Trip to Ottawa

Last weekend, we gathered with my dad's side of the family to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday – in Ottawa, Canada! This led to a number of milestones for Madeleine: first international trip, first time to Canada, first time meeting her great-grandparents and our relatives from Waterloo and her Uncle Peter. It was quite eventful!

M. and my cousin Stephanie

Happy with Uncle Peter!

We drove up to Ottawa, family roadtrip style: Dave, Maddie, and I joined Grace, A., and M. in their minivan, and the six of us braved the journey together (Stephen traveled separately because of his work schedule). The kids were really quite good, with only one period of total meltdown on each leg of the trip!

(N.B.: my dad restraining M. by the collar so he doesn't plunge face-first into the cake! Haha)

Our actual time in Ottawa was very brief, but it felt so special to see Maddie with my grandparents! I have so many memories of their house, too, so it was precious to bring our little baby there. We went out for dim sum lunch and Chinese seafood dinner in Chinatown, and posed for family pictures to commemorate the moment.

My Ye-ye is pretty out of it these days. I'm not sure whether he recognizes me or knows that I'm his oldest son's daughter, and I'm quite certain he doesn't know whom Maddie belongs to. But when he sees Maddie, he instinctively reaches out to her and bends in close to make eye contact, smiling and chuckling and singing her little songs.

It was so moving to see those two together! Praying for more opportunities and more years to spend together!