Big Girl Now

Well I am trying to update this more often...hard to do when you work. Well it is official...my little baby is now a big girl (well kind of). She now sleeps in a toddler bed. We were told that this is a very difficult thing to do with a little one. Well our little one has proven that she is indeed an angel toddler. It took three nights and now she goes to sleep no problem in her bed. She only tried for the first little while to crawl out. Now we read her a few stories before bed and she goes to sleep after. It is amazing. It is a much more comfortable bed then her play pen. It now makes travel a little more difficult as we now will have to have her sleeping in a bed. Oh well. Next step hopefully is the potty training. She really hasn't shown too much interest but I think Daddy is getting sick of changing diapers. It would be nice to get her on the potty. We'll keep you posted on that...well not in too much detail of course. What else? Oh the words are coming faster and faster these days. She has a new word almost every day now. It is amazing. I am waiting for the full sentences to just fly out of her mouth. This means Mommy and Daddy are being super careful of what words we are saying.

Things are going well in Calgary. Grama and Grampa visited in May and Nana and Opa came for a visit in June. We are going to Edmonton this weekend to visit the folks and Aunt Heather and Uncle Kat. I am looking forward to that. Work is going well and I am finally done all my data entry. I have a presentation on Thursday...wish me luck...not that I think I need it. Well what else to tell you? Hmmmm. I have first aid training now courtesy of Petro-Canada. I love it. I feel much more prepared if a medical emergency was to happen. Well I will post some pics now so that you can see how our little one is growing. Love to you all (well the ones I know anyway).


Daddy and Dinara at the Calgary Zoo in front of the giraffe.


Dinara enjoying an ice cream that Grama bought her at the zoo.


Grampa and Dinara in front of the elephant (well a fake one in front of the penn)...or as Dinara says "Elly".


Dinara and Grama playing Dinara's favorite game...bounce. Grama taught her this one when she first came home to Canada.


Dinara playing with her new tricycle from Uncle Kat and Aunt Heather. She's a little small for it but she'll grow into it.

I have heard that people still want us to blog...

Well it has been awhile. I am sorry that I haven't been blogging too much. I wasn't actually sure that anyone was still reading this blog but my Mom told me today that some of my family in Edmonton is still wanting us to blog (please leave a comment so I know you are still reading this). So again I will try my best to update it as much as I can.

Ok on to details...when we last left our intrepid explorers...wait a minute. Ok I obviously got back from Argentina in one piece. It was a good trip but winter came early in El Calafate. Now you might ask what this means...well it means that Nadine's outcrop that she was looking at was covered with snow as of April 3rd and didn't recover. So Nadine only got 12 out of 31 days in Argentina to do field work. Oh well I am going back in January 2009 (summertime). I returned to Canada on April 19th and moved to Calgary on the 28th of April. I haven't really had a lot of down time since I have returned. I now am working at Petro-Canada in Calgary and I am working on quite a challenging project. I can't go into particulars but believe me it is definitely going to take me the four months to complete this project. The cool thing is I have previously met my mentor. He is a friend of one of my colleagues (Shahin Dashtgard). He is very nice and I am having a great time working with him (Geoff is his name). He and his wife (Betsy) are in the middle of trying to adopt from China and Alberta. Long story and not mine to tell.

Dinara is doing great! She is most definitely a two year old now. She throws some tantrums when we try and put her to bed and has become a little more fussy with food. We purchased the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers (we loved the baby version) and it turns out she is still considered an "Angel" Toddler. This worries Andrew and I...what will one from our genetics be like then. I'm pretty sure that neither of us where Angel's while toddlers...ok I know we weren't. Anyhow...Dinara is developing great. She loves to play and is babbling more then ever. She knows more then 75-100 English words and loves to say the sounds that animals and some vehicles make. I love seeing how she changes day to day. I really missed that while in Argentina. Well today was Mother's Day and my hubby (bless his soul) doesn't quite understand how important this day is to me. I did inform him today that it ranks as high as my birthday and our anniversary but not as high as Christmas. He didn't realize this. I did get a card and a wonderful breakfast at Ricky's in SE Calgary. We then went shopping for most of the morning trying to find a dyson hand held vacuume. Of course the last place we go is where we find it. Thanks God! I even tried to find it yesterday.

