Letter to a Nine-Month-Old on His Birthday, Part Two

Ok, after we got back...We left to Arizona (i'm tired just typing all of this). You took your first long car ride (6 hours) with your Uncle Cole and I. You slept mostly. I think I stressed more than you.

We went to see your Aunt Stacy, Uncle Cleon, Nova, and the Phoenix family. You swam in your Nonni Mary and Grandpa's pool for the first time. Your Nonni bought you this super cool inflatable thingy that you put your legs in and you would just kick and kick and try to play with everybody.

Unfortunately this round, you pretty much wanted to hang out with your cousin Nova and she wasn't too interested in hanging out with you. You'd get all excited when she got near, but she's a pretty busy toddler and couldn't wait around, so you'd always just watch and wait for her to come back.

A couple of my old school friends stopped by too. Of course Beth was there, but you got to meet Brissa too. Brissa is my oldest friend from Phoenix, we met when I was 19--that's 13 years ago! Me & Beth & Brissa used to live together and work together in college. Now we're all growed up! Brissa has a baby now, Marina, who is 14 months old. You were kind of smitten by her.

Dax & Marina

I was so glad we got this photo below. I think we should photoshop Daddy in.

Beth and her husband Nic, Brissa and her husband Al, Brissa's stepdaughter Bella and her daughter Marina, me & Dax

My friend Kasey drove us back to San Diego and stayed with us a few days. She adores you and loves spending time with you. We took you to the beach in Del Mar, which is the closest beach to our house.

To top it off we went to your cousin Jack's birthday party up in San Clemente and then a fourth of July party down on Harbor Island with the Placidos the next day. Jack is a busy toddler too and you also loved him, but he's super busy and can't wait, just like Nova. We squished you two together just to get this one shot.

And then he was gone!

It's ok. You'll catch up buddy. Soon enough you'll be walking and be able to hang with the toddlers :-)!

We love you. Thanks for being such a 'go with the flow' kid. We have a lot of visitors here in San Diego in the summer and the ability to go with the flow is a skill I treasure in you.

Letter to a Nine-Month-Old on His Birthday, Part One

What didn't you do this month kid?!

First off, you're all sorts of global now. You had to get a little baby passport so that we could go on a cruise through the Southern Caribbean with the fams (ps baby passports are hilarious). We've been planning this since even before I had you in my belly, and it was amazing to see it come to fruition. Who went? Grandpa Gary, Nonni Mary, Aunt Age, Uncle Tony, Uncle Cole, your cousin Tatum, and your Daddy and me and you.

This is the whole crew in St. Maarten, a little half-Dutch half-French island in the Caribbean.

You were so amazing on the cruise. You were probably the youngest little dude on the entire ship of over 2,500 passengers, because they don't let anyone under 6 months on the cruise. And not many people are silly enough to take their little mini baby, 8 months old, on a Caribbean cruise, so there you were!  It worked out so well though because all of the workers on the ship just oohed and aahed over you. I think they miss their families because they are working on the ship for so long. Many of the workers knew your name and would visit you at our table.

I think men in other countries connect with babies more than in America because no one was embarrassed to play with you. One night when you didn't make it to dinner because you were napping, two of our waiters came up to us and said, "Where's Dax? I'm so sad he's not here, I was looking forward to it all day!" Another waiter said, "I really miss him, I hope he makes it tomorrow." And they were genuine. Of course, you loved all the attention--you are such a good-natured charmer and you just smile at everyone and try to grab their hands. Strangers are your favorite, so on a ship-full of them, you were in heaven.

Off the ship, you just went with the flow. If you were tired, you napped, where ever you happened to be.

in the car with Nonni

at the beach with Aunt Age

walking with Daddy

Daddy and I were so lucky to have babysitters on hand that we frequently snuck away!

playing Bingo

We were sad when the trip ended, but glad to get home. You were an ok traveler on the way back--from Puerto Rico to Philly you slept, but then we had our worst plane ride (of the dozen or so you've taken since birth) from Philly to San Diego. You were awake and fussy for about five and a half hours. Daddy and I kept trying to entertain you, but you definitely wanted off that plane! You didn't cry or anything, but it was hard to keep you relaxed. But pretty good for a full day of travel! We couldn't ask for a better baby, really.

You had some FIRSTS on the cruise:
1) first taste of bread (you are definitely in touch with your Midwestern roots because you LOVE it)
2) first taste of chicken
3) first dip in the ocean (what kid gets a first dip in Antigua for pete's sake!?)
4) first word is.....mamamamamamaMOMmammaMOMMMM!!

We love you so much! Good job buddy.

Dickenson Bay, Antigua

my Antiguan entourage (i.e. family)

the softest slowest water

my Dad

it's just a dream now

me & my boy

Puerto Rico in June

Dax sleeps when it's humid

Outside our window at Numero Uno Guesthouse, Ocean Park, Puerto Rico

The Boys (husband, son & brother) in the lobby of our fave San Juan hotel