The Salty Boob: Riley's first trip to Santa Cruz

Since I spent the summer el prego with Riley and spent a whole work week in labor with him we decided that, if I was cleared by my midwife, that I deserved a surf trip. I figured since I had a C-section I was most likely free of getting a seal caught...well, nevermind. Read the pregnancy blog and you will get what I am talking about :)

Anyway...although I am totally out of shape and couldnt even fit in my old wetsuit, I figured I better try to get back on the saddle and try to catch some waves before winter sets in and its too damn cold to surf.

So Nick and I packed up little Riley and headed to Santa Cruz with my long time friend Jenny (Auntie J bug) and her dog Snowy. Unfortunately we had to drop Snowy off at his Uncle's house, but he rode some of the way with us.

It took my about 3 days to think about and pack exactly what I thought Riley would need for the beach. And it took about 5 seconds for me to kick sand in his face once we got there. Poor little buddy. It had been so long since I had been to a beach that I forgot about how windy it can get and forgot that sand pretty much gets EVERYWHERE no matter how careful you are.

We even bought Riley a tent to protect him from the elements, but that got sand in it pretty much immediately. But once we covered the stupidly place tent windows Riley was a happy little bundle and I was ready to get in the water...

Now as for surfing...I was exhausted before even getting in the water. Those stairs at Manresa kicked my butt and so did walking in the sand AND putting on the wetsuit. Once I got in the water, reality hit and I couldnt even get past the break cause the waves were coming in so fast.

So...I did the next best thing and tried to ride the white water. MAN, I AM OUT OF SHAPE!!! I lasted about 30 minutes after getting my ass kicked by a few waves and could barely push myself up on the board. Actually, I couldnt push myself all the way up, so I never got up, but being back in the water was awesome!

Tag. Once I got out of the water, it was Nick's turn to try and surf. So being the dutiful mom that I am I thought I better feed Riley before he gets too hungry. Nick had told me he took 2 oz's of his bottle, but he was still acting hungry. So after taking off the upper half of my wetsuit and positioning myself half in and half out of Riley's tent and putting on the Hooter Hider so no one would see my boobs...I look down just as Riley is about to latch on and there is sand EVERYWHERE! I immediately pull him away from the boob and since he has no idea why, he lets out a huge scream. And as I am trying to simultaneously console him and wipe sand off my boob, the next thing I know, a gust of wind blows the Hooter Hider to the side and my salty, sandy boobs are out for everyone to see. Good thing there werent too many people near us!

Jenny and Nick decided that 'The Salty Boob' would be a good name for a bar...

So, anyway, since we had so much fun, we are thinking of trying to go again. I do have to say though, it was a little stressful going with a 2 month old, but I am proud of Nick and I for even trying! It was well worth the soreness I am still feeling :) And awesome to be there with Nick, Riley and one of my oldest friends, Jenny.

See below for some pictures of the trip...
And we're off...

My first time meeting Snowy, Auntie J bug's dog. "Hello little puppy..."

Playing with dad in the hotel room before my first trip to the beach

Here's mom ready to go out...

Manresa State Beach

Here's Auntie J bug waxing up her board

This is me in my tent...see if you can spot me :)

All packed up and ready to head back to the hotel And I am out...what a long day at the beach!!! I am POOPED!

Day 2 at the beach...this time I am in my carseat in the tent. It worked MUCH better!

Here's our friend Matt. He came to meet me and to surf with mom and dad...

Dad's trying to figure out if its worth paddling out since there were no waves at Cowell's :(

The ride home...dreaming of the beach and waves :)

Riley and his increasing lbs.

So Riley has more than doubled his birth weight. Most of the books I have read say that babies usually dont do this until they are 6 months old. He is 7 WEEKS old.

Last week he weighed in at 12.5 lbs and last night he weighed 15 lbs. He is one chunky monkey. But cute nontheless. Perhaps I should think about Jenny Craig since it is my milk that is chunking him up!?!

Or perhaps a baby treadmill!?!

Anyway...here are some more pictures from our lovely trip to Land Park. I used a REAL camera with REAL film. Not that our digital camera is bad, but there is nothing like a film shot...

Enjoy...
Ps. if you click on the picture it will increase in size. I just learned that today...

CAT pony express...

I cant believe how much Riley has been slacking on his blog. Jeeeez.

Awesome, just as I am about to add some charm to HIS blog, he wakes up. Thats been happening a lot lately. Well, here are some pictures at least...

Riley wanted me to tell you that we will be back later, sk8ters...
1st trip to Land Park

Watching the fights at the Friends house with the Lups :)

These are going to be my friends when I get a little older and can play with them :)

CAT PONY!!!

Dad got his purple belt!

6 weeks old

Does this mirror make me look fat?

The travels of a tiny bug

Saturday started like any other day. Sleep, eat, change and eat again. Then my parents stuck me in that contraption again, the one that goes in their backseat, and we were off....

Even though they think I cant see very far, when I am in that contraption I still try to look around, but they block my view with that shade thing cause it gets kinda bright in my eyes. Oh well, time to snooze I guess.

So, after a nice long nap, all of a sudden I am moving. I think I am being carried around, but I wouldnt know because I CANT SEE with that damn shade in my way!

Hmmm. I know, I shouldnt swear cause I am only 5 1/2 weeks old, but everyone else around me does. They think I dont hear them, but I do. Especially my mom. She is the worst at swearing.

So I think I am being carried around and I feel lost. Things feel different and sound different. There is a chirping noise and the air is different. It is dry and my nose feels funny. Just like last time when we went to Reno. But things smells better here and the air feels good on my skin. It is warm, but not like at home. That place is HOT.

When my parents finally move the shade, I am blinded at first, but see these HUGE green things in front of me. Man, what are those things? Are they going to attack me? Are they going to bite me? I then hear my mom's voice and I know I am safe. Dad is there too. He sounds in a hurry. He said something about a "fantasy football draft." Hmmm, I wonder what that is?

After seeing some new things and seeing some familiar faces in a cabin...about 30 minutes later after a quick snack at mom's diner and a diaper change, I am put back in that contraption again and am whisked away. But this time I dont hear dad or see him. He must be tending to that "fantasy" thing he was talking about. What a nerd. Hahahah.

I hear mom talking on the phone. "Yiiippppeeee" she says. Then says something like "auntie J bug." I wonder who that is. Man, I am exhausted all of a sudden...I better go to...zZzzZZZz

Now I am awake. There is this strange lady staring at me. She smells like caramel popcorn. Hmmm. Too bad I dont have teeth.

Speaking of, I am hungry again...where are mom's boobs?

The rest of the visit is kinda a blurr since I slept a lot. I know that we were near the water at one point and that the caramel popcorn lady is Auntie Jbug and her and my mom ate lots of melon, m&m's and other kinds of candy. I remember hearing them laugh a lot. I also remember a lizard and hearing the Sound of Music. I also remember bouncing on a ball and watching my mom and J bug eat, again, at a nice outdoor restaurant. Man, they eat a lot. I guess I do too. I remember liking Auntie J bug. She talked a lot about snowboarding. I'm not sure what that is, but I cant wait to try it out.

So that was my first trip to Tahoe. It was kinda like my first trip to Reno. Getting to know new faces and seeing some faces I have met before. Looking at new colors, shapes and patterns. Hearing things I havent heard before. Trying to take everything in and stay cool and calm so my parents dont have to deal with my fussiness :)