Disney Day 2

Magic Kingdom, Halloween and O'hana

We decided that we'd spend our first day at the Magic Kingdom, of course! We had bought matching shirts back in January on our trip, just days after finding out Cole was a boy. It was very exciting to put on our cheesy matching shirts, love it!!

Cole was amazed from the get go with things to look out, a speedy tram and a monorail....all before we got in the park! We stopped at the ticket do hickey to get Andy's free 5 day hopper through the military appreciation and mine was $132 (would have been 99, but I added hopping....then we didn't hop....no biggie though) We could have got them at Shades or a base and saved on paying tax, but with buying just my ticket so cheap...we didn't bother.

-you'll notice Cole is using my burp clothes that I made and blanket just for the trip, I'm such a geek...had his name and a mickey embroidered on one so we can keep it and know where we were his first halloween-



We arrived and walked down Main Street with our very own little boy.....amazing!! We had our picture made, imagine that and headed off towards Fantasy Land. We got fast passes for Peter Pan although the line wasn't too long. Then we headed towards Small World which we are pretty sure was Cole's favorite. He sat wide eyed and mouth open through the whole thing. His head was going back and forth, back and forth!! Then we gave him a bottle while watching the Small World boats go through. It was time for Peter Pan which he also seemed to enjoy, though it was dark so he wasn't as comfortable in there.

for the record...i stick my big toes up like this and Cole does too.....

We walked through Liberty Square and then to Adventure Land where we saw one of my all time favorites, The Country Bear Jamboree. I love, love that show!!! We both know the entire thing pretty much by heart. Then we headed to the Tiki Room, but little man just couldn't hold his eyes open a minute longer. He slept right through. He slept in the stroller while his Momma and Daddy ate ice cream. (Dole Whip for Andy & then....well most of my Coke float for Andy too) Cole woke up and we went to Tomorrow Land and got on the People Mover (TTA, whatever they call it these days) It's always a favorite. They are working on refurbishing Space Mountain so it was all covered up in there. We thought Cole might have had enough for one day and decided to head back to rest.

Cole and Mommy on the people mover

After resting we had reservations at our all time favorite place in all "the world", O'hana at the Polynesian. Oh my stars! If you haven't eaten there, you MUST! They bring out all sorts of starters to share family style at your table. (Asian noodles, steamed veggies, BBQ chicken wings, the best salad ever (honey, lime dressing of some sort...could be my favorite part) and coconut bread..seems like I'm leaving something out)Then they come around to your table with meat on skewers right off the grill: pork, turkey, steak and then...grill shrimp. They are wonderful!! They brought us shrimp and more shrimp, finally giving a whole HUGE enormous skewer full to just us. It was crazy and yummy. Then for dessert they bring hot bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream....banana foster caramel like sauce to pour over. Oh oh oh...it is so very yummy!!

People that hear me talk about our Disney eating obsession...but my kids wont like it, wont sit still, whatever. It's Disney folks!! They are there for entertaining your kiddos, never fear!! While Mom & Dad are chowing down, there is entertainment at O'Hana. There is a lady who teaches hula and you get a lei, she sings a song and kids slow dance with their parents, there's a kid parade and limbo and then coconut racing. The kids hit a coconut with a broom around the restraunt. Your kids will not be bored! The room overlooks Bay Lake, the other resorts on the monorail line and there is the castle in the background. Can you go wrong?? I told one family about it who ate there at night as Wishes (fireworks program) started at the Magic Kingdom and there little boy was asked to turn off the lights in the restaurant for the show, they pipe in the music and everything!

I had big plans of taking Cole somewhere for Halloween all dressed up. It was 90 degrees Halloween Day in Disney World...there was no way that he was wearing a fleece like Mickey outfit. People were dressed up all day though and we saw some fantastic costumes. People are So creative!! They were trick or treating at the resorts and everywhere else it seemed, pretty neat. We ended up going back and taking a few pictures of Toot dressed as Mickey and then pretty much called it a night.

Cole's First Disney Trip
Officially Day 1
We arrive

I've dreamed for so long of taking our own little one to our favorite place on Earth, Walt Disney World. Finally last week, that dream came true! I had a lot of people say to me "He's too young, he wont remember it, what can you DO with a baby?" We've been going and doing for 10 years now and taking Cole was something we couldn't wait a day longer to do! So off we went....

