Day One
We had the trip of a lifetime. It was amazing, really. We were so lucky to be able to go to Cancun Mexico with Jake's family. We started our journey really early in the morning (like, we woke up at 4:30am early). Unfortunately for us, Mckynlee decided the night before our trip that she didn't really want to sleep through the night. So we were running off 1 1/2 hours of sleep on our big travel day. Lucky for us though, the flights were easy and Mckee did great. That was such a blessing.
When we arrived in Cancun, we had to gather our luggage (we had a TON of stuff) and pick up the rental car. They must all be on beach time, because it took a very very long time. We made it eventually though! We checked into our resort and the fun started!
The view from our room was amazing. We could see white, sandy beach and clear blue water for miles and miles. A girl could certainly get lost in thought with a view like that.
We were the first ones to arrive. After we checked in and got settled in our rooms, we headed to lunch.
After lunch, it was beach time. The water was warm, the sun was bright, and it was absolutely perfect. I was a little nervous about Mckee on the sand because she doesn't really like new textures on her hands and knees as she crawls. For example, she still won't crawl on grass. Anyway, I was a little worried she would just cry because she didn't like it. I was completely wrong! She LOVED it. It was so fun to watch. She even loved swimming in the ocean. At the beginning of the week, the waves were so slight and mild, we could take her in the water and not worry about being pummeled.
I couldn't get her attention for the life of me. No matter how hard I tried to stop her from eating the sand, she just kept eating. So much sand....
We had so much fun jumping in the waves the first night. The weather was great, the water was warm, and we just had a blast. The waves were manageable, we even took Mckee out in her baby float. Mckynlee has her first experience on sand, which was actually a success! We had to fight her a little bit to not eat as much sand as she could fit in her mouth. She also loved the salty water. After swimming in the ocean, she kept licking her lips to get another taste of the ocean salt! The sunset was just gorgeous. It was going to be a great week.
Day TwoMcks decided that 5am was a great time to wake up, but we can't complain because we got to see an amazing sunrise on the beach. Jake's sister Jessi was flying in with her 3 boys from London the day before. We weren't able to see them because they arrived late. Without planning it, we ran into them at the beach in the morning! I guess her kids thought 5am was a good time to be awake as well. |
After a beautiful sunrise and breakfast, we headed to the pool for some swimming. Why would be spend time at a pool when we were so close to a beach? Well, the sand and salt, while really fun and exciting for Mcks, was a little much after a while. We let her take it easy swimming. Mckynlee loves the water. I think she would be happy splashing around all day.
Funny story with this cookie. Each night around 5pm, the resort would put out various desserts. Jake picked out a cookie he wanted to try. Before he even knew what was going on, Mcks had snatched the cookie from his hand and taken a bite. She proceeded to finish the entire thing. We probably shouldn't have let her eat the whole thing, but we were laughing to hard, we didn't find the time. She felt pretty proud of herself.
Another great thing about the resort was the unlimited drinks! We don't drink, so everything we ordered was non-alcoholic. Jake and I loved the pina coladas. I liked to try out new combos of drinks and we discovered a Miami Vice--a pina colada and a strawberry daiquiri together. Delicious! I also convinced a few of the bar tenders to mix lime into my pina colada...my personal favorite! But a lot of the bar tenders gave me a funny look when asked for an addition of lime.
Another early morning! Can't complain, this world is a beautiful place! | Day Three |
Tulum
We went to the Mayan Ruin site called Tulum. We had a tour guide, but...we didn't really learn much from him, for many reasons. 1) He was really hard to understand. 2) We had 6 kids with us--including 2 babies--who had very short attention spans, and 3) he clearly had very different beliefs than we do, which typically isn't a problem, but he was focusing on fertility and sex and we had 6 little kids with us... Anyway, it was still a cool place to visit. There is so much history!
