Mexican Riviera

A few weeks ago the Hayes family headed down to Mexico for a little vacation! This was Tyler's first time on an airplane (Alex's fourth)! If you've traveled by air in the last few years, you know how difficult it can be for even the experienced traveler. Well, try it with two young children...

Flying from Columbus to Los Angeles is an all day event (especially when you go through Chicago and miss your connection). We arrived at our hotel in San Pedro around 9 pm local time (midnight when you take into account the three hour time difference). Needless to say, the kids were tired, cranky and falling asleep in the hotel lobby.

The next morning was a beautiful California day. Clear blue sky and bright warm sun. It was a welcome change from the grey skies of Ohio. We took a walk around the marina after breakfast and then headed over to the cruise port. We checked in and had a little wait until the ship was ready for passengers. The ship had been late getting into port that morning, so they were a little behind. Soon our butler, Putu, escorted us to our suite.

The Norwegian Star is a beautiful ship. We had a nice room with a balcony. It is strange to comment on the bathroom, but I could live in there! The shower was glass and had all these jets and different shower heads pointing in all different directions. There was a window so you could look out at sea while you washed your hair. There was also a deep tub with a huge window looking out to sea (or which ever port you happened to be in at the time). They said it was one-way glass, but I pulled the blinds just to be safe. Our room also had this neat coffee/tea/cappuccino maker that came in handy each morning.

Anyway, we had lunch and then walked around the ship a little before heading back to our room to unpack. It took us one full day at sea to reach our first port, Cabo San Lucas, where we boarded another boat for the afternoon. The Eco Cat is a huge catamaran that took us out to do some snorkeling and whale watching. Alex had a ball dancing with this beautiful woman in a leopard print bikini. He is three not thirty-three, right? Wherever he goes, Alex always gets the ladies. Little did we know, this was just a warm up for tomorrow's performance.

The next day we stopped in Mazatlan. We decided to take an excursion to Stone Island and have a beach day. After a relaxing day on the beach, we returned to the cruise port. Before getting back on the ship, I decided to have a quick 10-minute massage from one of the locals. Meanwhile, Alex decided to have a dance-off with some 20-year old guy. They were playing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and he was up there dancing in front of everyone. I missed it all! I could hear the music and the people clapping, I just didn't realize there were cheering for my son!

On the last day we stopped in Puerto Vallarta and did the Pirate Ship excursion. Alex was so excited about this after getting a pirate ship from the Binky Fairy a few months ago (see previous post on this blog). This was a really fun day!

Some Recent Pictures

Tyler's first taste of Mac & Cheese

Howdy there, partner!

He looks so grown up in this picture! Where did my little boy go?


Tyler is just starting to stand while holding onto things.
He isn't crazy about grass, which is why he is standing and not sitting down!

He just started sitting on things a day ago. He rocks and hops up and down while laughing.

Tyler's Update

Tyler just cut his third tooth yesterday! It is his first upper (front left) though. I don't think the other is that far behind. Just like Alex, he will probably have his two upper and two lower front teeth for his first birthday. I had both the boys to the doctor last week (ear infections) so I know that Tyler currently weighs 21 pounds. He is wearing size 12-18 month clothes and size 3 diapers. His eyes have turned brown with a small blue speck in his left eye. His hair has lightened up since birth and is now a light brown. As you can see, his hair is wispy and won't lay down. He has the nickname "spike" because of the hair! Alex loves to make his brother laugh and sings to him when he is crying. So far, they are getting along pretty good.

The Binky Fairy

Just before Alex's third birthday, we told him that the binky fairy would be coming to take his pacifier because other babies in the world needed it. We told him that she would bring him a really fun toy to play with instead of having a binky. He seemed okay with this concept. So the night came to gather up all the binkies in the house. We strung them on a blue ribbon and tied it up in a tree in the front yard. He said good-bye to the binkies and then asked if he could keep one for his mouth. Can't blame him for asking, right?

A few hours later he looked out the front window and saw something in the tree! It was a lot bigger than the pacifier ribbon. They put on their shoes and coat and ran out to see what the Binky Fairy had left. It was a really cool pirate ship (just like the one he had found online and asked Mom for)!

Later that evening when it was time for bed, he had some tears over not having his binky. The next day he cried a few minutes before his nap over not having his binky. But ever since that day, when you ask about his binky or the Binky Fairy, he just laughs.

Next task...potty training! Is there a Potty Fairy? What might he bring/leave? It might be obvious, but I'll try anything at this point!

Alex is Three!

The Newest Italian Restaurant!

Memaw Hayes brought this new contraption on her last visit. Alex gets to make all different kinds of pasta out of Playdough. I asked him to pretend to eat a meatball for this picture. He proceeded to put the Playdough into his mouth right after I snapped this picture! I had to fish it back out and deposit it into the trash. We are still working on the concept of pretend play.

San Diego

We recently had a nice time in San Diego! Even though it was rainy the first two days, the temperature was a lot better (mid-60's) than it was in Ohio (single digit). The water temperature in the ocean is still very cold this time of year, but there are still many surfers. We spent most of our time in the Del Mar area because that is where the office is located. Although Friday evening we went down to Point Loma Seafood for dinner. They have the best seafood in the area (from what we hear).

