The month of October was a wonderfully quiet and uneventful month. We had all adjusted to being back in France after the summer. Robert's travel schedule had tamed considerably after a frantic travel month in September. We had no expectant visitors. (though we did enjoy our unexpected visitor's visit, when Deborah came to stay for two nights) Our weekends were spent roaming through new and unfamiliar villages in the region (St. Paul-de-Vence, Cagnes-Sur-Mer) stopping in the quaint little restaurants for wonderful lunches, and leisurely walks along the beach and into the local market. Andrew successfully completed his "adaptation" at the "creche" (daycare) and began two mornings per week. (and has since graduated to one full day and one half day and absolutely loves it).
I found myself thinking about work. An ad for a part-time accounting job at a local yachting agency REALLY caught my eye. And then in came an email from Bill with a couple of job assignments for Life Care! I readily accepted the assignments and found myself enjoying the work, even though I was often a little on the tired side, as most of the work was done in the evenings after Andrew went down for the night. I am now looking forward to the next assignment which will begin this week. I fully recognize that I am not a working mother in the true sense of the words but it feels good to have a little work balance in the mix.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Babyproofing and no more naps...
Our apartment now needs an instruction manual. Robert and I once thought we'd covered our bases quite well in this place when we'd taken all of the books off the low shelves of the bookcases, covered the outlets with babyproof plugs and kept all of the poisonous household items in a locked cupboard. We hadn't even begun. Now, each and every cupboard and drawer has a childproof latch; every lamp is secured to the wall with a bungy cord; every garbage can is mounted on a wall/shelving unit or towel rack; the kitchen has a baby gate installed at its entrance; the oven is secured shut with a bungy cord attached to a hook that Robert installed into the drawer alongside, the bathroom doors have duck tape covering the lock on the inside...the list is endless! And despite it all, our little adventurer still finds trouble or danger on a daily basis!
It's been almost a year since Andrew reduced himself to one nap per day, usually in the afternoons. Then all of a sudden, near the end of the summer, he stopped napping altogether. I tried everything...music, books upon books, rocking, soothing, pacifiers, milk, food, teddy bears, blankets, laying beside him, on the couch, in the bed, etc., etc. etc. to no avail. So I gave up. I discovered it was much easier for me to just play with him than to spend an hour or so in "wind-down mode" to no avail. The good thing is that nothing is centered around naptime anymore. We are free to do anything, anytime in the day. The bad part is that I desperately miss my "down time".
At times I have felt envious, even a little jealous, of friends whose children virtually never attempt to open a prohibited door or cupboard, let alone sleep for hours on end every afternoon. But upon sharing my feelings with other mom friends, I realize that every mother of a young child has her challenges and that perhaps the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side. For example, Simona, mother of two-year old Mariachiara, who literally did not babyproof a single thing, and whose daughter has gone to sleep on demand pretty much since birth, is confronted with constant battle for each and every meal or snack. Mariachiara doesn't like to eat! Every meal time is an endless and exhausting game of trying to find what her daughter will eat and how to get her to eat it! Andrew on the flip side, loves to eat! He eats everything, and anything (except avacadoes) and devours everything on his plate at meal time at which point he dumps his dish upside down and declares "all gone" or rather "ahhh gahhh"! Mette's two-year old daughter Maya loves her afternoon naps. Immediately after lunch, she wants her "doudou", that's french for the cuddle toy that many kids development an attachment to, and goes to sleep wherever, perhaps the stroller if they are out, the bed if they are at home, etc. However, night time is a total nightmare. She resists in any way she possibly can. She's thirsty, hungry, has to pee, wants another book, etc. She often ends up crashing at 10 or 11 at night after hours of bedtime battles. She has tried to resolve the problem by either omitting the daytime nap or cutting it shorter; either way, Maya ends up being cranky and miserable all afternoon. Again, Andrew goes down at 7PM every night and very seldom wakes before 7AM. Robert and I have every evening free to ourselves, to eat a nice, quiet dinner alone, watch a tv program or a movie, etc. I have begun to adjust to no afternoon naps by using that time to take Andrew swimming. We live right down the street from the biggest aquatic complex in France, so what better way to spend a couple hours than a nice walk to the pool and some fun splashing in the pool, followed by nice, long side-by-side showers. And we even get to see the famed Olympic champion, winner of the 100m freestyle, Alain Bernard, training in the adjacent pool every time we go. We are considered "regulars" there at the pool now and I seldom even have to present my annual pass. The people who work there call Andrew the "champion nageur". (champion swimmer) He can already swim without water wings for as long as he can hold his breath! The funny thing is, these afternoon swims are really starting to tucker the little guy out, and he just started napping again when we get home from the pool!!!