Oh yeah! We had our first Gotcha Day on May 3rd. We had a great time together. We went to Canmore for Breakfast and Lunch and walked around the town for the day. It was lots of fun. We really love our little girl and we cherish everyday that we have with her. We are soooo lucky to have her in our lives. It was really a great day to spend together. We also spoiled her rotten with gifts (really are you surprised). Now it isn't that we think Dinara needs all these toys...its the fact that she has two big kids for parents who love to play with the toys too.

Well that's enough for now. I hope you still are reading this log. Lots of love from our family to yours and Happy Mother's Day to any Mom reading this blog (feline kids matter too).

Now for some pictures...

Dinara wearing a gift from Kat's Step-mom in Wyoming...Kat's Step-mom is from Wyoming not that Dinara was there.


Same as the above photo.


Our place in Calgary before Andrew moved everything and made it more Dinara-proof.


Same as above.


Dinara on Gotcha Day (#1) with her present. She loves the Baby Einsteins and this is Rocket (and crew) from the children's show. Mommy and Daddy are not as fond of it anymore (before it made noise all day long we liked it).


Dinara and her Daddy in the parking lot of the Radisson Hotel in Canmore. We went there for our Gotcha Day breakfast.


Dinara in her really cute Giraffe inspired printed hoodie. We love it. Andrew says that when he goes to play group he can spot her from a mile away (or 1.6 km for us metric people).


Daddy and Dinara by the river in Canmore. The three sisters mountains are in the backgrounds.


Dinara in her new cool shades.


Dinara making funny faces in her new cool shades.

Sorry about the Interuption

Ok. Well I have been in Argentina for 18 days now. I speak an excellent "Spanish Menu" and can normally get by with the bits and pieces of Spanish that I remember...I so have to take more Spanish classes. The work is going well and I no longer feel like I am going to die each day we go to an outcrop (exposure of rocks). In the beginning I thought I was carrying a hippopotamus on my shoulders while hiking...now it just feels like me (which can be more then enough some days). The units I am looking at show potential and today my supervisors came out and looked at them too. Lots of information for me to process...all good. I had the general idea of what was going on correct but now we are fine tuning it. It is beautiful here! I miss my family desperately but I just deal with it day to day. Really all I can do...don't you think. I have had two phone calls from my hubby and one from my folks...all appreciated. It is nice to know i haven't been forgotten yet. I haven't done any tourist things as this isn't the point of this trip. I am hoping to take my field assistant Kendra (who arrives tomorrow morning) to the glacier before we go to Buenos Aires on the 15th of April. I have been communicating with Petrocanada while in Argentina (they thought Africa on vacation) on booking my and Dinara's flights from Saskatoon to Calgary on the 28th of April. They asked some dumb questions but oh well. Not as organized as Imperial (strikes against them already). Well what else?? I think I have lost some weight...my pants are too big now. Not that I am complaining...I needed a little lightening of my load. I can see ab muscles again..Yipee! I will attach some photos now if it doesn't take too long...the internet connection in the apartment is good but no where as good as in Canada. Miss you all.

Arrived in Argentina

Well for the next little while this blog is going to be focusing on what I (Nadine) am doing in Argentina. So where to begin...

I arrived in Buenos Aires two days ago and had no problems or fears when I entered the airport. The first time I did this I was terrified that I was going to be mugged or kidnapped but I now knew the routine. I went to the place where Lonely Planet's guide recommended for transport (Manuel Tienda Leon) and booked a driver to my hotel (Park Chateau Kapinski). My driver was Carlos and he was very nice. He knew only a little English and I know only a little Spanish but we had no problems talking. My spanish is better then I thought.

