Maia only has one grandparent who lives locally — Chris’ father. We see him once or twice a month, in general, and it’s always fun. Our most recent visit with him was at Yuki Sushi in Toronto, which was AMAZINGLY, MINDBLOWINGLY good (and only $11.99 for all you can eat!) Maia tried edamame in the shell and loved it, and in this video she’s eating shredded crab, shiitake mushroom, and sushi rice:
My mother lives in Connecticut, and Chris’ mother lives in Florida. We hadn’t seen her since May, but she is up visiting this week and so spent most of the afternoon on Monday here playing with Maia. They got along really well. Maia is just a doll and MJ, my mother-in-law, is completely enchanted by her.
(also, seriously? can’t you tell they’re related?)
I loved seeing them get along with one another. We even left them together for an hour while Chris and I went out and did some grocery shopping and had Wendy’s for lunch (very romantic, I know; don’t be jealous!) and everything went fine.
And even though I couldn’t stop smiling, I felt my heart twisting in my chest.
I wish Maia always had her family around. I wish we were visiting Grandma or Grandpa or Babcia every weekend. I wish they were seeing her grow up the way I do, not just through pictures and videos online, or rare visits. Last time that my mother saw Maia, Maia rolled onto her stomach for the first time. Now she’s practically walking.
I want Maia to be surrounded with even more love than Chris and I can give her.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally understand what you mean. My parents live in Alabama (we live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) and my hubby’s parents live an hour away. It’s hard!
That video is too cute! I can’t wait to introduce sushi. It’s a number of months away yet, I think. The only caution in the back of my mind is not too much tuna, not raw, and oh yeah, if they develop a real taste for sushi, they can help you rack up some serious bills! (I’m thinking of my friend’s 14-year-old who will eat more than the rest of us — oops! lol) How lucky that you have a good cheap sushi place to work with.
Yeah, we didn’t give her anything raw, or any meat other than the crab!
Her face is so funny when she shoves the food in around the 9 sec mark. I know how it is having grandparents so far away. My husband’s parents live in a RV and literally travel 365 days a year. The last time they saw my kids was in March and we don’t expect them to come back our way until May 2010. My parents are a bit closer – 2 hours away – but still it’s tough. I’d like all the parents (and my sister and Hubby’s sister who also both live provinces away) to be closer. It’s too bad we can’t make people live where we want them to.
That video of Maia eating sushi is so adorable! You have the best collection of videos. It will be so fun when she is able to watch them with you.
And yes, I can appreciate how hard it is to live far away from your family. Hopefully those times when you do see each other are just that much more memorable, special, important, unforgettable. Separation makes the heart grow fonder.
~ humps
I’m impressed that the plate stayed on the table. Irene is just starting (at 12 months) to not automatically try to pick up the plate and wave it around or toss it. (And she still will at times.) We just use a baby wipe on the table and let her eat straight off of it. The waiters are always running over with plates that I have to refuse. Maybe we’ll try it next time though!
And my parents are a 15 minute WALK away and Ed’s live across town, so I can only imagine how much not having Maia’s grandparents near must suck. My Dad does work seasonally in NYC, though, and misses the kids for months at a time. But at least he’s home when he’s home.
Yes.
Thank you so much for reminding me why I tolerate living in a place I can’t stand — all our family is here. Sometimes hard to remember that (intensely shiny) silver lining when we’re sweating our butts off INDOORS in November.
I can’t stand how cute she is!!!
We’re short on Grandparents here too, hubs’ folks are in Florida most of the year. My parents are close by but Mom’s mind is fading fast and she has a hard time being around the kids.
It’s so cute to see Maia now. She has so much hair!
A wish for a child to be loved is the best wish of all. Only my husband’s parents live in town, so I know what you mean….
Look at her go! Maia is too adorable and has no shame chowing down on her little plate of goodies. My kids’ grandparents all live within a 10-mile radius and we still hardly ever see them. The nuclear family is not what it once was.
Hi Tat – I so know what you mean. My mom is in Virginia, which is about 5 hours from here. We do go visit a lot, and they come here, but it’s still like 6-8 weeks between visits, and the drive is tough. Anyway, the boys see their other grandparents every week and I feel so bad for my mom, and for me I think, that my mom doesn’t get that kind of time with them. I’m with Diane – I live in NJ and have toyed with the idea of moving so many times, but then we wouldn’t have all the family nearby. It’s a trade off, for sure. A difficult one, either way.
Anyway – Maia is SO BIG! I haven’t been on your blog in an age and oh MY what a big girl! And sushi? Her palate is more advanced than every single one of my wonderbread loving relatives, my husband not included.