Easter Vacation

*Warning: This is a long post with LOTS of pictures.  Prepare to skim if easily overwhelmed.*

This year we were itching to get out and about over spring break, so we packed up the kids and headed south to California.  Based on our daytime traveling experience with Levi, we decided to drive all night.  It was kind of tiring, but the kids were awesome!  On the way down Levi woke up 3 times.  Each time he took a bottle, got his diaper changed, and then went right back to sleep.  Needless to say, there was minimal crying and we made it in record time.  :)

An afternoon picnic on Good Friday.

Meeting Papa for the first time.  Smitten-- both of them.

Once we were down there we did some of our favorite things-- hung out with Papa, visited friends and family, played at the park, spent the day at the beach, partied at Chuck E Cheese, and had ice cream at Farrell's-- and also a few new things-- La Brea Tar Pits, shopping in LA, lazy days in San Diego.  It was a great trip.

sandy red vines-- tradition!

A fist (or two) full of sand-- a right of passage.

Classic

Balloon animals at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor.

The kids were thrilled that we happened to be there over Easter.  The night before they got to dye eggs with Papa and his girlfriend Linda.  On Easter morning they had their annual egg hunt and enjoyed their Easter basket goodies before a family breakfast at IHOP.

Our little Easter bunnies

Levi and Uncle Nick-- fast friends.

One day we took the troops to LA.  We thought we'd start at the La Brea Tar Pits, but after our long drive downtown the power was out on that particular city block; so the museum was closed. Instead we strolled around the gardens and settled for checking out the tar pits and and excavation sites.  Then we grabbed a bite to eat at Marie Callendar's and headed over to The Grove.

Ruby had saved up her money so that she could go on a shopping spree at the American Girl Doll store.  She really wanted to get her doll's ears pierced, so we did.  She also picked out a toy dog for her.  While we were walking through the store Brandon looked at me and asked, "This is really a thing?"  hahaha-- yes, it's serious business for all little ladies!

By the time we finished shopping it was rush hour, so we decided to hang out in LA a little longer.  We took the kids to see the new Cinderella movie and had dinner and dessert by the fountains.  Levi was an angel baby the whole time.  He really loves to be out and about and is the only baby we ever even attempted to take to the movie theaters.

We also spent a few days in San Diego.  We stayed at this cute hotel on the beach in Pacific Beach.  It was literally on the beach, so we'd walk out our hotel and play on the beach, then go back and play in the hotel pool (that overlooked the beach), and we even walked across the street to play in Mission Bay.  All of the food was with in walking distance, so we never had to drive anywhere.  It was really the perfect location for our family (minus a few wild young co-eds).

Babyside

Poolside

While we were there we met up with our friends the O'Callaghans (who had moved down there 8 months ago) and one of my oldest girlfriends-- Lura.  It was so fun to catch up with everyone.  I wish we all lived closer.  And on the way back to my dad's house we stopped by another friend's (The Raines) house.  We've known them since college.

These kids are perfect buddies-- each set was born just 6 months apart.

The last day we were in town we spent the afternoon with The Holmes family.  We have been friends since we were in high school and now our kiddos are all good friends.  That night my dad sent us out with a bang-- a night at Chuck E Cheese!  Afterall, it's not a complete Papa experience with out Chuck E Cheese.

Even Levi got in on the Chuck E Cheese action.

It was a wonderful, relaxing way to spend spring break.  We did accidentally forget our Easter baskets, though; so my dad is sure that we should come back next year and pick them up! lol Well, if it is anything like this last Easter vacation it sure would be fun.

One last hug before we hit the road.

How our kids situated themselves while we unloaded the car.

Levi's 6 Mo Update

Levi is now 6 months old.... whaaaaat?  That was the fastest 1/2 year of my life!  Our tiny human is possibly the sweetest baby ever.  He loves to smile and flirt with anyone and everyone.  I can always tell when he's awake in the stroller because everyone around us suddenly lights up.

He's a mover. When you hold him he likes to kick his legs and when you put him on the ground he likes to move.  He scooches on his belly and rolls to get around. Just a few days ago he discovered that he now has the strength to push up onto all fours.  He lurches forward, but then falls flat.  He hasn't quite figured out how to crawl, but he wants to and I suspect that it won't be long before he's successful.  Heaven, help us!

He also has started unassisted sitting.  He's getting more and more steady every day, but we still don't trust him to sit alone, because eventually he nose dives.

He's also a snuggler.  He loves to be held close, rocked, and still prefers to take his afternoon nap in Mom's arms.  I'm not complaining.

Most nights he goes to bed between 7-8 pm and then wakes up at 11 for a quick feeding, but will then sleep until 7 in the morning. Last night he slept from 8-7:30.  It was pretty awesome, but I'm not sure if it was anomaly or the beginning of a new phase.  He has slept through the night a handful of times, so I have a feeling that he's ready for sleep training.  Maybe I'll get around to that soon...

His constant reflux has gotten much better.  So much so, that I stopped putting gas drops in his bottles.  I think his digestive system just needed time to develop and mature.  He tried rice cereal a handful of times over the last month, but didn't really love it.  I gave him green beans for the first time yesterday.  He didn't seem to love that either (but can you really blame the guy?).  Over the next month we'll start to expose him to a slew of pureed vegetables and fruits.  Hopefully, he'll like something.

We sure love our tiny, happy little guy.  He really is the lovey of our house.  I can hardly remember our family with out him.  It makes my heart happy to see how much Ruby and Wyatt adore him.  Just today I overheard Ruby trying to convince her neighborhood friend that Levi is the cutest baby ever.  He would concede that he's cute, but couldn't quite agree that he was the cutest baby ever. lol

6 month stats:
weight-16 lbs 5 oz (25%)
height- 26.9" (70%)
head circumference- 17.7" (75%)