Onward to Paraguay!

We have officially been in Paraguay for 2 months! I obviously failed at my last attempt at writing on a more regular basis, so here we try again (and maybe I’ll one day fill in the information about Kingston, our time in DC, and home leave in CA)! I’ll try to break down our first two months in a handful of posts (but we’ve seen how well that worked in the past, so no promises!).

The trip from LAX to Asuncion spanned 48 hours, including a one-night stopover in Miami and a layover in Sao Paolo, Brazil. We started our journey on April 4th, traveling with 6 checked bags (3 suitcases, 3 duffles), 3 carry-ons, a stroller, and a carseat. There were parts of the trip that were stressful but on the plus side, Olivia did well on the flights, we had free in-flight entertainment from LAX-MIA which was a surprise, and we were seated in the bulkhead/Main Cabin Extra seats from MIA-GRU (the photo below is Olivia in a regular seat from LAX-MIA. Very little leg room, and absolutely zero give once the seat in front was reclined).

We also paid for access to the American Airline lounges, which was great for having a calm environment to be in amidst all the chaos of traveling. They have a kids room which allowed Olivia to talk and wander and play without disturbing all the business travelers. Olivia played with a new friend from the UK who had just gotten done with a Carribean cruise. 

Our layover in Sao Paolo was also relatively painless. We spent that time in the lounge where we were nearly the only people there. Adam and I both got showers in so we didn't feel too grungy for the next half of our trip and Olivia was happy to walk around with zebra and stretch her legs.

We arrived in Asuncion on April 5th, 2016 at around 2pm (Asuncion is currently on East coast time). From my perception, the airport seemed extremely small, even compared to the airport in Kingston. The walk down to the gate and baggage area happened so quickly, I didn't even get a chance to take any photos saying "Bienvenido a Paraguay." Next time we fly in!

We were met at the gate by two staff members from the Embassy who helped expedite us past customs and immigration. It was quite hot during our first couple weeks here and I remember Mabel (one of the Embassy staffers who met us) telling me that it was sweater weather as sweat dripped off my forehead. It has gotten much cooler since then (in the 60s, so winter parka weather!). I’m sure after a very hot summer, I may be saying the same thing, but for now, I’ll enjoy the Paraguayan fall and winter weather!

After we left the airport, it was a half hour drive to our new house!

And Our Next Post Is...

Asunción, Paraguay!

Paraguay is one of the few countries in the world that has a 2-sided flag and the only one that I know of that has a different image on each side. 

Paraguay was #7 on our list, and we were actually quite surprised when we got the news. Adam did not think it was likely we would be placed there because it is a small embassy in the Western Hemisphere, and his CDO had previously encouraged him to look at different bureaus (regions) and larger embassies so that he gets different experiences. As a result, I barely researched Asunción and Port of Spain, the two posts from the list that are in the WHA bureau. To say I know almost nothing about Paraguay is fairly accurate. 

Luckily, we have a year to start researching and preparing for life in Paraguay and for the two of us to really brush up on our Spanish! I am very rusty, but hopefully it'll come back quickly and by the time we leave Paraguay, hopefully our whole family (including Olivia!) will be speaking Spanish well (when I left Ecuador, my Spanish was conversational, but nowhere near the level I would want).

I am very excited about working on my Spanish and I look forward to exploring the area and being in another part of South America. I am a little worried about the mosquitos and I am not looking forward to more humidity (and summer temperatures of up to 109 degrees with humidity? I'd gladly take Ridgecrest summers), however I think this will be a great post for us.

We don't know exactly when we will head to Paraguay, but I am going to guess it will be sometime in early 2016 (February or March, perhaps?). Until then, we better make the most of the beaches, mountains, and seafood in Jamaica! We won't be getting much of that in flat, landlocked Paraguay!

Bid list for our second post!

It is already time for us to think about our next tour! How crazy! Since it will be Adam's second post, it is still "directed," meaning that Adam and his training mates will be assigned from a list of specific posts by their Career Development Officer (CDO). There are a few additional people who have been added onto this process from other training groups, so the list is a little longer than last time.

