Day: February 4, 2024

Posted in Travel/Vacations

Sunday Drive

Posted on by Mama

As per my previous posts, you will know that we were in my husband’s hometown of Hamilton for the weekend. It was a busy and fun filled weekend and we loved every moment. Valeria got to spend some much needed time with her Bunica (grandma), or Buni for short, today. It’s pronounced Boo-knee, is the best way I can describe it. My husband is going to laugh at me for that one! I’m terrible with Romanian, I really need to learn more, though I’m starting to understand a little.

She is so good with her Buni, I swear grandmothers have a magic in them. She is so calm, no fuss; just play, eat and goes to sleep so easy. It’s beautiful to witness honestly. I’m so glad that Valeria has such a strong connection to both grandmothers, I want her to be surrounded by strong women and they are two of the strongest I know. I admire both my mother and my mother-in-law a lot, I hope Valeria will to as she grows.

My husband and I had a little errand to run, so Buni was kind enough to watch her for a bit. I’ve been wanting to go and photograph a location my husband told me about for….oh I’d say a month now and today I got to! I will be doing a post all about it, I even have a neat story to share as well. Security Guards are so nice. I have to go through my photos and really do this location justice. That was about a 45 minute adventure.

However, I stupidly didn’t check the photos on the camera before we left the location and went back to the apartment, only to find some of the shots were over-exposed. We had to go back…sigh! My husband was kind enough to go back before we left town so I could take the front photos again.

We left Hamilton around 5 PM and the highway was BUSY. We tend to leave earlier in the day whenever we go for a visit, so we weren’t used to this traffic. Thank God my husband drives because it gives me anxiety to be on the highway. After you passed the majority of the traffic, it wasn’t a bad drive.

Valeria loves sleeping in the car and she loves music. So we have a little classic rock play list for our car rides now. She slept a short while, but we had to pull off the highway for a quick pit-stop, she was restless. We walked around in the building for about 15 minutes and back in the car. She was a happy baby after that.

I love road trips personally because it reminds me of my childhood, but I just don’t want to drive the highway and I have my highway driving test in May. UGH! I need practice, but I am doing it in a small town, so it will be country highway, which isn’t so bad….I hope.

Anyway, we are home now and I’m glad for it. Valeria is bathed, massaged with a bit of lavender lotion and in bed snoozing away. I happily caught up on reading one of my favourite bloggers and now writing this. After I will relax before jumping into downloading the photos I took.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and look forward to a historic and spooky post to come!

Ciao!

Posted in Travel/Vacations

Birthday Party!

Posted on by Mama

This weekend we traveled to my mother-in-law’s to celebrate our oldest nephew’s birthday. He is turning three, man how time flies! I remember when he was born, and during the COVID pandemic no less.

He is a smart, active and playful little boy who loves cars, trucks, tractors… well let’s just say if it has wheels he loves it. My husband and I decided to get him a kids motorized riding tractor (with a remote for the parents, just incase he drives a bit too fast or far, they can stop him). We had it delivered to his sister’s home, worried if there was a delay due to shipping. Plus not sure where we would have put it in the car since there is a baby seat…

We drove down Friday night and Saturday was the party. The apartment was all decorated in Sesame Street; Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Oscar the Grouch were all in attendance all over the place. We even bought Valeria a little cookie Monster onesie for the occasion. Which was difficult to find in the first place, surprised there wasn’t more at the store. Is Sesame Street not as popular?

My mother-in-law made the cake, cupcakes and a bunch of food. We all pitched in and brought something: cheeseball with crackers, Pad Thai, schnitzel, mashed potatoes, veggies and dip, fruit with yogurt and all of it was delicious! Definitely not ideal for my diet but you know what, it’s a last hurrah for a while.

Our two nephews were running around playing, and Valeria watched intently. I know she wished she could play with them, wondering what they were doing. She is very much a quiet observer and I fear she may actually be a mini me, an Introvert. But it was cute watching her; we would hold her, standing on our laps as she watched her cousins and ever so slowly she would start leaning forward as she smiled. So cute!

Presents were opened and no surprise there was lots of excitement. The tractor was a huge success. Yay! He also got a toy tractor, a inflatable soccer ball (like a beach ball), a story time wall projector for kids and an art easel. He was a very happy little boy.

Then it was cake time and watching him sing along to happy birthday was too adorable for words! He hasnt quite got the hang of blowing out candle but almost there. It was cute watching him try and finally getting it, he was so proud of himself. It melts my heart.

Through all the party chaos, Valeria kept doing what I call mini naps, 45 minutes to an hour, and then back up. I think it was very stimulating for her to be around everyone so eventually she got exhausted from it. She was able to have her auntie read her part of a book and she seemed excited about the pictures. I think we will start reading to her daily.

Around nine o’clock, everyone started to pack up to head home. All three kids were exhausted and ready for bedtime. We said our goodbyes and off to bed we went. Valeria kept waking up and finally after the third time rocking her, she fell asleep peacefully, daddy next to her. I got to sleep on the air mattress, which to be honest, I much prefer.

Hopefully our sleepy baby girl will sleep all night and get some well deserved rest. She has had a few big adventures the last few days, this being her very first birthday party she has attended. Trust me many more to come!

Do you like themed parties for your kids? And if so, do you have a theme in mind for their next birthday? I have an idea for Valeria’s first birthday, but will need to take a deeper look into some ideas. Though that will be closer to October, so not on my To Do list yet.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend wherever you are in the world!

Ciao!