Babymoon At Niagara Falls

Right now, Vladi and I are on a Babymoon at Niagara Falls, Canada. A Babymoon is a new thing that people do before the baby comes...a honeymoon before the baby. After all, this is the last time it will ever be just the two of us and like Vladi says, we will be busy for the next 25 years raising a family and then helping with grandchildren soon after that.

We are staying at the same hotel we stayed on our 1 year anniversary. It has been special because we saw Niagara during the summer and now we see what it is like in the winter. It is absolutely beautiful. When standing close to the falls, EVERYTHING is frozen and covered in snow. The big falls (Canadian, American, and Bridal) are not frozen, but the smaller falls around them are frozen. Underneath the American falls is all ice. In this picture, the American falls are in the background.

Our first night here, we ate at the hotel. As we were eating, the piano man was setting up next to our table. I was talking to Vladi about him and refered to him as a "magician." I didn't realize that I had said that and Vladi was looking at me like I was crazy. Then I realized what I said and we just laughed and laughed. I know it's one of those "you had to be there moments" but the guy was dressed in black with a mustache and goatee so he did look like a magician. Later in the night, we wrote Alexander a letter from both of us. We wrote how excited we are for his arrival, what is going on in our lives and the world, and advice for life. We will read this to him every birthday. He might be bored with it when he turns 18, but that is probably when he will really need the message it sends. As it gets closer to his birth , we will write our own "love letters" (as I call them) that will describe what we are feeling for him.

On our first night here, Saturday, January 17, 2009, Vladi felt Alexander for the first time!!! "It was a great feeling," he said. I am so happy that Vladi is now able to feel Alexander. Hopefully soon, Vladi will see Alex push on my tummy. I saw this Jan. 15, 2009. I keep showing Vladi, but it is hard to see.

It is a small world, on our way here, we saw a suv that had KY license plates and a Lexington car dealer tag. We had a UK seat mat in our back seat so I grabbed it, we drove by them, honked, and I held up the UK mat. The people in the car laughed and waved. Then when Vladi was in the elevator at our hotel, there was a man with a Lake Erie Monsters sweatshirt on (minor league hockey team in Cleveland). Vladi asked if he was from Cleveland and the conversation led us to finding out that they live in the neighborhood across from us. Yes, this world is small.

Today Vladi and I went to Niagara-On-The-Lake, but stopped to look at the falls first. We illegally parked our car on the side of the road for a few minutes and took some pics. Then Vladi went to get the car and planned on driving down the road (where I would walk to and meet him) and then he would park on the side to see the falls some more. I walked to meet him taking pics along the way and pictures of families that needed an extra person to take their family picture. Then I remembered that I needed to meet Vladi. Poor guy had been circling around looking for me...oops. I came to what seemed like a river going across the road onto the sidewalk. It was the only opening in the wall of snow (there is no wall, just snow that has made a wall). I waded through the water that came up to the top of my boots and hoped it would not sweep me into the falls. :) It was really deep even for the cars; yet, that was the only place that did not have snow plowed higher than me. The wall of snow was between the road and sidewalk but I didn't want to wait in the river for Vladi, so I kept walking. When Vladi came, I climbed over the wall of icy snow thinking the whole time, "Pregnant Woman Super Hero!" I wanted to yell it but I thought all the people would think, "Crazy American." Vladi got out to help me jump because when I got to the top of the wall of snow and looked down, I got scared. I jumped and my Prince Charming caught me. As I got into the car, he proceeded to climb the wall of snow to look at the falls. Then we heard a loud siren, the policeman was telling Vladi to get back to the car and move it. "Yes Sir!" Vladi said.

In the picture, the wall of snow is to the left of those people. The road is on the other side of the wall. Look at the lamp covered in ice/snow. It looks so cool.