Last month we received a list of 17 posts (and one more got added last week), so we have been spending time thinking about what would be best for Adam professionally and for us as a family. Today he submitted his preferences, ranking all 18 high, medium, or low.

This time, the things that have been important for us as we explore each post are 1) health issues and access to medical facilities, 2) safety/security, and 3) limited language barriers. Of course, there are a few other things that we would love to have in our next post. These "wish list" items include 1) short commute for Adam because he doesn't tolerate traffic well, 2) sunshine...that's what made Boulder more acceptable to Adam than Ann Arbor!, 3) parks/playgrounds for me to take Olivia to since I'll probably be at home with her still, and 4) cost of living.

We realize that our next post will likely not meet all of our wish list items, so we are prepared to go to any of the places that are in our highs and mediums (we are really, really hoping we don't get placed in any of our "lows" but as they say, we have to have worldwide availability).

I don't know if I can share our full list, but I'll share a few of our choices. We currently have 6 posts ranked high, 6 posts ranked medium, and 6 posts ranked low. Again, it is possible that we can end up in any of the 18 posts. We should find out sometime in the next few weeks where we have been placed!

The posts that made the top three are:

1. Wellington, New Zealand
2. Sofia, Bulgaria
3. Valleta, Malta

And I'll repeat what I said the last time- Ultimately, wherever we end up is where we are supposed to be, so we don't have any set expectations and I think we will be happy and excited for wherever our second post will be (well....I know of at least 2 posts that would not make Adam happy or excited, but I'm really hoping we wouldn't see either of those!).

Dining Out in Kingston

One of my goals in 2015 is to document more about our experiences living in Jamaica since we only have about a year left (hard to believe!). I'll start by sharing about one of my favorite things to do- eat!

We have been fortunate that there are decent restaurants in town for us to go out to. I realize this may not always be the case at future posts in the Foreign Service, so I appreciate that I can find a decent variety (sadly the Korean barbecue restaurant closed last year before we had a chance to try it). In case this blog ever gets visited by prospective visitors to Kingston or FS folks, I've included some details about the restaurants. Most don't have websites, but many have Facebook pages, which helps. I'll try and take more photos the next time I stop over at these places.

JAMAICAN RESTAURANTS

Gloria's
This restaurant is located in Port Royal, not too far from the airport. When we have gone, we have eaten on the second floor. It is outdoor, open seating but they have ceiling fans and a cross breeze (plus nice views). Service is quite slow, but the quantity and quality of the food is pretty good. It isn't cheap, but it isn't unreasonable. Overall, this is a nice place to go if you are wanting Jamaican seafood.

Scotchies
They are well known for their jerk chicken, which they grill over pimento wood and sweetwood, giving it a nice flavor that we can't achieve at home (though Adam is wanting to get a smoker box for our barbecue grill, in which case....maybe!). Scotchies is located behind the Kia car dealership and there is ample parking when you pull in. I have heard many people say that they can never find it because they are trying to get to Scotchies from Halfway Tree. We go from Trafalgar onto Holburn, which seems to be the easiest way. The ambiance is casual with outdoor seating- the outdoor seating adds to the ambiance since they have various shaded sections with a table or two beneath, which gives you some privacy if you dine there. You line up and order at the window (follow signs that say cashier), and then bring your ticket over to the grill area where they will prepare your food and put it on a tray for you to take to your table. When I went with a larger group, we were actually able to order from and pay at our table. I've had their jerk chicken, jerk pork, fried plantains, festival, and rice and peas. These are all served in foil or styrofoam containers. The chicken and pork were quite good (Olivia liked the chicken, the pork would have been too spicy for her).

Parking lot and gate to enter Scotchies

Smokers with pimento wood and meat on them

Pork, plantains, and chicken

Olivia wants some!

