Overdue Post #1 - Our Trip to Kelowna

Hey Humble Readers!

I'm planning on doing a few posts that are long overdue, starting with the most recent and working backwards.  I want to get these posts finished and out there, so that I have them to remember. 
So, the trip last week was fabulous and far too short.  We flew out on Friday, the 4th, and Ginny is an airplane super star!  Granted it's a short flight, only about an hour, but she slept the whole way there and back with nary a peep out of her.  When the plane took off I was praying that the pressure changes wouldn't hurt her ears too much, and all she did was suck on my finger.  Not even a whimper.

My mom met us at the airport, along with Zman (my former-foster-step-nephew) who is the sweetest 16 year old boy out there.  He was so excited to meet his new little cousin.  He wanted to take her out of the car seat right away, but we talked him into waiting until we got home.  Sadly, I didn't get any pics of the two of them together, and we didn't see him again while we were out there.  But he was just so into holding her and making her smile, it was awesome.

The week was a lot of visiting and going out for brunches and lunches with family.  These pics are from brunch when Ginevra met my Grandma & Grandpa F (Dad's parents). 

Mama & Ginny havin' brunch

Great-Grandma Dodo & Ginny

Great-Grandpa Won & Ginny (don't listen to his tall tales baby girl)

Papa & Ginny

When my parents moved a couple of years ago, they got rid of all the baby stuff they had from when Oscar & Felix (my sister's kids) were wee, so we had to improvise where Ginny would sleep.  The laundry basket worked double duty as a bed and as a bouncy chair (when padded with a pillow). 

Maxin' and relaxin'

My mom threw a little baby shower for us, so that more people could get to meet Ginevra.  It was just a little get together, but everyone was so generous and so incredibly taken with Ginny.  My favourite moment was when my cousins D & H met her.  I came into the family when they were preschoolers, and now they're all grown up and ooh-ing over my little girl. 

Ginny and her cousin D

Mom and Dad babysat one evening so that my Beloved and I could go out.  We had a nice casual dinner and went to a movie (the Kings Speech - totally rocked!!!).  For the first hour that we were away from her, I felt a little panicky, even though I knew that she would be just fine with my parents.  After that, I seemed to be able to mellow out and enjoy myself.

Ginny with Auntie J, and cousins D & H

Mom and I cooked a ton of good food together, something that I miss tremendously.  We made ribs & chicken in our homemade bbq sauce, I taught her how to make my chicken curry with quinoa and she showed me a great new cake recipe.  We drank some really good wine.  Man I miss having her close by.

Overall, it was a quick and uneventful trip, but I'm so glad that we got to go.  I know some day they'll live closer to us, but for now we have to cherish the brief times we get to spend together.

Kinda Freaky Realization

Humble Readers, something hit me last night...

Those of you who have been walking this road with me for a while may recall the baby dream that I had just before we lost our second angel-baby, Olivia Noelle.  For those who are newer co-journey-ers with me, the basics are:

I dreamed that we were at the little grocery store across the back lane from our building, introducing our newborn little girl to all the cashier ladies.  Somehow during the dream we managed to 'misplace' or lose our new little girl.  I was frantic.  I was racing all over the store, looking for her everywhere, but I just couldn't find her.  In the dream, I was heartbroken, sobbing and bawling over our misplaced baby.  But then my Beloved walked up to me, carrying a baby, but it was a different baby.  He said to me, 'I know we lost our little girl, but here's another that can be ours'.  The little girl was dark haired, with a little round face, and beautiful blue eyes. 

Now, I'm not one to put a whole lot of stock in dreams.  I mean, they are what they are.  I honestly just thought it was my mind's way of dealing with the fears I had of having a second miscarraige.  And, after the miscarraige happened, in my heart I kind of clung to that dream as a hope that maybe there would be a baby in our lives some day. 

Fastforward just over two years...

A beautiful little dark haired little girl with a round face and stunning blue eyes. 

(For the record, I really didn't think that any child that came from my body would have dark hair, much less have hair of any sort, as all babies in my family are either blonde or bald.  I totally forgot to take my Beloved's family into account.)

