I Run Like A Girl

Joe and I are back from our 4-day trip to sunny San Diego. I had a work conference out there, and Joe joined me as it was nice to have some help with traveling during my third trimester. This was the last time we’re traveling before the baby! The conference was 3 days, and we stayed one extra day to do some exploring.

The trip also happened to fall on my birthday. To be honest, my birthday wasn’t on my mind this year as I’ve been so busy with work and our life projects. It wasn’t until we got to San Diego that Joe told me he had a full day planned for my birthday. He planned such an amazing day and made me feel so special and loved. ❤

We stayed at the hotel where my conference took place in downtown San Diego. Downtown reminded me so much of San Francisco with the same street names and layout. The area we stayed at was definitely a touristy area – kind of like Fisherman’s Wharf in SF. I didn’t mind staying there as it was so convenient for work and a nice contrast to the more local experience we had during our first visit to San Diego a few years ago.

For our one day free together, we started off the morning with coffee and bagels from Spill the Beans. I tried a few coffee shops that week, and this was my favorite. Our hotel was right along the Marina, and I enjoyed the sunrise by the water.

After breakfast, we took a long walk along the water. We passed by several art installations and the Midway battleship. As much as I love a good waterfront walk, this part of the city wasn’t my favorite – I guess the touristy area never is. 😛 Nevertheless, we enjoyed seeing the sights in this part of the city.

After our walk, we rested at the hotel for a bit. My third-trimester energy has been pretty good so far – besides being limited in some functional movements, I’m still mobile and enjoy walking.

After some downtime, we headed out for a coastal hike. When Joe asked me what was the #1 thing I wanted to do in San Diego, I said a hike. Joe nailed it and found a beautiful hike at Sunset Cliffs. For those who have read my blog, you’ll know that hiking is one of our favorite activities. When we lived in California, we hiked almost every weekend! It was a nostalgic activity that reminded me of the reasons I loved living here.

We roamed around the neighborhood outside Sunset Cliffs afterwards. I loved the local, beachtown vibe – it was very Southern California. 🙂 We found a hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot for lunch. It was SO good. I missed California’s Mexican food.

After a full morning, I was exhausted, and we spent the afternoon chilling at the hotel. The exhaustion of the jetlag and the busy work week also hit me, and I took the best nap ever.

For dinner, Joe surprised me with a reservation at a Korean-fusion spot. I felt so sepcial that he planned this for me. The food was absolutely amazing. He also told the staff it was my birthday, and they added some special touches like a hand-written card, a complimentary dessert, and a Polaroid photo. It was the perfect birthday celebration – I honestly wanted nothing more than to spend it with my husband. ❤

We decided to walk back to digest the food. It was golden hour, and it felt like the whole city was out enjoying the Friday evening. What an amazing, memorable birthday.

I’m back home now feeling so grateful but exhausted. I’m actually excited to stay put for my last 2 months of pregnancy. All the travel this year (for work and personal) has been pretty tiring, especially going back to California a few times (coast-to-coast travel is harder than international travel, in my opinion!). I’m excited to have a reason to stay put for a few months, do some final baby prep, and enjoy fall in North Carolina.