These iguanas were everywhere. I was posing by the beach when some random people started snapping pictures. It looked like they were taking pictures of Mckynlee and I, which isn't too weird anymore. I've had a few people want a picture of Mcks...super weird, I usually say no. Anyway, we quickly learned they were taking a picture of this icky lizard! Big and creepy. But also kind of cool.
I was reading more about Tulum, and I guess they were a big city of importing and exporting Jade. They also were one of the few cities that survived because they were protected by a wall. I think if I had lived in Tulum in 700 BC, I would have liked to live here. One could get used to a view like this.
After spending the morning and afternoon in Tulum, we headed to Plya to the sister resort for lunch and swimming.
After lunch, we explored what Ron and Lisa called "5th Avenue, Mexico style." It was just a row of shops. Grandpa was very kind and gave each of the kids a few paso to spend to pick out a souvenir. We found Mcks a little Mexican dress and we found an ornament for our collection. Success! We arrived at the resort pretty late, so we had dinner at the taco stand onsite. It was delicious! Authentic tacos in Mexico. Loved them! I've never really been a fan of corn tortillas, but they were so good here! I might need to give them another try.
We were so excited. On our walk, we found the perfect spot to take a picture of Mckynlee. The sand was untouched, the water was glossy and the sunrise was gorgeous. So we wrote Mck's name in the sand. Right as we were taking the picture, a man came and walked through the back of the picture. I was so upset! We were obviously taking a picture, and he just stared us down as he walked by. Ugh. Some people! Anyway, the picture turned out fine, but there are footprints now. Oh well. She's cute anyway.
I love her little wave! People at the resort couldn't help but smile when they passed Mckynlee and they would smile even bigger when she would wave at them. Mcks especially loves waving at dad and grandpa Ron.
On another note, I thought Mckynlee's shoes were more like sandals, but after seeing them in a picture, they don't really look like beachy sandals. They are more like dress shoes...oh well!
On another note, I thought Mckynlee's shoes were more like sandals, but after seeing them in a picture, they don't really look like beachy sandals. They are more like dress shoes...oh well!
Now for the turtle story. Saturday night...maybe? We got to see a group, or a bale---so says Google, of baby turtles released into the ocean. All along the beach, there are fenced off areas of turtle nests. A turtle will come to land, lay her eggs, then go back to the ocean. The eggs will stay buried for 45 days. They then hatch and make their way back to the ocean. It is rare for the babies to return to the same beach they were hatched on. At night, once the turtles have hatched, lifeguards and beach workers release the turtles back into the ocean. They release them at night so the pelicans and seagulls don't eat them. Surprisingly, they are very very little and completely black. When we watched the release, we couldn't see much because it was so dark. Still a cool experience though.
After a walk on the beach, it was time to play with cousins in the pool! Mckynlee loved following Riley around. He, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about her. She was a little too forward and in his face. He warmed up to her eventually.
They had a baby pool too. There was an area where they only had about 6 inches of water. It was perfect for the babies to crawl around in. Mckee had so much fun! There was also a small pirate slide. We put Mckynlee down is (on her belly, facing backwards) and she sure did enjoy it!
Her favorite part was climbing out of the pool, then climbing back in. In and out, in and out. Over and over. It was a fun game.
Our nephew Austin's birthday just happened to fall while we were in Cancun! It seemed only fitting to have a party. A small market was found and Austin picked out a pinata! (Mexican market story to come later). We had a little birthday celebration! All the kids loved the pinata...except Mcks. Every time the pinata was hit, she was whine and cry a little bit. She was really concerned for the minion's safety. She did enjoy crawling around picking up toys and candy though.
Funny side story, we were at the pool one day and some kids were playfully pushing each other into the pool. Every time one of them fell, Mckynlee would become very concerned and whine a little bit. She's a very sensitive soul. She's definitely her mother's daughter.
