Epic Cruise to the Caribbean

Alan and I went on a cruise with our good friends last week and had the best time! It was really tough leaving AJ for the first time and I may or may not have had a few break downs. Two or three the week we were getting ready to leave, one major one on the plane taking off and then one night at dinner on the cruise. I missed him like crazy but felt guilty for not feeling guilty for leaving him. Weird, I know! The melt down on the plane was really embarrassing because Alan was sitting a row in front of me and across the isle. He looked back and noticed I was crying and asked if I was OK, causing 2 rows of passengers to look back at me. Yeah, pretty embarrassing. That was the hardest part. Once we got to Miami, I was OK.

We met up for dinner the night before in Miami with our good friend, Wendy. Not sure why I'm sitting in the middle. Looks like Wendy and Alan are together. Oops!

The next day we got on our ship. Here is how amazing it was (biggest Norwegian ship and only a few months old.)

View from the deck. The slides were a blast!

Our soda mugs we refilled endless times

Our first of many, many meals

The view from our balcony in our cabin

Our 'king' bed that Alan was too tall for

The rest of our cabin

Leaving Miami. This is the best part of a cruise. Everyone is so excited to be going on a cruise and the excitement is everywhere. I love it!

At the Blue Man Group Show. We left half way through. It was pretty bad. Actually, we weren't impressed with any of the shows. That was only complaint of this cruise.

Out on the back deck watching a show

This was the view I had from our balcony when we got to our first stop in St. Maarten. This is someone's private Yacht! Biggest private yacht in the world. A Russian who owns a soccer team and is in the oil industry owns this. Price tag? Only 300 million dollars! This yacht was unreal! So much prettier and bigger in person. This man has 90 employees working on here. He had taken his private helicopter to watch a soccer game. How would it be?

Taking a little dip in the ocean in St. Maarten

My friend Angie and I worshipped the sun. Our routine went a little something like this: Up at 6:30am Utah time (Really? You would think I would have taken advantage of sleeping but my baby has turned me into a not very good sleeper) Worked out for an hour, went to breakfast and then by 10:30 we were out soaking up the sun till about 3 ish. Then we got an afternoon snack, which was a few hours after lunch. Heaven forbid we starve on this cruise. Then we would take a nap (or at least attempt), read and get ready for dinner. Then off to dinner, a show and then tell me I'm not old; I went back to the room at 10:30ish Utah time and read until I fell asleep. I read 2 books on this cruise. All you mama's out there know how hard it is to read at home so I had to take advantage.

St. Thomas wasn't our favorite stop. We were too late booking an excursion so we took a taxi into town, walked around for 30 minutes and then got back on the ship.

The Bahama's. Best. Day. Ever!

We went to The Atlantis and played at the water park. Only bummer was that we only had 5 hours there. Not a lot of time to get in all the rides. We've decided our next vacation will need to be to here for a week. I'm thinking it'll be better to go back when AJ is old enough to enjoy it. Best place for kids!

OK, who do you think makes the cutest couple?

Ron and Brynnly?

Alan and Angie?

Ron and Alan?

Or Brynnly and Angie?

Not sure why we all thought this was so funny but we had a good laugh over it.

Meet Pam. Alan and Ron met her and bonded with her.

Our last supper

Last night on the cruise

I was SO ready to get home when we got off the ship. I missed my little guy SO bad! Here is what I missed while I was gone:

My niece decided to make her grand appearance into this world 8 days late! She was born 1 hour before my flight left Salt Lake. I was so bummed! She makes AJ look like a giant. Meet Sadie Mae. She as born weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. Remember, she was 8 days late! TINY!

AJ is so gentle with her. He always 'pet's' her so softly and lovingly, he's always kissing her and he gets so excited around her. It's almost like he remembers her ;).

AJ got to go to a Jazz game and sit in a suite. Here is where he met President Monson. President Monson kept playing with him and at one point let's just say AJ was a bit gassy when he was holding him. Can't wait to tell him that story when he's older. I'm so sad I missed this!

His Aunt Rebecca that he loves so much!

Every time he kept laughing, he'd tilt over his bubo like this. Guess it happened a lot while I was gone. That and every time my sister went to get him out of his crib, he would hold her face and kiss her. Really? He's never done that to me.

My sister took him on a ton of outings. They bonded. So much so that she cried when we got home and wants to see him every day since. He loves her just as much!

I came home about 10 shades darker, 10lbs heavier (ok maybe not that much but it sure feels like it) and super relaxed! I was greeted by a very happy, excited baby. He was actually more excited to see Alan than he was to see me. We pulled in the drive way, my sister had brought him out, and he just grinned ear to ear, giggling with his eyes glued to his daddy. It was really cute. He broke another tooth, has a cold and got his 6 months shots today. Poor guy just wants to be held, cuddle and cry. It's been a rough day for him. I'm just glad I got back in time so he can have his mama to cuddle with. I'm sure he wants me over his aunt. Or so I have to tell myself that. In all reality, he loves her so much that he wouldn't care. ;) But it does feel good to be home and get back into being a mama again. Now to plan our next cruise...

Six moths old, already?