It's been almost a year since Andrew reduced himself to one nap per day, usually in the afternoons. Then all of a sudden, near the end of the summer, he stopped napping altogether. I tried everything...music, books upon books, rocking, soothing, pacifiers, milk, food, teddy bears, blankets, laying beside him, on the couch, in the bed, etc., etc. etc. to no avail. So I gave up. I discovered it was much easier for me to just play with him than to spend an hour or so in "wind-down mode" to no avail. The good thing is that nothing is centered around naptime anymore. We are free to do anything, anytime in the day. The bad part is that I desperately miss my "down time".
At times I have felt envious, even a little jealous, of friends whose children virtually never attempt to open a prohibited door or cupboard, let alone sleep for hours on end every afternoon. But upon sharing my feelings with other mom friends, I realize that every mother of a young child has her challenges and that perhaps the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side. For example, Simona, mother of two-year old Mariachiara, who literally did not babyproof a single thing, and whose daughter has gone to sleep on demand pretty much since birth, is confronted with constant battle for each and every meal or snack. Mariachiara doesn't like to eat! Every meal time is an endless and exhausting game of trying to find what her daughter will eat and how to get her to eat it! Andrew on the flip side, loves to eat! He eats everything, and anything (except avacadoes) and devours everything on his plate at meal time at which point he dumps his dish upside down and declares "all gone" or rather "ahhh gahhh"! Mette's two-year old daughter Maya loves her afternoon naps. Immediately after lunch, she wants her "doudou", that's french for the cuddle toy that many kids development an attachment to, and goes to sleep wherever, perhaps the stroller if they are out, the bed if they are at home, etc. However, night time is a total nightmare. She resists in any way she possibly can. She's thirsty, hungry, has to pee, wants another book, etc. She often ends up crashing at 10 or 11 at night after hours of bedtime battles. She has tried to resolve the problem by either omitting the daytime nap or cutting it shorter; either way, Maya ends up being cranky and miserable all afternoon. Again, Andrew goes down at 7PM every night and very seldom wakes before 7AM. Robert and I have every evening free to ourselves, to eat a nice, quiet dinner alone, watch a tv program or a movie, etc. I have begun to adjust to no afternoon naps by using that time to take Andrew swimming. We live right down the street from the biggest aquatic complex in France, so what better way to spend a couple hours than a nice walk to the pool and some fun splashing in the pool, followed by nice, long side-by-side showers. And we even get to see the famed Olympic champion, winner of the 100m freestyle, Alain Bernard, training in the adjacent pool every time we go. We are considered "regulars" there at the pool now and I seldom even have to present my annual pass. The people who work there call Andrew the "champion nageur". (champion swimmer) He can already swim without water wings for as long as he can hold his breath! The funny thing is, these afternoon swims are really starting to tucker the little guy out, and he just started napping again when we get home from the pool!!!
Our third guest in the south of France...
Mom's trip turned out to come at a great time. Although it was a difficult step for her, considering the original plans had included Don in her travels, it was indeed a diversion from the home in Oakville that was feeling a little bit empty, in between all of the visits from her wonderful friends. Mom got a small taste of French life, the crazy driving and roundabouts, the stressful grocery shopping excursions, the absence of a clothes dryer...but also a taste of the gourmet foods and wines, the tourist attractions (including Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Monaco, Cannes, Nice), some slot machines (of course!) and a scenic drive to Ventimiglia (coastal village in Italy), where she professed hands-down that she had the biggest meal of her entire life...I still laugh when thinking about the look on her face when the massive plates of food kept arriving on our table! (I had no trouble finishing each of my delicious plates...dessert included!) In between the touristy stuff, we had a good time hanging out with Mr. Bundle of Energy (aka Burbujitas) and watching lots of chick flicks in the evening.
