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Week in Review

My three cousins, aunt and uncle from Scotland were all in Durango with us for the past week, so we had a lot of quality family time. In other words, we did a lot of jigsaw puzzles and played ample amounts of Taboo (favorite game ever). I hadn’t seen them since our wedding in 2013, and it was really, really nice to catch up with everyone individually. Oh, and to introduce them to Sonic, of course. We walked two miles to get a diet strawberry limeade one day, then drove-through after ziplining so everyone could try milkshakes, tater tots, teas, etc. It is America’s Drive-In after all! Nothing like some good USA culture.

Other highlights of the week included:

  • Taking Isla on her first bike ride. We bought a Giro baby helmet, but it was a little too bit and kept falling forward and blocking Isla’s vision, so she hated it. We also had the new baby seat (Yepp Maxi Back Seat) installed at the store we bought it, and they put it very, very close to the saddle. It felt a little suffocating, so we moved it back and bought a new helmet (the Bontrager Little Dipper). Ride #2 was so much better – smiles all around! You can see a video of Isla’s first ride here (I almost fell off my bike at the beginning and had to cut that!).
  • Playing in the wading pool almost every single day. My favorite day was when Isla grabbed the hose and kept spraying Belle (our dog), who would bite frantically at the water. Isla was dying laughing – short video here. We spend most of our days outside, running around the garden or going on short hikes.
  • Walking to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and getting fresh juice from Durango Juice Bar. We normally don’t eat out when we’re in Houston, and have been doing take-outs for many of our meals (since there was 10 of us!) – we are in desperate need of a cleanse! We’re doing juices plus no chemical/preservative foods right now. I’m going to share a recipe for my favorite refreshing fruit water this week.
  • Going zip-lining for the second time at Full Blast Adventure Center.  It is so much fun. Last time I went, they allowed us to do backflips off the ledge, but this time, it was banned because apparently that isn’t safe (greatttt, thanks for the warning the first time). I went with my three cousins and my aunt, and we all had a great time.
  • Reading The Little Lady Agency, which I’m loving so far. I’m almost done, and I’ll be sharing my 2015 summer reading list on Wednesday or Thursday. I did two last summer (here and here), and want to hear your suggestions on what to read next!
  • Isla learned that horses say “Neighhhh” this week (a horse and carriage passes our house every evening), and so we’ve obviously prompted her at least 350 times in the last 7 days. Another ‘trick’ she loves to do is put the sole of her foot up against ours (shown below). Every day is such an adventure!

How was your week? What were your highlights?

BBG Jump Rope (1 of 1)-11Isla Strolling Ailee and Isla

Week 6 in Durango

Week six has come and gone, leaving Isla almost 12 weeks old and us with only a few weeks left in Colorado. We had our favorite weekend so far, given that one of my best friends, Kirby, her husband, Brett, and their adorable 7 week old, Lillian, came to visit us. They arrived on Thursday, and we filled the next four days with multiple hikes, raft rides, walks through town, a visit to Durango Mountain Resort, and plenty of laughter and relaxation at the house. After the girls went down, we played games like Taboo (obsessed) and categories (we amazed the boys with our sports knowledge). It is such a blessing to have a best friend with a daughter so close in age to Isla – now we just need them to move to Texas from Oklahoma City!

Below you’ll find some photographs from the past week – lots of Lillian and Isla, including her new sassy shorts from Sugarplum Lane. Only two more weeks left! I cannot believe it.

Reminder: Today is the last day to enter the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier We giveaway. You have until Friday to enter the BabyLit giveaway and until Sunday to use the promo code ‘Isla’ for 40% off all books (this is a great deal!).

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Me and my sleepy head while at Durango Mountain Resort

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Two generations of best friends
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Sneak peak of my floral arrangement for week 2 of Nicole’s Classes

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Isla was cracking me up during the taking of these pictures – that tongue! Similar J. Crew onesie and similar RH Baby & Child Lovey

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The future best friends in their matching Baby Gap rompers

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Our OKC Thunder loving lady and squeaky Sophie

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Kirby and her mini-me, Lillian, in this sweet J. Crew polka dot onesie

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These are my new favorite shorts ever – can I get a pair?

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Isla loves her Sugarplum Lane shorts and Carter’s top

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Serious father-daughter conversations (those are some serious duck lips!)

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Isla is one messy lady, so we’re loving these J. Crew tanks – puke resistant!

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Brett was prepping for the alpine slide race with Sasha | Cutest dads ever | The view of downtown Durango from our morning hikes

 

Week 4 in Durango

We have almost been in Durango for a month, and time is literally flying by, which is giving me anxiety. I am not ready to return to Houston, although I would give anything to hug my friends and family. In the past week, we have seen multiple deer lingering in our yard and our neighbors, taken (almost) daily walks to the local handcrafted ice cream shop – Cream Bean Berry, gone on 2-mi. morning walks with the beautiful crisp air, finished Photo 101, started Floral Arranging 101, and learning so much in Illustrator 101. We also visited Sutcliffe Vineyards, ate at Carver’s Brewery (dying over their veggie burger), and  Sasha’s mom, her friend, my sister, and her boyfriend all visited. It was a busy week, but we enjoyed every second of it. One of my best friends arrives next week with her baby, Lillian, who was born 26 days after Isla. I cannot wait!

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Isla’s Baby Gap romper – love that bow at the waist (similar here)

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Daily walks to the Animas River with the whole family are the highlight of my day

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Jill is already one strike down on the babysitting tally (re: drinking and holding)! // Dinner at Grassburger happens far too often

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This is the face she makes when she is gurgling – totally purses her little lips (more of this outfit here)

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Isla loves to fist pump in her Gap Star Bubble Bodysuit (now on sale!)

