Pics from our Canada Trip

Last month we went to Canada. We started in Montreal, staying at a great inn, Auberge Bonaparte, in the old part of the city.

We rented a car and then drove up to Quebec City, stopping for some magnificent views of the St. Lawrence River along the way.

In Quebec, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott, which is located just outside the walls that lead to the historic part of town.It is incredible how much history there is in Quebec City, including an interesting mix of British and French culture. One minute we were eating crepes, the next watching the changing of the guard! So, can you spot the real guard from the fake one below?

We hopped in the car again and drove further north along the St. Lawrence, stopping in several small towns in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, which is very bucolic and picturesque.

Next, we crossed the River by ferry and spent a few days on the other side, in the Charlevoix region. It is so beautiful there and a popular vacation destination for Canadians. If you look carefully you can spot the whales we saw on a boat ride we took!

We then made our way back, through Quebec City and Montreal. Gotta love Canada, eh?!

Baby Kicks Daddy

Although I have been feeling the baby move for a while now, she--contrary to earlier indications, it looks like we're having a girl!--always seemed to stop whenever Marc tried to feel her.

Well, last night he finally got a big kick from Baby Wearbaum. He was so stunned that he flew backwards across the living room! It was definitely one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen. I think this little girl is going to keep Daddy on his toes.

Introducing Baby Wearbaum...

I haven't posted in a while, but I guess I've been saving up for our big news! In case you don't know yet, Marc and I are expecting our first child in December. We just got a peak at the baby during our first ultrasound on Friday and s/he was moving all around in there!

Career News

I recently learned I was selected for a summer position at the University of Maryland Law School. My organization has a partnership with the university, which allows one attorney to spend the summer supervising law students in the clinical program.

I am really excited about the opportunity, particularly because I had such a wonderful experience in my law school clinic! Not really looking forward to the daily commute from Alexandria, VA to Baltimore, MD--especially with these insane gas prices!! But, it's only temporary and hopefully it will be worth it.

Birthday Snow!

Last weekend, I awoke on my 29th birthday to a blanket of white snow! It was totally unexpected, but really beautiful. Here are some photos from around our neighborhood.

Well, now I'm off to sunny San Diego for a week to relax and meet up with my brother and sister...

8 Degrees, 2 Gray Hairs and 1 Car Accident

Well, that pretty much sums up my morning! It's absolutely freezing outside. Just before darting out the door to work, I spotted 2 gray hairs in the mirror (I guess Karen's engagment is really aging me--ha, ha.). Then, just to top it off, a car backed into me as I was leaving a parking lot.

And yes, technically this is the third accident for me in a two-month span. I was rear-ended twice in December, once while driving the rental car that replaced my car while it was in the shop! Sheesh.

Here's hoping all who are reading this are having a better day than me! I think I'm ready for another vacation...

Congratulations Karen & Eli!!

My wonderful sister Karen got engaged this week. Here is a picture of her with the lucky guy during our trip to Brazil. I am thrilled for them, but have to admit that this makes me feel really old!

Happy New Year!

To kick off 2007, I've decided to start a blog. I hope this will be an easy way to stay in touch with family and friends.

Marc and I recently returned from a two-week trip to Brazil. We were last there in 2004 for our honeymoon. This time, we got to go with his parents for Christmas and New Year's.

Here are some photos from our time there...



We celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family in Sao Paulo.







My grandpa with his daughters, including my mom. He was surrounded by 8 of his 9 grandchildren and 4 of his 5 great-grandchildren!






Sao Paulo has 19 million residents. It is a HUGE city, as you can see by the view from our hotel room!






Next, we headed to Angra dos Reis, located in a gorgeous part of Brazil known as the "Costa Verde" (Green Coast). These pictures should give you an idea of the immense natural beauty of this place, said to be dotted with 365 islands.




On the way back from Angra, we stopped in Paraty, a charming colonial town.



We spent our second week in Rio, where unfortunately it rained most of the time. But, we were still able to have fun and spend plenty of time with my father and grandmother.



We rang in 2007 on Copacabana beach, along with about 2 million other people! In Brazil, everyone dresses in white on New Year's Eve, to symbolize peace (something the world could really use this year).




Finally, for those who don't know, Brazil is a land of many contrasts. Despite its natural beauty and beautiful people, it is plagued by violence and poverty. Fortunately, we were safe during our journey, but millions face a daily struggle for survival. The favelas pictured here cover the hillsides and outskirts of cities such as Rio and Sao Paulo. My wish for 2007 is that the poor in Brazil and around the world will have hope for a brighter future.