Aunty Susie's getting married!!!
After the recent tragedy of Don's passing, it was wonderful to have something very happy to celebrate. When Susie called to announce her engagement, we were absolutely thrilled. It was Susie and Bill's two-year anniversary of dating, and they had gone off to Montreal for a dragon boat festival. Despite Bill's best-laid plans for a romantic proposal aboard a hot air balloon, high winds and stormy weather resulted in a more casual proposal in front of the hotel they were staying at, for which Susie mistakenly assumed was a joke! Upon realization of Bill's seriousness and upon sight of the ring, she quickly caught on and was overwhelmed with happiness. I can't even begin to describe the immense joy I feel in my heart for her and am already counting down the days til the big day: June 13, 2008. It will be an honour for me to stand by her, as her maid of honour, as she and Bill exchange their wedding vows. They are truly a magical couple that complement each other in every aspect and are just a joy to be around. I'm already starting to worry about how I will be able to maintain my composure throughout my speech at her wedding...better stock up on some serious Kleenex! I just wish I could be around more in advance of the wedding to help with the arrangements, go dress-shopping with her, etc.
Missing Don...
Five days before my scheduled flight back to Toronto for the summer, and just a few days after Colette left, the terrible phone call from Susie came, with the tragic news of Don's passing. It was in a restaurant in Toronto, where mom and Don were awaiting Susie and Bill's arrival, for a dinner together before heading off to the Blue Jay game. A massive heart attack ended his life in an instant. Although for Don, it was indeed a quick and painless death, it was very difficult for all of us who loved him, who never got any warning and no chance to say good-bye. Don was such a special man and wonderful human being. He was very special to me, to Robert and to Andrew and is sorely missed by all of us, not to mention my mom, and the endless list of loving friends and family he had. The number of people at his funeral in Buffalo was indeed a testament to how much he was loved, and by how many. The eulogy that Susie delivered, alongside Lorraine and I, was outstanding. Here it is:
Don’s Eulogy
When my mom first started mentioning this Don Smith fellow, we didn’t really know what to think and were definitely a bit sceptical. Then, when she was talking about marriage so soon after they had met, we really thought she’d gone nuts. However, as soon as we met him, it became so clear how happy they were and what a special person he was. I can assure you, all scepticism quickly vanished.
Don fit so easily into all of our lives and truly wanted to be a part of everything. We felt a connection with him immediately – he was so easy to talk to and to get to know. Almost from the beginning of their relationship, he became the source of fatherly wisdom and grandfatherly love that our lives had been missing. He was very quickly a welcome member of our family and he fit right in. He was the most loving and caring husband we could have ever asked for for our mom. He adopted us and our kids as his own. Don was an invaluable support to all of us. No matter what was going on, he was always there. If we needed help, without a moment’s hesitation, he would drop what he was doing to lend a hand. Whether it was for advice on career changes, relationship counselling, help with moving or just babysitting, Don was always around and was proud to help out. Just recently he spent hours upon hours researching the purchase of new appliances for Lorraine – the pages of notes and quotes and consumer reports were endless. His generosity knew no bounds.
He bonded immediately with all of my mom’s wonderful friends. I think when they saw them together at one of their first gatherings dressed up as Sonny and Cher ....and he wasn’t the one playing Sonny, we all knew he was a great match for our mom. In this past week, the phone messages, the letters and emails pouring in and the presence of all here today is a testament to what a valued friend Don was to so many. I know that many of my mom’s friends felt that they’d known Don for years.
Not only was he amazing in his treatment of my mother and us, but it was so heart warming to see the relationship he had with his kids. The way Don spoke of them, their spouses and the grand kids, it was so evident how much he loved them all. We would always ask how they were all doing and he would be able to tell us exactly what each of them had been up to in an almost up to the minute report. He was definitely a father to be envied. It meant so much to him to keep such close tabs on everyone’s lives, including all of his family and friends. No matter where my mom and Don went, he always kept in contact. Every cruise or trip they went on, Don provided us with a full account of every detail of their day, right down to every morsel of food that was consumed. No question about it, Don savoured every moment of his life!
