Feliz Aniversario!

For some reason, Sean and I don't ever do anything! I mean, we are so lame! Our own birthdays, eh...New Year's Eve, in bed before the ball drops...Friday and Saturday nights, no different than the rest...maybe it's because we always seem to have some other obligation, or more likely, we're just lazy. But this weekend, on September 11th, we will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The milestone, coupled with the realization that by no. 11 we'll hopefully have a new baby attached to our hearts and my bosom. A big vacation reminiscent of our honeymoon seemed like kind of a now or (practically) never opportunity.

So I spontaneously texted Sean from my office last month, suggesting that we take a trip to Mexico then come home and have another baby. He liked the idea - so I booked both the trip and my doctor's appointment that day.

We arrived into Cancun on Wednesday afternoon and were shuttled to our beautiful hotel in fabulous Playa del Carmen. We checked in, ordered ceviche and a cerveza and a margarita from the thatched-roof bar on the beach. After our snack, we walked up one block to 5th Avenue and strolled among the little shops, open-air restaurants, gelato bars, and quaint downtown hotels.

The next day, Sean delivered a Starbucks latte to my bedside and then we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast on the beach. After that, we claimed one of the cozy mattresses in the sand, and slept and read and people-watched for the entire day. Except for that hour I was getting a $35 full body massage. On. The. Beach.

The following 3 days went pretty much the same way. Tempura-battered fish tacos. Chips and fresh lime, pico de gallo, and curry-coconut milk-pineapple salsa. Pina Coladas. Guacamole. Sun. Sleep. Souvenir shopping. My completion of the first Sookie Stackhouse novel. And a chance meeting of Sean's old flame in the airport bathroom. ;-)

A decade later, and ten times the size, Playa del Carmen is still the perfect match for me. I'm pretty sure Sean thoroughly enjoyed himself, as well. We will be going back...and taking friends, family, and our kid(s)...and it won't be ten years this time. Mark those words.

So Good Together

How sweet it is to wake up every morning with a gentle kiss on the cheek and a "Goodbye " as he heads off to work. Although this morning it was a "Happy Anniversary." We celebrated 9 years today, which makes it a fitting time to reflect on the joys of our marriage. I've always felt fortunate that Sean and I were just friends before we were a couple, and I attribute the strength of our relationship to that fact. I cherish the way he knows me so well, sometimes better than I know myself. And even though we have different interests (domino, the game vs. domino, the magazine; cold Bud Light vs. mod pendant light; whitetail deer hunting vs. vintage ceramic deer hunting) we completely get each other. Sean recognizes my idiosyncrasies, and even when they drive him nuts, he fully appreciates that they make me who I am, the girl he fell for at the Plateau Cafe. I admire Sean for his generosity, values and open mind. And I enjoy his sense of humor and intellect. He believes in me, and respects me, and makes me want to be a better person. It's been 9 years and I still melt when he looks at me that certain way (smitten and slightly amused.) And when I watch him share a tender moment with Willa, my heart swells up with fulfillment. Happy Anniversary and thanks for the date!

My New Gadget

Sean and I will celebrate our 9th Wedding Anniversary on September 11th. We don't usually do gifts, but having Willa around has brought about the need for us to capture and document our colorful life. So Sean bought me a fancy new camera and we played around with it a bit yesterday evening. These are a few of my favorite shots.