I was planning to make this a couple of posts because three weeks of pictures is a lot of one blog post, but since I'm so far behind and want to get current, I thought I'd just put it all down here :)
Like I mentioned previously, I was so excited to make it home in time to spend a long weekend with my sisters at home. There was definitely some stress about getting on a plane in time to see them, but it worked out and I was thrilled. Rowan had so much fun with his aunts and it was so cute to see them play together (and I'm not going to argue with all the help I received between them and my parents too :) Grandma bought lots of new books and this kid LOVES books. He can go from screaming mad to happy and calm just by opening a book in front of him, it's pretty crazy.
Aunt Karleigh
Aunt Holly
Sisters. We did a lot of good eating while we were in town. I would get excited to come home to eat when I lived in another state. Now that I live in another country the thought of eating out in Davis is beyond exciting :)
We had a great time eating, shopping, and just hanging out. Holly left Tuesday, Karleigh on Wednesday, and then on Thursday my parents and Rowan and I headed down to Orange county for the week. My dad had a conference in Irvine and we thought it would be fun to tag along and then head to Oceanside for a few days :)
Rowan had been a little bit sick in Davis, but the first morning we woke up in Irvine he was burning up and so sick. He did a lot of napping (and preferred the big bed to his pack and play). We went to Target to grab some Tylenol which was much needed the remainder of our trip.
I have decided that Tylenol is a wonder drug for this kid! He literally is a different kid within minutes of receiving it. This is Rowan before and after Tylenol. He took a lot of baths too...it was the only other thing that would make him feel somewhat better.
The 17-hour time change definitely took awhile to adjust to and once he was feeling better, he was not tired at night when I was ready for bed. This night, my parents went to sleep, so Rowan and I headed down to the hotel lobby to hang out. He smiled at everyone that came in and he got lots of attention and loved it :)
Finally, I took him back up to the room for another bath to try to calm him down which clearly still didn't work. He was wired. But I can't complain, at least he was feeling better and happy!
We did some good shopping in Irvine and Newport while my dad was in meetings and then we'd pick him up and head to dinner each evening. I was fortunate enough to get to hang out with them during this trip last year also...I was 13 weeks pregnant at the time and my mom and I did some maternity shopping. This year we did lots of Rowan shopping :)
After Irvine, I decided it would be so much fun to head down to Oceanside for a few days. Our friends (and neighbors last year), Dick and Carol, were SO generous and allowed us to stay at their condo for a few days. The best part was that they were there when we arrived so we got to catch up for a few minutes before they headed home to Arizona and we took over the condo :) So glad to have made great friends last year...we miss them!
We spent the weekend doing what we love doing most in Oceanside, hanging out enjoying the beach! Rowan LOVES hanging outside out, will laugh and laugh, it's pretty funny. Grandma and Grandpa had some fun with him :)
I love this picture of my mom and Rowan checking out the pelicans...so cute!
I was loving my American food...Trader Joe's pumpkin cream cheese and Kroger chocolate milk in a chalkboard glass (which remind me of living there)...perfect breakfast.
One of the other reasons I wanted to stay in Oceanside a few days was so that Grant's parents could come over and hang out with us! It was perfect and we got to spend a few days with them. I'm so grateful they made the drive over to see us! We also got a visit from Mat and Jenifer (but unfortunately didn't get any pictures ;( It was awesome of them to drive from Utah to see us! And when I got back to Okinawa, I had people asking where I get my hair done...I had to tell them I flew to California to have it done (thanks Jen! You're the best :)
Loved the hoodie beach weather :)
Our last night there had the most perfect sunset! And Heidi and I were on a walk just like old times so got to fully enjoy it from every vantage point on the strand. It was exactly what I needed for my last night there!
And we also enjoyed some fun dinners together with Heidi and Riley while we were there. Ruby's on the pier and Rockin Baja at the harbor.
Oh I miss these girls! Wish we could still workout together everyday. I'm not sure I'll ever workout as consistently again as I did my year in Oceanside. Even 9 months pregnant I exercised more than I do now...not cool! I need to step it up, but it's not nearly as fun without her :(
Sunday, we went to hang out with my grandpa, and Rowan and Great-Grandpa Rose watched some football and hung out together :) Rowan blew raspberries on his head and offered him lots of smiles.
Rowan was fascinated by Lassen (my golden retriever) and their 2 cats. He would "talk" to Lassen every time she was around. I am so grateful that he got to see and interact with her, since my almost 15-year-old Lassen passed away this week. I have a cute video of him being so excited to pet her...priceless :)
He became quite mobile during this trip also...and of course, non toy items are way more fun than real toys. Newspaper was so much fun, and his hands were BLACK by the end of this :)
More new books with Grandma.
And even though he did not sleep well on this trip...he crashed hard occasionally from all the fun we had! First time in a pack and play...I think he's spoiled because it wasn't "comfortable" enough for him and ended up in my bed most nights. He went cold turkey back into his own bed when we got home though...and actually did ok. He's way too cute!
This turned out to be such an amazing trip. I got to spend so much time with people I love, and I'm glad everyone got to see Rowan at this really fun age and stage of life he is in right now. Grateful I bit the bullet and just decided to go, even though I knew the process of getting there would be crazy and his schedule would be totally thrown off...but it was worth all of that to spend time with people we love.
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