The Mimic

One day, a few weeks ago, Layla and I were at the grocery store. Upon entering, I wiped down the cart seat and handle with a wipe (so nicely provided by the store) before I put her in. I didn't think much about this normal every day action. Later that day Layla was in the Living Room playing. She took a Kleenex from the coffee table and wiped down the handle of her push cart before she started pushing it around. I got a huge kick out of this! I knew that mimicking our actions was to be expected, but it still struck me as hilarious.

This week, up at the lake, Grandma was walking along the row of Arbor Vitae and patting them. She was doing this to see if there were flies in the bushes. Layla toddled right across the lawn and started patting the trees as well!

At Allie's on Saturday, she was trying to dig in my purse. Generally, I discourage this because she likes to take everything out of my wallet. So I zipped it up (yes this still keeps her out - for the time being) and patted it saying, "this is Mommy's" and walked away. She stopped, patted the bag and then followed me.

Fortunately, this fast learning and mimicking has led to a quick response to our attempt to teach her some sign language. She can say: more, eat, milk, all done (sometimes) which are coming in very handy. I think we will continue to expand on that. She seems to understand an incredible amount and follows simple instructions like "go and find your shoes"!

Third First Birthday

We had loads of fun and packed in Allie's house. It was hot that day and our plans to hang outside were somewhat foiled. We had a wonderful time seeing friends and family. It was general chaos with lots of kids running around! By all accounts a good time.

Lots of cousins and friends were there to celebrate with Layla.

Cousins!

Layla's cake, to match her favorite puppy, Scout.

She's thinking about grabbing a cupcake and making a run for it.

San Diego

Sometime last spring Jason and were talking about summer plans and when we would be heading up to Minnesota for a vacation. He suggested that perhaps we could leave Layla with my parents for couple of days and take a mini-vacation just for ourselves. What a splendid idea, I thought and wondered where we might go. Some charming B&B on a lake, maybe? Then Jason suggested a place a little further away, a place with a beach on the ocean: San Diego. Fabulous!

We had never been to San Diego and had been talking about going for a while. The day following Layla's third First Birthday party, we packed up and headed for the airport. Grandpa and Grandma were pretty excited about the babysitting and we were pretty excited about a vacation alone.

Monday: We arrived in sunny San Diego around noon, picked up our red convertible (why not?) and headed to Old Town, the historic town center. We had an "authentic" Mexican lunch, complete with margarita (me) and cerveza (Jason). Old Town is what you might expect: a collection of historic buildings, or recreated ones. It was pleasant and interesting, including learning the history of Wells Fargo, and many stores with silver jewelry and dried peppers.

If we were going to buy anything it would have been hand-painted tile.

We headed to our hotel, Hilton San Diego Spa and Resort, which was located in the Mission Bay area right on the beach.. We enjoyed several nice walks along that beach throughout the week - one of the main reasons we wanted to stay on the beach instead of in town.

Sunset Cliffs Beach

For dinner we headed to the Gaslamp Quarter and ate at a restaurant called Searsucker. It was fabulous and probably our favorite meal of the trip; we shared appetizers "shoo shoo shishito" (a sauteed mini pepper) and "pretzel bites" (gourmet pig in a blanket). Hazelnut gelato at Cremerie Chocolat and a tour around this trendy shopping/dining/bar scene.

Tuesday: Sea World!! We had an amazing time at Sea World. We got to feed and pet a dolphin, pet some rays and held a starfish, saw the otter show and the Shamu show "Believe" and generally acted like kids. It is a wonderful family place and they do an amazing job of talking about conservation throughout the park. The Shamu show was really fantastic and I even cried.

Following our visit we spent the afternoon exploring San Diego. We followed the scenic route through Point Loma, Shelter Island, Harbor Island and on south to the Rosecrans military base and out to Cabrillo National Monument which overlooks San Diego and from where you can see all the way to Tijuana. At the peak is the Point Loma Lighthouse which was built in 1854 to guide mariners into the harbor. We drove along the beautiful beaches and saw 41's new ship (which is enormous, in case you've not seen an air-craft carrier!), and drove to Coronado over a huge bridge over the bay. The last bridge I went over like that was in Charleston and this on is much longer and higher and more terrifying. Jason thought it was awesome!

George's Boat

We had a late lunch and a local beer on the deck at the Hotel Del Coronado, a very famous image you may recognize. It was built in 1888 and is a National Historic Landmark. Since we were in Coronado we strolled the beach and around town and took in some local architecture before heading back over the bridge.

Hotel del Coronado

Coronado Brewing - Yum!

Our next stop was Little Italy for a stroll and glass of wine at Red Velvet for happy hour. This is a hip new wine bar where descriptions of the wines included "wet concrete" and "petrol". Yes, we did have to talk with the sommelier about those ones! The food looked amazing and very "Top Chef" like, but we decided to move on. Dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter again, at a place called the "Strip Club" which was not actually that kind of place, but a steak joint.

Wednesday started out with a trip to the world famous San Diego Zoo. It really is quite spectacular as far as zoos go, and we really like zoos. It is set up as a walk through the natural habitat with board walks and bridges throughout. We got very lucky at the Tiger exhibit when the Tiger came down and walked right in front of the glass. Enrichment time with the Elephants was a highlight and included a mani/pedi and feeding time. We also enjoyed the pandas and koalas. Such amazing animals that we haven't seen before.





Another day of scenic driving, this time north up the coast. Isn't this what Cali is all about? Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and on up to La Jolla where we stopped for lunch at the Bull and Bear. We didn't go to the La Jolla coves ourselves but we did sit and watch the kayaks lined up to go in. And witnessed the swimmers and snorkelers splashing at the beach and getting awfully close to some sea lions.

View from our table at lunch

Our next stop up the coast was the Salk Institute. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine and founded the institute to nurture the science of biology. It is home to more than 850 researchers, doctoral candidates, and a fistful Pulitzer Prize winners. www.salk.edu The campus itself was designed in the 1960s by Louis Kahn and is studied in architecture schools across the world. We didn't schedule a tour, but did get an impromptu one by the roaming security guard!

Central Corridor of the Salk Institute Campus. The channel is purportedly directly aligned with the summer solstice. That would definitely be something to see. The ocean is beyond, naturally, but the sky and ocean were the same color that day.

View back towards central plaza.

On to Torrey Pines golf course, mostly to visit the lodge, which was built in the craftsman style and is similar to the Gamble house built by Greene and Greene in Pasadena. We got to see the Gamble house a few years ago and it was spectacular. The lodge was very nicely designed as well. Torrey Pines golf course is breathtaking on the bluffs above the ocean and is one of a few public courses of PGA calibur (or so I am told). The torrey pine, I am sure you would like to know, is a native and endangered species that grows only in this specific area and on an island off the coast of Santa Barbara.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines
On to the Torrey Pines State Reserve, climbing our sweet convertible up, up, up, the cliffs and then down, down, down again for the beach. This one was our favorite of the trip! Dinner at George's on the Cove was a must. as we were told by several. So we went and it was marvelous, sitting out on the rooftop terrace enjoying the cool summer night.
The top of the bluff at Torrey Pines State Reserve.
There are miles and miles of hiking trails.

Torrey Pines State Reserve Beach

Thursday, our last day was sad. We didn't want to leave already. We packed up, checked out and headed to Balboa Park. Balboa Park is a 1200 acre park called by our guide book the "cultural heart" of San Diego. It is home to many museums and other cultural attractions. It was a very enjoyable couple of hours before heading off the airport and back to Minnesota.
Botanical Building at Balboa Park
Whew! If you read that whole thing you really are a trooper!