We decided to leave Thursday evening about 7:30 after a day of work for both of us. Andy gets up about 5AM and I knew he wouldn't be able to drive as far as we both wished. Still, we knew any further down the road we could go, would make life easier on Friday. Cole had his last bottle, was in his jammies and we were off.

We made it to Valdosta around midnight and found a room at a Comfort Inn & Suites. I have to say it was one of the most comfortable beds ever. It had a feather topper and was queen size, the softest sheets. Ooo La La.... They didn't have cribs or pack n plays, so Daddy was lucky enough to spend the night in the bed with Wild Man! I hear it was quite the night of wild kicking and flinging himself around. When I woke up Andy was on the opposite side of the bed from where he started. Seems a little bitty guy takes up a big ton of room.

Cole in Valdosta in his jammies

We woke up about 7, had our free breakfast and were off again by about 8:30. Cole went back to sleep and woke up a few hours into our journey, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel to give him a bottle and change his diaper. (Just like our mountains trip that I didn't blog about) You can't beat a Cracker Barrell for their comfy rocking chairs and clean restrooms. We got a cheese & cracker plate, extra pickles and sweet teas to go. Cole had to have a little entertainment for about an hour so Mommy crawled between the seats and wedged herself between the mountain of stuff to entertain the doodle bug. Crawling through was quite the sight I'm sure....



We arrived, checked in within a few minutes (people, pre-check in online for Disney...takes you one minute to grab your resort room keys while everyone else waits in line) and unpacked. Our room was fantastic. It was right beside the parking lot, a pool (there are a bunch at Port Orleans Riverside) and laundry area. (Which we used every other day!) Perfect, perfect location!! It was our second time there and it has become our favorite I think.

Cole finds a "not so" hidden Mickey in our room!

----Side note here to say Riverside is awesome! Check out the January blog for pictures around the resort. It is located along the river and very pretty. You can rent boats, ride the "river cruise" to Downtown Disney or just enjoy the boat traffic. The table service restaurant "Boatwrights" is very good and the quickie service place has a ton of selections. The bar area, which is entirely family friendly and not your typical "bar area" at all, is so much fun. More about the wonderful night with Mr. Piano man later. There is a store, of course. There's an acrade and a big ole lobby. You can take a carriage ride from right there or just visit the pretty big ole horses. The walkway to Port Orleans French Quarter is a wonderful easy walk. You can use the pool and all over there as well. The "main" pool at Riverside is cute with the slide and all, a kiddie pool and the area is really neat. There's a fishing hole where you can cane pole fish, a huge play ground and they have story telling by a camp fire at night. There are 5 or 6 pools located between the other buildings and they are pretty big as well, with laundry facilities at each of those areas. There is the "mansions" section, where we've stayed both times. "Think Gone with the Wind and Tara" Then there is "alligator bayou" which is more... cabin like. It's the only resort that "techincally" holds 5 people, there's a trundle slide out bed. It's a beautiful resort with tons to do right there"------





Anyway.... we had supper at the quickie resort location. I had yummy turkey, mashed taters and veggies. Chocolate cake for dessert, gotta love the dining plan. Andy had a chicken caesar salad and oatmeal raisin cookie. Yummy~

Then we hopped on the boat (another reason Riverside is so neat) and headed downtown. It was the first time we've been by the Tree House Villas since they have reopened, sure would be fun to stay there. Our friends, Amber & Jonathan, stayed and said they are super neat. The 10ish minute boat ride is a nice way to get from place to place for sure!!

Downtown Disney was PACKED and there were kids in costumes everywhere. It was still the night before Halloween, but they had trick or treating at tons of locations and boy the kids were out in droves. We met my wonderful friend Terry and hung out awhile. We walked around the World of Disney, lines were way too crazy to shop though. We took some pictures, visited a bit and got scared to death by a magician. (He came out of nowhere and talked into a microphone, making poor Cole cry like crazy. The only real time he cried all week and it was because of the surprise factor, the man came out of nowhere)

By then the crowds were crazy, Cole was tired and we called it a night.

Terry, Cole and Me

Andy, Cole & Me

Guess who leaves for Disney Thursday?