Our private shaded table (kept us dry from the rain that day)

Walkway to the cashier

Menu (sorry if it is fuzzy!)- essentially 1/4 chicken is $450 JMD and 1/4 lb of pork is $475 JMD, rice and peas are $170 for small and each festival is $70 JMD

View of another seating area with a few tables

Sweetwood Jerk Joint

This restaurant is located right across the street from Emancipation Park. There is free street parking in front of the restaurant and over by Emancipation Park (if you are worried about secure parking, you can always park over at the Pegasus Hotel or the Liguanea Club and walk over). 1/4 chicken is $400 JMD, rice and peas are $110 JMD, and festival is around $60 JMD each. They also have pork, sausage, lamb, and fish. If you are over at the park and decide you are hungry, this isn't a bad place to grab a bite to eat. I just found out that they are now hosting a Sweetwood Market every Friday and Saturday from 6am-5pm where they are bringing in Coronation Market vendors (the Coronation Market is the downtown Farmer's Market, so a lot of people don't go due to safety reasons). We plan to check it out this weekend. Ambiance is nicer at Scotchies unless you were planning to picnic at the park.

Betty at Emancipation Park with her chicken dinner in foil

Strawberry Hill
We haven't been for their popular Sunday brunch, but we did go up on a Saturday for lunch. The views are lovely and worth the curvy drive. It is recommended that you make a reservation for dining at the restaurant. We showed up at the entrance of Strawberry Hill without a reservation, so we paid an entrance fee that was applied to the bill of our food. Parking is a little tight here (I prefer ample parking and wide spaces and not having to back into a spot!). We ordered the jerk pork and jerk chicken. Service was good and presentation was lovely, but I would call the food just average (and the prices are a bit steep for what you get, but I guess you are paying for the view. A cup of coffee is $6!). This has been the only place so far where I have seen Doctor Bird hummingbirds!

Outdoor seating (sorry, no photos of the food apparently)

Wraparound porch with restaurant seating throughout

Tastee Patties
I have only tried patties from Tastee and from the bakery at Devon House. Again, I don't get out much! The bakery at Devon House has fancier patties (and a bit pricier). There are several Tastee locations in town. Adam prefers the chicken patties (more of a curry flavor) than the beef and they run about $150 JMD each.  When Betty tried them, she thought the beef ones tasted like those frozen pot pies you can get in the grocery store in the US, haha. This is a fast food restaurant, so they have other items (chicken, sandwiches, etc.) and combo meals too.

The salad was homemade- I don't think they sell salad at Tastees.

CHINESE RESTAURANTS

Jade Garden
Jade Garden is a Cantonese style restaurant that serves dim sum on weekend mornings. It is located inside the Sovereign Centre (the local "mall") on the second floor and has nice views of the mountains. The parking is very easy in the large lot. We've also ordered their takeout lunch special during the week. In terms of the dim sum, overall it is quite good and the food is fresh (and no MSG). We don't go very often because it can be pricey (don't compare it to OC or LA dim sum prices). We've had their charsiu bao (steamed for $380 JMD, baked for $530 JMD), har gao (4 pieces for $680 JMD), shiu mai (4 pieces for $680 JMD), sticky rice in lotus leaf (2 pieces for $530 JMD), egg tarts (3 pieces for $530 JMD), pan fried dumplings (3 pieces for $530 JMD), turnip cakes (3 pieces for $560 JMD), sesame balls (3 pieces for $530 JMD), cheong fun (beef, pork, chicken or shrimp are each $680 JMD), chinese broccoli ($750 JMD), and beef hor fun ($750 JMD). All are excellent, but again...a bit pricey if you add up the cost.

For their lunch special, it is offered Monday-Friday from 12-3pm for takeout and cash only. It is $500 JMD for one dish with rice. We've only tried it once and we ordered sweet and sour pork and black bean chicken. The order comes in a takeout container filled to the brim with white rice and a small (but sufficient) amount of the dish. I did not like the sweet and sour pork, but the black bean chicken was good.

Royale Palace
We came here on a recommendation from a friend for their dim sum. This restaurant is located on Old Hope Road, very close to the US Embassy. It is in a yellow building with concrete dragons out front, with decent parking in the back. The staff was very friendly and they have a lot of the typical options for dim sum (similar to Jade Garden), with each dish being about $100 JMD or so less in comparison. The dim sum was a little bit oilier than Jade Garden and if I were to pick between the two, I would go with Jade Garden for the flavor, even though it is more expensive.

