Post #15: Communications from Around the World

While I was working on the virtual baby shower, I was also trying to figure out our travel plans to join Stacy in Australia for the birth of her child. In early June, 2016, I emailed Stacy:

"As you know, I will be arriving in Brisbane on Aug 11 (having departed Boston on the 9th) But I need to book a return flight. You had said that you expect to leave Brisbane on Sept 9, assuming all goes as anticipated.

I would like to return to Boston on or slightly before the 9th, as I will have been away 4 weeks. Does that seem okay with you?

[I didn’t know whether Stacy had expected me to also return to Fiji with her]

Perhaps Jason will fly back to Fiji with you when you return home with baby & stuff, to help with everything.

I also need to book plans for Dad's travel. Looking at the calendar, we might look into his arriving around your due date.

Anything else we should consider?

Xoxo mom"

Stacy replied,

“You can just plan to go back with Dad if you want.

I don't think that Jason will be able to stay the whole extra time with me, but we can certainly send back a lot of the baby stuff that I don't immediately need with him.

Love, Stacy”

As I wrote at the end of Blog #14, the baby shower gifts started arriving immediately after the virtual invitation with registry details was sent to family and friends. The packages were numerous and voluminous, and by no means “virtual.” The growing quantity of deliveries, piled high in my living room, was a very real reminder of my eventual task to transport the gifts to Stacy. But as Jesse and I were leaving for a three-week European trip, book-ended by meetings for Jesse in Spain and Amsterdam, I did not want to deal with this potentially problematic packing and portage puzzle until our return. I just left the unopened arrivals in my living room and warned our house/pet sitter to watch out for more packages. And arrive they did!

Leaving for Spain on June 20, I emailed Stacy, who was in Hawaii at that time for a meeting:

“I just spent a lot of my airport lounge time finalizing Australia flights for Dad. He departs Boston on Fri Aug 19, arrives Sunday Aug 21 in Brisbane. Departs Sat Sept 3. Hope that all works out.

About to board for Spain

Xoxo mom & dad”

Stacy's reply contained some very important new information, but she “buried the lead.” Her email read:

“Okay. Well, hopefully the baby is on time.

BTW - I think we're going to call him Cooper Benjamin.”

Stacy had already told us when Jesse and I visited Fiji in April (as described in Blog #7) that she and Jason were considering giving their son the middle name of Benjamin, after her brother who had died in 2007. That was very touching to me, as I would never have imposed on Stacy to make that request. This email confirmed their memorial naming decision. But we had heard nothing more about our grandson’s expected first name.

So I wrote back to Stacy, “We figured that would give Dad two weeks in Australia, ending on US Labor Day weekend, so he can recoup before returning to work. Of course, we can only plan around your anticipated due date. If baby is early, Dad will miss birth, but he's Ok with this itinerary.

Thank you so much for telling us the expected name. Sounds very sweet. Is the name confidential, or can we share that?

Just arrived in Santander Spain, have lovely seaside view. Catching up on jetlag & cleaning up.

Xoxo mom & dad”

June 22 from Stacy:

“Yes, you can share the name - I've started telling people who ask. Let's just hope Jason doesn't change his mind - he was the one who suggested Cooper (but we both like it).

I have 2 more days in Hawaii - it's been really nice to catch up with friends and colleagues.

Seems like people have been buying a lot of stuff off the registry. I've added a bit more. Also, there are some things that might not get bought that I will definitely need - these include the car seat adapter for the jogging stroller, the bottles and bottle cleaning set, and maybe that changing pad. The infant life vest will also be handy if we take any trips in Fiji that require going on a boat. Letting you know so that you and/or I can purchase these if no one else does.

Need to get over to the conference for a meeting. Hope you are enjoying Spain.

Love, Stacy”

Titling the subject line "From around the world," I replied to Stacy,

“Wifi is working sporadically in our hotel so delay responding to you. Glad I can share my grandson's name. I like Cooper. Hmmm ... almost rhymes with Jupiter.

Speaking of names, for grandmoms that is, I am leaning toward Nana.

I will make sure you get the baby necessities you mentioned. I know I will have lots to do when I return, figuring out transporting items, etc.

