Category Archives: Family Fun

Family Fun / Motherhood / Travel

Hello from Mallorca!

August 30, 2016

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We’re currently enjoying some downtime in Mallorca — a small Spanish island that’s only a two hour flight from Amsterdam. It’s warm, beautiful, and so relaxing.

Since I’m flying solo with P back to California next week, the flights for this vacation are a nice trial run (though a two hour direct flight is just a little bit different than 16 hours of flights and layovers). I feel prepared and terrified for the flight back to California — mostly because I know what I need to pack, and yet even with that knowledge, I’m well aware of the fact that Prim hates flying. We survived the two hour flight here, but I will tell you that it was A LOT of work, even with two people managing a 15 month old. Sooo, anyway, I will definitely be earning my mama-stripes next week. Yay…

Onto better things!

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We opted to book an all-inclusive resort here in Mallorca, which has been the very best decision so far. The hotel has apartment-style rooms, which means KC and I still get to hang out after P goes to bed at night. We decided to upgrade to a room with a large balcony, so we put Prim to sleep in the living room at night and then spend the rest of the evening out on the terrace, which is (hilariously) accessible via a climb through the bedroom window. (Luckily I’m still early enough in my pregnancy to be somewhat nimble enough to manage this.)

DCIM100GOPRO

DCIM100GOPRO

We have been spending our days at the pool and exploring the beaches and area around the hotel. Prim has become more comfortable with the water and is really enjoying being pulled around the pool by KC and me.

DCIM100GOPRO

DCIM100GOPRO

In big news for no one but me, I have decided to wear a two-piece swimsuit and let my 15-week baby belly show. I will not say that I am super comfortable with this, because I’m not, but in an effort to be a little more accepting of my body, I’ve decided to be a little braver and fake some confidence while here on vacation. I’ve got a little lady to think about (and another one on the way!) so I want these girls to know that they should be proud of their bodies. And really, I should be proud of my body — I’ve made a whole human being and am in the process of making another, so why should I cover it up!

And let me tell you that the ladies here in Spain have a whoooole lot of body confidence, judging by their beachwear. I think I could learn a lot from them. DCIM100GOPRO PS: In case you’re curious, P’s hat and swimsuit are from BabyGap (exact style no longer available). My suit is separates from Old Navy (old, but similar styles for top here and bottoms here) and sunhat is JCrew (old, but similar style here).

DCIM100GOPRO

DCIM100GOPRO

Budget-Friendly Weekend Fun / Family Fun / Personal

A Day in the Bay

May 19, 2016

img_8624The Saturday before we left for the Netherlands, KC, Prim and I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium with my parents and my sister’s family.

I have always loved the aquarium, but hadn’t been in almost seven years — the last time we were there was the week I got my BAR results back in 2009!

Going with Prim this time was so special, and she absolutely loved it. Watching her experience things for the first time is one of the very best things right now. She’s so fascinated by the world and you can really see her taking it all in. img_8630

Prim was especially into the wave room, where the waves crash against the glass and then drain back out to the ocean. She would yell excitedly when the wave would come in and press her hand to the glass, then when it would drain out again she would reach up towards the inlet, like, “Again! Again!” img_8631One of my favorite parts of the aquarium has always been the touch pools, but I wasn’t sure how Prim would feel about that section since it can be a little scary for tiny newcomers. Prim was totally into touching all the sea life, though (we just had to keep making sure she didn’t thrust her hand directly into her mouth afterwards!)

img_8549img_8629^^shoutout to pregnancy for providing me with that awesome postpartum hair. Nothing like having two-inch flyaways along your ENTIRE hairline^^ 

img_8552Prim and August were very into the tank where you could sit inside a little carve-out and look at the fish through a 360 degree window.

img_8626img_8627Prim takes any opportunity to steal a snuggle from Auntie Alexis.
img_8628I know this photo is out of focus and the lighting is kind of weird, but I don’t care, I love it.
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^^the carrier we use is the Beco Gemini, in case you’re curious^^

Our day at the aquarium was so great and such an awesome way to close out one of our last few days in California. And in case you think I’m totally lying about the fact that Prim loved the aquarium, just check out this little California surfer girl:

img_8556Tubular, dude. (Ugh my hair… my god.)

If you’re visiting the Bay Area I can’t recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium enough — such a great place to visit! img_8545