China Max
This is located in the Orchid Plaza across the street from the Burger King on Barbican Road, just around the corner from the Sovereign Center (and the same plaza as Tamarind). I don't like this plaza much because parking can be a bit tight and is quite crowded during lunch. We came over lunch and I ordered the mapo tofu. I thought it was ok, but when Adam ate the leftovers, he said it was gross and to never order it again. Haha. It seems quite popular, so perhaps some of the other dishes would be better. My total for an order of mapo tofu and an appetizer of chinese style fried chicken wings was about $20 USD after tax and tip. There are so many Chinese restaurants in Kingston that I am not sure if I will be back to this one.

JAPANESE RESTAURANTS

East Japanese
My favorite of the three Japanese restaurants that I have tried in Kingston, it is located in the Marketplace where there are several other restaurants (including Beirut, Saffron, Usain Bolt's Tracks and Records). From 12-6pm every day (including weekends), they have lunch specials, so we have gone for lunch as well as for early dinner (which works great with Olivia). Their lunch specials are pretty sizeable- I have ordered the sushi lunch special, which is 5 pieces of nigiri (I usually request 3 salmon and 2 tuna and they have obliged) and 8 piece CA roll with miso soup and salad. It used to be $1150 JMD which I felt was decent, but when I went in November, the price had gone up to $1680 JMD. I'm not sure if it is a temporary increase or not. They have sushi, curries, teriyaki, and udon noodles. According to their menu, most of their ingredients are imported from Miami, and they advertise themselves as New York style Japanese. The staff are friendly and it's a nice restaurant (though music is sometimes a little loud).

Majestic
This restaurant is located up Old Stony Hill Road on the left hand side, about 5-10 minutes outside of town. They have billboards all the way up that hill, so just follow the signs. They have a parking lot that is small and needs to be repaved, but we have never had a problem parking there. Adam prefers Majestic over East Japanese (in part because it is a bit easier for us to get to in the evening with less traffic going this direction from our house). They are the sister restaurant to East Japanese, but their menu is slightly different. They also have lunch specials from 12-6pm daily and an extensive menu that includes sushi, rolls, ramen, grilled items, and some fusion options. The last time we went was last week and the lunch special that came with teriyaki chicken and rice, chicken gyoza, shrimp tempura, miso soup, and salad was $1000 JMD. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and the service is always excellent and friendly.

Not a super impressive parking lot, but nice inside

I think this was my first week in Jamaica- Olivia was sleeping in the carseat

Spicy tuna roll (with Olivia waving her spoon in the photo)

A to-go order of salmon philly roll and a spicy tuna roll

Roe
Located in Sovereign North Plaza, it is next door to the Devon House iScream shop. I like this shopping plaza because there always seems to be plenty of parking and the spots aren't too narrow or hard to get into. Roe is quite a small restaurant, and every time I have been, I've been seated in the back. They offer a teriyaki chicken bento box that comes with rice, salad, miso soup, and some fruit for about $980 JMD. I have had their slim rolls (too tiny for me!) as well. Adam ordered their Japanese fried chicken and it was too oily. It's conveniently located near us and easy to get to, which is why I would come here over East Japanese or Majestic.

INDIAN RESTAURANTS

The Indian restaurants in town kind of blend together for me, in part because usually when we get Indian food, we have it delivered to the house and it comes in non-descript containers, so it's all the same to me. The typical items we order are chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, chana masala, samosas, and plain/regular naan.

Tamarind
This is located fairly close to the Embassy in the Orchid Plaza (same as China Max) on the second level. I've only dined in once and the staff was very friendly. The serving size is decent, and in addition to Indian food, they also serve an asian fusion menu (mostly Chinese and Thai), which I have yet to try (but if you are wanting Thai food, I think this might be the only option). Menu with pricing is on their website.

