We leave for Canada tomorrow!!! I feel like we've made it. You may be asking: Made it how? where? huh?
2007 has been a year of challenges, changes and facing the unknown head on, so I thought I'd claim victory as a survivor, nah (yes, I said "nah") a victor (yes, yes, victory as a victor...I'm too tired to think of a synonum).
I tried to be brief (in case you have a busy day at work a head of you). I've omitted things like how Sam was awake every 45 mins to 3 hours each night until November. I've left out that I refused to by a salt and pepper shaker until April because I didn't want to feel settled (and even then, Adam's Dad bought the pepper shaker. I eventually bought a salt shaker in July due to my Mom shaming me). I didn't discuss Samuel's amazing growth and development...you'll have to check the archeives for that :)
January started off great! We were home at Cathy and Carl's house in Quispam, Sam was peacefully asleep, and we were asleep by 12:06am :) Then the hard stuff came...the reality of our big move across the continent was starting to sink in...and it sucked! We were ready to go when we had to cancel our plane tickets because Adam's visa didn't come in time. Merry Christmas to us, we had a bonus week in NB!!! When we did leave, it was so hard and our arrival in LA couldn't have been worse (ok, it could have been, but it was pretty bad). With the help of our Canadian friends, the Masudas, we settled into SoCal life fairly easily. Samuel was a trooper through it all and really helped us to keep perspective.
The highlight of February for me was my birthday because that meant two big things: a new camera and a trip to Joshua Tree NP with our friends Chelle, Jason and Becca. It was hard not to be with my family (for the first time in my 28 years), but...nothing...it was hard.
In March, we were starting to settle in...the palm trees and orange trees blended into the scenery, and we ventured further from home...all the way to the park that is 2.5 blocks from our apartment ( :) ). We started hanging out with Ashton and Tami and Bonnie and Vinnie with almost daily trips to the beautiful botanical gardens.
April...We knew that Adam wouldn't be home for almost a year, so 'home' came to Adam in the form of his parents. They were a sight for sore, homesick eyes! We had such a great visit (don't tell anyone, but Adam took 2 week days off! don't worry, he made them up and then some on the weekends...) and tour all over SoCal and even stayed a couple of nights in Palm Springs.
May meant our first trip home! For months I'd been telling myself that every step I take is another step closer to home (we opted for plane tickets instead of a car). And boy was it worth it!
June brought my Mom and my Wayne to California. With the temperatures climbing and me climbing the walls (cabin fever due to summer hibration), I was very glad to go adventuring! We saw everything from the beach to the dessert and in between!
July started with a Canada celebration on the beach in Santa Monica with Mom and Wayne, Adam, Sammy and me. We had such a great visit with them, we hope they'll come back next year (if we're here). The temperatures were stupendous, oh, I mean stupid...reaching 140 F (well over 55 C). We celebrated our two year anniversary but took a rain check on a family trip (see November, Balboa Park).
This August, Samuel turned ONE! We had a birthday party with his friends and our friends Bonnie, Vince and Vinnie and Tami, Glen and Ashton. It was still stinking hot, so Sam and I swam every afternoon and hibranated the rest of the time, while poor Adam had to walk in the heat (he did adjust his work hours to go in earlier and come home later...he's such a hard worker!.) Adam did take the evening off to celebrate his birthday (the big two-six, and he doesn't look a day over 25!). (Adam chose to stay at home, rather than take a trip somewhere.)
In September, Samuel and I flew home for a visit. We had such a nice time, taking every chance to go outside and clear out our lungs. I have so many great pics from this month, you should really check out the archeived photos..but here's a few...
October started with our first trip to Winnipeg (we hope to go back!) for Nancy and Scott's wedding (which was fab). My mom, Sammy and I stayed with the Flocton's and had a super nice time. Meeting Adam at LAX was a special highlight this month (leaving is hard, but reuniting is so nice!). We also took a trip to two pumpkin patches with Tami, Glen and Ashton and then with Bonnie and Vinnie and our mom's group.
November...hmmmm...things got alot more exciting around here! Samuel climbed to all new heights (literally) and tested his boundries in every way possible. Adam and I learned to present a united front (we can't let someone so little divide and conquor!) and discipline techniques that work with Sam's personality. We took a trip to San Diego to Balboa Park, where Adam and Samuel took a crazy fast carosel ride...excitement all around!
December...I'll summarize as a content month. Of course, with the Advent season comes a reminder of the true meaning of peace. Plus, Sam's contentment increased drastically with his increased ability to communicate. When he wants to go out, he brings his or my shoes and says "out". When he wants to read a book, he brings his choice to me or Adam and says "need" and hurrles the book at us (fortunately they are small). When he's hungry between meals, instead of fussing, he says "nummy nummy" and heads for the fridge to point out what he'd like to eat. When something hurts, he points to it or names it and says "owie". And, did I mention, now he sleeps all night! Ten hours or more each night!!!
4 comments:
Crazy year. I know it is hard, but I found over time it got easier (maybe it was just knowing it would be over).
Many hugs!
i do spend alot of time figuring out how to put hidden messages (and not so hidden ones) in the blog so u can shame people who don't go to it.
i have figured out your plan - you're going for multiple so you don't have to rush the next baby. very sensible
Very busy year! I hope you had a safe trip home. You are always welcomed at the Flockton's... I want to plan a trip to NB for Scott to see where I grew up and made such great friends. We'll wait until you guys are back, thou!! Merry Christmas and I'll talk to you soon!
What an honest review! And what a great way to see how far you've come and what you've conquered! I can't believe it's only been a year...feels like we've known you forever! =) Not a day has passed that Ashton hasn't talked about going to Canada! Yesterday he even packed his backpack with his two favorite toys and headed towards the door announcing his Canadian departure! Only two more weeks, eh? Enjoy! butwemissyoureallybad!
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