Tropical Vacay

When we are making plans to come home, I often overlook the fact that visiting Miami is like taking a tropical vacation. It's not until we start packing for the trip and I have to pull out flip flops and swim suits that I remember, "oh yeah, it is going to be nice in Miami!" 

Getting the kiddie pool ready

The visit felt even more like a vacation because Nana insisted that Jude sleep in the second bedroom next to her room so that she could get up with him in the mornings while Pete and I slept in the cottage out by the pool, sleeping in each day until at least 8am. It was much needed rest and so nice! 

While Leslie, Andy and Peyton were in town, we went to Pinecrest Gardens and enjoyed all of the kid-friendly activities: fish feeding, playgrounds, petting zoos and most of all, splash park.

Whereas Jude can't stand to get his head wet, Ms. P is a little fish and squealed with delight getting dunked and splashed in the water!

On Monday, we returned for the first time to the place where Pete and I got married 6 years ago. The Deering Estate has a stunning location on the water in South Miami and it brought back so many great memories to tour the grounds again. Even more special to bring Jude and baby sister on the way. 

Last time we stood here, we were drunkenly running through a corral of our family and friends waving glow sticks as we made our way to the buses. 

Where we had our first dance. Doing their rendition of "You are the Best Thing." 

Where I waited with my dad to walk down the aisle.

"I do" again and again!

We took a nature walk through the mangroves.

A quiet moment with babygirl

A silly moment with big boy.

Dinning al fresco. Sharing kraft mac and cheese with bunny. 

Thanks to our facebook post that we were in Miami for Christmas, we found out that friends Adam, Laura and their baby Ellie would be nearby in Hallandale Beach. We had a night out to dinner together while my parents babysat and then spent a heavenly day together on Hollywood Beach and then by their family's condo pool. More delicious burgers were consumed and Jude loved floating around the heated pool in Ellie's raft. 

Babes at the beach.

Turns out Jude loves to be buried in sand :) 

On Wednesday, my cousin Amy and her family came to visit for the morning. They come down to Florida from Maryland every year and it was a treat to get to see them. We last saw them all 2 years ago, when we were making the decision to move to Amsterdam and she proclaimed, I think jokingly, that we were "certifiable" for moving with a baby.

The best we could do :) 

Our final day in Miami was New Year's Eve. We spent the morning at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Jude really loves the beach now and was tearful back in Amsterdam when we would talk about it

The shock of cold, spray sunscreen.

Buried again

19 weeks! 

Too excited about the beach to sit still for a photo.

We celebrated New Year's early with Jude, who donned another party hat and enjoyed blowing his horn, swirling a glow stick and proclaiming, "Happy New Year!" And then we purposefully stayed up 'til midnight, playing cards with my parents and watching the ball drop on TV. Easier to do knowing that we could sleep in the next day before our flight home :)

2015 was an absolutely incredible year. We watched Jude learn to walk, talk and delight others with his sweet and silly personality. We took dream vacation after dream vacation (Spain, Provence, Tuscany, Croatia). I started a new job in my field, working happily from home. Pete's seniors crushed their IB exams. We welcomed two beautiful, healthy nieces. We hosted loads of amazing friends who made the trip to see us. And we found out that we would be welcoming a baby girl in 2016. Excited to see what 2016 holds for us! Happy New Year!