California

Nate went to Argentina this last week for his annual Dove Massacring party, and since I didn't want to stay home alone, Solee, Me and Grandma flew to California for the week. It was a nice getaway, but Fathers were invented for a reason, and one of them was... TO GIVE MOM A BREAK! One week + No Breaks from Solee + Driving all over + Being on watch 24/7 so Solee didn't break anything in my Bro's house= TIRED MERI. Nate came home yesterday about 2 hours after we did and I just fell into his arms and bawled my eyes out. It was a fun week, but being nearly 8 months pregnant and having to cart around a DELIRIOUSLY tired 2 year old for 7 days straight all by yourself, will really take it's toll on you (there's a reason they say don't fly in your 3rd trimester). It was good to know though, that I really could travel on an airplane with Solee, stroller, baggage and all ALL by myself. I got good at pushing her in her stroller with one hand and Pulling 3 bags stacked on top on each other, with my other hand. Nope, nobody offered to help, but it's all good, cause I showed them. Suckers. 

ANYWHO, here are some pics of the trip:
Beluga Wales at Sea World. Super neat. Watching them kind of puts you in a trance.
Kind of like the Tea Cups at Disney Land. Solee had a blast. 
Thanks Iris for taking Solee on the rides, where her pregnant mother failed to be able to.
Waiting for 2 hours for a meal at a RAW foods restaurant will really take it's toll on a hungry 2 year old, and everyone around her too. Uncle John E. was a champ and let her put stickers all over him to keep her entertained. His sticker says "Didn't Brush", he left it there almost all night.
Beach Baby. Perfect 10 of you ask me. She nearly got swept away, LUCKILY, I was right there, whew. Like mother like daughter, except she wasn't naked (That is a "wink, wink" for anyone who went to high school with me. They should know that story). 

Lounging Mermaid Style.
We REALLY missed our Daddy.
A giant Helium filled balloon. It takes you up 150 feet it in the air. 
I was freaking out because the wind was blowing really hard and they were about to shut it down. The only thing holding us to the ground was a 3 inch thick steel cable. 
Doing Grandma's hair. She did everyones hair, nightly. 
Riding the carousel at the mall with Uncle John E., he was more embarrassed than anyone. Solee LOVED it.
The PLEASE BE SEATED exhibit at the GETTY Museum. It's pretty cool. Solee sat on the white chair (below) and if you look up at the T.V. screens around, you see her in a room (above).

The Getty Gardens. What a beautiful place. Not worth the 2 hour drive in L.A. traffic to get home from though.
This pic a a MAJOR milestone. Solee is DEATHLY afraid of ALL animals, but my Brother and his wife have 2 cats, so Solee just had to get used to them. She LOVED them  after 1 day, but they DID NOT love her. 

Good times. Notice you don't see any pics of me. I kept thinking it was just the angle of the camera that was causing my GIANT face and chin in some pics. Then when I noticed that ALL of the pics had my GIANT double chin, I realized it was no camera trickery, and have currently taken up hiding like Quasimoto.