We learned so many things from Don in the years that he was with us. We’d like to share a few of them.
10 things we learned from Don
Family and friends are the most important things in life.
For some people, it doesn’t matter how long they are in your life... they can impact it forever .
Even the most patient of men have their breaking points. For Don, it was getting stuck behind a slow guy in traffic. There was only way to get from A to B.... the fastest way.
A beer , whether in a pint glass or a bottle, can be consumed in one swallow with minimal effort
Despite major technological advances, cell phones are still not water proof... Don learned that lesson several times
A rather large man plus a minor case of imbalance plus a small fishing boat can equal a shipwreck within seconds.
Hanging mirrors with tape probably isn’t the best idea.
A hug from a man like Don really can make everything better.
Nothing melts your heart like seeing a grandpa making his grandchildren laugh... and he was certainly the best at it.
Love can be found at any age.... and it is definitely worth waiting for.
Don lived every day like it might be his last and he definitely made the most out of each and every day. I used to get exhausted just hearing about all of their plans for travelling whether it was exploring South America or the Baltic Sea or just driving down to Florida with 10 stops along the way to see various family and friends. Somebody was always coming for a visit, maybe just for dinner or sometimes to stay for a week. They were always going out – to golf or for dinner with friends – they had the most active social life of anyone we knew. Mom has recently said that they put a really good dent into their “bucketlists” in the past couple of years..... We should all learn from him and focus more on living for the moment. Life throws curve balls and we never know what lies around the corner and Don has taught us that each day is a precious gift to be filled with as much adventure, happiness , laughter and love as possible.
Don Smith will be missed by so many. He was a remarkable man who always had a sparkle in his eye. He could easily brighten up even the darkest of days. With no effort at all, he put a brilliantly lit smile on my mother’s face and, without a doubt, he has touched all of our lives. We consider him an amazing gift to us who will be remembered and loved forever.
...Don's absence in my mom's house in Oakville was ever so present throughout the duration of the summer. I was very happy to be able to be there with my mom during some of the darkest moments, and Andrew provided a wonderful distraction to the sadness and grief we were all feeling.
Don’s Eulogy
When my mom first started mentioning this Don Smith fellow, we didn’t really know what to think and were definitely a bit sceptical. Then, when she was talking about marriage so soon after they had met, we really thought she’d gone nuts. However, as soon as we met him, it became so clear how happy they were and what a special person he was. I can assure you, all scepticism quickly vanished.
Don fit so easily into all of our lives and truly wanted to be a part of everything. We felt a connection with him immediately – he was so easy to talk to and to get to know. Almost from the beginning of their relationship, he became the source of fatherly wisdom and grandfatherly love that our lives had been missing. He was very quickly a welcome member of our family and he fit right in. He was the most loving and caring husband we could have ever asked for for our mom. He adopted us and our kids as his own. Don was an invaluable support to all of us. No matter what was going on, he was always there. If we needed help, without a moment’s hesitation, he would drop what he was doing to lend a hand. Whether it was for advice on career changes, relationship counselling, help with moving or just babysitting, Don was always around and was proud to help out. Just recently he spent hours upon hours researching the purchase of new appliances for Lorraine – the pages of notes and quotes and consumer reports were endless. His generosity knew no bounds.
He bonded immediately with all of my mom’s wonderful friends. I think when they saw them together at one of their first gatherings dressed up as Sonny and Cher ....and he wasn’t the one playing Sonny, we all knew he was a great match for our mom. In this past week, the phone messages, the letters and emails pouring in and the presence of all here today is a testament to what a valued friend Don was to so many. I know that many of my mom’s friends felt that they’d known Don for years.
Not only was he amazing in his treatment of my mother and us, but it was so heart warming to see the relationship he had with his kids. The way Don spoke of them, their spouses and the grand kids, it was so evident how much he loved them all. We would always ask how they were all doing and he would be able to tell us exactly what each of them had been up to in an almost up to the minute report. He was definitely a father to be envied. It meant so much to him to keep such close tabs on everyone’s lives, including all of his family and friends. No matter where my mom and Don went, he always kept in contact. Every cruise or trip they went on, Don provided us with a full account of every detail of their day, right down to every morsel of food that was consumed. No question about it, Don savoured every moment of his life!
