A Week In The Life Of A Tourist

Late Tuesday night (April 7) Shawn’s mom and little sis flew into DC to spend a week with us! Carol and Brittany were so excited to see Victoria they forgot that Shawn and I were even there! We all spent that night at Shawn’s Cousin’s house (Thanks again Scott and Kate!) and the next morning we were off to Williamsburg Virginia and began our week as tourists!

{From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia. Here, Thomas Jefferson studied law, and later he, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and other patriot leaders plotted America’s freedom from Great Britain.} * Taken from website

It was an interesting trip…my mother-in-law was in Heaven the whole time as she was surrounded by history. And Brittany couldn’t handle all the shirtless men (a bit on the older side) jogging in Neon colored short shorts…I think she took pictures of every one of them! It was kind of hard for Shawn and I to really get into it having Victoria to entertain, but really the history is amazing! Sitting in original buildings where our founding fathers sat and walking paths that they walked was pretty incredible.

Friday morning Shawn, Carol, and Brittany headed off to Jamestown, while I stayed back at the hotel to give Victoria a chance to take a good nap and give her a break from being in the stroller. We headed back up to our house…Saturday those three took a mega bus up to New York City…I stayed home. Taking a baby to NY on a bus when it was our first time up there would have been a stressed out disaster! So Shawn, Carol, and Brittany walked around as much of NY as they could in the cold and rain! Then on Monday we were back in Washington DC to see the monuments (third time for Shawn and I now…although Shawn spent the whole time circling to find a new parking spot). We also saw a little of the American History Museum…we would have liked to see more but Shawn and I drove around for an hour looking for a place to park…then when we found someone who was leaving we had to wait behind them 10 minutes while they ate Sushi in their mini van…I was tempted to ask If I could join them! The American History museum had some amazing stuff…the original flag that flew which inspired the writing of our Star Spangled Banner, the original Ruby Slippers that Judy Garland wore in Wizard of Oz (I’m a fan of both, so for me that was one of the highlights of the trip)! Later that evening we enjoyed dinner with Shawn’s cousins at Five Guys…a burger place that people love around here…yeah it’s good, but I still think Inn-N-Out is better! Tuesday morning Carol and Brittany boarded their plane and we returned to our normal life, and I feel like I’ve been doing laundry for four days straight! …and it’s still not done!

{click to see larger view} While in Williamsburg we ate lunch at King's Arms Tavern... Best Salad I have EVER had. I still can't get over how delicious it was! 

Shawn and I - Williamsburg

Victoria checking out Alex...and picking on him ha ha!

Thanks for a fun week!

Some Bunny Loves Me

We had a beautiful Easter! It was a bit chilly but the sun was shining and the smell of spring was in the air! The Easter Bunny paid Victoria a little visit and left her a basket full of goodies…I think she was more interested in the ribbon around the basket than what was inside…we dressed ourselves in our Sunday best and headed to church, where I was reminded of why this day is so special with a very touching talk of our Savior’s sacrifices and resurrection.

Shawn’s mom and little sister Brittney were here visiting and we all enjoyed a home cooked meal of Chicken Cordon Blu, Roasted Asparagus, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls… okay, it was semi homemade. We had been out of town all week so when Shawn went to Walmart Saturday at midnight he came home with instant potatoes and Pillsbury rolls. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing…it was a good day.

Victoria not wanting to share with Trixie! I love this picture!

Notice how she is pointing to her basket!

I had seen Victoria’s dress at Baby Gap a little while before Easter and fell in love with it…wanted to make one similar to it, I even found a pattern and some cute fabric, but I just ran out of time…So we bought it and I snapped a few (when I say few I mean 70 ) pics the week before Easter so we could send them to the Grandparents. We got a lot of cute ones! Here’s our little cupcake in her first Easter dress… 

A Mini Journal Entry

 I’m Tired. It’s just one of those days where I can’t think straight because my brain is so tired! Victoria is not sleeping well at night and it’s driving me a bit crazy! Not to mention Shawn is now working overtime…which is a blessing really because of the extra money it will bring in…but it means less time spent with him…and then all these week to two week trainings he goes on…usually on Fridays I would be singing our “Happy for the Weekend” song, not today though because Shawn will be working tomorrow…but I am counting my blessings, and there are far too many to count! Aw well, life is full of sacrifices…we give a little to get a little, or sometimes give a lot to get a little, and even give a little to get a lot…so I guess it all balances out in the end!