Six months ago today my life changed completely! For the better, of course! I can't believe just 6 short months ago this little person entered our lives and changed us all. He's the happiest little guy and has such a tender little spirit. My home is different because of him. It has a different feel to it. A softer, sweeter feel. It's hard to believe I've only known him for six months. I couldn't imagine not being a mom and not having him in my life. I could never have imagined love like this 6 months ago. I can't get enough of my little guy. I could not have asked for a better baby. He's just perfect!

Here is a little update:

Six months ago today he entered our lives and changed us forever

2 days old

5 months old

And 6 months old

He's ALWAYS smiling and giggling. Even when he's crying and upset, he manages to smile and giggle at you and then will go back to crying. I picked him at the day care at the gym the other day. The worker told me she was holding him and talking to someone and he couldn't stop laughing. Just kept laughing and as he ran out of gas, he went from laughing to giggling and then gave a big sigh.

He loves his aunts so much! Every time he see's them, he kicks and squeals and goes nuts!

I take so many pictures of him that he's learning to smile when he see's a camera

This might be one of my favorite shots of him. It shows how tender he is

When he doesn't feel good, he just wants to snuggle and I love it! It's really the only time I can get him to do that.

Snuggling with his aunt

I just love doing this to his hair

He doesn't like to snuggle with people but can't get enough of his little lamb. Every time I go to lay him down for bed, he cries but as soon as I lay him down on his lamb, he smiles, wraps his arm around him, rubs his head on him and sighs. It melts my heart!

I had to stop swaddling him. My mother in law was babysitting one night. She texted me and told me that when she went to pick him up, he was on his tummy, swaddled and startled. That was the end of swaddling him down. Every time I go to get him from a nap or in the mornings, he's in a different position every time. Usually the opposite of what I laid him down. He's a mover!

He loves going on walks in his stroller around the neighborhood. He doesn't say a word. Just sits back and takes it all in. It's very relaxing for him. I love doing this when Alan can join us, just the 3 of us. Might be one of my favorite things to do.

He LOVES watching his Baby Einstein video. There is a part where a little puppet pops up on the screen and says, 'blah!' in a mellow way. Every time it startles him and makes me giggle. His eyes are glued for a good 10-15 minutes and I love watching him watch it.

He loves giving the baby in the mirror kisses. He bangs his head over and over trying to kiss the baby.

My favorite things to do with him/what I'm loving about him:

Feeding him. He likes to hold my hand or squeeze my arm and scratch it in a way that he's loving me. I can snuggle him and give him a thousand kisses and it never gets old. It's the only time I feel as though life is slowing down just enough for him to drink his bottle and I can bond with him.

Taking him on walks and watching him take the world in, wondering what he's thinking.

Throwing him in the air and tickling him. He loves attention and if someone else is in the room, his eyes are on them the whole time as if he's saying with his eyes, "Hey! Look at me!"

Reading to him. His favorite book is "The going to bed book" By Sandra Boynton. Every time I pull it out, he squeals and kicks his feet because he's so excited.

I love how he sticks his tongue out and makes a hissing noise when he gets excited or is teasing me.

I love how he kicks his feet and pumps his arms up and down when he gets excited.

I love how he kisses me and or hugs me when he wakes up. I also love how he gives me the biggest grin when I peak my head over his crib after his naps.

I love how he so delicately places his fingers in his mouth or an object in his mouth to suck on it. He's so gentle.

I love how he scowls just like his dad and just like his grandpa do. It's genetic! He scowls when he's concerned or when he's focused on something such as trying to pick an object up. So cute!

I can't believe how much he has been changing from month to month. This is why I have to blog about it every few months so I'll never forget. I want the days to slow down and somehow I feel as though the days are speeding up! Every stage gets to be more and more fun with him though. His personality is coming out more and more and it's been so fun to see. I really feel so grateful to be his mom that even when he wakes up extra early or when something feels hard to do, I remember how lucky I am that I get to wake up at 5am to him. There is nothing else I'd rather be doing with my life than to be his mama. Awe, I love him!

Celebrating my sister and nephew's birthday!

I love getting together with my family! It's always a good time! We got together on Sunday to celebrate my sister's 39th birthday and her son's 4th birthday.

Just hanging out and chattin

My two pregnant sisters. One was due last week and the other one is due in 8 weeks!

All my sisters

The birthday boy kept sneaking some frosting. He made a huge dent in the cake and when I asked him if he did it, he said, "Actually, the spoon did it." Love this kid!

Singing Happy Birthday

We have a tradition in our family when we sing the birthday song. Growing up we always sang it in English and Spanish. We then added French and Swedish because my brother's in law speak those languages. Swedish is the last song and it ends with everyone yelling 'Raw, raw, raw!" This is very loud. I had a feeling this would frighten AJ being as it was his first time hearing it. Sure enough! This is him getting nervous...

Starting to cry and turned into a melt down...

1 minute later, he stops crying to smile for the camera.

The birthday boy serving himself half the cake

Who needs a fork anyway

The grandkids put on a little play for the adults

AJ was very into the show

Of course we stayed way longer than we expected, ate too much and had a blast. I love spending time with my family!