We learned so many things from Don in the years that he was with us. We’d like to share a few of them.
10 things we learned from Don
Family and friends are the most important things in life.
For some people, it doesn’t matter how long they are in your life... they can impact it forever .
Even the most patient of men have their breaking points. For Don, it was getting stuck behind a slow guy in traffic. There was only way to get from A to B.... the fastest way.
A beer , whether in a pint glass or a bottle, can be consumed in one swallow with minimal effort
Despite major technological advances, cell phones are still not water proof... Don learned that lesson several times
A rather large man plus a minor case of imbalance plus a small fishing boat can equal a shipwreck within seconds.
Hanging mirrors with tape probably isn’t the best idea.
A hug from a man like Don really can make everything better.
Nothing melts your heart like seeing a grandpa making his grandchildren laugh... and he was certainly the best at it.
Love can be found at any age.... and it is definitely worth waiting for.
Don lived every day like it might be his last and he definitely made the most out of each and every day. I used to get exhausted just hearing about all of their plans for travelling whether it was exploring South America or the Baltic Sea or just driving down to Florida with 10 stops along the way to see various family and friends. Somebody was always coming for a visit, maybe just for dinner or sometimes to stay for a week. They were always going out – to golf or for dinner with friends – they had the most active social life of anyone we knew. Mom has recently said that they put a really good dent into their “bucketlists” in the past couple of years..... We should all learn from him and focus more on living for the moment. Life throws curve balls and we never know what lies around the corner and Don has taught us that each day is a precious gift to be filled with as much adventure, happiness , laughter and love as possible.
Don Smith will be missed by so many. He was a remarkable man who always had a sparkle in his eye. He could easily brighten up even the darkest of days. With no effort at all, he put a brilliantly lit smile on my mother’s face and, without a doubt, he has touched all of our lives. We consider him an amazing gift to us who will be remembered and loved forever.
...Don's absence in my mom's house in Oakville was ever so present throughout the duration of the summer. I was very happy to be able to be there with my mom during some of the darkest moments, and Andrew provided a wonderful distraction to the sadness and grief we were all feeling.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
We're baaack!!!
Well, it's been almost 4 months to the day since my last post and therefore, there is much to write about so the next several entries will be installments of the last four months...
The Cruise...
We had the most amazing experience travelling through some of the most stunningly beautiful areas I've ever seen. Our trip began with a ferry to Rome where we drove the car onto the ship and slept in a cozy little cabin overnight, and woke up in time to see the ship coming into port, the highlight of which was passing by the Carnival Freedom which would be our home for the following 12 nights. We parked the car in the Rome terminal and seamlessly boarded the cruise ship, where we were quickly delighted and in total awe of the deluxe cabin we were so fortunate to have obtained. Highlights of the cruise included the ports of call in Athens, where we viewed the magnificent Acropolis and a nice, leisurely stroll in the shopping/dining district of Plaka. Istanbul was equally fascinating with visits to the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bizarre (the biggest flea market in the world) and the Palace of the Sultans. I found it quite intriguing simply to view the Turkish culture itself for the day, so very different from that which we are accustomed, with men and women stopping to pray on the streets at what seemed like all hours of the day. Although not so famous but truly breathtaking, were the smaller coastal villages in Turkey and Greece, Marmaris and Katakolon respectively. Katakalon has a population of less than one thousand and yet the village and beach area was beaming in action, with tourists galore, stopping for a dip in the Med or a shop in the souvenir/purse/shoe outlets (Daddy bought me a new Coach bag) or a little rest in the beach front restaurants and cafes. (we sampled some Greek coffee, absolutely delicious) Since Carnival is probably best known for its children's programs, Andrew had many visits at the "camp", where he happily entered and waved good-bye to us, quickly distracted by the many toys and other children around. That gave Robert and I some quality down time alone together, where we either enjoyed simply hanging out in the cabin with room service, on the balcony or with a good book by the pool. Upon disembarkment, we made a spontaneous decision to skip the ferry and drive back to Antibes from Rome (approximately 8 hour drive). It was a beautiful, sunny June day and we jammed along to the tunes of Don McLean's "American Pie", which has now become Andrew's favourite song! It reminded me big time of the days when I taught Michael Wilson that song (he's the little boy that lived two doors down that my sisters and I used to babysit). During the drive, we reflected on our life since Andrew came into our world (as we so often enjoy doing) and for fun, we began to count the number of countries Andrew has already been to: USA, Canada, Bermuda, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Turkey...I know I'm forgetting some...and the list will continue to grow when we make stops in the Canary Islands, St. Martin and San Juan on our transatlantic journey back home in December. It blows my mind away just thinking of it, but I suppose it shouldn't, considering who I am married to. I remember the first time I met both of Robert's best friends, they commented on how many post cards Robert has sent to their families over the years, from practically every corner of the world. And Robert himself began his travels at an age not far off from Andrew, when his family relocated to the Phillipines in his second year of life.
