three is no crowd

on her first plane, en route to wyoming (look at that mini-ness!)

evia's first big trip was when she was four months, when we traveled to wyoming for my cousin's wedding. we hadn't taken a real trip since then. a few weekends out of town here and there, but not time spent really just soaking up each other, while doing activities that were all about being in the moment and taking it all in. 

i've been wanting to do a special trip just the *three* of us, before the new baby arrives. and although i had my sights set high on some place amazing like the bahamas or maui, i never got it together. instead evia and i decided to piggy back on one of d's conference trips to san diego. i knew it wouldn't be the family vacation i had hoped for, but when we were all together it would be great and evia and i would have some special boding time while d was working.

we decided to go down one night early, so we could all go to the san diego zoo together. i had been once before and remembered how spectacular some of the exhibits were. it was every bit as amazing as i remember it and so much more so with a 22 month old! we had a magical time and as soon as we left (literally in the parking lot) we talked about the next time we would be back. the whole trip in san diego turned out to be just as wonderful as day one at the zoo. it was truly a precious time together that i will never forget.

here are a few images that chronicle the special time we had as a family of three. two more months and our lives change forever with the addition of another baby girl. we can't wait.

impromptu sleepover with auntie anna and steven - e's still talking about it

valentine's dinner, table for three

playground fun at waterfront

playing on the steps of the convention center, where d was in his conference

evia excitedly greeted her papa each night

our convenient view of the convention center where e could watch papa and 4,999 other attendees enter and exit the building

would love to say our whole car ride looked like this, but the 6 hour return in oc/la traffic made for a not so happy toddler

breakfasts were spent with papa, before he was in session each day

a visit to petco park, where e had been instructed by papa to say "go dodgers"

the highlight of our trip as a family, zooing-it

more playground fun. this is what our days looked like...just mama and e time!

playing at the children's museum, where she made clay sculptures, learned about recycling, made papa a valentine and read stories with mama

 

after getting caught in the rain, a little good ol'fashioned hotel tv watching

birch aquarium

a few minutes before someone went head first off the steps into the pool - luckily instinct kicked in and she held her breath. mama's instinct also kicked in...fully clothed mama got in the water for a "swim" too and quickly picked up my little slippery muffin.

her face of uncertainty, post-"swim"