Babymoon #2 Punta Cana-Dominican Republic

Leaving from LAX at midnight-should have seen what we looked liked when we finally arrived-not like this that is for sure.

1st day on the beach-notice how white we are and no sunburns

Our lunch almost everyday(everything else was awful!!!). Club sandwiches and pina coladas that just kept coming!

Our beach

Our hotel

Just looking at the palm trees relaxes me.

Snorkeling cruise-very fun although it was somewhat of a booze cruise and explaining to everyone you don't drink takes a lot time and effort. I had an excuse but they couldn't figure out why Ryan wouldn't drink. It wasn't really the time for the Work of Wisdom talk...

Just pay attention to the stingray and not my odd tanline...

Ryan would like to point out that these were taken on the iphone in his waterproof box. He was very proud that he could take it underwater. However we both pooped a little when he first tested it out.

Trying to be photographers

The fish Ryan would like you to believe he caught if I would not have been pregnant and we could have survived the crazy boat rides.

Love birds

The hotel was new and pretty minimal so though our room was larger than our town house it was pretty minimalistic-but we liked it.

Last day-had we known what the flight home would have consisted of I would have been crying here.

Tan face

All in all it was an amazing time. If we were to do it again we would probably do a Caribbean cruise so we could see a lot of islands and have a little better food, but with 84 degree weather, a constant breeze and turquoise water there really isn't much to complain about. And a HUGE thanks to my mom & dad and my sister Amy & Mike for watching Camryn! We couldn't have been more comfortable leaving for such a long time! We'll refer to this post in a few months when the baby comes and relish the time we had doing nothing but sleeping and sipping pina coladas.

Pre-Easter Celebration

With Ryan and I's vacation over Easter weekend we decided to celebrate a little bit early (Palm Sunday). While I was gone doing a photo shoot for Twigg with my very talented friend Alia (more on that later), Ryan headed to the park for the Ladera Ranch Spring Celebration aka Easter Activity.

Ryan told her that she could get her face painted and she wouldn't stop talking about it. She got to pick what she wanted from a book and what do you know, she picked Hello Kitty. Such a girl. Ryan then told her she was to sit very still and couldn't touch her face and her reply was, "Ok, I'll put my hands behind my back like this." No idea where she got that idea but it was perfect and she sat still and loved every minute of it!

This is her trying to show us her new piece of art and maintain eye contact-she still said, "Cheese".

Then Grandma Brenda came up for the rest of the day to celebrate with us. Just relaxing playing on Grandma's iphone on our new patio set (more on that later).

Then after hearing about coloring eggs all day from Camryn, we finally made her dreams a reality. Holidays are so much more fun with kids. It was like this was the coolest thing she had ever seen!

And of course the pink and blue ones were her favorite!

Then after dinner at The Habit we walked around shops and had cupcakes. Camryn picked this one out since it was pink and had sprinkles. She would have stuffed the whole thing in her mouth if we let her. This girl won't eat much, but she can pound her sweets. Like father like daughter!

Sunday the Easter Bunny came early and hid eggs for her to find. She just kept saying, "Why the Easter Bunny hiding eggs from me? Don't hide eggs from me Easter Bunny!"

She loved it and could have done this all day long. Note:this is the same Easter dress she wore last year-still so cute, so why not!

More surprises inside from the Easter Bunny-spoiled girl!

Don't know if it is because I am missing her already but I think this age is so fun and is definitely my favorite so far! Love this girl.

And my handsome hubs. Doesn't get better than this-such a fun warm spring weekend! Happy Easter!

Love Hate

Ever since Camryn was little she has LOVED horses. Always talking about them, playing with horse toys the whole bit. But much like most things with her- you take her to actually see them or ride one and she freaks out! You would think that by age 2 1/2 she would be over this. Well we tried again and, nope! However, she loves to watch their every move from a distance.

She can't take her eyes off them and asks all kinds of questions about what they are doing at all times.

But as soon as we get close to one, game over. We will continue to try because she loves them so much at least she thinks she does. She will say to herself "I not be scared of horses-horses are nice!" But then she forgets real fast and screams-"don't bite me horse!" I am just glad we found a place close to us in San Juan to take her to see the horses and ponies anytime she wants even if she really does hate them!

Ok so maybe it is the Happiest Place on Earth!

Yes, I admit I have had my doubts. I loved Disneyland when I was a kid but never found the same appeal as I got older. And still had friends and saw many people my age or older enjoying it or should I say obsessed with it even when they did not have kids.