Fun in the snow!

Trying to build a snowman...

His first snowball fight!

Christmas Fun!

The race cars he got from our neighbor, Debra.

His new GeoTrax Airport! It connects to the Grand Central Station (shown below).

What did Santa put in my stocking?

My new train track! Too cool!

Tyler gets the stick!

This is a family tradition. Each year this mint stick is passed to a different member of the family. This year Tyler received the stick from cousin Gina. He is already thinking of who to pass the stick to next year! Watch out, he takes after his Daddy!

End of Year Updates

Well, it has been another fast year for us in the Hayes household. Tyler was born eight months ago, but it feels like yesterday. He is growing up quickly though. He weighs about 21 pounds and is about 28" tall. He can sit up by himself (as of the week of Thanksgiving) and has started clapping his hands and nodding yes (as of the week of Christmas). He started eating baby food around the first of November. He started off slow, but has gotten the hang of it now. He doesn't really have a favorite food yet. Some days he likes bananas, but the next day he won't eat them at all. He cut his first tooth on December 8 and his second tooth on December 15 (both on the bottom). He had his first cold that same week, so he was in pretty bad shape teething at the same time. He is still not sleeping through the night, but he is getting very close. He will sleep 8-9 hours one night and then wake up every 2-3 hours the next. I've started to let him cry through some of the wakings, but it is really hard for me to listen to my baby cry for very long.

Alex is now 39 1/2" tall and weighs 35 pounds. He can recite his ABC's and count to 15 in English and 10 in Spanish (thanks, Dora!). His favorite TV show is (you guessed it) Dora the Explorer or Diego. He enjoys playing games (both board games and on the computer). He has really improved his hand-eye coordination in the last few months playing games on the computer. For Christmas Santa brought us a Nitendo Wii game system. Alex enjoys playing tennis and bowling on the Wii. He is a very helpful little boy. He always helps me with Tyler and enjoys singing to Tyler when he is crying. He is still trying to learn to use the potty on a regular basis. My goal is to have him trained by his third birthday in February (fingers crossed).

Family Pictures

This is a picture of Alex and Tyler with their cousins. Blake and Cameron are the boys in the back. From left to right in the front are Kersten (holding Tyler), Haylee (holding Kiefer), Camille (holding Blaine) and Alex.

This is a picture of my sister and her family. Jessica, Kevin, sons Blake, Blaine and Kiefer; daughters Haylee and Kersten.

This is a picture of the entire family.

First Tooth!

Tyler cut his first tooth on Monday, December 8! It is on the bottom. He then developed a fever over the next several days. I'm pretty certain he just caught the cold that Alex had last week.

The boys are getting ready for a visit from Santa! Alex wants games and Tyler has just about everything because he is playing with Alex's old baby toys.

It snowed last week and we brought some inside to play.

Santa!

Alex didn't want to sit on Santa's lap this year. When we ask him what he wants Santa to bring him, he says "nothing". He says he wants presents from Memaw, Mommy and Daddy. Nothing from Santa. We tried explaining that Santa comes on Christmas Eve after he has gone to bed and that he wouldn't have to see Santa. Then it seemed like he was afraid to go to sleep. What can you do? May be next year he'll be more enthusiastic about Santa!

Tyler's 6-Month Pictures

Cutie

Halloween

For Halloween Alex was a doctor and Tyler was Super(man)baby! Alex would run up to the door and hold out his pumpkin pail. They would drop in a few pieces of candy and he would just stand there and look at them until they put in more candy! We had to keep retrieving him off the door step of many neighbors. Oh, well! It is fun anyway.

The Columbus Zoo

We decided to take advantage of the warm weather today by going to the zoo! Here is a picture of my boys! Tyler is sitting up (with help) very nicely. He enjoys seeing Alex in front of him in the stroller. But Alex prefers to walk because he is a "big boy".

Someone was tired...

Tyler's Milestones

Sat up (with assistance): October 1 (5 months)

Rolled over: September 14 (4 1/2 months)

Laughed out loud: July 31 (3 months)

First smile: June 10 (6 weeks)

Came home from the hospital: May 1, 2008

Born: April 29, 2008

Pumpkin Pickin

Smoky Mountains

Last week we visited some family down in the Smoky Mountains. It was cousin Gina's 5th birthday! She had a big Mickey Mouse party where we all wore our own Mickey or Minnie ears! One evening John decided to take Alex on his first go cart ride. He was thrilled, to say the very least.


We took a leisurely drive through Cades Cove where we saw several deer and a few wild turkey, but didn't have any luck seeing bear this time. I got to do some outlet mall shopping and a little swimming. Alex is still a little afraid of the water, but at least he got into the pool this time.

Apple Picking

We recently went apple picking at Lynd's farm. Alex had a ball! Today he helped me peel and slice the apples to make apple crisp. He really enjoys helping me in the kitchen these days.