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!

Visitors from Wisconsin

When Hadley was three weeks old (she is 3.5 months now!), my mom and sister flew up to visit, help us, and of course meet the newest member of the family.  I was still quite ill with a sinus infection and recovering from my c-section, but we still had a great time.  I really didn't realize how terrible I felt until I was back to my normal self (weeks after they left).  It was great for Annabel to have some attention that I was just not able to give her. 

Tech break

They were here during an extreme cold snap so we stayed indoors at our place most of their visit.  We did manage to go to Annie at the Movies for Mommies showing.  Chelsea took Annabel swimming while Mom and I watched, which I think was a highlight for Annabel.  They also shared some time together crafting and playing while mom and I got groceries and picked up Eric from work.  Annabel still talks about it, so I think it was really special for both Chelsea and Annabel to have some one-on-one time.  She also keeps talking about making rolled out cookies while wearing her apron Grandma made.    

All week Grandma tried to talk Annabel into watching Frozen, which Grandma had brought for a gift, but every time she suggested it, Annabel would look at her like it was a horrible idea and say "no, let's watch Cars."  On their last night, we just put Frozen in and we all watched it together.  We are late on the bandwagon, but the past two weeks, we've really gotten into the movie!  Although I haven't actually seen it in its entirety, but that's the story of my life these days.   

Grandma's baby rocking chair.

Pretending to be a baby in daddy's tummy.  Rosy cheeks from playing in frigid temps.

I particularly enjoyed their company and all the help with meals and housework, especially with Eric working a lot during his busy teaching semester.  It was tough having to do dishes after they left!!

We all look forward to seeing them and more family soon.  The next family we will see will be my parents when we meet them in Calgary and do some traveling in Banff, Alberta.

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Since their visit, we have been enjoying having Hadley a part of our family.  She continues to be a calm baby.  We were used to a baby whose screams could be heard by the man on the moon, so this is a nice change.  
Hadley is smiling and cooing and we are looking forward to her first giggle.  She's holding her head up pretty strong now and thinking about rolling.  She is so cuddly, forming her body right to ours.  

 We went ice skating downtown.  Annabel's first attempt.  Somewhere along the process of getting ready and going there, she must have thought we were going to the zoo because she kept looking for the animals at the ice rink.  It was a gorgeous day, so we decided to head to the zoo next.

Playing at this great play space at the police station.  We were there getting fingerprinted to send to the FBI, another part of our permanent residency process.  We joked that we may come back just to play!

Annabel seems to be enjoying being a big sister, playing with her and helping out if Hadley cries in the car "it's o-tay, Hattie Had, I know, I know." She has inevitably tried to pick her up a handful of times and needs reminders to be gentle and not to pester her cheeks, but overall it is going well.  She showed a little big sister protectiveness when Hadley had her first shots and Annabel looked sternly at the nurse and said "hey."  

Annabel's language has really exploded and she is full of very interesting questions like, "what are boogers for?" and "do you know how to toot?"  She often tells us her plan and then says "is that a good idea?"  She is doing excellent with potty training the past couple weeks, so I'm so glad we just let her fall into the habit rather than try any technique.  She also stopped sucking her thumb cold turkey (we told her how her teeth could stick out like Mater from Cars and apparently that was enough for her).  What a big girl!

Her sleeping has improved since my last post where she was staying up late and not napping.  Now, we seem to be in-between needing a nap or not.  She goes to bed fairly well at 8pm (with rocking and/or us laying with us and sleeps until 7:30 if she does not nap (but 1-8pm can show periods of tiredness/hyper/craziness). But, if she naps, then she is up until at least 9:30, usually 11.  The evenings are easier for Eric and I if we get a little break. 

Puppy at the children's museum.  She kept telling me she was a cow.

Annabel puts together some pretty awesome outfits.  Generally she is dressed way better than me.

I had dressed her in the boring gray shirt and striped pants, but Annabel thought the outfit needed a dress (made by my Aunt Pam) and dress shoes.

  

Reading her new favorite book The Book with No Pictures in her new big, big girl bed.  We are slowly transitioning our office/storage room into her new room and being creative as to wear to now put the storage stuff.  Eric put her bed up on the frame today, which he said makes it seems less like she is a roommate who was going to move out any day.

Easter Sunday

Annabel loves it when Eric holds "two babies."

Making her signature sound.