Saffron
Tamarind's sister restaurant, this is located in the Marketplace. I think the ambiance and setting is nicer at Saffron than Tamarind. They offer a similar menu to Tamarind, and again, it's the only place where I have seen Pad Thai and other Thai food offered. Menu with pricing is on their website.

Pushpa
Adam likes Pushpa's for ordering in, I think because they deliver the food with basmati rice without extra charge. I have never dined in, but it is located in the Northside Plaza across the street from the US Embassy. I find their curries are spicier than Tamarind or Saffron. I also like their samosas better. Chana masala is $895 JMD, chicken tikka masala is $1295 JMD, and garlic naan is $225.

Tandoor
This is Pushpa's sister restaurant. We have dined in here- it is a little off the beaten path on a side street. The setting of the restaurant is not as nice as Tamarind or Saffron, so this may not be the place to go if you are looking for a nice dinner out. Chicken tikka masala runs at $1295 JMD, 2 pieces of veggie samosas is $300 JMD, and an order of plain naan is $210 JMD.

MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANTS

Beirut
This Lebanese restaurant is also in the Marketplace. They have both inside and outside seating, and we have done both. The service is excellent and very friendly. The food is freshly made and quite good. We have ordered the shawarma, falafel, hummus, and kabob plates. All have been good. We ordered the garlic potatoes once and they were disappointing (not lick the bowl delicious like the ones at Open Sesame in Long Beach!). Hummus is $750 JMD (a fairly large portion served with pita bread), falafel appetizer is $1200 JMD, and a shawarma beef platter with salad is about $1500 JMD.

Y Not Pita
This is more of a fast food restaurant and is located in the CPJ Market plaza on Lady Musgrave Rd just past TGI Fridays. They have salads, pizzas, and pita sandwiches. I have only been there once and when you order the pita sandwich, it is kind of like Subway style in that you tell them what kinds of toppings you want on it (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickles, cheese, hummus, tzatziki, etc.). I had the "Mexicana" pita, which is seasoned chicken and I added a ton of things to it and it was pretty good. It was about $840 JMD for my sandwich (I purchased drink and chips at the CPJ Market next door since there were more options than soda).

MEXICAN RESTAURANTS

Chilitos
They advertise as Jamexican food and they offer burritos, tacos, flautas, nachos, etc. They are located on Hope Road, between the Bob Marley Museum and the Sovereign Center. They have a small parking lot out front and they have outdoor and indoor seating. I've only eaten Chilitos twice (once during our first week in Jamaica and we ate outside, and the second time a friend picked up a burrito for me). I've only had their Jamaican Jerk Chicken Burrito that costs about $800 JMD. They run specials, and I have heard that burritos are $500 JMD on Fridays and they also have Taco Tuesday specials. I think the reason why we don't eat here much is because Adam is a San Diego burrito kind of guy and this just doesn't do it for him.

CAFES/COFFEESHOPS

Cannonball Cafe
There are several Cannonball Cafes in the area, but I have only been to the ones in the Loshusan Center and Manor Park. The one in Manor Park is a little on the smaller side, so seating is snug. There is also one located in Sovereign North. All 3 are situated in fairly decent sized parking lots, so parking isn't an issue. You order at the counter and typically you pay at the end (but you can also pay upfront) and they bring your drinks/food to you. The prices for coffee and pastries can be a little on the pricier side, but they do run a breakfast special that is very reasonable. It is an egg and bacon "bagel" sandwich with a cup of coffee (not 100% Blue Mountain) or tea at $390 JMD. A french press of Blue Mountain coffee is $390 on it's own.

Cafe Blue

This is located in the Sovereign Center lot. You order and pay at the counter and they will bring your coffee/food to you. There are quite a number of items on the menu, and when I was there, they were very busy with cake orders and people ordering coffee to go. I think the coffee they offer here is much better in taste than at Cannonball and if I went out for coffee more often, I would probably come here. It looks like they also have a frequent buyer card. I can't remember the pricing, but for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and a ridiculous amount of bacon plus a medium coffee was around $900 JMD.