We went to Niagara-On-The-Lake which is a quaint area with boutiques and restaurants. We ate lunch at a nice Bistro that served wood oven pizza. It was soooo yummy. Then my wonderful hubby took me to a store to buy a Pandora charm for my charm bracelet to remember our Babymoon. As many of you know, I think it would be cool for life to be like a musical. For example, at special moments or really any moment in your life, a song comes on in the background that fits with that moment~happy, sad, scary, etc. Well, as we picked our Pandora charm to represent the memory of this trip....a song that I LOVE came on in the store... You Want To Make A Memory by Bon Jovi. I looked at Vladi and said, "We are making memories." I already have "You Want To Make A Memory "on Baby G's Music so listen to it and make a memory or remember a memory yourself. In the picture on the left, we went back to our favorite ice cream shop, Cows, to get mooey gooey ice cream. The exchange rate is better for Americans now than it was in the summer. [In the summer $1USD was equal to $1CAD (Canadian Dollar). Right now $1USD is equal to approxmiately $1.23CAD so we are getting a better deal. The taxes in Canada are a lot higher than U.S. though, they have three taxes, totaling approxmiately 12.5%. ~Vladi wrote this]

Tonight, we ate dinner at the restaurant we ate at on our anniversary, Canyon Creek. Sitting behind us was a cute family from Ontario. The little boy, Benjamin-3, was so adorable. He is how I imagine our little Alexander looking/personality. We then walked to the falls to see the illumination show. This is a picture of the illumination on the American falls.

Diaries, Journals, Blogs

I like to blog as a way to keep a fun journal for Alexander and our family to have for years to come (I print out the blogs and make a book). I have never been good at keeping a diary/journal growing up. As much as I tried, I would only get 1 or 2 pages done. As I learn more about myself (Vladi has made me aware of this character trait), I see that never finishing a diary was because I am too detailed, grammar oriented, and take hours to write; therefore, I never found the time to write. I love finding my diaries and reading the 2 pages that I have written. :) Typing is much better for me (I can easily erase if needed) and blogging works with my personality. I love writing and having my thoughts/memories written down. I am trying to be much more consistent with Baby Gomelsky's blog so Alexander can read how much his parents were excited for his arrival. As you can see, I am posting more and catching up on past memories to blog. Thanks to all who have asked me to keep up with blogging because they enjoy reading the Gomelsky News. I just ask that you comment when you can. This keeps me motivated, let's me know that people are reading, and gives me something to look forward to. You do not have to have an account to comment. Just click anonymous and put your name at the end of your message in the box.

Side Note: This paragraph took a while to write (the Christmas 2008 one took me hours!). haha BUT, I enjoy writing all of the blogs. I read over this many times and had Vladi proofread 3 times! Yes, I am silly. haha I am trying to lighten up so if the grammar is off in the future, just keep reading. I was trying to blog quickly. :)

See you in the next blog!

In The Negatives!

Right now it is 3 degrees outside and wind chill -17 degrees!!! It is beyond cold. We are as cold as some parts of Alaska! We have gotten so much snow, we are definitely over a foot and expecting more. The big storm last weekend piled on top of week old snow/ice. With this weather, we still keep living~schools stay open (will only close when temps are more than -10 degrees!), we still go to work, and we still run errand/go out in the evenings. It's all about taking it slow on the roads. When we get home, we bundle up and get cozy. The top left pic shows how much snow we have - the speed limit sign is almost covered. Our apartment is the one on the 3rd floor. Many of the buildings (except ours) has killer icycles I call them. Look at the top right photo. These things are ginormous! As you can see, they are longer than the height of the porch to the right. Good thing they are not above a doorway.

A Look Back at Christmas 2008 & New Year's Eve

Vladi and I had a wonderful Christmas weekend at home in Kentucky. It was quite an adventure driving home and spending the night at a hotel, but we love adventures and we got home safely. The year I met Vladi, I remember that being the first Christmas that I did not care about the material things. He and I met in November and he was my Christmas present forever. This year, I did not ask for anything. I even suggested not giving presents. The memories that Vladi and I have made this Holiday season (Thanksgiving-New Years) have been priceless (future blog). But Vladi said let's get something so I am sure he was happy with "TomTom" our new friend/GPS system and I adore my new Pandora bracelet that has a Christmas Tree charm with a gold star to always remind me of our last Christmas just the two of us. Our families also gave us wonderful presents that we needed/wanted but never told them that we needed/wanted. Haha I guess my mom knew that I needed a warm robe for the winter time since I wear hers when I come home.

