Driftwood memories.

In addition to videos and photo albums (I'm trying to get disciplined and create one through Shutterfly or Pinhole Press for each of our vacations), I'm always searching for a little souvenir from each of our trips.  Sometimes it's challenging to find something that's not a silly tchotchke (I always have to look up the spelling of this word!) and when I spotted these decorated pieces of driftwood on Look Linger Love I decided this is the perfect momento for beach trips.  Last day in Puerto Rico and I'm on the hunt for some driftwood from our beach.  When I start painting, I think I will add 'PR 2012' to one of the pieces I find and then start a collection from future beach trips.  Aren't these colors spectacular?  A winter crafternoon in NYC is in order...would you like to come over and join me?

 

In this image the driftwood is wrapped in colorful wool yarn.

Pax wanted to help by providing quality control for the driftwood hunt...

*spotted via Look Linger Love from Semi Jewels; Pinterest; iheartcrafts

Postcards from PR - {part one}

No shortage of excitement here in Puerto Rico.  A few days ago the sound of a helicopter unreasonably close jolted us out of bed.  We quickly got dressed and looking out over our sundeck saw a Blackhawk helicopter hovering right above our beach.  It was startling because we had no idea what was going on.  We soon learned a boat of illegal immigrants had arrived from the Dominican Republic at 3am.   We had noticed a bonfire on the beach the night before and realized that some locals were providing a signal, along with the guidance of the full moon, for the arriving Dominicans.  Here are some photos of the abandoned yola (fishing boat)...

Along with a cup of amazing local coffee, I make my way to our deck to soak in this view every morning...

Evening photo shoot...

Villa Cafresi, a cute beachside hotel in Rincon still completely decorated for Christmas...which always looks a little kitschy when you're in the tropics.  I should have taken photos of the decorations.  Here we shared a cocktail in a coconut and then jumped in the ocean to float on gentle turquiose waves.  

Cabo Rojo, in the Southwest.  We arrived late in the afternoon to catch the island's most spectacular sunsets...

Sara, Trey, Pax and I took a sunset swim in Bahia Salinas...

I love the way this photo turned out and I think I might have to blow it up and frame it.

Look at those thighs!!  He had already taken a dip in his swim trunks earlier, so we decided a diaper dip would do...

Bonfire on our beach with some locals and tourists...

Makeshift baby bath!!

Puerto Rico.

Just arrived to Puerto Rico in the remote town of Isabella where we've rented an apartment on Shacks Beach, one of the many notable surf breaks in the NW. For our first time traveling with baby, the requirements were: flight under 3 hours (it was 3.15), lodging close to airport (10 mins), close to beach (right on it) affordable (SO much cheaper than staying in a hotel) and no passport required for Pax's first vacation.  Oh, and must be close to a kiteboarding spot for TG!  We arrived to heat and humidity and having escaped the cold snap of the Northeast, I'm in heaven.  Now I'm waiting for our good friend Sara to arrive in the morning so we can have some girly fun!  Roadtrips around Puerto Rico start tomorrow and I'm excited about what we'll discover...

For an interesting Puerto Rico road trip itinerary, check Budget Travel's recent article.

the sunset from our deck this evening...

He's 95th percentile in weight!!!  He will not like his parents later for posting these man-boobs (or baby boobs?) all over the internet...

image source: my favorite new blog,  theyallhateus

A Woman Who Rocks the Cradle Rocks the World.

My sister-in-law's Mother wrote this quote in a 'notes to the new Mom' book that my Mom asked guests to sign at my baby shower a few months ago.   How very true!!  

Now, if only I could rock this dress for New Year's Eve...

These Stella and Dot earring are pretty gorgeous too...

Best Wishes for a Fabulous 2012!!!!

Gold Dress; Earrings

A Mother's Intuition and Pax on Earth.

I just came across this photo of the 'baby pool' at my NYC baby shower.  Call it a Mother's intuition because I won the kitty!  The sex wasn't accurate, but truthfully, I actually thought I was having a boy.  Just for fun, I wrote 'girl'.  

I'm not sure what you were wishing for Pax, but you have certainly made all my Christmas wishes come true.  We still have a lot to learn about you, but so far I've noticed you are sweet, happy, friendly, brave, independent, wise and judging by your 95th percentile in weight...an over-achiever!  ;-)  Merry First Christmas to my sweet baby boy.  As our friend Laura has said, truly Pax on Earth.