Colette's visit...
Shortly after we arrived back home from the cruise, we were happy to welcome our 2nd visitor to the Chamberlin residence in the south of France. Colette was a very special guest; aside from the fact that I felt an immediate friendship/sisterly bond with her (as everyone does), and aside from the facts that Andrew instantly adored her and that Robert and I shared some great meals, glasses of wine and chats on the balcony with her, she was so in awe of the region, that I found it awe-inspiring just to observe. A kid in a candy store doesn't even begin to describe it! The way she took it all in, the way she courageously ventured off solo on the trains to Monaco, Eze..., and then the way she came back home to share with us all that she had seen and, done (and walked!), it was truly amazing. There was only one night where my worry gene kicked in and when she wasn't home before dark, I started to contemplate how I was going to call her parents to notify them of their daughter, missing in the south of France. Was she whisked away on some big yacht by some mega-millionaire European dude?...nope, turns out she was just enjoying some mussels and wine in the old town of Antibes on a "quick stop" on the way home from Monaco, and forgot the code to enter our apartment complex!
The Cruise...
We had the most amazing experience travelling through some of the most stunningly beautiful areas I've ever seen. Our trip began with a ferry to Rome where we drove the car onto the ship and slept in a cozy little cabin overnight, and woke up in time to see the ship coming into port, the highlight of which was passing by the Carnival Freedom which would be our home for the following 12 nights. We parked the car in the Rome terminal and seamlessly boarded the cruise ship, where we were quickly delighted and in total awe of the deluxe cabin we were so fortunate to have obtained. Highlights of the cruise included the ports of call in Athens, where we viewed the magnificent Acropolis and a nice, leisurely stroll in the shopping/dining district of Plaka. Istanbul was equally fascinating with visits to the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bizarre (the biggest flea market in the world) and the Palace of the Sultans. I found it quite intriguing simply to view the Turkish culture itself for the day, so very different from that which we are accustomed, with men and women stopping to pray on the streets at what seemed like all hours of the day. Although not so famous but truly breathtaking, were the smaller coastal villages in Turkey and Greece, Marmaris and Katakolon respectively. Katakalon has a population of less than one thousand and yet the village and beach area was beaming in action, with tourists galore, stopping for a dip in the Med or a shop in the souvenir/purse/shoe outlets (Daddy bought me a new Coach bag) or a little rest in the beach front restaurants and cafes. (we sampled some Greek coffee, absolutely delicious) Since Carnival is probably best known for its children's programs, Andrew had many visits at the "camp", where he happily entered and waved good-bye to us, quickly distracted by the many toys and other children around. That gave Robert and I some quality down time alone together, where we either enjoyed simply hanging out in the cabin with room service, on the balcony or with a good book by the pool. Upon disembarkment, we made a spontaneous decision to skip the ferry and drive back to Antibes from Rome (approximately 8 hour drive). It was a beautiful, sunny June day and we jammed along to the tunes of Don McLean's "American Pie", which has now become Andrew's favourite song! It reminded me big time of the days when I taught Michael Wilson that song (he's the little boy that lived two doors down that my sisters and I used to babysit). During the drive, we reflected on our life since Andrew came into our world (as we so often enjoy doing) and for fun, we began to count the number of countries Andrew has already been to: USA, Canada, Bermuda, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Turkey...I know I'm forgetting some...and the list will continue to grow when we make stops in the Canary Islands, St. Martin and San Juan on our transatlantic journey back home in December. It blows my mind away just thinking of it, but I suppose it shouldn't, considering who I am married to. I remember the first time I met both of Robert's best friends, they commented on how many post cards Robert has sent to their families over the years, from practically every corner of the world. And Robert himself began his travels at an age not far off from Andrew, when his family relocated to the Phillipines in his second year of life.
