01-6-2009 - My Parents Arrival and Isabella's Baptism

My mood while writing this blog: Exhausted

Hello ladies!!!

What a busy 2 weeks we have just had! Isabella FINALLY met my parents for the first time - 7 months later!! They arrived from Canada on Sunday, May 17th. I met them at the door with Isabella and they couldn't get out of the car fast enough to see her and me!

She took to them right away - didn't play shy or cry. Unlike with my MIL here, Isabella hasn't liked her very much from the beginning - she's loud and scary even though we ask her many times to speak quieter and quit getting in Isabella's face!!

Anyway, the first week we had Baptism preparations still but my parents were just happy to be here with us. The last time we saw each other was in August 2007. Isabella's Godparents arrived on Friday, May 22nd from Rhodes and we spent the day with them on Saturday. Again, Isabella took them right away. Her Godfather is my husband's best friend and we haven't seen them since July 2005! And on Sunday, May 24th, our little girl was Baptised Isabella Katerina!

It was unbelieveably hot on the day of her Baptism - reaching about 37 degrees!!! My parents are not accustomed to that heat and I was quite worried about them. My dad is 83 and my mum is 78 which means their health isn't all that great. But they were ok. Isabella was ok up until she had to go into the tub for her Baptism - if you understand an Orthodox Baptism, you'll know that the baby is put into a tub of water 3 times. Hair and everything! That is when she started crying. Poor thing - I couldn't do a thing for her! After it was over, she came back to me and I dressed her in her Baptismal gown - I will post pictures later.

Then things started to get really bad. She was starving and I wanted to nurse her for 5 minutes. My MIL started freaking - she didn't want me to do that. But I did anyway. Her reasoning? People were waiting to congratulate us. OK - it was 5 minutes. And Isabella was screaming with hunger and as her mother - I should let her starve?

After, we went home and she was simply exhausted. So I lay her down to sleep and my IL's were freaking that we had to go for lunch NOW. They couldn't understand why my parents and Isabella needed to lie down. I was so upset, I had a complete meltdown. My IL's are all about "me me me" and don't care about anyone else. So my husband took them all to the restaurant and came back for us later. The best thing ever because Isabella was in MUCH better spirits after eating and sleeping.

My parents supported me with my choice of letting her sleep - good thing they don't speak Greek because they would have had some words for the IL's - especially after seeing how much they upset me!

So now, my MIL isn't talking to me. I snapped at her at the Church but apologized after - she is mad because we chose to name Isabella what we wanted and not after my FIL - she is mad because we made people wait 5 minutes till I nursed Isabella and she's mad because we didn't go to the restaurant right away. She really ruined what was a beautiful day for my daughter. And right now - I don't care that she's not talking to me - it's better this way.

On Wednesday, May 27th, we took my parents away until Saturday to the beach which they loved. This also prompted my MIL to pout that we never take her anywhere - as I said - my parents are on vacation here - should they sit in the house the whole time??? And when we do offer to take the MIL somewhere - she says no - she doesn't want to be a burden. What-freakin-ever. This was also Isabella's first vacation!! She is such an easy baby - travels well, sleeps wherever - no problems whatsoever! I can't wait till we go on vacation with her in August!

And sadly, my parents left this morning, Monday, June 1st to go back to Canada. They are so sad to go for many reasons. One being - they are worried at their age and with their health, they will never see Isabella or I again. I am planning on going over for the month of September - another reason why my MIL is mad - I shouldn't be travelling with Isabella so young - she'll be 11 months then! Clearly, she's NEVER travelled anywhere - but then again, what am I saying??? Both she and her daughter never took their kids anywhere till they were 5 years old - my daughter will go everywhere with me. She won't break for goodness sake!!! THAT'S a whole other story.

So when I have pics I will post!!!

Hope everyone is well!!! What are your plans for the summer?

xox