Whoa, it's been a while! Last weekend, we took a little a road trip to visit my grandma in Ottawa. We got back on Monday night, but we've spent the last couple days catching up on sleep and doing lots of laundry.
My sister, Allie, flew into Pittsburgh to join us for this adventure.We left early Thursday morning and drove to Toronto for the night, where Claire stayed in her first hotel room.
On Friday, we drove to Ottawa and introduced Claire to her great-grandmother. It was love at first sight!
On Saturday, we visited with my grandma some more. I was excited to stumble upon some baby pictures of me in her apartment. Look like anyone you know?
We wanted to give great-grandma a break in the afternoon, so we had lunch at the Byward Market and walked over to Parliament Hill.
We couldn't resist picking up a "sweet as maple syrup" onesie and a tiny pair of moccasins for Claire.
There was a bakery in the market that was pretty much obsessed with the fact that President Obama ate one of their cookies...more than three years ago. They had footage of him walking through the door playing on tv screens!
The Parliament building. Doesn't it look so much older than the American capitol? It was really built fifty years afterwards though.
Every year in May, Ottawa has a big tulip festival. Holland sends them thousands of tulips because their Queen was born there while the royal family was exiled to Canada during World War II. So, there's a little hospital room in Ottawa that's officially a part of the Netherlands.
On Sunday, we went to Mass with my grandma at her retirement complex. The other residents were so adorably excited to meet Claire. Nobody loves babies like old people! After church, we had a Mother's Day lunch with some of our relatives. My mom has three brothers and a sister. All her brothers and their families still live in Ottawa. And her sister's family actually lives in Vancouver, so we'll have some relatives pretty close by when we move to Seattle.
We drove to Niagara Falls, the perfect stopping place on the way back to Pittsburgh, late Sunday night.
On Monday morning, we had brunch at the most expensive Ihop in existence and walked around the falls before heading home.
It was a short but sweet trip, made even sweeter by how happy Claire was to sleep all day in her car seat. That girl seriously slept more on the road than she usually does at home!
On Friday, we drove to Ottawa and introduced Claire to her great-grandmother. It was love at first sight!
On Saturday, we visited with my grandma some more. I was excited to stumble upon some baby pictures of me in her apartment. Look like anyone you know?
We wanted to give great-grandma a break in the afternoon, so we had lunch at the Byward Market and walked over to Parliament Hill.
We couldn't resist picking up a "sweet as maple syrup" onesie and a tiny pair of moccasins for Claire.
There was a bakery in the market that was pretty much obsessed with the fact that President Obama ate one of their cookies...more than three years ago. They had footage of him walking through the door playing on tv screens!
The Parliament building. Doesn't it look so much older than the American capitol? It was really built fifty years afterwards though.
Every year in May, Ottawa has a big tulip festival. Holland sends them thousands of tulips because their Queen was born there while the royal family was exiled to Canada during World War II. So, there's a little hospital room in Ottawa that's officially a part of the Netherlands.
On Sunday, we went to Mass with my grandma at her retirement complex. The other residents were so adorably excited to meet Claire. Nobody loves babies like old people! After church, we had a Mother's Day lunch with some of our relatives. My mom has three brothers and a sister. All her brothers and their families still live in Ottawa. And her sister's family actually lives in Vancouver, so we'll have some relatives pretty close by when we move to Seattle.
We drove to Niagara Falls, the perfect stopping place on the way back to Pittsburgh, late Sunday night.
On Monday morning, we had brunch at the most expensive Ihop in existence and walked around the falls before heading home.
It was a short but sweet trip, made even sweeter by how happy Claire was to sleep all day in her car seat. That girl seriously slept more on the road than she usually does at home!
I'm not sure if you knew you had Ottawa readers but I am one! I enjoy seeing posts where bloggers visit my city. So interesting. Baby Claire is adorable and you both look so happy. I'd also to say as a pregnant, young mom-to-be, my husband and I are enjoying all your posts on baby must haves! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alexandra! Your comment made my day!
DeleteI loooove Niagara Falls! I always tell Jeff we need to go there so he can see it in person! Your grandmother must have been so happy to see you all! Are you coming to Texas soon?
ReplyDeleteWe are coming down very soon! I've actually been meaning to email you about that!
DeleteThat first shot of the Falls is perfect!
ReplyDeleteAlso, how did you get a baby into Canada? There's no way she has a passport...is a birth certificate enough for kids?
Thanks! Yep, a birth certificate is enough for kids under 16. You can drive across the border into Canada or Mexico, as long as both parents are present. If only one parent is present, you need to have a notarized letter from the other parent giving permission for the child to cross the border. But if you're flying anywhere (even to Canada or Mexico) everyone has to have a passport.
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