Monday, January 6, 2014

most call it a vacation... many call it paradise. i call it home.

{picture overload ensues now. and yes, those are paddle boarders in the ocean below... in late December}

We packed everything up, happily left the cold weather behind and headed home for the holidays this year! Being able to spend time with Trace in California for the 1st time was something that I'll never forget. Bryan and I went to sleep every night with our hearts about to burst, we were just so happy to have our boy back home in Orange County with us -- something we had talked and daydreamed about for so long. We spent the 1st half of our trip at Bryan's parents house and the 2nd part of our trip at my parents house. The weather was out of this world amazing -- They had record breaking heat and we got to experience the hottest Christmas Day to ever be recorded in history. We were such proud parents, introducing Trace to as much family and as many friends as we could fit into our schedule. I feel so incredibly blessed to have lived, for almost 30 years, in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Bryan and I often talk about everything we'll do with Trace when out there -- LegoLand, Downtown Disney, Disneyland, The Spectrum, beach days in Laguna Beach/Dana Point, bonfires at Salt Creek, the Wild Animal Park, Ruby's in Huntington Beach, Knotts Berry Farm, The Block, Catalina, Cal State Fullerton baseball games, Angels games, Lake Mission Viejo, etc. I am so excited to show Trace around our stompin' grounds once he gets a little older! But in the meantime, we had an incredibly relaxing holiday, spending most of our time outdoors and enjoying the hot sun.


Trace met Santa at Charlotte airport before he hopped on his 1st plane ride. We planned the flight at bedtime, so before take off I gave him ear drops and popped his last bottle in his mouth during take off. He finished the bottle and pretty much went right to sleep. He slept on me the entire flight, not even waking to change a diaper. Praise Jesus, the passengers who surrounded us gave him an A+ upon landing at LAX! We had a proud Mommy and Daddy moment, as I was so terrified to be those people with a baby. You know who I'm talking about...


Trace adjusted to the 3 hour time change like a champ. From the very first night there he slept 12 hours at night and we continued on his regular schedule of 3 naps daily. He was ripped from his comfort zone (home), so I think keeping him on his schedule was imperative.


Bryan's parents threw a casual daytime Christmas party at their home, so we were able to introduce Trace to Bryan's relatives and all of his lifelong friends. He has a lot of them, and most have kids now, so it was awesome to have everyone together!


We celebrated early Christmas up at Bryan's parents house before we left for my parents house...


That afternoon we headed down to my parents house in south county and immediately hopped in the spa. My parents had heated it in advance, knowing that we'd be taking Trace swimming for the 1st time in the same pool that I swam in when I was little. Nostalgia doesn't even begin to explain the emotions I was feeling all week, having my child in my childhood home... Wow. Just wow. (we look orange in the pictures below, don't judge)


My brother and his family came over to celebrate the holiday early and to meet Trace. I love love loved seeing Trace with my niece and nephew. My niece was a natural with Trace, always holding him, making him laugh and playing with him. My nephew was his silly self, half curious about the baby and half freaked out by him. Haha! He asked me to hold Trace and I propped them on the couch together and it was the cutest thing, but only lasted for about 5 seconds before he wanted to give him back to me. Ha! But my niece? That pretty girl held and played with him most of the day. Melt my freaking heart... love seeing these 3 together and watching Trace meet my brother and his wife. 


Christmas Eve day was nothing short of perfection and the night was filled with lots of tradition and laughter. ..


Trace's 1st Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye! My parents had family over, including Bryan's parents. My little Santa Baby slept most of the day away, but did well with all of the stimulus and people while awake. We didn't put up a Christmas tree at home this year, so he was really taken with my parents lights and ornaments, particularly their spinners. Bryan took Trace for a walk and came home with a yellow rose -- my favorite color is yellow -- and it was the 1st flower that Trace had ever given me. So sweet!


Trace celebrated his half birthday while we were in California, so on December 26th, the day he turned 6 months old, we took him to the beach. He had never seen the ocean or felt sand before and we had always known that we wanted his 1st beach experience to be in the Pacific Ocean, Woods Cove in Laguna Beach, to be exact. This was always one of "my" beaches and Bryan and I even took our engagement pictures on its shoreline, so we knew Woods Cove would be the place that Trace would stick his sweet little toes in the ocean for the 1st time. It was the perfect day to hit the beach and Trace loved everything about it! 


After Woods Cove we headed up PCH to "my other beach," Crescent. Oddly enough, I had never taken Bryan to this beach before, so it was an honor to show both of my boys this incredible piece of paradise and my history...


