Saturday was the perfect day, for so many reasons:
- Monica and Sebastien got married in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends and family from near and far;
- I got to spend the day and evening with my girlfriends (and their boys);
- I finally had a reason to get all prettied up (those events are few and far between nowadays);
- The 7 course meal. Delish;
- The sun was shinning and the clouds stayed away all day.
But most of all, the day was perfect because of Jaia. I was so nervous about doing the 2+ hour car trip by ourselves, how she’d behave during the ceremony, how she’d nap away from home, where she’d sleep in the hotel, the drive home the following day, etc…..
Montreal isn’t the easiest place to drive under normal circumstances, but when you are driving with one hand on the wheel and one in the car seat trying to find a soother or a toy to help quiet down a baby, it’s downright treacherous. Thankfully, there wasn’t a lick of traffic and somehow, Jaia closed her eyes just as we left Ottawa and didn’t open them again until we pulled into the hotel parking lot. And then, because of the long nap, she was in the best mood possible for the rest of the day, including during the blazing hot ceremony where she quietly played with a toy and didn’t make a peep.
She spent the rest of the day adding new members into her fan club with her smiles (and growls for Claudia). Besides the bride, she was the belle of the ball (in my humble opinion anyway).
And overnight was the same. Even with frequent visits from the girls as they returned to the hotel throughout the night (and early morning), Jaia barely stirred. She closed the trip by sleeping all the way back to Ottawa, only waking for enough time to pick Humphrey up and have a quick visit with Gramps.
My little girl was such a peach and completely proved me and my pessimistic ways wrong. I couldn’t be happier or more proud. Way to go, little Bean.
And thanks to the girls (and their husbands) for taking the pictures this time…especially the one of the girls’ reaction to my mid-day faceplant. Here are a few favourites:
Decisions, decisions…
The bride and groom
During the ceremony…
Best. Wedding kiss. Ever.
The girls laughing at me as I ate dirt.
The girls (post fall).
Jaia was more interested in the necklace I borrowed from Sarah than anything else…
The rest of the pictures can be found at our flickr site.
Alicia - Perhaps it is time for you to change your pessimistic ways. Seriously though, could she have been any better?
I think Jaia enjoyed sleeping next to me more than anything else..The sweet smell of booze lulled her to snoozeland.
Remember: I am available for babysitting anytime..booze not included.
Kristin - Wow! Way to go, Jaia. Do you think she’d behave for some peanut butter pie time?
shannen - She’d totally behave for PBP. So would her mama.
And for anyone who is curious. We went with the white shoes. More summery.