San Diego: Airport & Hotel

Marcos, Dominic and I went to San Diego July 19-22 for Emmy and Josh's wedding reception.  We had a great time!  I am going to start by sharing pictures at Austin airport and in and around our hotel.

Marcos insisted he bring his new white adidas on the trip. I complained he would look like a tourist.  The problem was soon solved - by day two they looked like old white adidas.

We stayed at the Hilton San Diego Bay Front, which is a very nice hotel.  It is right across from Petco Park and the Convention Center. Dominic loved climbing on the window sill and looking at big trucks going into the back of the convention center and the taxis driving down Harbor Drive.

He slept in a crib provided by the hotel.  It worked great until the last night when he climbed right out.  We thought we could just let him sleep with us, but he woke up late in the night (probably from normal tossing and turning) and didn't go back to sleep for almost 2 hours.  Finally, we put him in the crib and Marcos stayed next to him and made him lie down.  He cried for about a minute and fell asleep really quickly.  We should have just done that from the beginning!  I was worried he would climb out of his own crib when we got home, but so far he has not.

The rest of these pics were taken wandering around next to the hotel one morning before heading over to my parents' house.

So funny! He ran out onto the grass and stood there making funny faces.

Most of the remaining pictures from our trip were taken by Steffi on my camera.  She went a little crazy taking pics of the boy on my parents' front porch eating crackers. :)  As far as reception pics, we only have what Steffi took also.  It's just too hard carrying a big camera around when you're busy making sure Dominic stays out of trouble and doesn't eat too many m&ms.  It was such a great time though, and big congrats to Emmy and Josh! 

Tricky Mama

Take Your Child to Work Day

Marcos surprised me today by picking Dominic up from school and taking him to my office for the Take Your Child to Work Day activities we were having.  I didn't think Dominic would be able to go because his nap doesn't end until 2pm, and the festivities were mostly around that time.  He had a great time at my office.  He ran around inspecting people's cubicles, and loved playing with my co-worker's son Joshua. The highlight of the afternoon may have been when Dominic ran into my bosses office and dropped his smoothie, spilling it all over the rug.  Joshua (age 3) witnessed the whole thing and said loudly, "Domino should say sorry!"   Here is a picture of the boy sitting in my office having a snack.

San Diego for Emmy's Shower

Dominic and I had a lovely trip to San Diego for his Aunt Emmy's bridal shower.  I will give a day-by-day summary and post some of the pictures I took.  It's a real pity I didn't take more.  What kind of blogger am I?

We arrived on Friday morning.  Dominic was my lap child on a completely full flight.  That wasn't too fun. I wasn't really thinking about it, but my lap isn't too roomy these days.  One big belly in front of another big belly made for some intimate time with the tray table.  Dominic was pretty good though - I think better than last time he flew at 15 months.  Nick and Robert picked us up and took us home.  Dominic was thrilled to see YiaYia and beside himself when he saw Emmy.  He did not want to let Emmy out of his sight and was very worried when we went to the store without her that afternoon.  Emmy wasted little time making Dominic a smoothie (it's their thing) and he drank it outside while watching all the airplanes go over YiaYia's house.

After nap time, we headed over to the 28th Street playground, where we met up with Carlos, Lykke, Marcos and Alex.  They drove in from their new home in Twentynine Palms, CA.  I have been waiting so long for Dominic to finally meet these sweet cousins of his!!  They were so tall and handsome as ever.  Dominic loved being tickled by Tio Carlos and held by Tia Lykke.  We had Kelley and Kim from Studio Sequoia take pictures of the boys.  Check out a sneak peak below and here on their blog.  I can't wait to see more!  After the photos, all the Morales' went out to dinner.  Tio Carlos surprised the three boys with a dessert that looked like earth worms in dirt (pudding, gummy worms, oreo crumbs).

Can you imagine how the girls are going to respond to this double dose of cuteness in high school??

Dominic is making such a funny face. I love this one!

On Saturday we got up and the girls got ready for Emmy's shower. It was hosted by the Hadzicki/Siskowic women and it was BEAUTIFUL!  Lunch on my Grandma's china on the beautifully decorated patio felt like an elegant garden party.  They even made a three-tiered cake and had a candy table with personalized bags for guests to fill.  Did I take pictures?  No!  I was too busy watching my phone in case the babysitters needed anything.  My Dad, Nick and Robert were in charge at home and I was told it was the easiest baby sitting job ever.  We were gone about 3.5 hours and Dominic was in bed for almost 3 of them.  Major kudos to my Dad for changing his first diaper in like 18 years? 


Saturday evening we had the family over for homemade pizza.  We got to see: Uncle George, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim, Aunt Carol, Tricia and Kyle.  It feels like I am forgetting someone, but I can't think who.  Dominic enjoyed socializing and gave everyone a kiss or high five before bed.  It's kind of strange (and nice!) how outgoing he is because I was the opposite.  I wonder if my daughter will be more like me. 

Dominic playing at YiaYia's house on Saturday morning:

He had a car with him at almost all times.

Oh yay, I did take this pic of the candy table on my phone:

Sunday Dominic went to church with YiaYia where he got to see our dear friend and one of his biggest fans, Lucy.  He ate lots of watermelon and, no doubt, flirted with the ladies.  Emmy and I picked him up at the end of the social/musical hour.  That evening we went to an early dinner at my Grandpa and Grandma's house.  Grandma made yummy spaghetti and apple pie using their home grown apples.  Yum, Yum!  Dominic was not shy about checking the place out and emptying the candy dish in the living room.  

We came home on Monday.  Once again the flight was completely full.  I can't tell you how we passed those three hours (other than a very cramped diaper changed in the lavatory) but somehow we got through it. Dada was waiting to take us home when we got to the airport.

Dominic playing piano with Aunt Emmy and playing on the front lawn with Uncle Robert on Monday:

What is it about Robert that makes kids want to be tickled and rough-housed?  Robert barely had to look at Dominic and the boy would start laughing.  Maybe we should call him Uncle Fun. :)  It was just a great weekend with very little whining from the boy.  He was so happy and entertained that he didn't even beg to play with the ipad like he does at home.  I know Dominic will be thrilled to go back in a few weeks for Emmy's reception.