Temper

You've seen the pictures, but here they are again... with a few more just for fun. My son, has a temper. It's just a fact. He came into the world screaming.....

Exhibit A


Granted most babies come into the world screaming. I wonder if 3 months later they are all having outbursts randomly just to see what Mommy & Daddy will do?!

He's had these outbursts randomly from time to time since he was about a month old. Typically you know one is coming if he's tired or hungry. That's when babies are supposed (suppose? Supposed? I don't know!) to cry, I completely understand their need to communicate this.

Exhibit B

His first bath. Let's just say it didn't go "swimmingly"!!




Ok, just kidding. I know, I know. He is allowed to scream through his first bath, it's scary!!


Exhibit C




What you don't see here is that he was laying there playing with me, all smiles. 1/2 a second later this is what happened. He gets bored with me and instead of politely saying "Mommy I'm really tired of that toy you are dangling there and that little voice you are using, please let me have alone time" ... He goes nuts!



Speaking of nuts...

His Daddy says he "nuts up" or is "nuttin' up" or he's had a "nut up"...... Daddy's words.....


Exhibit D

This time we have all the photo evidence.....

He's laying with Daddy playing happily, talking, smiling, just enjoying boy time.....





But wait a half second later we have it coming.....
(Yes, I see the bib.... )



And there it is, seriously folks this was all in about 2 seconds.... he goes from smiles to purple in minutes!!!!!!!





You want to ask.... are you sure he's not hurting? Maybe it's a tummy ache? Maybe he's really tired? Maybe he's growing and needs more to eat?

People - HE JUST GETS ANGRY!

A few weeks ago I was sitting on the couch with him, Andy was cutting grass. Cole had eaten a bottle, burped and all was right in the world. Within seconds he went bonkers on me. I thought I'd hurt an arm picking him up wrong. I hugged him, he screamed. I laid him down to be sure his arms & legs moved, he was fine. I tried to lay him on his tummy, his back, rocked, swayed, bounced, talked, sang, jiggled, swaddled, unswaddled, changed his diaper... I was ready to go get Andy and say SOMETHING IS WRONG.....

Instead... I decided to take him to our bathroom and put him in his bouncy seat, turned on the exhaust fan (b/c doesn't every baby like that noise? mine does) And within a second, he went from that face up there.... to a seriously happily smiling, babbling baby .... no joke!

His Daddy holds him and dances around the house like an Indian (feather, not dot ... I know not politically correct, but I needed you to get the picture) and he chants. Cole usually stops crying. Me... nope I go for naked time in the floor (Cole, not me!) , Cole loves being naked. Or I go for the bouncy seat and exhaust fan in the bathroom! Sometimes laying in his big bed with the mobile will do the trick. *sigh* Whatever works right??

*Had to come back and add the little sweetheart also holds his breath when he's angry. Turns pretty shades of purple and you have to blow in his face to get him to breath again, fun huh?! HE HE HE*

.......

And if you don't believe me... Feel free to ask Amy McFarland Houseworth, her sweet sister Cathy, either of their children and wonderful Ms.Dian. THEY didn't believe it either, even said that... until he showed them that wonderful little temper last week. Had to make believers outta them! .... Or his Granny & Grumpy, he doesn't just do these little fits for us...he lets everyone have a shot. Mimi, Pappy and some cousins got a taste yesterday too. Yes, we want everyone to see the little love bug at his finest.


Yeah you know this post was written in fun. Although he does have a huge temper, the thing is you never know when it's coming, there are no warning signs. He is absolutely the sweetest and happiest baby in the world 99% of the time. I wouldn't even say he's a fussy baby, he just has a few moments. He smiles at everyone, loves to "talk" all the time, laughs out loud and is the sunshine in our lives!! (temper and all)

Fall

I absolutely love fall. Summer is fantastic and I love being home, vacations to the beach, lazy days in the pool with a book, flip flops and a good tan. None of that can top the warm fuzzies that fall gives me though!

I love the smells of fall. I pull out the apple and cinnamon candles, open the windows and smile. I enjoy the last few smells coming from the grill and leaves burning in people’s backyards. Ah, fall….