Kinda freaky...

Kitchen Adventures: Valentine's Day Dinner

Hey Humble Readers...

This crud that I picked up while on vacation is currently kicking my tail.  It's currently sitting in my throat and ears... ugh.  So far, Ginny is appearing to be immune, which is a blessing.

But I wasn't going to let a cold keep me down last night when it came to making dinner.  Due to our financial situation, we agreed that we were only going to do a fancy dinner at home and exchange cards this year for V-day.  So, back in mid January I started looking for something new and outstanding to rock my Beloved's tastebuds.  And this is what I found...

Mediterranean Chicken in Puff Pastry

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed and cut in half
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (of similar size)
2 cups of spinach, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Oregano
Thyme
Egg, beaten

Preheat your oven to 350F.  Line a baking sheet with baking parchment.  Roll out, on a lightly floured board, one half of the puff pastry until it is almost triple the size of your chicken breast.  In the center of the puff pastry, place 1/2 cup of spinach.  Top with chicken breast.  Spread one tablespoon of basil pesto on chicken breast, then sprinkle with half of the sundried tomatoes and feta cheese.  Sprinkle with a pinch of oregano and thyme.  Top with 1/2 cup spinach.  Bring sides of pastry up and press/roll together tightly.  Do the same to each end, so that the pastry forms a packet around the chicken.  Place wrapped chicken on baking sheet, seam side down.  Repeat all steps with second chicken breast.  Using a sharp knife, slice 2 or 3 small slits in the pastry to allow steam to escape.  Brush both packets lightly with beaten egg and put in the oven.  Bake for 40 minutes, until the pastry is nice and golden.  To serve, cut each packet in half on an angle and stack on a plate. 

What they looked like fresh from the oven.... YUM!

I served this with boiled new potatoes dressed with a bit of basil pesto, and oven roasted asparagus.  It was incredible, and I can't wait to try this with different combinations of meats and cheeses. 

Okay, it's time for this hobbit to crawl back into bed.  Thankfully the wee little girl is napping too.

Perfect Moment Monday: Ginevra & G.G.

Good Morning Humble Readers! 

Lori at Write Mind Open Heart defines a perfect moment as "noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between."  Every Monday bloggers from all over the blogosphere pause to be mindful of the perfect moments that happen when we aren't even trying. 

The main purpose of our trip to K-town last week was so that my extended family could meet our precious little girl.  There were other perks, like Beloved and I getting an evening out while my parents babysat and good food made in my mom's kitchen, but most important was that Ginevra got to meet lots of people, particularly my Grandma R.

Meeting G.G. for the first time

Our first day in town we headed to the nursing home where my Grandma R lives.  She had a debilitating stroke three years ago, but in recent months she has shown a great amount of improvement, even being able to feed herself (a huge step from where she was last fall).  When we arrived, she was just finishing her lunch, but she pushed away her tray and demanded "Give me that baby!".  It was so cute!

We went down to visit almost every day of our stay, and "G.G." (as all the great-grandkids call her) demanded to hold her.  She was so sweet, smooching on her, hugging her for all she was worth.  And Ginny, she did really well too.  Especially considering all the strangers she met, and all the little grannies at the nursing home who felt the need to pinch her cheeks. 

Four Generations - Me, Mom, G.G. & Ginny

Do you have a Perfect Moment you want to share?  Well, do it already!  Everyone is welcome to join in.  Click over for more information.

*****
More pics from K-town, Audrey's baptism, and this year's fancy Valentine's Day dinner all coming this week!  (Provided this sinus thing stays at a dull roar)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Good Morning Humble Readers...

Just wanted to pop online and say that I'm back on the frozen flatland.  The time with my family was absolutely fabulous and I'm planning on sharing some of the highlights tomorrow. 

The unfortunate news is that a very irritating sinus thing hitched a ride home with me.  My head pounds, my nose aches and my throat scratches.  I can only hope that it is short lived and that Ginevra doesn't get it.

I'm off to go make some tea.