Martin has come back so I'll update later. Sorry.

My First Long(ish) Trip Away from My Little One

Well as the title states I will be away from March 17th until April 19th in Argentina. I will be gathering the data that I need for my PhD project in that time. This is going to be very hard on me and my family...but mostly me I think. Andrew is more then capable of taking care of Dinara and this isn't what bothers me. I am worried that Dianra is going to be upset not having her Mommy around for 4 weeks. I don't know how my supervisor's and other colleagues with children do this. The only thing making it bearable is that we are going to try and do webcam talks and I am going to be calling long distance a lot. I know this doesn't take the place of me being there but I really do have to get this data in order to complete my degree. It won't be forever and the sooner I get all my data the sooner I can complete the degree and go work in Calgary. We are planning for the next field trip to Argentina for January 2009 and this time I will bring my family with me (if not for the whole time at least for a couple weeks). I hope things go alright while I am away. If my friends and family here and in Edmonton could call and keep in touch with Andrew while I am away I would really appreciate it. I am sure Andrew will need a break from time to time. Andrew's parents will be coming and staying with him the weekend of the 21st for a week...which I am sure will help a lot. But if any of you want to come and visit and provide Andrew with some grown up time I am sure he would appreciate it. Well that being said I don't think there will be too much updating on Dinara for the next few weeks. I am considering blogging while I am in Argentina and telling you all what I am doing there. I should be able to post some pics of the area that I am working in as well. Keep your fingers crossed for us and hope that I can endure the time away. I plan on distracting myself with work the whole time I am away so I don't have to think about how much I am missing my little girl (and my hubby too). Talk soon. TTFN.

More Disneyland Pictures

Not much to say today but here are some more pictures.


Paradise Pier Hotel at night.



Entrance to Disneyland.


Dinara and Daddy by a large water fountain in Downtown Disney.


Daddy and Dinara outside the Carnation Cafe in Disneyland.

Disneyland February 2008 Trip One for Dinara

Hello Everyone.

Well we have had a fun filled week. We returned from Disneyland yesterday and we had an amazing time! Thanks again to the generosity of Aunty Bridget we didn't have to pay for our accommodations. We also bought into the famous Disney Vacation Club on our first day. We set up an appointment with the agent as soon as we were at our hotel...The Disney Paradise Pier Hotel. We loved it! We have decided that Disneyland
isn't as good as Disneyworld but it was still a great time. We have lots of pictures and I mean lots of pictures (0ver 400) but I will only show a select few. If you want to see the rest you will have to come to Saskatoon and see my scrapbook (which I will be making as soon as I can). The weather on our trip was good but not great. It was rainy most days and cold (not obviously in comparison to Canada). We had only a day of good weather. It didn't stop us having fun though.

OK, OK now for some details...

Our first day we mostly got settled in our hotel. We did eat at the little cafe in our hotel first and foremost. I had the Cobb salad, Andrew had the turkey club and Dinara had chicken nuggets. The food was amazing and the servings were huge! I had a serving bowl full of salad and fixings. I couldn't believe it! Dinara's nuggets were sooooooo good too. They were actual chunks of chicken. After lunch we met up with Aunty Bridget (Mommy had forgotten Bridget's cell number at home) and was having problems getting a hold of her. However, after lunch I saw her in the lobby and squealed and ran towards her. We were just like little girls jumping up and down so excited to see one another. After this we got settled in our hotel room and walked around the Disneyland hotels until our vacation club reservation time. Signing up for the DVC took more time then we thought but we got lots of free things (hats, albums, fast passes, and gift cards) We then ate supper at the Wine Country Trattoria in Disney's California Adventure. It was good and we got to eat outside. So we ate at a restaurant outside in February. After supper Daddy and Dinara were tired so they went back to the hotel room to sleep. Aunty Bridget and I then ran around California Adventure (rode Hollywood Tower of Terror) and then ran over to Disneyland to hit a few rides there (Haunted Mansion, Tea Cups, and the Matadore). So much fun.