Started off with sparkling sunny weather in Spain, but fog has rolled in today

Xoxo mom”

Next stop in Europe was Greece, where I read an email from Stacy on June 26, subject "winter planning” (as Stacy was piggy-backing on a prior email I had sent her about our plans for Telluride, Colorado winter vacation weeks):

“Just coming back to this email because I finally have dates for my meeting in Santa Barbara in February. It will be from February 20-24 (I would likely arrive on the 18th or 19th). So instead of spending that week in Telluride maybe you want to come check out Santa Barbara and hang with Cooper??

Hope you and dad are having fun in Santorini. Looks beautiful.

Love, Stacy”

My reply to Stacy:

“OK, glad to know the dates. I will organize our being with you in Santa Barbara. [That would mean changing or canceling our Telluride week, but this would be Nana’s first invitation to babysit for her grandson. The decision was obvious]

We just had a delightful Greek island dinner with beautiful views. We have several days here in Santorini to explore."

Toasting the anticipation of our grandson in Santorini

And I continued in the email: "Looks like you had a lovely baby shower [I had seen photos posted on Facebook of a shower Stacy's friends gave her in Suva]

Xoxo mom & dad”

Baby Shower for Stacy with her friends in Suva, Fiji

On July 1, an email arrived from Stacy, subject "Off to Australia tomorrow:"

“Looks like you and Dad had a great time on Santorini. It's so beautiful there - I will have to get there one day. You look great by the way - clearly the dieting has paid off!

[I am always riding up and down on the scale, and certainly appreciate when I am recognized for a temporarily thinner me]

I leave for Brisbane early tomorrow morning. I'll send you my new Aussie phone number when I get it (and address). Need to spend most of the day packing and organizing things here. [This would be the onset of Stacy’s Australian stay for about seven weeks in advance of childbirth in Brisbane.]

I've bought a few more things off the registry and had them shipped to your house, along with a few more maternity bras. It seems like anyone who was going to buy anything probably already has - so if you wanted to order some things for us, I will list some basic baby necessities that I really could use.

I assume that we will be able to pick up things like diapers, wipes, burp cloths and diaper rash cream in Australia, so no need really to order these and bring them over.

But this onesie was really cute though if you wanted to get this too:

- Mud Pie Baby Fish Raglan Shortall, 3-6 Months

I keep having dreams about the baby arriving - looking forward to meeting him!

Enjoy the rest of your European travels.

Love, Stacy”

My email reply to Stacy was sent from Yorkshire, England:

“As soon as I return home in a week, I will work on how to get all your baby gear to you. And make sure we order the items that you want that have not been gifted from your registry. That said, since you have access to all the items which have been purchased through the registry, please make me a list of the items which are critical to bring or mail to Brisbane, and what might be fine to arrange some international delivery to Fiji. Then I will know what I have to deal with.

Thanks for noticing my thinner shape in travel photos. I am so glad I was able to slim down the last few months, but find travels may take a toll with additional food intake and lots of celebratory alcohol drinking, even though I still try to be somewhat careful. I will resume serious weight watching when I return home. Oh well, clothes still fitting.

We are also getting exited for Cooper's arrival, and have been enjoying telling our friends about our family news. Our Yorkshire friends toured us all around today.

Hope all's well starting off for you in Brisbane

Xoxo mom & dad”

In an email on July 8 from Stacy in Brisbane, where she said all was fine, Stacy provided two lengthy lists: one of the items that should be brought to Australia, and the other list of items that could be shipped to Fiji for use when she returns home with baby Cooper.

I replied to Stacy:

“Thanks for specific list. I will take care of all accordingly.

We return home Sunday and I will review all packages and get organized for gift transportation, ordering remaining necessary items.

Enjoying dad’s big orthopedic meeting in Amsterdam with lots of friends who are very happy to hear about your pregnancy news. I know many are especially happy for Dad and me as they know about the tragedy of Ben, and adding new family members is the best antidote to that sadness.

Of note, I was talking to one of the doctors who had lived in Brisbane for years. Although he recently moved back to Germany, I found out that his wife is still in Brisbane with two of their children for finishing school and she is a gynecologist. He is going to send me her contact info. I met her at past meetings. They are very familiar with Brisbane and the medical community, etc., and might be a good resource for you.

At this point, however, I am looking forward to getting home after 3 weeks away.

Xoxo mom & dad”

And I certainly realized that the enormous task of sorting through the mountainous accumulation of baby shower gifts would be awaiting my return.