9 Months Old!

Riley just hit the 9 month marker!  Its insane how fast time is passing.  She is loves exploring and trying to walk now.  She has found the stairs and loves to climb up them (supervised the whole time, of course).  She had her 9 month check up and she is still in the 99th percentile.  She weighs 24.5lbs and it 29.5 inches in height!  Seriously...she's a sturdy girl.

My birthday was this past Saturday so the fam headed to Dana Point (about an hour north of us) to a great resort called Laguna Cliffs and it was so beautiful and relaxing. The place had a great bar where we got to watch the awesome NFL playoff games and see the sunset all at the same time.  Can't beat that! 

A treetini...my efforts to save a tree in the rainforest.  Anything to help!

On Sunday we went to this awesome breakfast spot in San Juan Capistrano called Ramos House.  It was incredible. The best bloody mary's ever!  If you are ever in close (by 50 miles) you should come here.  It's insanely good.

Bloody Mary with a Crab Claw

Crab Hash

That's the latest with the Emery's in SoCal.  Now, come visit!

Holidays with the Emery's!

Christmas is so much fun with a baby!  Riley probably won't remember this one but we sure will.  We were lucky to have my parents come out for the holidays and they got to see Riley open...or attempt to..open presents as well as her latest milestones!  She is crawling like a champ and can even stand up by pulling up on a table.  Plus we are holding her while she walks.  She likes to walk on her tippy toes still so I am thinking walking will not be coming really soon.  San Diego was so beautiful for the holidays.  It was sunny most every day and got up to the mid 70's as well.  We did have some marine layer come in that didn't burn off right away but, hey, I'm not complaining one bit!  Today is was 80 and sunny!  I don't miss the cold weather one bit!  Anyone need some winter jackets??  We were also lucky to have Kenny come out to visit us for a few days.  Our first non-relative visitor and I think we may have converted "Bagel" to the laid back Cali lifestyle.  So here's a few pics and vids of our holidays and such.  Enjoy!

Most "real" looking Santa ever.

She loves her rocker 'Raffe.

Christmas Eve before church

 

We also went to the San Diego Zoo for the first time and it was so awesome!  We have an annual pass and I think we will get our moneys worth for sure!  The animals are so close to you its incredible.  

Riley checking out the Polar Bear

Zebras!

Llama Llama!

We also went to the rec center right up the street from our house where Riley loves playing on the play ground.

We love it here but we miss our friends back in DC and especially around the holidays.  New Years for us was pretty low key.  We stayed downtown in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego for the night and had a great time.  We went to a speakeasy called Prohibition and had a wonderful dinner at Osetra.  We didn't take many pictures but here is one, rather blurry one. :) 

Happy New Year y'all!