Well now that I have a 2 1/2 year old I get it. Today we went by ourselves, just the two of us and only stayed for about 3 hours. (No not about, exactly-because that way I didn't have to pay for parking another thing to love.) It is so fun going with friends and family but it is just different when you can do exactly what and when you want to do them.

First off we rode the train/monorail-Camryn was already in heaven! She couldn't stop laughing and we hadn't even gotten inside the park. This was her face...

Once inside we rode Small World. We walked right on and had the boat all to ourselves, so this is Camryn in the seat in front of me.

I had never been to Toon Town so we checked that out. But not too interesting for Camryn. Then it was on to the Princesses! I think this is fairly new at the park or if it is not I have just started hearing about it. The wait was 45 min. long to see 3 Princesses, you never know which ones they will have that day. Now 45 min with a 2 year old=not the easiest thing in the world. In fact if any line has a 20 min wait, we are out. But I knew that Camryn would not be disappointed. That is until we were 5 people behind the front and she had a total melt down! Said she didn't want to see "Big Princesses, only little ones" and then thought her undies were wet and needed the changed even though they weren't. Luckily the lady behind saved my spot-we hurried and had a wardrobe change and back in line with 1 person in front of us. With a little break she was ready to go!

Couldn't believe as we turned the corner that her two favorite's were there! Ariel and Belle! In the past she has been so shy/petrified of meeting any character but I think having them be real girls, she loved!

They were so sweet by talking and hugging her. Belle was the sweetest. And probably also because Camryn knew what to do after seeing Ariel.

Then she met Tiana. She hasn't seen the movie all the way through, but knows her cousins love her and loves her toys at the Disney store. This time she just sat right down and posed by her.

So back to my not loving Disneyland, I was converted today because I totally got choked up when Camryn was interacting with the Princesses. For one, I knew how much she loved it and would be talking about this day for a very long time. Well that and I am also pregnant-but still. We waited 45 minutes and it was totally worth it. However, I saw as I was leaving that it was a 75 min wait. Now that is a bit much. So make sure you go as soon as you get to the park! That is what I learned and we will definitely be back!

Who Says Ties are For Boys?

There is an online company called Urban Sunday that makes the coolest little boys ties and bow ties you've ever seen. If you have a boy, they are a must. Anyway they were expanding their repertoire and asked if Camryn would be a model in their new online and print campaign. Obviously as parents are flattered, but we didn't know how cute this would really turn out to be. The photoshoot was a fun experience, minus Camryn holding herself half the time as she was learning to be potty trained. The amazingly talented Ashlee Raubach was the photographer. Anyway here are the results

Our Casa es Su Casa

We moved to a new place in October and though we are renting, our landlords let us do a few things to help make it home. It was quite an adjustment from a house to a small townhouse, but the location was totally worth it. We aren't photographers...nor professional decorators, but a few people have asked so we thought we'd share.

Our front door

Before

After-the gray was darker than we wanted. Ryan painted the stripes and wanted me to mention without a ladder, just standing on that little ledge. (a thanks to Nugget for modeling)

A weird little loft area that should have been used for an office or play room...

But we had left over furniture we didn't want to get rid of so we call this the library.

Family room...lucky you can't see the "murder stain" that was here before we came. The joys of renting.

After-rugs cover up murder. Not our favorite couch in the world, but it was cheap and has a sleeper sofa-so it's also the guest room. Please come stay.

Media niche and random other niche

Thank you Ikea for making small affordable furniture.

Kitchen/Nook-don't be jealous of the linoleum. Who doesn't love that movie-theatre feel under their feet in the morning. However clean-up is a breeze.

Another rug to cover up stains as well as catch food and spills from a two year old...and Ryan. Not that we were too worried about making the carpet any worse.

Here was Ryan's project. Since the owners had this sky-blue bathroom before, we thought they wouldn't mind if we experimented a bit in here even though we agreed to earth tones.

Teal is an earth tone right? Ryan wanted to try a new painting and taping technique.

Camryn's room and soon to be shared room by baby number two...this should be fun.

We pretty much kept it the same.

Here is our miniature bedroom. This was the biggest adjustment moving from our house, but we made it work. It was the same tan color before, so we chose a darker gray and added the IKEA nightstands. It's home for now. The best part is if anything breaks we're out around $15. Come visit anytime.

Saturdays

Don't get much better than a bike ride, a picnic by the beach with my latest crave Board N' Brew sandwiches (or should I just say cheddar cheese and that special sauce) and the sun! Then after naps head to the hot tub and heated pool as a family. Spring has arrived and I love it!

Amy and Mike picked up this cute dress for Camryn while in Hawaii-also obsessed.

Life is good.