Post-Thanksgiving

Baby,

Thanksgiving was a success! We had so much fun. Mommy and Daddy got up at 3:30am on Thanksgiving morning and packed us all up in the car, picked up Grandma and Grandpa, and drove up north. We did two stops to get gas, do bathroom breaks and stretch our legs. You slept most of the way and didn't fuss very much at all. We left at 4:30am and got there at 10:30am. The drive was roughly 5 hours since we did two stops. Not bad eh?

Once we arrived at Auntie Liza's house, we hung out, ate, played basketball, shoot pool, ate some more, helped cook, took a walk, ate some more, and just relaxed. We even took some family Thanksgiving pictures. They turned out great. There's something that I've been doing the last couple of Thanksgiving. You know, Mommy and Daddy found out we were pregnant with you on Thanksgiving day 2 years ago. Every year since, ok fine, it's only been 2 years, but what the heck, I've been testing to see if I am blessed with another child. I tested of course and it was negative. I was a bit bummed since if I was pregnant, your sib would be expected to be due on your birthday. How cool would that be? Either way, I am already so blessed with you.

On Friday, we got up, took our time getting ready and did a bit of shopping. After we shopped, we took you to the park to play and you had a great time. Then you poo'ed so we had to go home and clean you up. We decided to go for a drive to sightsee and we didn't see much. You fell asleep so Mommy and Daddy stopped by the store to get you more milk. We went to bed rather late that night and woke up early on Saturday morning.

You, me, Daddy and Grandma hit the road at 6am. Our destination was Hearst castle but we stopped along the beach since we were on Pacific Coast Highway and the view was amazing. We took some pictures, let you play in the sand a bit, and kept on driving. I drove the curvy mountain parts by the way (pat on Mommy's back). We arrived at Hearst Castle around 11am and did the tour of the Grand room. The place is amazingly big and beautiful! You did wonderful during the tour; however, you were a rambunctious one after that. You wanted to run everywhere, touch everything. You were a little menace. You wore Mommy out but I thought you were still the cutest child.

We hit the road again and drove 45 minutes to Morro Bay. That was a dud. It was literally a big rock with piers and restaurants, but nothing that was really interesting or impressive. Blah.

We hit the road again and our next destination was Santa Barbara 2 hours away. We arrived around 5 I think, checked into the hotel and rested. The Hyatt was right across the street from the beach. It was beautiful. We had a pool view which was nice. We decided to have Thai food but State Street was so packed. We ordered the food to go, walked the strip a bit, then got our food and dined in our hotel room. We called it a night from all the traveling and sightseeing that we did.

We got up Sunday morning, had breakfast in the room again, then headed to the beach to let you play on the swing set and in the water. You had a good time and I love the pictures/videos of you and Daddy.

We drove 2 hours and were back to home sweet home.

I would say our Thanksgiving was a success. We traveled, spent time with family, spent time on the beach and vacationed a bit, it was great. You are the bestest child ever. I love you always.

Mommy

Thanksgiving

Lauren,

Tomorrow is your second Thanksgiving. Last Thanksgiving, you were so fussy. You were crying and wouldn't stop. Mommy and Daddy tried to hold you, feed you, but nothing we did could stop you from crying. Then when we got home, you were as happy as could be. You laughed for no reason at all. I was thankful for that.

This Thanksgiving, we are doing a road trip. Early tomorrow morning, we are driving up North to Dublin to visit Jasmine, Trinity and Talvin's cousins. It'll be a very long ride, approximately 6 hours and 19 minutes according to googlemap. Then hopefully, we can make it to Hearst Castle on Saturday, stop by Morro Bay, then back down to Santa Barbara and home on Sunday. Let's see how much we get done. Either way, it's going to be fun.

Lauren, Mommy is so proud of you. I love the person that you are. You know how to sa-toot, blow your nose, hug, give kisses, blow kisses, know where your belly button feet nose and eyes are, dance and jump, respond to your age, give high fives, say no, mommy, daddy, ma-yeh, ta ta, je je, doggie, yummy yum, mum mum and a whole slew of other things I probably forgot. I am so thankful for you. You are my world, my love, my life.

I love you always.

Mommy

Second night away...

Lauren,

Last night, Mommy had to leave you at Grandma's since Mommy is still feeling sick with the stomach flu and Daddy has the cold and flu. I know, it's horrible. I almost couldn't leave. I left through the front door with tear filled eyes, pulling all I had not to go back in there and grab you home. Although it hurt me more than anyone, I had to do it because I knew it was best for you. I really believe that I had enough energy to watch you yesterday. It's just that I couldn't imagine you catching whatever it is that Mommy and Daddy has. This week has been long and awful.

All I wanted to do was see you, talk to you, hold you in bed before we went night-night. I missed you so much.

I hope you won't have to stay away from Mommy and Daddy overnight again. I love you so much. I love you always.

Mommy

Dog food, driving quad, blowing nose, etc.

Lauren,

There's so many random things that you've been experiencing.

Like the other week when we were out in the backyard, you grabbed some of Pookie's dog food and I knew you were going to try to eat it as you put almost everything in your mouth. I hopped off of the swing bench and almost hurt myself. I grabbed it away from your hand just in the nick of time. Daddy looked at me like I was crazy. I went back to swinging and just watching you but your back was turned towards me. As you turned around, I saw brown crumbs on your face. I looked at Daddy and swiped my finger through your mouth and sure enough, you were eating a pebble of dog food. That was sooo gross.

About a month ago, you got on the Dora quad and pushed the button and just drove it. I was such a proud mommy.

You recently got sick with some virus that's been going around. You've been blowing bubbles out of your nose, drooling, and worst yet, vomiting. Did I forget to mention the constipation? Yep, that too. Anyways, you don't like it when I use a tissue to wipe your nose, so I've been using my fingers to clean off the snot. When I wanted you to blow your nose, I'd say something that sounded like "heeee". You somehow understood me and started blowing your nose! I'm such a proud mama.

Your molars are growing. I lost count of your teeth. It seems like you went from 7 to 11 overnight.

You recently have started calling me mama and mommy too. I love you so much. I love you always.

First Trick or Treating

Lauren,

Last night was your very first time trick or treating. You got a bucket full of candy. Too bad you can't have any yet...so Mommy will help you out and make good use of it. I'm gonna eat it!

You were the cutest Stinkerbell, oops, I meant Tinkerbell. I am so in love with you. I carried you from house to house, switching from right arm to left arm back to my right arm until both of my arms felt like they were going to fall off. I put you down to walk but you took awhile and the bigger kids were stumbling so then I picked you up and carried you again. Daddy was busy taking pictures and recording our night out. We had a huge turnout! You went trick or treating with most all of your first cousins. It was so much fun.

You have been sick this last week, throwing up almost daily. I am so worried about you. Daddy took you to the doctors yesterday and said that we just need to give you some pedialyte and you need to rest. You've been pretty much the same, eating well, playing well, but your sleeping has been awful. You get congested, toss and turn, so it's been rough on all of us.

I can't wait to see you at lunch. I love you always.