Puerto Rico

Where to begin-

We had a wonderful little vacation, just the four of us. We flew down South to San Juan early Monday morning and arrived early afternoon. By the time we had our rental car, moved our bags to the condo and settled in, it was getting dark and we were all hungry. Chili's was across the street and we decided to make it James's Birthday Dinner, a day early. We let him eat the chocolate cake and ice cream with his hands:) Naomi was almost beside herself with anticipation of going to the beach (!!!) Having to wait all the way until the next morning just about did her in.

The condo/apartment we rented was good, inexpensive and could use a little work, but did the job just great. The kids were wonderful and adjusted to their new temporary sleeping arrangements better than we did. I missed my many, many pillows.

We spent three straight days playing on the beach, eating sand and salt water, smelling like sunscreen and laughing at the kids.

James loved the beach, the sand and the water. He only tasted the sand a few times, you would think once would be enough. Naomi warmed up to getting in the ocean quickly and was bowled over a few times by the waves. She was a good sport about that and went back for more.

Naps were hit and miss, James actually fell asleep in my arms one afternoon while I was standing out in the water. Naomi took several very late naps that made bed time very late as well.

James would crawl all over the beach, chasing the waves, Naomi, and the beach ball. We gave the kids showers when we got home each night, it's amazing how much sand can stick to a baby!

Naomi was in heaven at the beach. This girl loves it there. I found myself trying to figure out how we could move to live by the ocean. She was that happy:)

On Thursday we drove over to the El Yunque rain forest. It's a national forest in Puerto Rico. The roads there are crazy. Even with our GPS we were lost a few times, they just have an excess of roads and shortage of signs. Once we got there we drove to a few waterfalls and a look out tower. Naomi and Zach hiked up to a waterfall pool that you can swim in. James was asleep in the car at that point. It was so beautiful. It was cloudy and rainy at the end of our trip. I guess that would be why it's called a rain forest. After that we drove up to Luquillo beach, we had been at Isla Verde beach the two days before, where we were staying. It was a little less crowded and it was a very beautiful beach.

I loved the water and sand there, it was absolutly perfect. Really, the water was so nice and the sand was soft and fine.

The second day there, Jame's FIRST birthday, we drove over to Old San Juan for a while. We spent the evening strolling around there. Naomi found a souvineer pet turtle rock that she was in love with, so we got it:) We ate ice cream and let Naomi get a bit soaked in the water fountain. Then we decided to go to Bodies the exhibition . It's been in several cities that we've been in over the past year so we decided it was time to check it out. It was really amazing and gross and cool. These are actual, real human bodies that have been preserved and then displayed to showcase certain things, like blood vessles, the heart, the lungs, nervous system, digestive track, cross sections of the body at various points, people with cancers, atheletes in action. It was crazy. Naomi thought it was mildly interesting and a little bit "icky" I found it facinating and wished we could have spent more time there. There were a few newborn and preterm babies as well as fetuses at various stages. Some had major physical problems, like a full term baby with spina bifida. That room was much more difficult to view. Anyway, that was a really interesting little excursion on our trip. 

Happy Birthday James! James successfully turned one year old and has magically developed a new defiant, fit-throwing attitude to match the age. It was inevitable. He is one cute little baby. We could just eat him up, he's so cuddly and loveable. He's walking more each day and is SO very proud of himslef. He attemped walking on the beach but the slight incline/decline was difficlut to master. Crawling seemed to suit him better on this trip.

After having such a nice time at the beach and the kids being such good sports, it was a reality check to travel home. We missed our 6:10 a.m. flight. That was lame on our part. We rebooked for an 8:50 and connected through Atlanta and got in to BWI late afternoon. After being awake and "traveling" with the kids for 12 straight hours, I was very ready to be done. I just wanted to remember our fun in the ocean instead. I decided that in my perfect life, one day, we will have a non-stop flight to wherever it is we are vacationing and then have a condo/whatever that we own. All outfitted with the stuff we like and use, just ready and waiting for us. That would be ideal.  Someday...

We loved Puerto Rico and very much would like to go back. There is so much more to see and besides that, the weather and ocean were lovely. I'm sure we'll make our way back there soon.

Happy Birthday James!

For ME?

Slippery stuff, that ice cream!

That was good, how about some more?

Dinner at Chili's

Ice Cream in Old San Juan

Naomi and her attraction to water

Posing, so sweet:)

Naomi, Zach and James (Happy Birthday!) in Old San Juan, the cruise ships were fun to see there

Bubble on the balcony

Playing Ms. Pac-man, waiting for our later flight.

Crazy Naomi

Our happy 1 year old! (see those two bottom teeth, finally!)

Hanging on Daddy

Building sand castles

Luquillo Beach lifeguard house, the underneath became our shelter when it started sprinkling later.

SO excited to be here!

1,2,3

Two peas in a pod

Luqillo Beach

Napping on the go, after the rain forest, before the beach

Zach and Naomi at Juan Diego Falls

Cheese! She's getting good at that smile:)

Taking a dip in Jaun Diego Falls

What kind of fruit do you think? Papaya maybe?

The trees were awesome

Once we were at the top of the tower it started raining!

Those mountains are so beautiful

Yokahu Tower

It was a "Castle" to Naomi

La Coca Falls

El Yuque Rain Forest

Exhausted on our bed with all her special things. See the tiny little sand colored turtle?

He fell asleep in my arms in the water. This nap lasted for about 1 1/2 hours!

Naomi was "Kung Foo Fighting..."

Excited for lunch!

Isn't that water gorgeous!

Splash!

One year and one day old.

Naomi, James and their new friend Ashley

I think James is half buried in the sand at this point!

Blowing bubbles on the beach

contemplating the waves