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My hair is now in constant pony tails because she loves to grab things – like her dad’s Serbian Orthodox chain necklace
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Pattern play in her Carter’s top, Baby Gap striped pants and Trumpette socks
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Hanging out on one of her Mimi’s colorful quilts

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Belle is in heaven

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Straight CHEESIN’ – in her J. Crew tank in flower patch and Baby Gap shorts

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I couldn’t love her any more

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Going on a walk in my J. Crew tank (I live in these), Nordstrom fedora (similar) and Chloe sunglasses (similar) – Isla’s Baby Gap hat looks like a mushroom here!

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Ready to play fetch

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Practicing standing with her Tata

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One happy little patriotic sailor

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I want this Janie and Jack romper for myself! I love the bow on the back

Life in Durango & Isla’s Two Month Anniversary

Our first week in Durango was very go-go-go. We’ve gotten into more of a routine by the point, which helps this feel more like home. We’ve established local restaurant favorites – Himalayan Kitchen, Grassburger, Durango Coffee Company, and Cream Bean Berry – and had a schedule for exercise, feeding, sleeping, “working,” etc. Isla is growing by the second – I wish we knew her exact weight, because I feel like she’s doubled in size in the last 8 weeks. She celebrated her two month anniversary on Monday, August 4. I cannot believe it. She is super smiley, gurgles all day long, wants to be “standing” all the time, still spits up everywhere after eating (see bottom photo), does not enjoy tummy time except for the first 1-2 minutes, and is very used to having a camera in her face. Isla’s gassiness is much better now that I’ve cut out all dairy (i.e. become a vegan – ohmygosh I miss cheese!). Her (okay, my) favorite books are Snuggle Puppy and Oh Baby, Go Baby. She is finally getting used to taking a bottle, but I am not a huge fan of pumping! Isla went on her first hike and slept through the entire adventure (typical!). She loves, and I mean loves, sleeping in the BabyBjorn carrier. We are doing CIO (ah!) and had her fall asleep without a peep the last two nights (praying it stays that way!). We’re still learning lots and lots every day. We love her to pieces.

I put together two short videos: here and here

Lastly, the Trumpette giveaway winner is Caron B! Congratulations!


Isla Week 2 and 3

Sasha’s special feeding time // Bloomers by Baby Grace // Happy little Isla

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Mesmerized by the sun – I need to get her in some shades quickly

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It’s hard to tell, but that onesie was covered in spit up minutes before these photos were taken

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Finally taking a bottle – this is a huge accomplishment and relief to me after much resistance

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Sleepy girl in my favorite J. Crew onesie // Working on tummy time // Her signature Zoolander look

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Our first baby is loving Colorado (perhaps the most!)

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After every feeding, Sasha tries to teach Isla to stand – he seems to think this is a requirement at 2 months… crazy man

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If Sasha wakes up first, Isla will be wearing her UT onesie

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Sasha’s dad drove from Texas (16 hours) for TWO days!

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Getting ready for a MAM pacifier giveaway (coming soon!)

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I love Baby Gap so much – this dress is one of my favorites

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Two months already? How is this happening?

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This face is a regular

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I couldn’t get enough as you can tell!

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Little Miss-chievous Isla

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Working hard on that tummy time


 

Some iPhone snapshots

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Braving dinners out on the town with this little unpredictable one – Grassburger is our favorite

Isla Week 2 and 3_6Sasha’s hardcore strength training is beginning to work // And that is his repayment // My favorite face in the world

Bucket List: Famous Landmarks

If you’ve been following Snapshots and My Thoughts for any length of time now, you’ll now that I love to travel. I have an extensive list of places I’m dying to go and visit – Sasha tells me that I “need to pump my breaks,” because I’m already planning an international trip for us three in December, and he thinks it’s a bad idea to take a 6 month old out of the country. We’ll see! I am not a list-checker when I travel, but there are some iconic landmarks I’m dying to see – see below. Have you been to any of these? If so, I will be asking for advice on what to do and see. Machu Picchu is probably at the top of that list! I’ve been very fortunate and have ticked-off quite a few of my ‘to-sees’ in the last few years (pictures below). Of all these places, Sydney, Istanbul and Paris were definitely my favorites.

As the adage goes, ‘not all who wander are lost…

 Great Wall of China

Beijing, China

Machu Picchu

Peru

Cristo Redentor

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Giza Pyramid and Great Sphinx

Cairo, Egypt

St. Basil’s Cathedral

Moscow, Russia

Taj Mahal

Agra, India

The Colosseum

Rome, Italy

Stonehenge

Wiltshire, England

Petra

Jordan

Milford Sound

New Zealand

Newgrange

Dublin, Ireland


Some iconic landmarks that I have visited – and would love to see again! These travels have taken place mainly over the past 6 years – I don’t have many older pictures on my computer. I would love to give suggestions on any of these places if you’re traveling there!

Table Mountain

Cape Town, South Africa

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Sydney Opera House

Sydney, Australia

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Eiffel Tower

Paris, France

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Mont St. Michel

France

The Beautiful Mont Saint Michel (1)

Tirta Empul Temple

Bali, Indonesia

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Statue of Liberty

New York, New York

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Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, California

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Grand Canyon

Arizona

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Iguazu Falls

Argentina/Brazil Border

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The Parthenon/Acropolis

Athens, Greece

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The Blue Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey

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Devrent Valley (or Imagination Valley)

Cappadocia, Turkey

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El Obelisco

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Big Ben

London, England

Oh Hey Big Ben

 

Want to track your worldly travels? Try Wolpy – it’s free and I love it!