This is gonna be a LONG one...

Before we had Kai, we found some really inexpensive tickets to Washington D.C. from Salt Lake City, and we decided to take our chances that our 6 week old would LOVE traveling (like his Mom and Dad), so we bought the tickets. Darin and I had both been to D.C. when we were younger, but thought it would be fun to take the little guy. We also love road trips, so we scheduled 12 days of vacation and decided to drive up the coast stopping in all of our favorite East Coast cities along the way. We took a Red Eye to D.C. (which was booked in our naive PRE-baby days...thinking our son may be sleeping through the night at 6 weeks), he did a great job! He didn't cry one time the whole flight...we were so proud. The first night we visited the Lincoln Memorial, and I had never seen it at night, so we really enjoyed being there around midnight when no one else was there . It was so beautiful!

We had a great time at the capital, having a baby sure helps get you all sorts of great perks...while we were in the capital, we asked one of the security guys if we could visit the senate chambers, he told us "no, and that we should have asked our state senators for tickets before we came". As he finished his sentence he looked out of the corners of both of his eyes to see if anyone was watching him and he slipped us two tickets to visit the chambers. We saw a few senators and really enjoyed spending time "people-watching".

We spent a day or so wandering around in the Smithsonians, and other museums...but I have to say, that by far my very favorite visit was to the Seewell-Benson House (which is the original headquarters of the National Women's Party, where the second generation women's suffragist movement work took place resulting in the passing of the 19th amendment). If you haven't seen Iron Jawed Angels...it's a must see!

Of course we had to stop by the White House...Darin and I were really active in the 2008 campaign season and were excited to stop by the president's home...unfortunately he wasn't expecting us, so he forgot to pencil us into his schedule...maybe next time!

After leaving D.C. we headed to Philadelphia (not my favorite city), Darin had never been there and wanted to check it out. We stayed in a great hotel and enjoyed checking out Independence Hall. Here's a shot of us in front of the Liberty Bell.

Our next stop was so much fun...mostly because it included my cute nephew Beckett (and his cute mom...my sister Anne). Anne and her family recently moved to Newtown Connecticut (about 40 miles away from Manhattan), so stayed with them for a couple of days. The first night we were there Anne babysat Kai so we could go see CHICAGO on Broadway. I had fed Kai some formula earlier in the day so that I could pump my milk for him to eat while we were gone. About two hours before we were supposed to leave Kai started making a lot of noise immediately followed by intense throwing up...now, for those of you that have never seen a brand new infant throw up while laying on their back...it is quite scary (maybe a little scarier if you are the mom and you've never seen your own child throw up 4 ounces of formula). It looked like he was a tiny little fountain and all the white formula came spraying back down on him and covered his little face and body entirely in regurgitated formula. I immediately looked at Darin and asked if we should call 911. My sister (a much wiser Mom experienced in the art of baby throw up), assured me that it was normal and that he would be ok. He looked like he was feeling better so we decided to go to the show, but I sure did leave his insurance card and medical information. I also called my sister every chance I could before, during and after the show. He was alive and well when we returned...THANKS AUNT ANNE!

The next day we all went to NY city for some sight seeing, pizza eating, shopping and people watching. Kai loved giving Aunt Anne kisses in the middle of Times Square.

Beckett sure is a cutie and he and Kai are now great friends!!!

On to BOSTON!!! Of all the cities I have ever been in...Boston is my all time favorite! The city is beautiful, the food is amazing and their is so much to see and learn about. I LOVE IT!!! The first evening we got there we spent several hours in the Boston Common walking around and watching all the people. Kai loved sitting on the bench with his Daddy checking everything out.

Last spring when we visited Boston, we stumbled across the WORLD'S GREATEST SANDWICH in a cute little Deli right off the common and public garden (Lamperts Deli). If you ever visit this charming place, you will have to order a #1 Massachusettes Ave. (turkey, stuffing, cranberry, mayo on a delicious deli roll). It will change your life...I PROMISE!

We also spent a few hours walking around the Public Garden's looking at all of the beautiful flowers and admiring the Swan boats.

The last couple days of our trip were RAINY...but it didn't get us down. We spent one day in Harvard Square and then walked around Harvard Law School. We even had lunch in the Harvard Law School cafeteria...there was a Brie spread and tons of other "elegant" cafeteria food (yes, there is such a thing). I couldn't believe it...those people even EAT smarter. :)

We flew back to D.C. and then back to Salt Lake. Once again, no crying from the little guy on either flights, so we felt pretty lucky. It was a great trip. We loved showing Kai some of our favorite places, and enjoyed the leisurely pace. I started back to work a few days later, so it was really nice to have the time as a family.