We then headed back down PCH to Salt Creek. The beach snack bar was open, so we grabbed an iced tea and some fries and chilled on the firepits for a bit. I used to have bonfires here all of the time (so did the kids on the show Laguna Beach), so I was having major flashbacks and feeling extremely old!


We then headed home and popped a couple bottles of champagne...


That same evening we said goodbye to our 6 month old -- how is he 6 months old??? -- and headed back down to Laguna to one of my favorite bars, Hennessey's, and our favorite restaurant on Ocean Ave, Sushi Laguna. We filled up on the best sushi there ever was and proceeded to end our last night back home relaxing in the spa. December 26th was the epitome of our perfect day and we got to spend it that way with Trace on him half birthday!


Most call it a vacation... Many call it paradise. We call it home.

21 comments:

  1. These photos are gorgeous! It looks like you had a fabulous time at home for Christmas -- you view your home like I view Wilmington, NC. There is nothing that beats it!
    xo A Southern Style

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  2. Loved every word of this and every.single.photo. What a great Christmas for you and your family. So special! Your heart sounds so full and so blessed. Happy for you, friend!!!

    And these photos look so good. Did you do much editing or is this just the new camera and lens at its finest??

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  3. OMG!!!!! TALK ABOUT PARADISE!! I'm more than a little jealous that you got to celebrate Christmas there while we were freezing to death in Minnesota! HAHA! What a fabulous Christmas you had!

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  4. love all of these photos. And now more proof I need a good camera. Wow. Certainly makes paradise look even better.

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  5. Trace looks like a California boy!!! He is just too darn cute!! It makes me miss going down to L.A. all the time like I use to. I am a little excited because we might be taking Lucas to Disneyland for his 5th birthday in April! And we are going to try to meet up with his cousins in Laguna Nigel!

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  6. How exciting to take him to CA!! Gorgeous pictures!! Such a cute little family :)

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  7. Awww looks like you had an amazing time back home! All these photos are gorgeous. I bet Trace is totally going to be a beach/lake baby. Water sports here he comes ;)
    Does it feel weird to come back home but then head back to your new home? Is it getting harder now that you have a little one?

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  8. Wow, looks like you had an amazing visit to California! You're so lucky that you guys have such a beautiful place to go back and visit! Also, I can't believe your little guy is already 6 months old, time flies! :)

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  9. Ahhh Loved all these photos!! Sounds like a perfect trip and great Christmas. So exciting that Trace did so well and kept on his schedule. It took a WHOLE week to get Charlie back on a schedule and sleeping in her bed at nap time.

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  10. Love this holiday recap! Sounds like the most perfect holiday!!

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  11. This makes me desperately want a vacation and warm weather! Looks like an amazing trip and a wonderful holiday!

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  12. How perfect! I wish we lived in the "real" California instead of the Mojave desert. :S Trace is the perfect combination of you and Bryan! :) Such a handsome little guy. I'm so glad that he did so well with you on the plane. We were "those" parents on one of our flights this time and I wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

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  13. Something tells me ya'll will eventually end up back in the OC! :-)

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  14. What an epic and memorable first Christmas for the three of you! Not to mention the perfect return to California for you!! Loved the picture recap - and those personalized licence plates are too cute!!

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  15. Looks/sounds like a great trip home! :)

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  16. Thank you all again SO MUCH for having us over for Christmas...it was an absolute treat to spend it with y'all! You seriously have such an awesome family! And I LOOOOOOVED meeting baby Trace!

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  17. look at you using your big girl camera..

    loving all the pictures!

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  18. So glad you guys had a great trip back home, a nice visit with family, and a chance to introduce Trace to all his California friends and family....like us!!! A great 1st Christmas for Trace and you guys as parents! We loved getting to see you guys, just wish we could have been there longer! Hopefully next time :)

    And, that little wooden truck/rocker Bryan's dad made for Trace is AH-MAZING!!! what a special little gift for him to have for years to come.

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  19. Just beautiful, Kate! You have some of the most gorgeous photos captured from this perfect Christmas!

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  20. Oh my god... gorgeous!! I am so jealous that is your hometown!! I think I need to relocate to SoCal- how on earth do you stay in NC?! What a perfect way to spend Christmas and Trace's half year birthday!!

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  21. I'm late to this re-cap but I'm so glad it was such a fun time for you guys! Yay for Trace's first trip to Cali!! All three of you look so happy and great, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! xo

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