Our nephew Austin's birthday just happened to fall while we were in Cancun! It seemed only fitting to have a party. A small market was found and Austin picked out a pinata! (Mexican market story to come later). We had a little birthday celebration! All the kids loved the pinata...except Mcks. Every time the pinata was hit, she was whine and cry a little bit. She was really concerned for the minion's safety. She did enjoy crawling around picking up toys and candy though.
Funny side story, we were at the pool one day and some kids were playfully pushing each other into the pool. Every time one of them fell, Mckynlee would become very concerned and whine a little bit. She's a very sensitive soul. She's definitely her mother's daughter.
These two were so funny at dinner! I would give Mck a snack, she would take a bite, then hand it over to Riley who would take it and finish it off. They did this for 10 minutes! It didn't occur to me until they stopped that I should have tried to get it on film! By the time I pulled my phone out to get the video, they had moved on to another activity. They were just being goofballs!
Day FiveMckynlee's 8 month anniversary was actually the same day as Austin's birthday, but we didn't get around to taking her month-by-month picture. But I don't think she changed much in a day. We loved watching the kite surfers out in the ocean. It looked like wake boarding, but instead of a boat, the kite pulls them up. I'm sure they make it look easier than it really is. |
Mckynlee is such a happy baby. Every day is a good day to be alive for her, if you couldn't tell from the picture. She loves to explore. She gets into anything she can. She crawls like a champ, pulls up on everything, has started to try standing solo, and has started walking with her toy walker. She loves her daddy, and really loves her mom, too. She waves at everyone and has started doing "fist-it" too. Jake's pretty proud of that one. She is happy almost *almost* all the time. We just love her sooo much!
More crawling and playing in the sand!
More beach time! Her diaper was so covered in sand. And full of sand. We were pretty much covered in sand all week.
I loved this action shot! This girl had no fear! We put her on the sand and she crawled straight for the water. After a few waves to the face, she decided to stay closer to the chair. (Don't worry, we were right there by her the whole time. She wasn't in danger at all. A little water in the face wouldn't hurt her.)
Day Six
It was raining in the morning, so we headed to the Mexican market to explore. This was very clearly NOT a touristy place. It was a local place. They had the most amazing pinatas. I found a Minnie Mouse 1 that I wanted to get for Mckynlee. But, 1) it was huge and I wasn't sure how to get it home. 2) Mckynlee didn't even like the pinata. So that didn't happen. They have serious talent though. You just don't find pinatas like that in the states. They had every different character you could think of. Minnie Mouse, Hulk, Batman, Curious George, Nemo, Elsa (of course), etc. They were so fun!
Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead, and the market was filled with the goods for it. Candies, costumes, skeletons, flowers, treats, etc. As we were walking through, there was a man selling these spiky red circles. Apparently they are fruit. I didn't catch what they were called. He must have noticed the confused look on our faces because he cut one open and let us try one! It had a white/opaque center. When we bit into it, it was hard. The texture and taste was similar to a pear. It was fun to try new things!
After visiting the market, I considered not eating meat again while in Mexico. It wasn't very clean. They also had chickens hanging from the ceiling. When someone wanted one, they would take it down and chop off its head. Right there in the market. Very different from a US market! The flowers were exquisite!
After visiting the market, I considered not eating meat again while in Mexico. It wasn't very clean. They also had chickens hanging from the ceiling. When someone wanted one, they would take it down and chop off its head. Right there in the market. Very different from a US market! The flowers were exquisite!
Mckynlee was so lucky to get authentic maracas from the market! She was having so much fun playing with them on our drive home. Until she smacked herself in the head. Then she wasn't too much of a fan. She got over it pretty quick though.
The weather improved, so it was back to the resort for more swimming! Mcks loves her baby float. She would just sit in the float and kick herself around the pool. Granted, she didn't move very quickly, but she moved. She will just kick, kick, kick her legs. She also does a great job "swimming" between Jake and I. She'll hold her breath and kick. She kind of moves her arms, but there is definitely room for improvement. She is a little fish and just loves the water!