24 Seven Cafe at the Pegasus Hotel
After a morning at Emancipation Park, I headed over to grab a quick bite to eat at the 24 Seven Cafe located in the Pegasus Hotel (just off the lobby). You can park for free in the hotel parking lot, which is nice since it is secure and there are plenty of spots. I have only tried their chicken pesto panini for $875 JMD, but it was decent and freshly made. There is seating and you order at the counter. I have heard that their coffee and pastries are good as well.

OTHER RESTAURANTS/EATERIES

South Avenue Grill
This restaurant is located on South Avenue (hence the name) and there is a small parking lot out front. The seating is all outdoors, so you want to time when you go just right (dusk might not be such a good idea if you don't want to get eaten alive by mosquitos). I've been for lunch, dinner, and we also called in and picked up an order once. This is where Adam and I go if we want a good burger. Sometimes it takes a while for the food to come out. I have heard people rave about their pastas (portion sizes are huge!), but have yet to try them.  I've only had their hamburgers and their filet mignon with mushroom sauce. The filet mignon (thin sliced) with mushroom sauce is $1850 JMD and a barbecue bacon cheeseburger runs $1445 JMD.

Uncorked
Located in the Sovereign North Plaza, this is another gourmet wine and cheese shop that also has a small food menu. I haven't purchased any wine or cheese there, so I am not sure what the pricing is, but I've grabbed a bit to eat there and they are always quite busy. They offer salads, paninis, flatbreads, and appetizers. I have had their honey ham with mustard and brie panini from their lunch menu and it was quite good. The price for a panini is around $750 JMD before tax.

(Uncorked is on the far right, to the left is Roe and the Devon House iScream shop, as well as Dominoes and a Cannonball Cafe. I have yet to try the Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor)

Fromage Gourmet Market
This wine and cheese shop/bistro is located a little ways down Hillcrest off of Hope Rd. and is on the bottom floor of a building that houses a few other restaurants, including Tea Tree Creperie. The parking lot is a bit tight, especially when it is crowded. Their menu includes soups, salads, paninis, flatbreads, pastas, wine and cheeses. I have only been once and had their Black Forest Panini (ham, berry chutney, and brie) for $750 JMD. They have a lot of other appetizing things on their menu, and I wouldn't be opposed to going there again, though I do think that Uncorked (a very similar style wine/cheese/sandwich shop that apparently used to be in this location until it moved to Sovereign North a few years ago) is a bit tastier.

Devon House iScream
There are several places that serve Devon House ice cream around the island. In Kingston, I've had it at Devon House itself, but lately we have been going to the new shop that opened in Sovereign North. The location at Devon House always seems to have a long line and there is usually nowhere to sit on the patio (I've sat on the sidewalk and on the grass before). At the Sovereign North shop, it's never been crowded when we have gone, and you can sit inside in the air conditioning or on a cooler day, they have tables outside. I always get coffee or pecan praline ice cream. Adam has been disappointed by the fruit flavored ones (he feels like they mostly taste like vanilla with a tiny hint of the fruit).

Our first trip when Olivia was about 7 weeks old

Now she's able to help pick out flavors and even taste test a few!

American Fast Food Available in Kingston

KFC
Wendy's
Burger King
Pizza Hut
Dominoes
Tutti Frutti

There's really not much to say about these fast food places. Adam thinks KFC tastes better/fresher here. Wendy's has a shorter menu, but they still have frosties, which I will sometimes get on a hot day. I have only been to the Burger King at the airport, and we have ordered Pizza Hut and Dominoes delivery. The prices are generally a bit higher here than in the US. Sorry, no McDonald's. I put Tutti Frutti on the list as well, since it started in SoCal. Unlike most self-serve froyo places in the US, the employees here have to serve you the sample (I guess so you don't eat a ton of samples and not buy any).

There are tons of other restaurants in town that are very popular that I have yet to go to. Adam and I are creatures of habit, and usually once we have found a few places that we like, we end up rotating through them.

Catching up on the blog- an outrageously long post with too many photos!