Day two began with breakfast at Lilo and Stitch's PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) Grill. This was our favorite character meal of all time. It was soooo much fun. The character breakfast starts with a family photo with Minnie and then the other characters (Stitch, Lilo, and Pluto) walk around, pose and interact with the guests. Andrew and I had never had so much time with characters at a meal before. Mommy made the mistake of having an omelet from the omelet bar...it tasted good but I think something touched shrimp so I felt yucky for most of the day. We then headed into Disneyland proper and walked around. We rode the main street train and entered Toontown. This was great. Dinara had a blast. We had lunch in Downtown Dinsey and then went back to the room for a nap. We then walked around Disneyland some more and left Aunty Bridget in California Adventure. We said our good byes and walked away a little sad at leaving our good friend. We didn't get much time with her but it was awesome as always. We then went for supper at Goofy's Kitchen. It was extremely expensive and Mommy wasn't hungry (as the shrimp reaction was still around). It was fun to see the kid's reaction to the new characters (especially seeing princess Jasmine). That made up for my lack of appetite.

Day three was breakfast in Disneyland in the Carnation Street Cafe. Here we had eggs benedict croissants with breakfast potatoes (that were to die for). Yummy, yummy! It was raining lots at this point and getting cold. Good thing we had Dinara's winter coat and lots of layers to wear...unlike most of the tourists we saw. We had a great breakfast but saw a tonne of people in the park. We then decided because of all the people and the lines that we were going over to California Adventure instead. Here we rode Mike and Scully's Monsters Inc. Ride (twice), went and saw Muppet 3D, went through the entire Bugs Life area (for toddlers), and ended with a nap in the hotel room. Lunch was Mexican in Mission Tortilla Factory. I thought it was good but Andrew isn't really a Mexican fan (bean and all). We then went over to Disneyland and rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Dumbo (Dinara's favorite), and Nemo Subs. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! Andrew also rode the Matadore himself. He enjoyed it where is Mommy didn't. Supper was at the Rainforest Cafe. Daddy thought it was too loud and over stimulating. Dinara seemed ok with it and Mommy (being deaf) didn't find it too loud at all. The food was really good though! Mommy had a bacon cheeseburger, Daddy had a buffalo chicken salad, and Dinara had grilled cheese. We then went back into Disneyland to ride some more rides.

Day four began with breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian Hotel. Dinara loved this! The breakfast is a character one with all animals (Chip, Dale, Miko(?), Turk, and Koda(?)). She loved seeing all the animals and even surprised Mommy with how excited she got. We then went over to California adventure and rode a bunch of rides there (The ferris wheel, Triton's carousel just to name a few). We then walked over to Disneyland and rode some there too. We ate lunch at Minnie's restaurant in Disneyland (can't remember the name right now)...fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It was excellent. Andrew and Dinara went back to the room to nap and Mommy went shopping in Downtown Disney. We ended with supper at Yamabuki. This is the japanese restaurant in the Paradise Pier Hotel. It was also amazing. I know I keep saying this but the food here is really good. Expensive but good. I finished with some packing and then getting a fitful sleep.

The end. Well for this trip at least. Here are some pictures.

The first two are of Aunty Bridget and Dinara at the Main Street Train Station:





Toontown in Disneyland:


Dinara's First Ride Ever...Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin

















Disneyland Castle (Aurora's Castle...Sleeping Beauty):



Mommy, Daddy and Dinara with Walt:



Aunty Bridget, Dinara and Goofy:





Birds of Paradise growing wild outside our hotel:



Aunty Bridget and Dinara outside waiting for the Monorail in Downtown Disney:



The awesome view of the Materhorn and the Finding Nemo Subs:



Pictures of Dinara and Pluto; as well as Dinara and Jasmine at Goofy's Kitchen:





I'll post more pics later. I need a break now. TTFN (Ta ta for now). Have a Tiggerific day!