So we finally got the "OK" from the Canadian government to return to Canada on July 24th...a week after Millie was born. Yay!! After being gone from home for nearly a month, nothing sounded sweeter!! Jaimeson arranged our flights and we took off from Orlando at 6 am on Sunday, July 27th...Millie was 10 days old. Jaimeson and I, as two adults with many frequent flier miles under our belts, were not looking forward to the long day of travel...and could only imagine how difficult it might be with a newborn. We thoroughly planned ahead...making sure Millie's eating/sleeping schedule fit with the take offs and landings of both legs of our flights as well as our layover in Denver. We had heard from many sources the importance of feeding babies upon take off and landing, to avoid painful ear pressure and pops. Anxiously, we boarded our flight (we were able to pre-board, since we now fall into the category of "passengers travelling with small children"), took our seats and got comfortable. We had our bottles ready...our soothers ready...blankets, toys etc. Whatever we "might" need to calm little Millie in the event of an outburst during the flight. Passengers sitting next to and around us sweetly commented "how cute she was" and wanted to know "how old she was." But their expressions showed signs of angst having to be seated next to such a young one. To our amazement, and all those around us, flight attendants included, Millie didn't make a peep. She slept the entire time, on both flights. Incredible! During our 4 hour layover in Denver, Uncle Billy (my brother) coincidentally
and unbeknownst to us, happened to be in the same United lounge waiting for his flight to Buenos Aires. We couldn't believe it!! He got to meet and hold and cuddle with Millie...so special!!!!! When our second flight finally landed in Seattle at about 6pm (15 hours after our initial departure in Orlando) we were greeted by all of our AMAZING friends in Seattle with a "Welcome" party for Millie at Jodi and Justin Arnold's house! It was so special to see everyone and feel the love. After hanging with the friends for about an hour, we said our goodbyes, knowing that we still had 3 more hours of driving to the border to get home to Vancouver. We drove, exhausted....and again, Millie slept...not a peep! We finally arrived home at 1am...almost 24 hours after we began that days journey home. Millie could not have been a more perfect traveler...what a champ!!! I've got to say...she is really making our transition into parenthood easy!!! We love you, Millie....thanks!!! xoxo- Julie
me of patience, and little Millie proved that theory true time after time, from a planned C-section to potential induction from an infection her birthmother had. For two and a half weeks, each time there was news, Julie and I and my parents in Stuart would build our excitement to a crescendo, only to learn days later that once again, we would have to wait for our life's treasure. So we took advantage of the time given to us by a higher power, and ma
de the most of our time as a family with 
one less person than we hoped to have in the picture. Dad and Jill were amazing - helping to provide us (and themselves!) very necessary pauses in our quest in order to enjoy some of life's simpler pleasures - visits with our Uncles, putting around the Florida "Intercoastal" waterways on the boat, fun seafood dinners and dancing to some good old rock n' roll afterward, battles on the tennis court (Dad managed to win the last one, but I think it was the racket myself!) throwing a game of Euchre, hitting the gym, and introducing us to a number of positive and understanding friends of theirs in the area. But despite all of those good times, like us, Grandpa a
nd Grandma had quite a lot of trepidation about our situation. They were, after all, right there with us - to be our first safety net if Amelia could not be our's in the end. But whenever that discussion would come to light, my Dad would say the sa
me thing, "Stay positive, dude." And we did. And everything did, in fact, work out in an amazing way for all of us. So today as both kids and parents ourselves, we say thank you to Grandpa Jay and Grandma Jill(ybean!). Thank you for being the best pit crew team that any parents could ask for. And like you've said, Dad, what could be a better birthday gift for your upcoming 60th than a beautiful baby granddaughter who loves you? - Jaimeson
Well...it's day 7 with Millie Sky and I can't remember what life was like before her arrival. It feels as though she has always been in our life. She is simply amazing!! Many people have been asking us about her name and how we came up with it. To be honest, there is really no rhyme or reason to it, except that we love it. There's no legacy in either part of it, nor the nickname (sorry family), and we don't know anyone with those names - although I guess if Amelia Earhart wasn't cool, someone would have told us that already. We always loved "Millie," and I had that name on the books before we ever knew we were having a daughter. "Amelia," we thought could be a little more formal for "Millie" and when she gets older, she can choose which she would rather go by. 
As for "Sky" that is the west-coast, earth-loving, liberal hippie in both of us (sorry family). Every middle name that I proposed to Jaimeson had something to do with nature. We thought "Sky" was pretty. We were about 99% sure of the name before we ever boarded our flight to come down to Florida, but since we've been here, we have given new meaning to the name. We have witnessed the most incredible skies ever! From sunny and clear, to dark and stormy, huge cracks of lightning to rolling clouds, the skies above have been extraordinary. So we began to liken those unpredictable skies to little Millie's unpredictable arrival into this world. One week she was breech and we were going with a c-section. But then the little booger went and turned herself around (apparently a rare feat so late in the game). Next they were going to induce Millie's "tummy mommy" due to an infection, but then things cleared up and Millie wasn't ready to come then either. Finally, on her own terms, she was ready....about 12 hours before her actual due date of July 18th. Two days after her birth, when she was truly ours, we were driving down to Stuart, Fl from Orlando...still in shock that the three of us were a family. The skies were getting over a brief rain shower and there in front of us was the most beautiful, vivid rainbow shining through t
he clouds. We both noticed it instantly and smiled, reflecting back on the past 3 weeks. I commented to Jaimeson that "we had our pot of gold right here in the car with us!" We think "Sky" is a very befitting middle name for sweet Amelia, and Amelia Sky Keegan is a perfect name for our little pot of gold. - Julie
