Monterey!

Morgan, Daniel and I just got back from Monterey. Daniel and I rarely take advantage of the fact that we live within a couple of hours from everything from the mountains and snow to beautiful sunny beaches. Our adventure started Friday afternoon with Morgan's first trip to McDonald's where she got to enjoy fries for the first time. I get why it's so easy for parents to take their children to this fine establishment :) because kids will actually eat the food. Too bad it's not more nutritious!


Our good friends, Lee and Fran, joined us for the weekend. We had a great time!

Morgan is a lucky girl because the first hotel she ever stayed in had an ocean front view. Below, Daniel is standing in the doorway of our room. It was great listening to the waves crash as we slept!

This was the view from our room. All we had to do was take a few steps down to the beach.

Over the course of the weekend we ate at some great restaurants. Below Morgan is enjoying Vietnamese.

Saturday, Daniel and I took Morgan to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We were having some camera issues but I captured Morgan's first reaction while looking at fish in a huge tank. She said "wow" a couple times.

That afternoon Morgan got a brief introduction to the beach and she loved it even though she was practically convulsing because she was so cold!

While waiting for dinner, Daniel and Morgan "texted" and "called" each other on the phone to pass the time.

Finally Sunday morning Morgan actually got to play in the sand. She couldn't have loved it more!

We took a quick lunch break before heading back to the beach.

Morgan enjoyed a carrot cake cupcake!

And then it was back to the beach!

There was a little sand throwing and Morgan even dumped a pail of sand down the front of Mommy's sweater. Morgan is always crawling all over me so I didn't notice when she pulled the front of my sweater open and dumped a pail full of sand down it.

I absolutely loved spending 4 whole days with Morgan! I think she liked it too. She just seemed really happy to have her dad and mom around all weekend.

She had some really special daddy time this weekend and seemed to cuddle with Daniel a little more than usual.

First Day of Real Walking!

Around mid February, I took Morgan outside to enjoy some sunshine. For whatever reason, Morgan decided to start actually walking for the first time. She had been taking little steps here and there but never actually covered some ground. Below are some cute pictures of our first real walking experience together.

She would fall occasionally but she'd get right back up to try again.

The big 3-O!

This past weekend I turned 30!

The birthday fun started Friday at work. This is what I saw as I walked into work. My sister had put signs up that read "Good Morning Birthday Girl".

Daniel had our friends, Lee and Fran, make a surprise trip down to Fresno to spend the weekend with us. The weekend was great! Saturday started out with a yummy breakfast made by Fran, who is an amazing cook.

She also made me a beautiful birthday cake from scratch! It was one of the best chocolate cakes I've ever eaten!

Saturday afternoon, the four of us went and saw Avitar in 3-D at an IMAX theater and then we went out for sushi afterwards.

The best part of the evening was when I walked into my house to find a surprise party that Daniel had planned for me. The fact that he thought to throw me a party and went to the trouble of planning it was probably one of the best gifts he's ever given me.

My sister, mom, dad and nephew watched Morgan and set up the party while we went out to the dinner and movie.

=

My sister, mom and I.

Morgan had a cold and didn't last for much of the party.

Thanks again everybody! I'll never forget my 30th!

Tonight I walked by the bathroom and this is what I saw.

Morgan is so good about letting us brush her teeth. I hope that never changes. Not sure why I think this video is cute but I do.

We might as well get a cat.

Where did my baby go?

Doesn't she look big?

Ignore the fact that she has a pacifier. We still give her one when she sleeps and I had just gotten her up and dressed her for daycare.

I didn't realize how big she looked until I viewed these pictures.

My sweet baby is more and more a toddler every day.

Just kicked back, watching some TV

I came home from work Wednesday to find Morgan like this.

We have a couple of Baby Einstein videos that Morgan enjoys watching. She's just like her dad because when Daniel watches movies, he pulls his chair up close to the TV and slouches.