The rest of our trip to Cabo was made up of eating food (a lot of it!), drinking a lot of Dos Equis and Pina coladas, and sleeping. Most nights we were in bed by 10:00 p.m., hahaha. Spending all that time with Rob, alone, was so wonderful. It took us a good day to let go and stop thinking we had to get back by a certain time to relieve the babysitter. We kept grabbing and looking for Jace, but then we’d realize again, “Oh, it’s just us on this vacation!!” Every day was open for whatever. This was actually the first vacation in a long time that I hadn’t planned one thing for us to do. We were actually going to do nothing but relax. Fortunately for me, the other Cheryl (my lively and loud friend from Hollister, California) had a lot planned, including dinners together and a boat tour to Lover’s Cove.
Bath time at our house is pretty serious; we like to get crazy. And we’ve found that it’s super important to mix it up. Jace gets bored with the same stuff, so we like to bring out something new each week. Toys definitely lose their zeal, and get grungy and watered out. And I say the more colorful the better! Here are some of our current faves:
Rob and I just got back from a little couples trip to Cabo and it’s one we’ll never forget. Just take a look at that view! This was our first time to Mexico, and we were super impressed! The flight was under 2 hours (one of the quickest flights ever, really!), the airport was easy and fast, they had bars right outside to greet you with a Margarita or Dos Equis, the transfer shuttle was fast and friendly. Everything was just great. And February was truly the best time of year to go. The temperature was perfect, with ocean in the air. The sun just strong enough. If you can’t already tell, it was the nicest little getaway for us. Leaving Jace for 5 days was hard, but we knew he was in good hands with family, and were able to let ourselves relax. Especially when we met up with our friends and got poolside. Vacations away together are so important. To reconnect and get back to us. And sleep in ;). We stayed at the Riu Sante Fe, which had the most beautiful view of the arches. It sort of felt like we were on a cruise ship, on land. All-you-can-eat, all the time, with entertainment, dance clubs, spas, pools and bars, around every corner, but without the swaying of a ship. Downside .. (because I like to evaluate our purchases!), no room service, hard beds, and no coffee maker in the room. Everything else? Pretty awesome! My stomach is having some major withdrawals though, it wanted to wake up to a breakfast buffet like it did for 4 days. I’ve been so hungry since getting back!
Hola friends! Wanted to post some pictures from Jace’s 2nd birthday party. As you can see, the theme was his favorite thing in the whole wide world right now = Thomas the Train! We love Veteran’s Park in downtown Gilbert; it’s the perfect size playground for a small party, and right next to the railroad tracks! It was super cheap to rent out a ramada. Downside, you had to walk across the tracks to use the restroom :/
Any-who, I found the cutest invitation and banner for the party on Etsy, including a “Baggage Claim” sign for his little party favor bags my friend Heather made us .. ordered cake pops from Fry’s Signature Marketplace (in Scottsdale, off Shea/Tatum) .. made his mini confetti cake from my bundt cake pan .. and topped it off with his other favorite thing in the world, a sparkler “two”! I of course didn’t capture all the details, like I did at his 1st birthday party. This time around I had to keep an eye on him since he was running around like a mad man. He really was the happiest little boy, socializing and smiling at everyone, probably to get more M&Ms from the cake pop jar, but nonetheless, he was a social butterfly up until the end. Such a trooper. He loved hanging out with all the kids, and especially his girlfriend, Miss Maivyn (see the cheek stroke below:)). Such a fun day. Weather was perfect, a slight breeze. Easy peasy! Also, my sweet sister-in-law took a lot of these photos with her fancy camera, and the rest came from my other sister ;) Oh, and as can be expected, I’m in almost none of the photos, hahaha. Oh-well. Maybe at his 3rd birthday?! And his little Thomas the Train baseball hat is to-die-for (thanks Momma!). Enjoy the pictures!
My little boy turned 2 this month. TWO. Dos. I still can’t believe it. When I look at him I see a little boy now. His baby-ness is almost gone. It’s behind us. Now life is officially going a 100 miles a minute it feels like. This boy of mine lives in the moment every day. Oh, if we could all live like that, right?! And not think about tomorrow or the past.
Right now, at his two-year mark, Mr. Jace loves the song, Hot Line Bling (I basically had it on repeat at his birthday party), he loves parfaits, and smoothies and grapes. He is ridiculously obsessed with water balloons and Thomas the Train, playing swords, putting on “daddoos” and going “ou-side”. He wrestles and plays basketball every day, and enjoys puzzles and projects around the house. Now I’m just waiting for him to say complete words and sentences, so I can understand what the poor kid wants. Oh, and anything on a stick he goes crazy for. Suckers, cake pops, you name it.
But when I cuddle him on his dinosaur pillow on the floor in his room before bed, with his star light on, his eyes slowly fading, I still see my baby. The chubby cheeks, the pure white skin, his little lips. He holds my hand (sometimes even strokes my cheek) and I rub his back. Even now at two, he isn’t afraid to get close and hug and kiss and snuggle. He loves to be near people. Makes me hopeful that he’ll always be a big baby on the inside, even as he continues to grow on the outside.
Happy birthday Jace Patrick. I love you so much it hurts.