I’ve been meaning to post, but something always comes up that interrupts me (ahem, Olivia!). However, we are about to go into the bidding process for Adam’s next assignment and I have been reading blogs from around the world. It’s made me realize that I really need to get on top of sharing how our lives are going, not just about Olivia, but also life in Kingston and the Foreign Service! So this year, 2015, I am going to make an effort to write and post more!

First up is just a recap of personal life since our excursion to Runaway Bay during 4^th of July (whew, has it been that long??).

July 2014- Olivia had her first teeth come in on the bottom and she began army crawling. She sat in her very first shopping cart at the local Asian market. Adam and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. We got our first batch of bananas from our backyard- hundreds of bananas for smoothies, baby food and frozen chocolate bananas! Olivia attended her first RhymeTime and was a bit overwhelmed (it is a once a week baby/toddler singalong meet up).

Olivia in her shopping cart checking out all the Chinese groceries!

A little yoga to get her day going

Tuckered out after an afternoon of swimming

Olivia turned 7 months! Whoa!

Her two little "toofers"!

August 2014- Olivia began crawling and started sitting up in her crib. I called it the game of “whack a mole” because I would put her down and she would sit up again so we started rocking her-uh oh! We celebrated Adam’s birthday early since Adam had to work some weekends/overtime and Olivia and I were off to CA. We went to LA, Orange County and Oceanside visiting the beach, parks (Olivia loved the swing), the Safari Park, Birch Aquarium, and taking lots of walks!

Baby group time!

Adam got a nail in his "tyre" so we went off to get it patched

Her first crawl!!

Throwing a fit after realizing her banana snack was finished

Sitting up in her crib instead of lying down!

Daddy's homemade coconut ice cream cake

Survived several flight delays and made it to LAX into the arms of Uncle Carlos!

Trying out the swing for the first time and loving it!

Taking a visit to see Aminta at Disney Studios in Burbank

Hugs with Auntie Aminta

Happy 8 months!

Olivia's old lady face

Playing around with Gong Gong

Matching outfits!!

Olivia loved walks since we don't get them much in Jamaica, but they also tuckered her out!

Full of joy!

Birch Aquarium (she wore her crab outfit!)

Hugs from her cousin Luc

San Diego Safari Park

September 2014- We enjoyed a few more weeks in CA where Olivia got to see both sets of grandparents and many cousins. Then it was back to Kingston to be reunited with Adam. Olivia started eating chicken, in addition to pureed fruits and veggies. Olivia also began pulling up to a standing position this month and also had lots of playdates!

Riding her car in Ridgecrest

Does Daddy look like Grandpa?

So glad we got to see Amy, Kevin, and the girls

Reunited with daddy!

Silly girl got her arm stuck in her crib- but it's only happened once!

Being a goober!

Lots of pool time

Pulling up to standing position

Playdate with Francis

9 months old!!

Top teeth are coming in!!

Playdate with Lucie Mae

October 2014- We hosted baby group for the 2^nd time, Olivia tried cheese and loved it (unlike daddy), and she started saying what sounded like “mama.” We also took a trip to Frenchman’s Cove and to Negril. I got hit with mastitis for the first time and had to pay a visit to the doctor. Olivia began climbing the stairs and she celebrated her first Halloween as Tinkerbell.

Babies babies everywhere

Olivia's baby group twin

Swim time!

Frenchman's Cove

Frenchman's Cove panoramic

Loving her crib and her new lovie, Zebra (thanks Auntie Susan)

Negril Seven Mile Beach

Bloody Bay in Negril

Yet another nail in the tire led us to another side of the road "tyre" shop

Getting quick at climbing the stairs

Happy 10 months!!

Mastitis- barely able to take care of Olivia

Halloween themed baby group (we weren't able to wrangle all the babies)

Our little Tink!

Trick or treat!

Which piece of candy does she want?

Admiring her Halloween goodies!