Colette's visit...
Shortly after we arrived back home from the cruise, we were happy to welcome our 2nd visitor to the Chamberlin residence in the south of France. Colette was a very special guest; aside from the fact that I felt an immediate friendship/sisterly bond with her (as everyone does), and aside from the facts that Andrew instantly adored her and that Robert and I shared some great meals, glasses of wine and chats on the balcony with her, she was so in awe of the region, that I found it awe-inspiring just to observe. A kid in a candy store doesn't even begin to describe it! The way she took it all in, the way she courageously ventured off solo on the trains to Monaco, Eze..., and then the way she came back home to share with us all that she had seen and, done (and walked!), it was truly amazing. There was only one night where my worry gene kicked in and when she wasn't home before dark, I started to contemplate how I was going to call her parents to notify them of their daughter, missing in the south of France. Was she whisked away on some big yacht by some mega-millionaire European dude?...nope, turns out she was just enjoying some mussels and wine in the old town of Antibes on a "quick stop" on the way home from Monaco, and forgot the code to enter our apartment complex!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Teddy Bears, Spanish boys and Putting things in perspective
We are one sleep away from our two weeks of total R&R onboard the Carnival Freedom and I'm SO pumped. Bags are packed and I'd leave right now if we could! We are taking an overnight ferry from here to Civitavechia (the port outside of Rome) and then boarding the ship from there. Andrew is going to LOVE having his idol (aka Daddy) around 24/7. He is also going to LOVE all of the attention he will undoubtedly get from passengers and crew alike. I am going to LOVE exploring a little bit of Greece and Turkey and eating scrumptious food. Daddy is going to LOVE our cabin. We were fortunate enough to have been significantly upgraded from the low level inside cabin that we paid for to a beautiful suite with a private balcony. I love our life!
Over the past few weeks, Andrew has taken to a few new habits. One being climbing on top of everything. I thought I had nipped the climbing on the table thing in the bud, but I walked into the family room the other day after taking a 30 second pee, only to find him smack on top of the table, reaching for the CDs on the top shelf of our entertainment center. He is also very big on turning on the oven, and then opening it up. But he has developed some not so mischievous habits as well including the Teddy Bear routine, the cutest thing in the world. Andrew's room is filled with teddy bears, thanks to the collection that Daddy began for him when he was still in my belly. Every time Daddy travels to a different country, he brings home a new teddy bear. So now, each evening before he goes to sleep, he insists on giving each one of his bears a kiss good night. If I walk towards the crib to put Andrew down, forgetting about the routine, he freaks out and points to the bears, reminding me that we have not yet said good night to them. We start with Music Bear, that was a shower gift from I forget who, and then move on to Andrew Bear (from Aunty Susie and Aunty Lo, a bear with his name on it) and then go to the various bears from countries Robert has travelled, Reindeer Bear (Finland), Hockey Bear (Canada of course), British Bear, Norway Bear, German bear, Spanish bear, etc. He takes each one, gives it a kiss, and places it back in position. I keep telling Robert we must videotape this little routine as it is truly the most adorable thing ever.
Although Robert has not been travelling, his schedule has remained fairly hectic, first because of a large presentation he had to deliver, and recently to wrap things up for work in prep for vacation. He did however find time for Boys Night Out with the Spanish men. When he told me he'd been invited to a little gathering with a handful of Spanish speaking men at work from various different countries, Colombia included, I was happy for him. I feel like my social life is so full with all of the friends I have made, whereas Robert's social life in France revolves almost entirely around me and Burbujitas. The night of the gathering, he came home from work tired, and was a little unenthusiastic about going out but I told him he'd have fun once he got there and though he came home very late that night, he ranted on about what an awesome evening he'd had. I hope it becomes a tradition.
