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.