Oh Canada Oh Canada

Getting ready for vacation I noticed a few things:

My child's clothes were cuter than mine!

I was in desperate need of a hair change!

I have to stop over analyzing trips and get down to the basics and essentials when packing.

There's always time, if not make some. So  I did. I took off 2 inches 1/2 and colored my hair RED!!!

I spent about 2 days prior to the trip rounding up items and clothes we'd need to pack for ourselves and the baby. Upon doing so I noticed I was in desperate need of some clothes. Either my breast were too big, my pants to snug or it wasn't weather appropriate. Luckily for me I have a sympathetic and understanding partner who hands me the card and says, "don't stop at one place. Keep on shopping til your done!" So I did! Who can complain about that?!?

A couple stops later I picked up a cocktail/dinner dress for the reception, a dress for the wedding, Pea some new boots, some leggins and BAM I feel whole again! What's that you ask? Jeans? Did I get jeans? ummm Hello?!?!  I said, "leggins" in my world that's like close enough ok. Maybe later this winter after my post partum/ holidays /overall life decides its time to invest in new jeans. I assure now is not the time for that type of emotional ride.

Airport bound is usually one of my favorite parts of vacation! Music up windows down, rocking out, making pictures, snapping ya know.

However, I should have known better than to wait before the morning of our flights to pick up Andrew's grooms men's items.  We stopped in Auburn at this dry cleaning place we had found on yelp to get out things. It seemed to had been taking a while. I anxiously sat in the car and waited. Finally, Andrew stepped out the door and shrugged his shoulders, through his hands up and shook his head. I knew this couldn't mean anything short of awesome. So, I opened the doors and stepped in. Andrew assured me all was well and they were just looking for his shirt and that it seemed to be misplaced. (Mind you this was a brand new 100.00 shirt purchased somewhere in Canada and was to be worn at his father's wedding in less than 2 days!)

I calmly and as collectively as possible went back to the car and brought in the baby. I thought maybe if I had my child I wouldn't flip out like a lunatic and get arrested for acting white girl crazy. After, 10 minutes of searching the woman said, "there was nothing they could do about it til the weekend when the manager arrived." Andrew grabbed his receipt and tie and said he'd deal with it later. We got back in the car and I thought, there's no way in hell that this is how we are starting our first international trip with the baby. I graciously went back inside and explained we were airport bound, about to fly with our 8 month old for the 1st time and I was beyond stressed. I asked, "Is there any way I can check the rack myself to see if I can find it since I know what it looks like?"

UM ACCESS DENIED. THAT WAS A BIG NO! The ladies in line behind me  were even trying to convince her to let me go through the items. She wouldn't have it. As my eyes watered up I smiled, lifted my head and told her, "You have a wonderful day!"  and left. 

The airport was a breeze! Southwest seating a total plus! Nursed during take off and she handled it like a boss. Didn't cry once! 

She woke up at our connection in Phoenix, AZ

After a long day of traveling I was ready to enjoy a "swim" in the whirlpool of a tub our suite had to offer!  Andrew was heading off to try to find a shirt for the wedding at Moore's.

(Penelope trapped on the bed pin we made! lol)

I went to unpack and hang up my dresses, only to realize they were already hanging up, in Buffalo, NY, USA where I had left them by mistake the night before. FML. With no international cell phone data it sure was going to be fun trying to figure out how the hell I was going to get a hold of Andrew, find a new dress or take that relaxing soak.

Let the games begin! Praise God for WIFI. I was able to msg him on fb. He so willingly offered to drive, yes, DRIVE back to NY and get them for me.

My white night to the rescue.

We weren't able to get his shirt or find a dry cleaner but I'll be damned if he didn't get my dresses.

We were fashionably late to dinner but had wonderful time!

AG Inspired Cuisine, 5195 Magdalen St, Niagara Falls, ON

With live musical entertainment in the party room!

Great wine, different food and memories made! 

The wedding day has arrived!!!!  The main event! Treina and Todd are to tie the knot! I start getting ready, nursing, pumping getting all of our clothes together.

Todd comes up to the room to grab his clothes and wedding certificate only to find, he has left in Buffalo, NY, USA. Here we go again! We all start tearing up the hotel room searching in hopes it was brought and misplaced. Sure enough, it's not. Andrew volunteers to miss the helicopter ride/entrance to the wedding and be late so he can go back through customs, again, to get the license. Oh, but wait, we can't find his passport! You've got to be kidding me! We search high, we search low, kind of a big deal, needless to say we finally find it in his Father's FJ. So, Andrew's off, I now have 1 hr, to get myself ready, Penelope ready, eat and head out to the wedding. Todd's cell phone rings, this is what I hear,

"Wait, what?"

"Your where"

"Are you ok?"

"Are you sure it's the brakes?"

I'm freaking. I mean just freaking out.

Sure enough the brakes went out.

Andrew going 40 mph, coming up on an intersection finds the brakes have bit the dust. He E- brakes it and is able to safely stop. He then comes back to the hotel. Gets a rental from some of the guests and heads back to Buffalo.

I call Alyssa and Matt in the next room over, trying not to panic I ask them for help carrying down all the wedding items, last minutes wedding apparel, diaper bag, ergo, you name it. There I am in my new dress, under armour tennis shoes (f the heels at this point) baby in the ergo ready to go in the party bus!

Andrew arrived 15 minutes before the ceremony, in Pajama pants, dress shoes, a hoody and certificate in hand. Now, all we had to do was get this flower girl to be ready, him dressed and mommy chug a mimosas. 

Sunday Funday! Mommy and Penelope wait for 3.75 hours while the guys fix the brakes in the FJ in the parking lot garage of the hotel! Post check out time. Hanging in the lobby!

What an adventure! I mean wow! We made it! We survived!

Such a beautiful weekend, new family, new friends, new memories made and all and all a wonderful weekend. It was fun, eating drinking, dancing, exploring and being a tourist!  I 'm blessed we have such an amazing friendship and bond that we manage to make the best out of every situation! Truly thankful for the family we have and each other!

This wouldn't be an honest post if I didn't at least mention my mother. She was there for me every inch of the way. Through every hiccup that occurred, 1000 of miles away she was there for me. I didn't truly understand a mother's love and sacrifice until I became a mother myself!

Thanks again for being there for me Mother!