One day last week, I had one of those days where everything went wrong. To start off, I lost some important computer files, our health insurance was terminated, and I got an email from my neighbours stating that my backyard in Florida was flooding because of a hose that was left on and my renters seemed to have vanished. Being six hours ahead, it was too early to call the U.S. about my renters situation so I started the day by attempting to get the health insurance problem resolved, only to leave the health insurance office in tears after speaking with three different people who told me three different things, none of which would resolve the problem. The rest of the day just continued to go downhill and I was at wits end by the time I was ready to go to bed. Before doing so, however, I checked my emails like I always do. In my inbox was an update on Paul, my very dear friend's 5-year old boy with leukemia. Tears streamed down my face and goose bumps covered my body. I read it to myself and then I read it to Robert. Paul was yet again unable to continue with chemo because of his counts and the next step was going to be a bone marrow biopsy. I reflected on my own "bad day" and felt horrible. One of my best friends is coping with her first born's cancer and I'm about to lose sleep over a couple of administrative issues. I put things in perspective then and there. And I will make a better effort at not sweating "the small stuff" in the future. I am however, happy to report that his counts improved and the biopsy was unnecessary.
Over the past few weeks, Andrew has taken to a few new habits. One being climbing on top of everything. I thought I had nipped the climbing on the table thing in the bud, but I walked into the family room the other day after taking a 30 second pee, only to find him smack on top of the table, reaching for the CDs on the top shelf of our entertainment center. He is also very big on turning on the oven, and then opening it up. But he has developed some not so mischievous habits as well including the Teddy Bear routine, the cutest thing in the world. Andrew's room is filled with teddy bears, thanks to the collection that Daddy began for him when he was still in my belly. Every time Daddy travels to a different country, he brings home a new teddy bear. So now, each evening before he goes to sleep, he insists on giving each one of his bears a kiss good night. If I walk towards the crib to put Andrew down, forgetting about the routine, he freaks out and points to the bears, reminding me that we have not yet said good night to them. We start with Music Bear, that was a shower gift from I forget who, and then move on to Andrew Bear (from Aunty Susie and Aunty Lo, a bear with his name on it) and then go to the various bears from countries Robert has travelled, Reindeer Bear (Finland), Hockey Bear (Canada of course), British Bear, Norway Bear, German bear, Spanish bear, etc. He takes each one, gives it a kiss, and places it back in position. I keep telling Robert we must videotape this little routine as it is truly the most adorable thing ever.
Although Robert has not been travelling, his schedule has remained fairly hectic, first because of a large presentation he had to deliver, and recently to wrap things up for work in prep for vacation. He did however find time for Boys Night Out with the Spanish men. When he told me he'd been invited to a little gathering with a handful of Spanish speaking men at work from various different countries, Colombia included, I was happy for him. I feel like my social life is so full with all of the friends I have made, whereas Robert's social life in France revolves almost entirely around me and Burbujitas. The night of the gathering, he came home from work tired, and was a little unenthusiastic about going out but I told him he'd have fun once he got there and though he came home very late that night, he ranted on about what an awesome evening he'd had. I hope it becomes a tradition.
One day last week, I had one of those days where everything went wrong. To start off, I lost some important computer files, our health insurance was terminated, and I got an email from my neighbours stating that my backyard in Florida was flooding because of a hose that was left on and my renters seemed to have vanished. Being six hours ahead, it was too early to call the U.S. about my renters situation so I started the day by attempting to get the health insurance problem resolved, only to leave the health insurance office in tears after speaking with three different people who told me three different things, none of which would resolve the problem. The rest of the day just continued to go downhill and I was at wits end by the time I was ready to go to bed. Before doing so, however, I checked my emails like I always do. In my inbox was an update on Paul, my very dear friend's 5-year old boy with leukemia. Tears streamed down my face and goose bumps covered my body. I read it to myself and then I read it to Robert. Paul was yet again unable to continue with chemo because of his counts and the next step was going to be a bone marrow biopsy. I reflected on my own "bad day" and felt horrible. One of my best friends is coping with her first born's cancer and I'm about to lose sleep over a couple of administrative issues. I put things in perspective then and there. And I will make a better effort at not sweating "the small stuff" in the future. I am however, happy to report that his counts improved and the biopsy was unnecessary.
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