Scenes from SoCal

Boy, it's amazing how far a little sun goes when you've experienced nothing but rain for two months. Literally. Portland just completed one of the wettest (and coldest!) Februaries and Marches on record. Here's a happy Dash leaving the dampness behind on his first-ever flight (btw, I think he might have been the first baby in the history of babies NOT to cry on a plane -- well, at least on the flight out):

Imagine our disappointment when we landed at a soggy John Wayne Airport. Fortunately, by the time we got down to San Diego the sun was out.

We checked in early at the posh Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad (my favorite kind of hotel: 5 Stars and free) and made a beeline to one of our favorite outdoor lunch spots: The Prado in Balboa Park (see previous post). Why, it was actually TOO sunny. We had to ask our waiter to bring an extra umbrella.

We then headed up to our old stomping (and surfing) grounds in North County. Here, at the beach in Del Mar, is Dash making an uncharacteristically funny face, and Daddy uncharacteristically NOT:

Breakfast at the hotel the next day featured perfect french toast, plus the perfect, extra-wide seat to accommodate a fidgety child while Mommy and Daddy ate:

After Daddy and Dash dropped Mommy off for her first day of meetings, we rented a BOB jogging stroller (like the one we have at home) and explored the hotel grounds. Dash was not a big fan of the many sculptures.

Daddy then took Dash for one of his favorite beach runs -- from Moonlight Beach in Encinitas to Cardiff Beach. This turned out to be one of Dash's least favorite runs. He had a meltdown halfway through, which meant we still had to return two miles. Two miles with a screaming, crying, sobbing baby felt like, oh, probably Moses schlepping through the desert for 40 years. Sorry, no pictures.

That evening, Mommy attended a dinner function at the hotel. Daddy stopped by with Dash so everyone could meet him. Dash was SO happy to make their acquaintances that he threw up all over Daddy. Again, sorry, no pictures available. (Stop gloating, Grandma Laurie.)

After drying off, Daddy took Dash to see a famous San Diego sunset, hoping for the mythical Green Flash. Just as Daddy snapped the following shot, Dash had another meltdown that lasted, ugh, an hour and a half.

The next day featured only one short meltdown (during our run, naturally). Otherwise, Daddy and a sleepy Dash enjoyed Torrey Pines.

Daddy and Dash checked out of the hotel, picked up Mommy, and headed back up to John Wayne Airport. We had some time to kill before our flight, so we took the slow way up the coast in Orange County. Daddy surprised Mommy with a big NY-style black & white cookie along the way, from Milton's in Solana Beach (one of the very few places that make 'em on this coast -- a shame).

Tummies satisfied, it was time to stop in Laguna Beach for one last ray of sun. Ahhhhhhhhh.

All photos ©2011 Garrito