MIA

and i'm not talking about missing in action ... i'm talking MIAMI!
over labor day weekend casey and i were fortunate enough to get away for our 5 year anniversary
(and a babymoon) to south beach.
it was an absolute dream!
we couldn't have done it without the help of some wonderful grandparents!

we got to miami around lunch friday and got all checked in ...

we had lunch at this great little french sandwich shop we'd read up on.
la sandwicherie.
definitely the cheapest meal we had while in south beach :)

... and then we hit the pool!

our first night out to dinner was at fratelli la bufala, a little authentic italian restaurant.
we had house made mozzerella and sausage, and of some of the best margherita pizza!

(i know y'all are not so interested in the names of restaurants ... but i love to look back and remember!)

day 2 consisted of more time at .. you've got it, the pool!
well let's be honest ... all we did the whole time we were in south beach was sit by the pool, eat, and walk around.
it was A-mazing.

also on day 2 we discovered these rocking chairs.
they were in this little garden area at the w hotel, where we stayed.
we both looked at each other and said ... we've really done it, we're on vacation!!
so relaxing.


and after looking at this picture, reality set in that i'm definitely pregnant.
small i may be, but puffy, ... yes!
this one makes me LOL.

we had lunch at this quaint little hotel down the street called the raleigh.

and then hit up the wild and crazy clevelander to watch some of the ole miss football game.
i was definitely the only pregnant mama at this bar ... and the people watching was one of a kind!

casey drinking a miami vice.
somehow he always ends up with some girly drink on all our trips!

one of the reasons, besides the beach, that we chose to go to south beach was because we could walk around and didn't need a car.
my favorite was strolling though lummus park next to ocean drive.

i have no words for this picture but thought it was appropriate to share.
it makes me laugh too ...

ocean drive

such a fun dinner at a fish called avalon on ocean drive

day 3 was a repeat of day 1 and 2 :)

last night out on the town and dinner at sushi samba.

and then on day 4 we had to say goodbye.

bye bye peace and quiet ...

bye bye beach ....

bye bye most relaxing pool i've ever been to ...

the best part about our trip was that it was better than we both had hoped it to be.
it probably helped that i prayed a lot before that trip!
if there is one thing i've learned about being a mom it's that it's hard to let go.
let go of the control, the responsibility, the feeling of being needed ...
and for me, it's especially challenging.
but i knew that this trip was what casey and i both needed.
time alone to be those two crazy people that fell in love over 5 years ago.
we laughed more on this trip than i've laughed in a while.
we laughed like we used to.
not that we don't laugh anymore, it just made me realize there was a difference.
it just seems like a lot of the time we're always going and stressing, etc.
it was such a blessing to be able to be together and enjoy each other without any distractions or schedule
... and just be.

when things start getting crazy around the house and deep breaths need to be taken,
casey looks at me and says "remember miami".
oh how i love my husband!