Joey is 1 year old!!!
Hi friends,
Matt and I have some exciting news to share… On May 24th 2021, we celebrated Joey’s first birthday! I can’t believe a whole year has gone by since Joey was born. Where did the time go? To be honest, this first year of motherhood has felt like both the shortest and the longest year of my life. I’m sure many parents can relate. Perhaps it was the first three months that felt like the longest. The pains of postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and the overall anxiety that comes with caring for such a tiny person for the first time. Then one day there came a shift. The pain subsided, Joey slept longer in the night, a routine set in, and suddenly the time was passing by way too quickly! I have enjoyed every minute of it. Well, I didn’t like it so much when he started blowing raspberries with food in his mouth. Nor the time he threw up on my head. But every other part was great! I wish you all could meet him. He’s such a happy kid. He LOVES books and playing peekaboo. His favourite colour is yellow. He points out all the buses that drive past on the road. He waves at everyone in the grocery store. When I turn on the water for a bath he comes crawling at full speed yelling, “Quack! Quack!” Oh my, does he make me laugh. He’s such a joy to have around.
To celebrate this important milestone with you, I put together this little photo album of Joey’s first year. Please enjoy!
Here’s What You Missed…
If you’re new to The Narrow Shoulder, here is an overview of our travels so far. In July of 2017, Matt and I left our hometown called Winnipeg, which is a city located at the centre of Canada. We rode our bicycles east across the country until we arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took us approximately 3 months to travel roughly 3,500 kms. We then spent the winter living in Halifax. We rented out a bedroom and found some part-time work. We also made some amazing friends and spent our time playing board games, rocking climbing, and surfing. Then in August we flew over the pond with our bicycles and continued our journey east, starting on the west coast of Ireland. We travelled by bicycle across Ireland, Whales, and England. Then we spent 3 months in Spain in a small town called Laredo. We ended up leaving our bicycles there and flew to Israel. We spent 2 months traveling on foot exploring the country. Then on May 12th 2019, we flew back home to Winnipeg and we’ve been living here ever since. Overall we were gone for about two years and, oh my, what a ride!
So what are we up to now?…
Since returning home Matt and I have started building our lives.
- We are building a family. I got pregnant soon after returning home from our travels. It was a healthy pregnancy and the birth was without complications. Joey is now one year old. He is happy, healthy, and thriving as he starts toddlerhood. He is a “covid baby” so he hasn’t had many opportunities to socialize outside of our family and grandparents. Yet he is taking it all in stride and is a happy and sociable baby nonetheless 🙂
- We are building a business. When we returned home from our travels, Matt got himself a fulltime job as an aircraft mechanic. He worked with the company for only 5 months before he was permanently laid-off due to COVID 19. As the aircraft industry is not the easiest place to find work during a global pandemic, Matt and I had to get creative with our income. We took what was “in our hand”, a box of tools and our hybrid car, and we started our own business. We call it “Levi’s Li’l Engine Service”. Matt is now a mobile small engine mechanic and he drives all over the city servicing people’s lawnmowers, snowblowers, and any other gas powered equipment. It has been quite successful so far.
- We are building a house. Well, not quite yet lol. But we’ve at least moved out of my parent’s house! We are currently living in a small apartment in downtown Winnipeg. I love my new place and all the new friends I’m making in this neighborhood. I’m so excited for when the public health restrictions start to lift in our province so that I can start inviting people over to our house for coffee and boardgames. Maybe we could even get crazy and sit in a cafe sometime to enjoy a cup of coffee together! Wouldn’t that be nice…
Lastly, I know that my website is behind in sharing our travels and stories. Although I was very good at “bringing you all along for the ride” throughout our travels across Canada, I was not so diligent at sharing our experiences overseas. It was simply difficult to write about. The journey was not without hardship and I was learning many new lessons for the first time. I’ve needed time to process those experiences and it has left me with some writer’s block. However, I’m still determined to write down my stories. Why? Because I want to remember. I don’t want to forget all the things I saw, the people I met, the lessons I learned, and the experiences I lived through. My goal is to write once a day during nap times and to create a writing lifestyle as a new mom. If I’m successful you should start to see some new posts of pictures and stories from me in the near future. If you’re interested in reading them I encourage you to subscribe to The Narrow Shoulder and I will send you an email whenever I make a new post. So on that note, let me take you all on the adventure…
Your friends,
Matt and Amy
Great to get the updates. Enjoy your Spanish Christmas. Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo!
