters from Thomas...go figure).  Happy New Year!!