Jace

Jace at 1 month

Mister Jace is 1 month today! Where did the last 4 weeks go?! The days have sort of blurred together. Things still feel surreal to me, but I’m going with it! Right now Jace loves to be jiggled, rocked and massaged — loves car rides and strolls to the beach, and skin-on-skin cuddles. He makes great eye contact and is slowly starting to look around and focus on things. He is very aware of his hands and loves to kick his legs {and my boobs – ouch}. He is exercising his smile muscles and oohs and aahhs. It’s funny to hear him grunt and make noises. I really can’t get enough of him. I’m totally one of those obsessed moms now. I just can’t control the love I feel for this little man! I’m so happy I had a boy. He’s so cool!

March 7, 2014 by
Family, Santa Cruz

Tea house spa

I wanted to treat my sister to a little spa day while she was here, and went looking for the right place. I noticed on Yelp that the Tea House Spa had some amazing reviews so I booked us a couples package, which included a 60-min massage each, tea and an hour in our own private sauna/hot tub suite overlooking the bamboo garden. And all I can say is WOW, what an experience!! Our massages were incredible, as was the sauna/hot tub room. We ordered the caramelized pear tea to enjoy in our suite, and listened to the rain come down outside while we soaked our muscles further in the hot tub. We kept giggling with happiness . . . I whipped out the camera to document our fun. If you’re ever in Santa Cruz, I HIGHLY recommend this spa. So clean, and relaxing, friendly, and cost-effective. I personally had the best back massage I’ve had in a long time. I’ll definitely be going back. My back pain is only to get worst I imagine, so I should just make this massage/hot tub thing a regular outing for myself, right? ;)

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March 6, 2014 by
Family, Jace, Santa Cruz

Jace’s first trip to Woodstock’s

Woodstock’s Pizza in Santa Cruz holds a special place in our hearts. It was where we decided to have a baby. It was a regular ‘ol weekday {or maybe it was a Friday?}, this time last year. We were craving pizza and wings and Woodstock’s is usually our go-to spot in Santa Cruz. Out of no where, we started talking about our “plan” for a baby. We decided together, right then, to make it a reality sooner rather than later. We didn’t want to wait any more. We cried and held hands and realized that we had made a NEW plan = to get pregnant within the next few months, if at all possible. So, it seemed only right to get Jace there as soon as possible to complete our journey! Of course, he slept the whole time, so we’ll have to get him back there again real soon ;)

 

 {Rob & his obsession with Coors Light — whattaya gonna do?}

 

{more sister time!}

 

{our usual – half Hawaiian & half Cruz Classic}

 

{our sleepy boy!}
March 5, 2014 by
Cheryl, Life

Letting go

As you may or may not know, I’m a huge fan of DailyOM. Their daily emails always seem to come at the right time. Below is a DailyOM I received last week in my inbox that I keep coming back to, titled “Relying on others: The wisdom of surrender”. It’s so meant for me – I’m telling you, it’s like DailyOM knows exactly what I need to hear and when!

Lately I’ve been having a hard time “letting go”, you could say. I’m trying to be OK with a messy house and letting others do things for me. Dishes can sit in the sink for a couple days, right? Dirty diapers can pile up — laundry can go unfolded — for a bit? I feel most normal when my house is clean, but for now, normal is to let things go and maybe rely on someone else for a change, and not myself. To smell my baby’s head some more instead of vacuum up dog hair. To let others help – including Rob {when he has the energy to}! No entertaining. No added expectations. No guilt.

Here is the full DailyOM excerpt for “Relying on others” — perhaps it will speak to you as well!

A deep feeling of gratitude can emerge as we open to the experience of being helped.

Most of us pride ourselves on our self-sufficiency. We like to be responsible for taking care of ourselves and pulling our own weight in the world. This is why it can be so challenging when we find ourselves in a situation in which we have to rely on someone else. This can happen as the result of an illness or an injury, or even in the case of a positive change, such as the arrival of a newborn. At times like these, it is essential that we let go of our feeling that we should be able to do it all by ourselves and accept the help of others.

The first step is accepting the situation fully as it is. Too often we make things worse either by trying to do more than we should or by lapsing into feelings of uselessness. In both cases we run the risk of actually prolonging our dependency. In addition, we miss a valuable opportunity to practice acceptance and humility. The ego resists what is, so when we move into acceptance we move into the deeper realm of the soul. In needing others and allowing them to help us, we experience the full realization that we are not on our own in the world. While this may bring up feelings of vulnerability, a deep feeling of gratitude may also emerge as we open to the experience of being helped. This realization can enable us to be wiser in our service of others when we are called upon to help.

It takes wisdom and strength to surrender to our own helplessness and to accept that we, just like every other human being, have limitations. The gifts of surrender are numerous. We discover humility, gratitude, and a deepening understanding of the human experience that enables us to be that much more compassionate and surrendered in the world.

March 4, 2014 by
Family, Rio Del Mar, Santa Cruz

Auntie Pam came to visit!

My sister came just in time for the first big storm we’ve had in months! It rained every day while she was here, which allowed for more time inside with little Jace, warm food and the final episodes of Breaking Bad I’d be holding out on until her arrival. I loved having my sister here, she was such a big help. She made us her famous macaroni & cheese one night, and a new hershey kiss cookie recipe – held baby boy, changed diapers, bought flowers and candles for the beach house — and more! We still got out as much as possible though, so we didn’t go stir crazy at the beach house {more on that later}.

The beach by our house was completely demolished from the storm. We ventured out on Pam’s last day to check it out and watch the waves. If you’re not a local, you of course won’t be able to tell the true damage or disarray caused from the storm, but we sure could. Water came all the way up to the walking path, which never has sand on it! A lot of the path is blocked off because of the water damage. Although it was a little gloomy while Pam was here, the rain was so nice to listen to at night, and everything outside smells so fresh. Rocking a baby to sleep is far more enjoyable when you have the rain and waves to listen to.

{Jace and his “sand buggy” ha!}
{Thanks for all your help, Pamsy! We miss you already!}
March 3, 2014 by