A Much Needed Vacation!

We returned yesterday from sunny San Diego. The trip was amazingly perfect. We traveled there for a conference Ashley attended...it was our 2nd time attending this particular conference. We went last year too during the same week in November, except unlike last year's weather (cloudy, misty and in the high 50's)... this year it was hot sunny and in the 80's!!! I absolutely LOVED the trip and the weather! Ash's conference was really only for one full day and then a couple hours on Friday so we had plenty of time to relax and vacation as a family.

We found ourselves constantly comparing what it was like last year to travel with Caitlyn to this year and imagining what it'll be like next year (we stayed in the same hotel on the beach both times and ate at a lot of the same places). It was interesting because one night we went to a restaurant we remembered liking a lot last year (Caitlyn was 3 months then and slept in her car seat inside her stroller)... this year we took turns enjoying the food while the other was chasing Caitlyn around the restaurant... around the lobby, around the Internet bar, around the lobby again, and back into the restaurant.

I also made a big deal about getting a crib in our room for Caitlyn to sleep in, I called twice to make sure it would be there... we got there...and it was ready for her... and when it was time to go to sleep for her, she would just stand up and look at us from across the room with eyes that said, "hey mom and dad... what are you doing over there, I'm stuck in this thing but ready to play!" So we learned that each night she would just run herself ragged all through our room until she crawled up on the bed with us and teetered out... then we'd gently transfer her back to the crib. (It was so nice last night just setting her in her own crib in her own room as she just rolled over and went peacefully asleep).

Each afternoon for her nap we would walk down to the ocean and walk and walk until Caitlyn fell fast asleep in her stroller. We would then sit next to some beautiful trees in the shade and I would read while she'd sleep, then when she was awake again we'd play in the grass for a long time! I could definitely get used to a life like that!

We enjoyed the pool, the beach, great food, great company, the lamp district, and lots of much needed rest and relaxation! Last year we went to the San Diego Zoo and this year we were planning to go there or Sea World, but decided that it was way too hot (88 degrees) on both the days we were thinking about going, so we went to the pool instead. I don't think Caitlyn minded a bit though... She LOVES to swim! She loves it so much that one time when we were resting on the pool chairs, she high tailed it away from us and ran straight into the pool! I swear she even did a little jump off the edge :) Ash jumped up and into the water before Caitlyn even realized what she had done and was totally surprised by her own courageousness!

The vacation was just what we needed... to get away from everything that Washington entails (especially flooding weather). As Caitlyn and I walked on the ocean front I had found that old pep in my step, that I swear pregnancy had taken out of me, had returned. I swear to you... I was smiling and almost skipping as the sun shone and the birds sang! Who knows if it was really only the vacation or maybe my 2nd trimester energy came back to me... or both... but I LOVED it!

Caitlyn with her own luggage (gifted to her by my friend Kum). She got to have the pacifier a lot this trip... she now has 3 fully visibly teeth!

This is her enjoying the water front after one of her naps!

We went to starbucks too and I found that she isn't into hot chocolate yet!

Caitlyn running on the water front. I really just love this little outfit...

the skirt was still too big on her, but it's darn cute!

We hung out with our friends Tobi and Xian, we had a blast. We did lunch, the beach, dinner, and we went to Ghirradelli's for a wonderful sundae dessert. It was so festive in there with peppermint chocolates and Christmas music! I loved it! I know I have been getting a lot of requests to NOT put collages on the blog, but I'm pregnant and in a bathing suit... so i don't particularly want you to be able to click on the picture to make me look gigantic :) I love the middle picture in this collage cause this is what Caitlyn looks like after a day at the pool with sunscrean all an her hair! Beautiful!