This year we knew we had the best Christmas present every...our baby boy growing stronger and stronger each day inside of me. We found ultrasound ornament picture frames that we gave to our parents and my grandpa that read on the frame "Our Best Christmas Present Ever." Our ultrasound tech even printed small pics for us to put inside the frames.

Let's look back at Christmas 2008 Memories:

• We went to Christmas Eve Mass at Good Shepard Catholic Church in Frankfort where we were married. My mom, Meredith, and Aunt Sara met us there (Dad was at work). I tell you, there was nothing but baby girls in church. During the Homily, the Priest said, "I am looking around for something very special. [he walked up to a family with the only baby boy that I had noticed] I have already spoken with his family and have permission to do this. [he picked up the little boy and said] This is Alexander."!!!!!!!!!! Vladi and I went crazy since that was what we were naming our little man. The Priest walked around with the baby and spoke about how Jesus was the size of this baby once and how we forget that he was human like us. It was a thought provoking Homily.


• This year we spent Christmas Eve at Vladi's house in Frankfort. This is Boris and Natasha's cat, "Kisia" (kitty in russian). Natasha fixed a yummy dinner and we played durak (a Russian card game that means stupid~but whoever gets durak is also lucky in love). Well, of course the first few games we played, who ended up being "lucky in love"?? I did. But I finally started to win, is that good or not?


• On Christmas morning, Vladi and I drove to my parent's house to see if Santa came. He did and we had a wonderful morning opening presents, drinking decaf coffee, and karaoking with my dad. My dad has an amazing Karaoke machine/equipment that looks awesome. The speakers are high in the air, he has the machine that puts the music in your octave, and he has the burner to record yourself. This is not a little stereo system, this is the Big Daddy of all machines. He is so cute, he even has an Asian rug underneath for a real concert feeling. Vladi and I made the Gomelsky Christmas Album. Look for it in stores. This is the bib that Meredith got Vladi. No, I'm kidding, it's for Alexander. Doesn't Alexander's Daddy look cute modeling the UK bib?
  

Christmas Day afternoon, my Family went to the Biagi house (Uncle Stephen and Aunt Marie's) for our Family Christmas. I love going there for Christmas and spending time with everyone. It was wonderful hearing about how everyone is doing. My cousin Kate is getting married in June, my cousin Megan just got married, and all my other cousins are having great adventures in their lives also. I received a soft nightgown, UK entertaining serve ware, and a pickle ornament. Let me explain the pickle ornament (I want to see comments if you have heard of this or not)... On Christmas, you hide the pickle on the tree, the first person to find the pickle gets to open a special present or the first present. I was so happy to get this because I have heard so much about the "pickle ornament" while living in the Cleveland area. My family had not heard of this except my Uncle Robert and Aunt Marcia who gave us the pickle. Here is a picture of the pickle. It is awesome and I LOVE collecting ornaments! Plus, Vladi and I wanted to start this tradition next year...perfect timing.

• (My cousins: front/lft Laura, Shelley, Marty, Rachel, back/lft~Meredith (my sister), Kate, Megan, Stephanie, and Me! Michael was visiting his in-laws and Richard is a Marine and is stationed in Japan. We are so proud of him and keep him in our thoughts and prayers).

On Friday, Vladi's parents and my Grandpa Cook came to my parent's house for dinner and fun times. My Grandpa and Dad karaoked before Vladi's parents came. My Grandpa is good. He was singing George Strait songs and I see where my dad got his talent. When Vladi's parents came, they were entertained with Vladi and me singing "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer" with my Dad and Grandpa joining in. It was so funny. And then my Dad made me sing, "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." I must say that I did pretty good. Watch out EVITA on Broadway here comes SB! haha

On a side note: [I hope my Spanish III friends appreciate me singing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." I remember my Senior Year of High School giving a speech in Spanish class about Evita. I made my friends hold up signs that read "Viva Evita!" And I acted like Evita. I think I got confused about the movie and Evita's real life. That was the worst speech I ever gave and I was so embarrassed afterwards because the speech went on and on...in spanish!]