We are still house hunting (that’s TOWNhouse hunting around here). We haven’t walked into a place that has felt like “home” yet, but are still hoping to land a good deal, put a little money into it, and settle in for the rest of the time that we will be here in Maryland.

Victoria had her 6 month wellness checkup this morning, shots included of course! She handled them really well…If she was a little older she would have gotten to pick out a treat, but instead she got some juice…a little boring I know but still pretty yummy to a 6 month old! She weighed in at 16 Lbs 7 oz (a little above average percentile) and measured 27 3/4 inches! She is off the charts for her height!

I’m such a thinker…more like a dreamer, an observer. I keep a lot of who I am inside my head…but lately it’s been itching to get out. My brain is stuffed full of all these things I’d love to do and be…ideas for our house, sewing, learning how to play the piano and violin, becoming a ballerina, a photographer, running a marathon…even doing an Iron Man someday, finishing school…really the list goes on, and a lot of it makes some people laugh, well…some of my thoughts make me laugh! I’ve been sitting on some of my “dreams” since I was a little girl. I recently found out that one of my Mother’s biggest regrets is that she never pursued her dream to become a ballerina. No regrets…I’ve decided I’m going to start knocking stuff of my list…

 

{Added a little while later}

Of course being a mother (and wife) was my number one dream…and it’s been a dream come true. There is nothing that could replace being a mother to a beautiful daughter and wife to a wonderful, handsome husband. Victoria and Shawn come first and top any list that I may have. But what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t show my Children how to dream! 

Happy Half Birthday!

Yesterday, St. Patrick’s Day, Victoria turned 6 months old! That morning she was biting down on my finger and I discovered her little lower tooth had finally surfaced! You can just barely see the little guy. This whole teething thing has been a bit rough for Victoria…she had been getting up 5 times a night, which pretty much equals no sleep at all. At six months our little cupcake is sweeter than ever! She’s a pro at eating baby food in her high chair. Some favorites of hers?...sweet potatoes, squash, prunes, blueberry applesauce, and peach cobbler. She’s learning how to drink from a Sippy cup and comes so close to rolling from her back to her tummy! She’ll grab for specific toys, gets SO excited when she spots our kitty, Trixie, and is getting better at sitting up (but not quite there). She loves to play with other babies and always has some sort of expression on her face! She will reach and lean for me, and sometimes I’m the only one she wants (I would say that I secretly love it…but it’s really no secret that I do)!

Because it was St. Patty’s Day I threw in the green flower…which is super big! Victoria wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

California Girls

Between California, catching up with my calling in young women's, house hunting, and taking care of a 5 1/2 month old, husband, and home...there hasn't been much time to blog!

On February 19th Victoria and I kissed Shawn goodbye and flew across the country to Southern California. After a long flight (2 flights actually), being squished next to two large men (yes, I had to nurse Victoria while sitting next to them) who were giving me child rearing advice and telling jokes from comedians I had never heard of, we were finally to the place I call Home. I was surprising my mom for her birthday...she had no idea that Victoria and I were coming. We knocked on my mother's front door, she opened it, stood there staring for a few long seconds and then started crying (of course)! It was a perfect surprise! It had been over a year since the last time I was home visiting, and a year and half since I had seen a couple of my siblings...so the trip was long overdue! It always feels a little awkward and weird when you return home after being gone so long. It's almost like I had never left, that I still was in high school picking up where I had left off, yet everything and everyone had changed...but it was a wonderful visit where Victoria got to meet her uncles and a couple of aunts for the first time...and a new cuz! We didn't really do anything out of the norm, just spent time with the fam, enjoyed the nice weather, and put our feet in the Pacific!

As we were driving to the airport the morning of my flight to L.A, I realized I had left my camera as we were rushing out the door...I was sick about it for the entire trip (and still am)...so I had to borrow my little bro's Nikon...which had been on some sort of different setting when I was using it at the beach, that's why some of the pictures have a blue tint to them. Still love them though!

Victoria and Cousin Harlyn (2months)...whom she loved! (also Jeana and I)

"Babe" Watch

The water was a little cold...as usual

Grandpa and Grandma Waldron

First visit to California 2/2009