Kaniz & Abbas +2

Our first family roadtrip continued from Ottawa to Quebec City - a distance of about 450km (~300 miles). We decided to take the back-roads rather than the main highway, and while it took us a little longer to get to our destination, the drive was quite scenic (and fun!). As usual, Samarah was perfect! We stayed at the Chateau Frontenac for our first night in QC - I had earned a free night through the Fairmont loyalty program. While the historic hotel's decor and ambience isn't our style, it's hard to argue with free. Even our dinner was on the house, but the most memorable moment of the evening was probably when Samarah had a major diaper leak and we had to hose her off in the bathroom sink. For the next two nights, we checked into Hotel 71, another boutique hotel, located in QC's Old Port neighbourhood. We had a really nice room with modern, minimalist decor, 14' ceilings and a rain shower. Some other highlights of our stay in QC: Samarah rolling from her tummy to ...

One of my good friends from university tied the knot on Saturday, June 21st (congrats Namgyal & Jeff!) in Batawa, an interesting little town north of Trenton, about 2 hours from Toronto, so Kaniz, Samarah and I decided to turn our trip east into a week-long roadtrip. Packing for the trip was quite interesting. Since the stroller takes up most of the trunk space, we had to bring along a lot of small bags rather than 1 or 2 suitcases. In the end, we probably overpacked, but better than running out of diapers in the middle of the night, I suppose. After attending the reception, we drove straight to Ottawa and got to our hotel (Arc) around 12:30am. Samarah did very well in the first leg of our trip and our first night in the hotel which was encouraging for Kaniz and I. The Arc Hotel is a little boutique hotel in downtown Ottawa, and while it isn't necessarily baby-friendly (e.g. had to carry the stroller up several stairs to the lobby, the staff were very helpful and our rooms were...

Me, Mommy that is. Abbas has been working hard at keeping the blog up to date (even though we're behind) and I haven't posted in months! Months...I can't believe 3 have passed since Samarah's birth. It's just crazy how quickly time flies. I'm already thinking about the fact that I have to go back to work - and dreading it! Anyhow, let me fill you in on what I've /we've been up to. I discovered that the community centre across the street from our house has caregiver/baby classes as well as fitness classes. It's so convenient and it makes it alot easier to get motivated to exercise. Baby weight still present...we're working on it! So I've taken a muscle conditioning and pilates class. In a few weeks I start aerobics and yoga. Samarah has been busy too. We go to baby time at the North York Centre library which is really fun, even though she sometimes sleeps through the session. We're also taking a class put on by the public health nurses cal...

I guess it was bound to happen - my blog posts have started to slip. I was hoping to have an update posted every weekend, and I definitely missed my deadline this week! I've said this before, but I'll say it again - the days are flying by, and it's bathtime and bedtime for Samarah before I know it! Anyway, here are the pictures from days 65 - 78 (this brings us up to June 7) - I will try to write up some highlights later, but I better post the pictures before friends/family turn on me! Enjoy!

Now that Samarah has gotten her first set of shots, she is out and about town, hitting up all the hot parties!  Ok, so that may not be exactly true, but she did go to her first formal party (an engagement at Angus Glen golf club). Kaniz and I are getting a lot more comfortable taking Samarah out, whether it's for a stroller or sling ride in our neighbourhood or a dinner party downtown. So far she's handled all of it exceptionally well. I might be a little biased, but I think Kaniz and I have an angel for a daughter! Some highlights from the week (days 58-64): Meeting the Chagpars Dressing up as the third bear (see photo above) Getting more and more tummy time - she's almost ready to do the Superman flying pose Visiting with Noa and meeting Rayan Going to our pre-natal class reunion at our instructor's (Jaye's) house. Although a bunch of people ended up canceling, it was fun hanging out with Aaron and his parents. Meeting Aunty Shamshad and family from NY Attending a...