• On Saturday, Meredith and my Mom hosted a Bridal Shower for my cousin Kate that is getting married in June. It was so much fun! We played a lot of fun games... one in particular was tearing paper to look like what we thought Kate's gown may look like. Rachel's torn paper dress won! After the shower, my tired, wonderful Mom drove me to Louisville so that I could eat a fish sandwich at the Fishery in St. Matthews. Oh, it was everything that I had dreamed of! (I have not eaten fish the whole pregnancy with the scare of mercury even though some fish is ok. My Dr. said I could eat my favorite fish sandwich) Then we went by Pottery Barn for Kids because I wanted to see the new line of bedding that I saw in the magazine and to see if they still had any bedding left that I had loved from last season. Well, I saw the bumper that I had been imagining in my head but did not know exist. We bought that and when we got back to Cleveland, I called local stores and got the quilt!!!! WOOHOO! I love our bedding! We will be able to do so many themes with it: ABCs, Sports, Transportation, Animals, Colors, and more! It has everything that I wanted~ elephants, ABCs, light blue/green, gingham, transportation, and more.


• When we left to go back to Ohio on Sunday, we stopped in Cincinnati to meet with Dave, Julie, and Elizabeth at IHop. It was so good seeing all of them. Julie's tummy is showing and we are so excited about our little ones. We had not seen Elizabeth for a long time since she lives in South Carolina. Hopefully she will be able to stop by our apt. next summer on her way to her sister's wedding in Pennsylvania. When we left IHop, we ran over to the Container Store. This place has a container for everything!!!!! I can't wait to build a house one day and organize with the stuff from this store. We got a shelf/storage unit that will hold the baby's bottles/nipples, etc. We don't have much cabinet space so this will be so helpful.

• How was your New Year's Eve? We ate dinner at an Irish pub and rang in the New Year for Ireland with a waiter walking around the restaurant ringing a bell. When we got home, it was nice and low key. We watched Ryan Seacrest and I was happy to see that Dick Clark looked so good. I can't imagine being in New York on New Year's Eve. You cannot go to the bathroom so what do people do?

This is Haifa Claus with me and Reindeer Maccabi with Vladi.

Vladi and I wish you a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009!

Baby G Has a Name!

Vladi and I are proud to announce our baby boy's name is Alexander Vladimir Gomelsky. We will either call him Alexander or Alex. There is a slim chance that we will call him at home by the Russian nickname, Sasha. In the states, that is a bit too feminine (unless you are an European superstar) and we will have to see if he can handle Sasha or not. I am 99.9% sure that we will go with Alexander or Alex. I just love saying, "Alexander Gomelsky." I love the ring to it. :) He has a long name with his middle name, but when will he ever use his full name... Baptism, First Communion, Social Security, Drivers License, Graduation, and Wedding. Many of those he will not even have to write it.

I am so thrilled/excited to have a boy!!! I cannot put it into words. I always say, "I'm excited!" Well of course I am, but words cannot describe how happy we are. We have many friends that have (or will have) boys and I love reading/hearing them talk about "their little man" or "my little boy." I cannot wait to have that special mother/son bond. Plus I am also having so much fun shopping for a little boy.

***My cousin, Michael and his wife Lauren are having a baby girl in March. Dave and Julie are having a girl in May.

This is a front preggo pic taken on Dec. 6, 2008. Vladi and I went to a romantic dinner at Bravo's and then to the Radio City Rockettes Show. It was so romantic and one of our great memories we have made together before the baby comes. (look for the future blog~"Our Last Memories, Just The Two Of Us")

"I'll Be Home For Chrismas"... I Hope!

