Down in Mexico

Last week was amazing, we got to spend the entire week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico as a family with Josh's parents. There was plenty of time for relaxing, soaking up the sun, playing at the pools and taking in the beautiful scenery. It was good for all of us to get away without any phones, only occasional internet access and lots of things to explore. (Thanks to Josh's parents for their generous medical school graduation gift!!) I took far too many pictures so here goes!

This is what we woke up to every morning. Kiara continued her tradition of waking up around 6:45 (or even earlier a couple of days) and since all 4 of us were in the same room I would take her out on the patio and we'd watch the sun come up and the birds flying around. So beautiful!

Kiara was beyond thrilled to be walking around, everywhere. She had been walking pretty good for a couple of weeks but while on our little trip she really took off mastering corners, turning, slippery surfaces, etc. She also loved the view from our balcony. Maybe 10 yards away in a palm tree was a bird nest (we suspect) so there were lots of birds to watch flying around. Plus, every morning and afternoon as the fishing boats came and went she could see them and point them out for us. Basically, this trip she mastered the pointing at what she found exciting until someone else would notice. She wasn't a huge fan of getting more than her toes in the ocean and managed to cut another tooth while we were there but all in all I think she loved it. Plus, we realized that she definitely has my coloring and came back with some mighty brown toes and legs. I love that girl!!

 Taking in everything new....

Attempting binoculars with grandpa...

 She LOVED the pools!

This was her preferred method for enjoying the ocean. 

Being a typical 1 year old she manages to get into everything - shoes, clothes, bags, books. You name it and she can turn it into a mess!

In the weeks leading up to our trip Tienna couldn't contain her excitement. Now that we're home her favorite thing is to tell anyone who will listen that she was in Mexico for 7 days and learned how to body surf. Yes, we were there for a full week and yes, she learned/figured out how to body surf completely by accident (picture her playing in the waves and getting just deep enough that they swept her off her feet up onto the beach... from there that was all she wanted to do over and over and over again). She LOVED the ocean. One morning we went down to a little bay just a few minutes walk from our condo and fed some fish Kiara's crackers (no, she was not very happy about sharing). There were so many fish you could not count them all and they were so close you could occasionally feel them bump into your leg. Tienna also loved the pool and all of grandma and grandpa's attention. Anytime she has a willing audience she's all about making an impression and she definitely pulled out some hilarious and memorable moments.

 Ready to go - Tienna was a champ and went snorkeling with Josh and grandma and grandpa. She kept telling me about all of the pretty fish :)

 Going on an 'adventure' with grandma and grandpa while Kiara was taking a nap.

These are the fish we fed right by our feet - notice the little grayish ones with yellow stripes (they kind of blend in with the sand...) 

Playing in the ocean - can't get enough of splashing! 

Always a little cheese! 

These fish were all around our glass bottomed tour we took. They were HUGE, you could tell they get fed very well by all the tourists. 

Body surfing. She loved it and didn't even mind getting her face all wet, she thought she was so brave!

For Josh and I we also got to celebrate our 7th anniversary on this trip. It was great having willing babysitters so we were able to go out for an anniversary date. I think the best part of the trip for us was being able to relax. It took a couple of days for it to sink in that Josh was on vacation and we were actually in Mexico but it was fantastic. We loved the beaches and we even went para sailing together one morning (which turned out to be far less scary than I imagined). All I can say is that it was such a treat to have such a fabulous trip and be able to spend time together right in the midst of intern year. I think we all enjoyed it and I know I will always remember it very fondly.

The other view from our balcony.

 Para sailing :)

 The view from one of the pools.

 Hanging out on the beach - Kiara following a bird in the sky.

Our little tour around the tip of the baja.

A few more just because it was really so beautiful - it felt like we were in our own little bit of paradise...