- so...I really can't believe the last I wrote was Jake's bday estancia getaway
- I think I wasn't sure of what would become of this blog, and things got a little crazy with the big, international move
- Jake's birthday was just days before we flew home, but so much happened in those last days...
- ...and because I've realized this blog has been a place to share our memories so we don't forget, I felt it important to complete our story of the two years we spent in Argentina
- so here's what those last days were filled with...
- ...a touching office farewell hosted by Jake's boss and colleagues
- Jake worked SO hard these last two years...adjusting to a new job is no easy task, let alone doing so in a foreign language and country...I'm incredibly proud of him...many kind words were shared and although the speeches were all in Spanish, I understood enough to tear up ;)
- ...attending a couple baby showers honoring my dear pregnant expat friends, Carolyn and Sherine
someone put me in charge of the cake (eek)...B for Baby Boy Banner and the blueberry buttercream was supposed to be BLUE, not purple, but oh well :)
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| Sherine's sisters, mom, and niece flew from Canada for the big event...they organized the sweetest shower for her! |
- ...taking care of several odds and ends, such as trying to replace any broken items in our fully-furnished rented apartment (ps...any other pregnant ladies get extremely clumsy and break a lot of stuff?!)
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| not sure how many stores I went to trying to match this espresso cup, but I think this one was the winner for closest match |
- ...selling items we wouldn't be bringing back with us...remember this beloved machine?! boy did it do us well...maybe my best purchase in those two years!
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| peanut butter, hummus, smoothies, oh my! |
after selling the changing table, my empty closet became our new changing station
- ...retrieving any last documents, like extra birth certificates for James
- ...final appointments (Jake met me at my dentist appointment to watch James)
- ...final meet-ups with friends
Yayoi and I found a sandwich called the "James" (I ordered that) and here's Bai, a friend and pediatrician too!
- ...James humored me and let me go to a couple new neighborhood "must-tries" before the move:
love the look on his face...he's like, "Really mom? A picture of me with YOUR ice cream!? At least give me a lick!"
- ...he also humored me with a picnic in the nearby German park
- ...taking many photos to help us remember our day-to-day lives...here are some of Jake's walk/bus/walk to work:
cross Las Heras, pass by the park, wait at the bus stop
get off the bus, walk over the bridge to Puerto Madero, arrive at AON!
- ...a farewell pizza party with friends
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| snuck in a little happy birthday cake for Jake...SURPRISE! |
- ...and of course we couldn't neglect February 10, Jake's actual birthday...we returned to a favorite parilla, La Cabrera
had to get a final Argentine meat fix! (zoom in on that meat! mouth-watering!)
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| feliz cumple papa! |
- ...then there was our last day...
- Jake took off from work, and we spent the morning packing...
- ...then had empanadas for lunch - the delicious national staple we had both on our first and last days in BA
- ...then we headed out for a walk
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| a family of alpargatas...ya know, the shoes TOMS were designed off of |
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| nursing in the park with no shame...that freedom and comfort is SO missed back in the States |
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| James on an iconic BA green bench (we framed this one...cracks me up) |
our little porteño...
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| Las Heras Park...closest park to our house, walked through it daily to get to work, did some filming for House Hunters here |
- ...and finally...our taxi arrived to retrieve us and our luggage...we loaded up, and went to Ezeiza...
- ...only to be told our plane was not there and would not be there until the next day...
- ...WHAT?! We have to stay overnight!? But our family is waiting for us! I want to go home! We already said goodbye! It's time to go!
- ...FINE! we'll stay in the hotel
- and we'll try to entertain a 3 month old in the lobby until it's time to head back to the airport
- and we'll continue to try to keep him happy while at the airport
- and he'll poop on me while in the carrier, so we'll change him
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| outfit #1 |
- needless to say, we were all smiles to finally be on the plane!
hasta luego Argentina!
- James was a champ on all THREE flights to get us from BA>Chicago>Sioux City
- he was only allowed in his bassinet when the seatbelt lights were OFF, which was like 20 minutes the entire 10 hour flight
- but like I said, he was a champ...we were terrified about how he would do, but he pleasantly surprised us
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| James in outfit #2 and wondering, "Are we there yet!?" |
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| James in outfit #3 and plane #3...Sioux City here we come!!! |
some final words to leave on this blog (at least for now) taken from what I posted on Facebook the day we left:
"We started this week with a birthday (happy bday mi amor! sorry for the late saludos) and spent the rest of it undoing the past two years...in this time we learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and those around us. We made ourselves comfortable in a foreign environment and now we return to a more familiar place, yet right now it feels a bit foreign to us...but the greatest thing is that we're bringing back the best souvenir we could ask for...little Jamesito! sorry to take you away from your patria, but time to introduce you to your other homeland and those living there who love you so, so much! It's been great BA! Hope to see you again someday!"