Hi, this is your little cousin clarissa, your stories inspires me so much and it has lead me to a desire to learn more about your journey with God. This actually encourages me in my walk with God as well. Please keep writing the blog, and I will keep praying for you along the way. Love you both
Hi Clarissa! It’s so nice to hear from you! We missed seeing you and the family this Christmas. I hope the party was fun 🙂
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! It makes us so happy to hear that you read our stories and it’s helping you grow in faith. What a treasure!
Sometimes it can be difficult to write about our experiences, and the journey can be lonely. However when we get encouraging words from you, it makes it all worth it!
We love you and miss you. <3
Your friends and cousins,
Matt and Amy
Hi Matt and Amy this is Clarissa again this past year I have grown in my faith with Jesus. You guys encourage me so much. I can’t wait to hear all your adventure when you get back to Winnipeg.
Your Little cousin Clarissa. ❤️😘
Hey you guys this is Len and Barb Cook from our little place in Florida ……like reading about your complete dependence on God.
WAY TO BE !!!!!
Keep close to Him and be BLESSED. If we come across your minds pray for safe trip back to the cold north ….we are driving back up to NB on April 3 is the plan as of right now.
Hi check out your Facebook Messenger – I’ve linked you up with friends of mine from Gloucestershire who are currently in Israel. They say that even if they don’t know anyone where you are (not sure of your exact location), they will know someone who knows someone!
Looks like you kids are having a great holiday ! Enjoy
Hi. Guys Tim and I will be in Winnipeg June 28 to June 2nd for a weeding. Is it possible for us to get together.would love to see you both very very much.❤❤❤❤❤
Welcome home!!
I’ll bet you two are happy to be back in the land of mosquitos and winter. Home is home though and it’s always good to be home. With your training as an aircraft technician I’ll bet it won’t be long you’ll have a job doing what you love doing.
Enjoy your summer!
Peter & Lorraine
Congratulations!!! I’m so excited for both of you! Babies are always exciting news. What a wonderful blessing! ❤😃
Congratulations on the good news
I am so happy for you
I miss our friendship working together doing security while the new football stadium was being build at the U of Manitoba
You still need my skidoo’s suit ?
Bill S
Congratulations my friends <3
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Praying for God’s abundant blessing on all three of you in this next stage of your family journey.
Hey Matt and Amy,
It was so cool/kewl/neat to be able to read about your adventures and to know that you were so much a part of my community of believers. It’s so interesting how your are growing and maturing. This leap into parenting is at the right time, because I can see you are ready to enjoy each other and to cherish your family. Shalom – the word means so much more than ordinary peace. It implys wholeness and joy as well. So shalom to you three!
Congratulations on the coming baby
God is inviting you to become parents it will be a great adventure
Just found your websit today as I was looking at your bookmark
I’ve only just caught up with your journey on from Maidenhead where we had the honour to have you in our house and now know what the £20. did ,praise God
We moved house 18 months ago and now live on the south coast of England if your ever passing by again
Masses of love to you both Mavis and Andrew
Congrats on your new family member little Joey
Awww! He’s adorable. Congratulations!
Wishing you all the very best. ❤️
May 24 is a memorable birthday. Sara Nadine Galbraith came into the world on that date in 1977. I was in the delivery room. Fantastic experience.
Reading and listening to your stories makes me feel like I was there with you. You have a very unique way of conversing on paper. I hope you keep it up. Joey is so darn cute I can’t stand it and yes Amy, right now, he looks like you. Maybe later, like Levi. Hugs to all of you and I miss seeing you ate Church. Blessings!
Little Joey won’t be called little much longer…He is such a beautiful energetic little guy and growing so fast.
I have followed you and messages on your travelling and I agree you have a gift of expressing and writing on your experiences.
Looking forward to reading more about your travels and what God is doing in you and Levi’s life.
Blessings, Nancy
So thrilled to share the pictures of your dear Joey. We are so glad to see him when you are visiting your Mom and Dad and he is just so happy all the time. We have always enjoyed your stories of what is going on in your life and love reading The Narrow Shoulder.
You could write a wonderful book, Amy.
Enjoyed going through your year Joey. You have got amazing parents.
Oh my goodness congratulations on your beautiful little family, he’s such a handsome little man.
Thanks for the update – can’t believe your little one is already one year old! We’ve just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Really hope you manage to juggle writing and toddler care because I’d love to read more of your updates!