I love the sights of fall. I love the hay, corn, scarecrow and pumpkin displays in yards. I love the leaves when they turn bright shades of red, orange and yellow. (Shhh, when I say that it sends Andy into a tizzy because he’s the one who ends up raking them and we have soo many! The leaves from our entire cul de sac blow down our driveway and stack themselves waist deep a few times before it’s all said and done. I digress…..)




(Our front yard in 2005 I think? Grand Daddy's last birthday here with us)



I love the tastes of fall. I love to make pumpkin pie and apple tasting at school. I love that the mornings are cool enough for me to enjoy coffee again.

I love the events of fall. I look forward to arts & craft shows, college football season and the weather just right for me to play golf again.

I love school in the fall. I love getting to know my new little friends. I love the smell of a new box of crayons. I love our apple unit with poems, painting, crafts, tasting and graphing. I love when we explore pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds, everyone wears orange, we have scarecrow day and visit our pumpkin patch.

I love when we get to camp in the fall. We head to the lake and get that perfect camping spot. We can set up the camper in no time, we have it down to a science. I love sitting in a chair and watching boat traffic, feeding the ducks, watching the sun come and go, taking a walk and saying hello to all the camping neighbors. I love the smell of a fire and roasting marshmallows, make mine just a smidge dark please! I love seeing the deer, watching squirrels and life slowing down for a few days. I love playing board games at night and spending time just us away from it all. I can't wait to take Cole camping. (I guess it wont be so quiet huh?!)


Don’t get me started on how much I love the fair? I have no idea what it is about it that gives me the warm fuzzies. I don’t get on the rides there anymore, but love to see the smiles and hear the squeals of those who do. I love to see all the twinkly lights at night. I love the greasy, fried, fattening food and it’s always such a hard choice on what to get! I love visiting the farm animals and even walking through the handmade trinkets. I like to see who grew the biggest pumpkin and what the winning flowers are. (and some years we make it to the state fair in Perry which is a huge fair on steroids, oh my I’m in hog heaven then!)

The mountains, we absolutely love the Smokey Mountains. Fall is the most wonderful time to get up to Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg, TN. We usually make it sometime around my birthday weekend in September. We ride the chair lift, eat at our favorite places, walk down the main strip, go outlet shopping, maybe take a "short" scenic drive, eat Karmel Korn (yes I spelled it right), get taffy for taking home, visit the nature center for a walk in the woods or watching the movie out there, riding the tram to the Ski Lodge and maybe seeing the bears. Oh and eating at a pancake house or two. The only times I crave pancakes are when we're there and it's sort of "law" that you must consume pancakes while in the mountains. Mmmmm....... Perfection!!

(our annual picture in 2006,we get one made every year :)

I can’t wait to be the one taking pictures of a certain rolly polly baby by a big honkin’ pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. I’ve waited on that a very long time! There are so many firsts that I know Cole will never remember, but they do OUR hearts so much good, I can’t stand it! J

For so many years Halloween broke my heart and cute munchkins ringing our doorbell, dressed in their attire, would break my heart and make me cry. This year we’ll be spending Cole’s first Halloween at the Happiest Place on Earth. We’ll have our own cutie pa tootie dressed up and enjoying the lights of Main Street. We wont be handing out candy at our front door, but will be eating dinner at our very favorite restaurant in all the world, O’Hana! I can’t tell you how excited I am!!

Fall is the beginning of the Holiday season where we gather to give thanks with our family and friends, followed by Christmas and OH How I LOVE Christmas!

So as todays high only reached 71 here in HotLanta, the stores have their scarecrows out…. I smile, take a deep breathe and say “Welcome Fall! Welcome my absolute favorite season, it’s good to see you!”

What’s Up - Mommy hood - Busy - What I’m learning

Those are all options for this blog‘s title. I can’t believe I now go so long without rambling here. For those (3) readers that pop in here, keep in mind I post pictures on Facebook all the time. You can always go there to see the cutest baby on the block! Otherwise… here is what I have (or haven’t) been doing lately.

-I did change the blog layout to get ready for my favorite season! (another blog on that to follow) !

-I have not read through my ever growing pile of books stacked in the guest bedroom. I have read all the Dr. Suess books we own at least 10 times each, the Veggie Tale books we have about 152 times each and most other books in Cole’s faves (meaning they rhyme) collection a few hundred times.