Everyone wants to be with family during the holidays as soon as they can. Vladi and I talked all day as he filled me in on the weather. "Cleveland and Columbus have winter advisories and Cincinnati and KY are expecting ice," Vladi told me all day. We decided to wait until we got home (to our apt.) to decide if we would make the long trek home or wait until Christmas Eve when the temps would warm up. :( I imagined all day that we would go off the road in a dark area and be stuck on the side all night in the freezing rain and cold.


When we got home, we finished packing, Vladi changed the litter (Thanks Eric and Corazon for watching our feline babies), phone calls to our parents whom of course did not want us to drive, and Vlad made phone calls to friends about the weather in the cities we would pass through. We decided to go for it and drive as long as we could and then find a hotel. I packed just incase we got stuck-lots of blankets, food, and parenting magazines to catch up on. I let Vladi open up his BIG Christmas present, a GPS system, so we would have some fun driving and who knows, we might need all of the help it could give.

As we drove 40 mph, we could not see if the road was wet, icy, or both and when the tractor trailers were driving slow, we knew we better. Cars were off the roads everywhere and looked like they did 180s/360s. When we arrived at a rest stop and could not walk to the bathrooms without slipping, we decided we better stop soon. The GPS was amazing!!! TomTom (we call it for the brand) led us to Panera for a quick dinner, 2 hotels at different exits (no vacancy in one), and let us know our speed and when we would get home going at that speed. We left at 6:45 and our new buddy, TomTom, said we would not get home until 3:40 am if not later. Vladi did the math and going 40 mph, we would be driving another 4 hrs. when it should take 2 1/2. So we are now at The Hampton Inn in Jeffersonville, OH (1 hr north of Cincy.) We arrived here at 12:22 am.!!! Baby Boy G. must have slept the whole ride because he started moving right when we pulled up at the hotel. We will definitely get a picture of this for our "Last Christmas Just The Two Of Us" scrapbook that my teammate, Danielle, made for us.

The hotel is nice, we are safe, and we have to laugh about our adventure trying to get home for Christmas.

Our Baby G is a BOY!!!

Our Baby G is a BOY!!! Vladi and I had our 2nd and probably last ultrasound today. I am 20 weeks, halfway point, and our big boy weighs a whopping 13 ounces!!! Dr. B. and the technician, Meredith, said that he is healthy and all of his measurements are good. When we go home to KY, we will post better pics in place of these. I have to take a picture of the photos because we do not have a scanner. The picture at top is Baby Boy G's head at the right (profile shot) and his arm is up as he sucks his thumb.

This is a picture of Baby Boy G's hand. How precious! It is so wonderful to think that I will be holding that little hand in a few months.

I asked the tech how sure she was that Baby Boy G is a boy. She said 99.9% sure. If it is a girl, she is worried about what will be between the legs. We could definitely see that Baby Boy G is a boy. It gave us a good laugh.

Vladi and I are so thrilled! After we left the Dr. office, I just cried and cried with happiness. I am so excited to have a boy! When teaching, I love all my students, past & present. I like how the girls bring out my girlie side, but I also like how the boys bring out a different side of me...a cooler side. During the ultrasound, I could see in Vladi's eyes all his dreams for our little one~teaching him to play soccer/sports, male bonding, and being a great dad like our dads have been to us. I am excited about taking him to the zoo, hearing my little boy tell me that he loves me "bigger than the sky" or "to the moon and back," and T-ball games. I love cheering at games and friends have always told me that I would be a good sports mom (or soccer mom in Vladi's eyes) cheering in the stands. I can't wait to be a loving mom like Natasha and my Mom.

This is such a special Christmas and I already know that I will be shedding tears at Frankfort's Christmas Eve Mass when I see Baby Jesus. I love my little boy so much already, and I know this love will grow even more. I look forward, and I hope you do too, to many more posts about how that love is growing.

Have a truly Merry Christmas and remember many years ago three wise men followed a star and came upon a baby swaddled in a manger. Jesus is the reason for this season!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah