San Diego

Mark had been given two tickets to Sea World and I found a groupon for the Safari Park. So over Mothers Day weekend we packed up and headed south to enjoy beaches, sea world, & safaris  in sunny San Diego.

 We had a blast, we flew in Friday after Mark got off work. Emerson hit a new record of staying awake the whole entire flight - he was really good, just everywhere touching everything, talking to the people around us. I do miss him passing out in our arms at take off and sleeping the whole flight though :)

We checked into our hotel and then headed straight to the ocean. It was high tide and there was pretty big waves going and Emerson loved it. He just sat and watched and got super excited when the waves would crash onto the beach.

The next morning we were up bright and early - Thank you Emerson- and headed straight to the safari park. We got there right as it opened which was the best decision because we got a parking spot right in the front and it was not even that busy first thing. We walked around, saw gorillas, lions, meerkats, elephants, and a long list of other animals.

Emerson was soo enthralled with all the animals....

 

 Okay not really and the button on my purse was way more entertaining. But Mark & I enjoyed our "safari"

We did get really close to some giraffes and he did like watching those.

 Baby Rhino - how cute is that.

 By 1 we saw everything we wanted to see - as we were leaving it was getting crazy busy and really hot so we are glad we did the morning. After we stopped and got some delicious mangos and blood oranges from a little stand and then headed over to Oceanside to hit up the pier and "Rubys"

Our little Beach Bum

Well he liked looking at the ocean - but getting in the actual Ocean was not his favorite. We did a little feet water dipping and he was not a fan. So we just held him and walked out a ways and he loved the waves being around him, well until a real big one came and got him and I pretty good. He was not a fan of that - but after a minute I looked at him and he was licking his lips and his face so apparently he liked the salt water. We headed back to our hotel and went swimming at the awesome hotel pool which he liked a lot. The had a little kid pool that was heated, it was like a baby "hot tub", it was really warm and he kicked around and thought that was a blast.

I awoke on Mothers Day bright and early to my two favorite boys in the world. We went to a cute french pastry place for breakfast and had some blood oranges that we had picked up the day before and Emerson was a huge fan - he loved them. Then we headed to Sea world

Checking out the dolphins

Sea World was a much bigger hit - he has been to aquariums a few times and just loves them (um sound like Mark much) He especially loved the Sea Turtles with his dad.

They have a ride that takes you up in a little open air chair lift that you can see the ocean and park

Checking out Shamu

Two theme parks in two days with a baby - it actually wasn't and crazy or hard as antciapted. We had a really good time and we had gone to Sea World last year so we skipped the shows since we had just seen them and that is where most of the crowds are. Plus both the Safari Park and Sea World have awesome private nursing rooms with a rocking chair and changing area. It was super nice.  Naps did not happen at the park, too much cool stuff, but he was still really good.  But he always slept on the way there and once we got him in the car he crashed a good 1.5 hrs. So it all worked out

I had an awesome Mothers Day weekend and am so grateful I got to spend it with Mark and this cute munchkin. They are best and we just had a blast.  And it is so true that after you become a mother you become even more grateful for your own mom - I am so grateful for my beautiful, strong-willed, stunningly smart, passionate, fiercely independent, and hard-working mom that has taught me so much. Your the best mom! There is truly no one else like her.