November 2014- Olivia had her first set of swim lessons. She got sick for the first time with a 104 fever and a sore throat. I caught the bug shortly after. We took a trip to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale because Adam had training. We had fun taking walks in the stroller. We began sleep training and it took a few days but she started sleeping through the night with no night wakings/feeds and not needing to be rocked as often.  There were a few days where it didn’t work, but not too bad! We hosted Thanksgiving at our house. Olivia also discovered her belly button and it was hilarious!

This was earlier in the day when I first noticed she wasn't acting quite right...temperature just kept creeping up!

Willing to be snuggled with daddy- we were so worried!

Waiting at the doctor's office and holding tight to zebra. A little pain relieving medicine for her sore throat and plenty of hugs got her all better in no time

Cold weather in Ft. Lauderdale! We had to go pick up a jacket for Olivia at Goodwill! Brrr!

Not a fan of Greek yogurt

She loved all the mirrors

Travel is hard on a baby's sleep schedule

Enjoying our daily walk while we can!

  

Since we don't have any decorations for the holidays, I went and picked up some pumpkins and acorn squash, sewed up a table runner, and called it good!

Three little turkeys!

The spread

One of the days when Olivia refused to nap in her crib- ended up napping with mama in the big bed!

What is that??

December 2014- Olivia began stacking rings! We had playdates and baby group, and even attended a baby group at the Belcour property (they are a local company that makes jams, jellies, and honey). Olivia met Santa (and cried). She had her 12 month appointment where she weighed in at 20.3 lbs and 29.9 inches long, with a 45 cm circumference head. We then jetted off to California where we spent a lovely week in Oceanside, a week in Ridgecrest, a few days in Las Vegas, and rang in the New Year in Los Angeles! Olivia had a first birthday party with balloons, cake, a piñata, and Mexican food!

Stack stack stack!

Hanging out with Robert

Napping really well with the help of Zebra and thumbsucking!

Short little hike at Belcour

Olivia is feeling very hot- look at that face, haha.

Meeting Santa at the Embassy Holiday Party- "I'm not so sure about this...."

"Ok daddy, save me now!"

She loves all the mirrors at the yoga studio that Rhymetime is held at

Waking up happy!

Waiting patiently at the doctors

Long flight back to CA but this little girl was a trooper!

Family trip to see Christmas lights and listen to carols at the La Jolla Temple

Walks on the beach and Oceanside Pier

Luc's swim lessons

Building gingerbread houses!

Our little rabbit watching the waves of the Pacific Ocean

"This guy again?! Wahh!"

All bundled up for the street fair

Happy 1st Birthday, Olivia!

Auntie Aminta and Uncle Carlos with Amelie

Cousin time at the playground (Olivia was scared of the swing this time!)

Merry Christmas!

Stealing Luc's Cheerios when she already has her own container

Trona Pinnacles

So many little babies!!

Daddies and their babies

Oh yes she did!

Trying the sodas from around the world...they were bad.

January 2015- We are only halfway through the month but so far Olivia has started walking! We’ve gone swimming at the pool, done a few playdates, took a trip to Hope Garden, but mostly we have been staying at home since I don't have a driver's license (I lost my wallet the night before we flew out of LA- boo! No license, no ID other than passport, lost money, lost credit and debit cards- the WORST!!). This month we also got the list for potential places that we might head to next. The list is 17 cities long and we are currently in the midst of researching all these locations so we can rank them.

Olivia stayed up way past her bedtime on NY Eve, so we weren't able to see the Rose Floats in person the night before, but we did get up for the parade

Betty made post-Christmas cookies with her cookie press

Being silly in her socks

Olivia having her first taste of In N Out. She loved it!

She slept most of the flight- woo hoo!

Welcome back to Kingston! Playdate with Lucie Mae!

Breakfast of toast, eggs, and a fruit smoothie popsicle on the patio

Baby group- being silly with Lucie Mae

I bought a pushcart from a fellow mom in Kingston, and Olivia loved it (she even pushed her friend Ellie in it!)

Her first steps! (she had previously done a one-two stepper, but this is real walking!!)

Ok, so that was the recap of the past several months! I'll be posting more updates...hopefully!