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| The beach bum on our way to DFW airport |
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| Made a friend with a fellow curly fry on a morning walk to the beach |
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Her first time playing with sand.
She couldn't get enough of it running through her fingers. |
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| A farewell hug with Ryan at the airport. |
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| Getting messy at Mimi and Papa's pad |
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| Playing catch with Zoe on the beach |
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| Play date with Catherine |
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| Enjoying a little reading time together |
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| Some oceanside swing time in Laguna |
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| Celebrating Daddy's birthday in Laguna |
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| Landry loved playing in the water! |
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| Enjoying the St. Regis Monarch Beach sans baby |
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| Having fun with Aunt Courtney at Zinc Cafe |
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| Her first ferris wheel ride! |
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| Playing at the Fun Zone arcade |
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| She can't walk but she sure can steer a car! |
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| Playing with Bailey on Mimi and Papa's balcony |
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| Snoozing on the plane back home |
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| Barrett Steven at 19 weeks! |
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| It's official: We own a lake house! |
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Until next summer, California!
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We just got back from California last night. We had so much fun spending time with family and friends, relaxing by the beach, and celebrating Michael's birthday. It was especially nice to have a couple of days with my brother Ryan before he departed for Argentina for 18 months. Luckily, we will get to see him over Christmas for a few days but he won't get to meet Barrett until he's close to a year old.
Monday night I had a fun dinner with three of my dearest elementary school girlfriends. We live in Singapore, San Fran, Newport Beach and Dallas, but somehow all four of us were in town and able to grab a lovely dinner together and catch up. Sam, Lauren and Christina -- I loved seeing you all and can't wait for next time when I can have a cocktail :)
One day Sam visited us at home with her 11-month old daughter for a playdate. The girls had a ball interacting. It melts my heart to watch them as I remember playing with Samantha just a few years older then them and we're still such close friends today.
It was so nice to forget work for eight days and enjoy so much one-on-one time with Landry. She is absolutely in love with the beach. Every morning I took her on a walk to the ocean and we would play in the sand and with my parents' dog Zoe. She was mesmerized by the sand and loved to watch it slip through her fingers.
When Michael arrived, we took her to the beach for an afternoon in the sun. It was such a workout! She wanted to constantly be in the water and would crawl that direction if we weren't holding her hands in the waves. She also loved to watch the other kids and often crawled over to them and tried to join in on their activities.
Another day we took her to the Fun Zone. After our day of arcade games, her first ferris wheel ride, a stroll down the Balboa pier, a peanut butter shake, ferry ride, and more, she was pooped. I have a feeling that she will never want to leave California when she gets older. We have so much fun when we're out there!
On Michael's birthday, we left the peanut with my parents and took off to the St. Regis in Dana Point for the night. We each had a massage and took advantage of their spa for the day and then enjoyed an incredible dinner overlooking the ocean. Before dinner, we had a drink outside at the bar and the hotel surprised us with a bottle of champagne to celebrate our occasion. It was the perfect little staycation.
During the last leg of our trip, Courtney was in town visiting family (her aunt and uncle live on my parents' street, ironically). We met up one morning for a walk with the girls and a coffee at my favorite cafe. It was the perfect morning, but way too short of a visit. Luckily they are visiting us this October for SMU's Homecoming weekend.
Our flight back yesterday was a dream. Landry slept nearly the entire time on Michael's lap. She's such a good traveler, we are so lucky. And, I didn't get sick. My pregnancy motion sickness meds are a huge help!
Today we had a sonogram and got to see sweet Barrett in action. We also got confirmation that we are 100-percent having a little guy. Everything looks really good according to my doctor. I do currently have placenta previa (a condition when the placenta is very close to the cervix), but he says there's a 90-percent chance that will go away by delivery. They want to see me at 28 weeks to see the status. If it doesn't change, then I will have to have another c-section, which is likely anyway at this point given I've had one in the past.
Today we also signed the paperwork for our lake house. We are officially country folk (one weekend or so a month, at least)! Afterwards we treated Kari, our realtor, to lunch and she gave us the best house warming gift: a "Lake House" scented candle. I can't wait to start the remodel next week and hopefully start enjoying our cozy little cottage in the woods come fall.
Today was Landry's first physical therapy session to improve her walking. I had to miss it due to appointments but Cristina said she did very well. The therapist mostly worked on strength-building exercises that we will practice at home. She's still not walking on her own but very mobile. She walks -- and sometimes practically runs -- when you hold her hand. She's just shy of letting go. I'm hoping that mommy's day out will help motivate her to get on the move.
Tomorrow is orientation and then "school" starts Thursday. I can't wait to see her in the new environment. I think she is going to love the program and thrive around all of the other kids.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
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