When Mcks is on her stomach, she'll just kick and kick and kick. She'll even occasionally blow bubbles. She's turning into a little fish!
Her face may not say it, but she loved being thrown into the air. It wasn't very high and I guided her back down. But we had fun.
Day SevenWe got to enjoy a walk down the beach with Ron and Lisa this morning. We went farther than we had before, which meant more exploring! We saw lots of turtle sanctuaries and resorts. We found some cool shells and a cool sand wall that said "Mexico 16". Mcks eventually fell asleep. It was challenging to get her into the baby carrier once she had fallen asleep, but we did it! We were impressed with our own skills. I didn't realize what a workout just walking on sand was! We got back and our feet and calves were burning. Feel the burn! The grey clouds in the sky made the ocean look really blue. The turquoise in the more shallow parts really popped. The green on the palm trees also seemed brighter. It seems that no matter the weather, this place would be beautiful. White sand, blue ocean, green trees...ah...it just doesn't get much better. |
Behind us you can see most of the resorts in Cancun. Honestly, you probably couldn't go wrong with any of them. They all back right to a beautiful beach, and that's all you really need!
We loved playing in the waves! By the end of the week, the waves had such a strong current and pull, we didn't feel safe going in very far. (They were really cool to watch as they crashed down though!) They didn't stop us from playing though! Mckynlee loves to walk, but she loves to run even more. (Should I be worried?) Anyway, I don't know if you can tell in the video, but she would just laugh and laugh and laugh as we ran away from the tide. It was so fun!
In one of the videos, you can see Tanner run over to Mcks and start snuggling her. He just loves his cousin "bah-kinley!"
In one of the videos, you can see Tanner run over to Mcks and start snuggling her. He just loves his cousin "bah-kinley!"
Day Eight
Another morning walk with my crew! It was kind of a cloudy/rainy morning, but that didn't stop our walk! We may have gotten a little over-zealous with our walk. We just kept going, not realizing how far we were going. After about an hour, we decided to finally turn around. Just our luck, it started raining as we were walking back, and the wind picked up. What was meant to be a leisurely stroll on the beach turned into a strenuous 5 mile trek. But it was worth it! Jake and I hadn't had time just the two of us in a long time. Mcks was there, but she was sleeping, so it doesn't really count. |
Mckynlee woke up when we decided to turn around. She was so happy! She was even happy through the rain.
After our walk, we spent time on the beach with cousins. I didn't want to talk Mcks in the water because it was pretty windy and kind of cold. So sand playing it was!
We went out for a swim and it started to rain! Luckily, we were in Mexico, so it really wasn't even that cold! We figured we were already wet, so we would take advantage of our time. Mckee was really enjoying playing in her baby float. She would just kick and bounce and giggle. We eventually pulled her out because it started to rain really hard. In the midst of it raining, Jake and I decided to race to the slides and see who could win. Jake's parents were watching Mckee and the race was on! It was so fun. And no worries to those safety nerds, we only sped walked on the pool deck. No running!
Sad story with this picture. We were down on the beach making a sand castle with the kiddos. We spent a good 40-50 minutes building our fortress. We were far enough away that the water wouldn't touch it, for the most part. Jake had built a pretty intense mote and everything. After a good amount of time, I ran to the ocean to wash off before going to take a picture. Right as I washed off, a massive wave came and wiped out our entire castle. This is all that was left. It was devastating. So no picture of our awesome castle.
Riley and Mckee were playing. Mckee was actually hanging out with cousins while Jake and I had a little "date". When we got back, Tanner (3) told me baby "bah-kinley" and Riley were wrestling. And apparently "bah-kinley" won.
Day NineUnfortunately, the trip had to come to an end. We didn't leave until the afternoon, so we took advantage of one more day of swimming. Mckynlee just loves the pool! We made it home in one piece, barely. The flight home was...well, let's just say we are ALL glad it is now behind us. We had such a fun time, it just went too fast. I'm sure we will be going to Cancun again in the future. |