-I have caught up on my DVR shows during late night feedings and found some strange shows I can't live without. I have been watching (or listening to) Little Einstein DVD’s and any cartoon that has music! I have not watched a single thing in "real time" in months!

-I have not been staying up late to play online. I have been going to bed before the sun goes down! (because at some point during the night I’m up with the moon…and a sweet baby… for an hour or so)

-I did not get a better tan, read all the books I took, go shopping (for more than an hour) or see a movie while at the beach with our family & my parents. I did have a dream come true taking Cole on his first vacation, take turns with everyone inside playing with Cole while the others enjoyed the beach, finally finish reading one book I took & watched our sweet boy sleep in all our favorite restaurants in Panama City.




-I have been watching Cole gain weight and grow like a weed the past 3 months. I’ve watched him grow into and then back out of clothes at lightning speed.



-I have laughed until I cried, the good kind, daily at Cole’s antics, silly faces and listening to his Daddy talk to him.

-I have learned how to type, write, read, get ready, unload the dishwasher and many other fun things while holding a squirming baby.

-I have learned that one itty bitty baby causes more laundry than should be possible. (of course part of that is also OUR clothes because we’re peed or barfed on a few times a day)

-I am learning that being a morning person isn’t so bad. If Cole will continue to sleep 8 or 9 hours at a time. I can handle going to bed at 9 and getting up at 5. Who would have ever thought that I’d say I was thankful to sleep until 5 or 6AM????

-I have learned that singing or talking to a baby in the backseat can sometimes keep him calm. I’ve also learned the routes everywhere around town that will avoid the most amount of red lights. (he hates to stop moving)

(in the carseat on the way to the beach where he had his Daddy & Granny in the back to entertain him! his Mommy gets car sick, yuck!)

-I’ve learned that 3 hours in my parents pool while they love on Cole is something to be so thankful for on a summer sunny day. It’s good for everyone’s soul.

(and since I refuse to post a picture of ME in the pool, here's one of Cole's Daddy & Grumpy)

-I’ve learned that when Cole holds his breath, turns red (and then purple) and shrieks at the top of his lungs…it’s not because he’s hurt, sick or dying…he just has a temper!!


It is not irony wasted on me that he is wearing a bib that says happy, no siree!!!!!!



-I’ve learned that if you take 100 pictures at the time while holding the camera slightly beside your face and making silly noises….you just might get one good picture out of it. (you were right Wendy)



(or at least a fun picture) he he he..........




-I’m learning that the best laid plans are just good ideas when you have a baby.

-I’ve learned to put a paci in and pat a baby back to sleep without ever opening my eyes.

-I have figured out that Cole is 100% fascinated with the bathroom exhaust fan and hair dryer. He will sit entertained in the bouncy seat for me to get ready as long as these things are all running.

-I have learned that you better keep an extra container of formula in the cabinet at all times.

-I have learned that if Cole’s grouchy the mobile in his big bed will almost always make him laugh. He loves those guys floating over his head!



-I have figured out how to pack a diaper bag for any foreseeable (or not) events!

-I learned that a degree in child development would not help a single second when I brought my very own newborn home from the hospital. I learned that having my own baby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week was nothing like babysitting or working in daycare with other people's babies for a few hours a day. I learned real life is nothing like the book says!

I am learning that although Motherhood is much harder than I ever imagined, it is also more amazing than my mind (or heart) could have ever fathomed!! And I am learning that daily, I have a lot more to learn!!!!

There is a blogger in our "blogging world" that everyone knows and loves. Her "real" name is Jennifer and her bloggy name is "McKMama". She is a gifted writer, amazing photographer, a Christian warrior and the Mommy to 4 little munchkins. Her youngest has been fighting SVT (a very irregular heartbeat) since before he was born. They never thought he'd be born and make it in the first place. He is here though and he is a precious little guy. He has been in and out of the hospital several times. He is there again right now and this is about as bad as he's been. Things aren't looking good for him. For a little boy doctors said would never be born alive though, he's a fighter. God can do anything and I'm praying for a miracle. If you'd like to read more about Stellan, click here. If you don't have time, please say extra prayers for a little boy named Stellan and his precious family. As I sit here with my own little one napping by me on the couch, my heart breaks for a family watching their baby sturggle like this.