T.O_2_FL

Makes me wonder if a country is so career driven then what about the future in having generations to keep the country going? I know for me, my career for the longest time was the focal point...more and more of my female friends don't have kids until later in life or even elect not to have kids....

Wish there was something we could do...

congrats!

But as a Mother wouldn't you feel stressed about parting ways with your baby at such a young age? Just trying to understand how people feel....

same here as Krikit....

Met my husband 9 years ago through work....we stayed as friends even though I got laid off.....got re-hired back into the same company and we started dating 3 years ago. Funny thing is that during our friendship he was in a long term relationship that didn't work out and I was previously engaged which didn't work out either.

We did not and have not advertised our relationship at work.

Funny thing is that I had a rule on not dating people at work. He was my exception!

I agree that if you're situation is not complicated then try to do it yourself to save the money rather than using a lawyer...good luck!

congrats!

I have my Marriage Certificate with me and took the initiative to change my bank info and SSN to my married name. Couldn't change the Driver's license yet because they said they need to see my resident card or my passport with my married name, so I'm waiting for that to come in before I can make the change. Health Insurance was done by my husband who presented my married name and just showed the Marriage Certificate.

good luck! you'll be fine!

they understand that finances can go up and down considering the industry that Eric is in. =)

We had beef brisket over brown rice....beef was made in the slow cooker with Ale! Yum!

I think tonight we will make Curry Chicken with the help of Patak's...

Krikit - have yet to find the elusive Indian restaurant that makes me want to have them as a weekly dinner event....in the meantime, we are using Patak's products that we have found at Super Walmart....

There doesn't seem to be much push or drive from Mother's in the U.S to want to change the current Maternity Leave.....

My husband and I were talking over the weekend about this and strongly feel that our future family is more important than adhering to a restricted short term Maternity Leave....I can't imagine if I were left with someone else to look after me when I was an infant. Not that I have been a Mother yet but I can imagine that it would be very hard for a mother to leave her child at such a young age....perhaps even contributing to depression???? or Post partum depression?

It's probably very hard to concentrate as a working Mom knowing that your newborn is with someone else....

No, we are in Ireland.

Awe that is really refreshing to see that countries care about the Moms....

Are there Day Care facilities in the U.S. that take in infants at 3 months?

Yes I believe so.

Wow...that just seems strange to me because I don't think I've ever seen young infants like that left to Day Cares......this is definitely a big adjustment when the day comes when we have kids....

Any VJ Moms here who came from Canada to the U.S. and took Mat leave? I'm interested to hear what you thought of things...

Happy happy joy joy!

Are there Day Care facilities in the U.S. that take in infants at 3 months?

One of the reasons my USC husband came over here when we got married is maternity benefits- I was off work before the birth for 9 weeks on full pay, then get 26 weeks fully paid maternity leave and another 16 weeks unpaid if I want it.

Are you in Switzerland?

That's a nice Maternity Leave....

Congrats!

Montreal is much nicer minus the snow! =)

I read somewhere along the lines that in Sweden they have the best Maternity Leave....1 year at 100%!!! plus mandatory 3 weeks prior to due date you must take off...paternal leave that's paid....they are very supportive of people having time to recoup and all about families....

I will definitely miss the Maternity Leave part of Canada.....I don't know what will happen when the day comes but it seems very soon to leave your little one with someone when they are only a few months old....

So my friend back home is about to go on Maternity leave and we were talking about how nice it is to have the 12 month time period to heal as well as being with your newborn.

From what I have found on the U.S. side is that Maternity leave is typically 12 weeks (3 months) unpaid leave. Do I have this right?

Seems a little daunting compared to what's back home....

Things will be ok...as another poster mentioned...stay busy! Go do more activities with family and friends! Take this opportunity to enjoy your surroundings before you move!

We had to wait almost a year before we got to finally be together and it was hard but I found keeping myself busy to be the best cure!

Enjoy your time together! Hug and kiss each other lots!

Good luck!

Good luck! You'll be fine! =)

Salad tonight since Publix had salad for buy one get one free!

Spring Greens with corn, black beens, avocado, tomatoes, black olive slices and boiled egg cut up.

He can still apply for a SSN and work with the I94 in the meantime....

I say cross the border prepared with all your legal embarassing paperwork so that in the worse case if they do ask for more details for your long 'vacation' from the U.S. you'll have the evidence of why you were away for so long.

Think of it when you applied for your Residency.....you probably had an interview somewhere along the line and over prepared with your paperwork just incase

I think you'll be fine because you have a good/legal reason all documented, embarassing albeit.

Looking back on things so far I would have to say that I'm happy with how things turned out and don't think I would have done it any other way.

Although our wait for our K1 Visa was almost a year, it gave me the opportunity to spend time with my family and friends during the wait.

I really couldn't be more happy then how things have turned out so far.

Maybe on thing that I would have changed is renting a bigger car for all my stuff! he he he....we couldn't fit all my stuff the first time so hopefully when I get my AP I'll be able to get the rest of my things and bring them down.