Disney: Day#3

FEB 23--

Today was a jam packed day!  We started off with an early character breakfast in Africa/ Animal Kingdom. Campbell once again got to dance all around, leading a conga line and this time she even got to play an instrument. The breakfast was pretty yummy and Campbell even liked her “jamba juice”. 

After breakfast we went straight for the Safari and got to see so many animals.

We walked around a lot and tried to look at the different exhibits but I quickly realized that it may be a little more educational than Campbell was ready for.  Thankfully, we heard some music and Campbell got to play some drums.

We saw the Tree of Life, walked through Asia and ended up at the Nemo show. Campbell loves Nemo but all the walking and waiting had worn her out and I could tell she was going to fall asleep during the show so we ended up leaving early.  I think we all needed some rest!  Being pregnant, trying to keep a 2 yr old entertained and are whole group together and going in the same direction is really exhausting!

After eating lunch and getting a nap, we headed back out to Hollywood Studios. We split up so Dad & Matt could watch some stunt car action and Mom & I took Campbell to Playhouse Disney Live.  Campbell watches PD every morning so she knew all the characters &songs!

We went to the Little Mermaid show which was a very long wait and missed the American Idol show.  We realized the park was closing early and we didn’t have reservations to eat dinner anywhere. So we ended up coming back to the hotel hungry and tired from a very long day.  Its amazing how much we did get to see and experience but there is just so much that its so overwhelming trying to do it all and then frustrating when you have to leave, knowing there is so much you missed.  I guess that’s why so many families go back so many times!

Each night when we returned back to our room, Campbell’s bed was turned down with whatever stuffed animals she had left out. She thought that was so cool!

Disney: Day#2, part 2

After a much needed nap back at the hotel, we got dressed up for our special dinner at Cinderella’s castle.  Campbell was so beautiful in her blue ball gown!  We got to meet Cinderella and get an autograph & picture with her before going up the stairs in her castle to eat dinner in the ballroom.  During the meal, the Fairy Godmother came out along with “Cinderelli’s” mouse friends.  Campbell clapped along and waved to the characters and was a true princess for the meal. She hugged my neck so tight and said “thank you mama. I love you!”

As we were leaving dinner, it was time for the parade to begin and we had a special view from the balcony of the castle.

 

We realized that we had seen the very same parade the night before and as soon as Campbell got to see her her favorite princesses, we talked her into leaving the parade (and the crowd!) to ride.  This is definitely a good time to beat the lines and you can see the fireworks show from most anywhere in the park.

We took her on all the classics: the Teacups (her favorite!), Its a Small World,  Dumbo. She got worn out in the line for Dumbo so that was our last ride and the perfect ending to our first full day in Magic Kingdom!

Disney: Day #2, part 1

We started our day off with a character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. This was wonderful and so much more than we even expected! The breakfast buffet was really good and Campbell got to meet (and hug! and get autographs!) from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto & Goofy.  She was literally jumping up & down with excitement.  They would play this song every 20 minutes or so and all the characters would come out and dance.  Campbell would clap and dance and sing-a-long. It was so thrilling for her and just as exciting for us to see her so happy.  Literally, when Minnie came to our table first and hugged Campbell I got teary eyed and pretty sure that Honey & Papa did too.  Soon Campbell had us laughing until we really were crying! Donald was the last character to visit and just as he was leaving the dance song came on. Well, the characters grab the white napkins and wave them around.  Campbell hopped down and starting dancing with Donald.  She saw a white napkin on a bus tray and grabbed it so she could start twirling it around just like Donald-it was hilarious!  She was literally “shaking her tail feather” and had our entire section of the restaurant entertained.  Papa said he had never seen anything so funny in his life and that moment made the entire trip worthwhile!  Wow—and we were only getting started…

Then, it was on to the park!  We rode the monorail which was fun.  As we were getting into the Magic Kingdom a parade & dance party was getting started so of course we had to stop and do some dancing in the street!

 

And then, it was time to do what we came for…  Meet the Little Mermaid.  We went over to her Grotto and stood in line awhile but Campbell was patient and sooo excited!  When it was finally our time, Ariel told Campbell to “swim on over little starfish” which Campbell thought was great!  She was a little shy so I had to give her some conversation starters.  And she was a little distant at first-I think she was just so mesmerized.  Ariel just hugged her and told her how cute she was and called her by name. When I told Ariel that Campbell dressed up like her for Halloween, red hair and all, Ariel hung her red curls around Campbell’s face and said “I bet you looked glorious as a red head!”  Ariel was so talkative and funny and Campbell was totally in love.  She kept saying “I love you mermaid.”

 

 

 

After all the excitement of meeting Ariel, the long wait and the warm sun, Campbell was ready for a nap!  It was time to go back to the hotel to rest and get ready for our special dinner at Cinderella’s castle.  On the way out, we had to stop to get Campbell her own Cinderella dress to wear for the evening event.  Campbell and I waited outside the store and we happened to see the Fairy Godmother!  We were the very last ones to get in line (thanks to a very sweet “friend of Mickey”) and Campbell got her autograph & told the FG that she loved her. Bibbity Bobbity Boo!

 

Another cute thing is that everyone that worked at Disney kept calling Campbell “Princess” as in “what can I get you to drink Princess…watch your step Princess…here you go Princess…” all day!  She thought that was absolutely wonderful!  Oh great-after 4 days of this she really is going to be spoiled!

Disney World with Campbell

Last year, Matt and I went to Orlando. I had a work engagement and took Matt along to play at Disney. The entire time I was there I missed Campbell so much and could not wait for the day she could experience Disney World. The day finally came!  I had a plastics recycling conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort so it was the perfect opportunity to bring along the family for some fun!  Honey and Papa decided to join us too.  This was only their second time at Disney (since we once was enough for them when we were kids!).

I think we all fell in love with the wonder and magic of Walt Disney all over again.  Experiencing Disney through Campbell’s eyes was truly special and something I know we’ll always remember. 

Of course we have tons of pictures-this was my first adventure with my new camera I got from my parents for Christmas!!  I’ll recap day by day and try to brief…here we go:

 

DAY #1-Saturday

We arrived mid-afternoon in Orlando. The idea was we would get there and take our time to check-in, get our bearings, Campbell would take a nap, the guys would get supplies, we would eat dinner and get to bed early ready to go.  On the way there, we mentioned that there was a parade every night,  Well, Papa just had to go!  What’s the point in waiting to go to the park?? We’re here..let’s go!  So yes, we bought tickets to get in for just a few hours to see the parade and firewoks. Little did we know, we’d see that very same parade about three more times before we left!  Oh well-it was the perfect intro to Disney! 

We arrived just as it was getting dark. Within five minutes of getting through the gates,Papa had bought Campbell a huge balloon and a light-up, twirling Sleeping Beauty. She got so excited when she saw Cinderella’s castle. She kept jumping and pointing. Then, the park went dark and millions of little lights came on. Talk about overwhelming! Campbell was so exhausted and almost fell asleep on Matt’s shoulders(since she had no nap at the hotel because she was so excited!) but she absolutely lit up when she recognized some of her favorite characters in the SpectroMagic parade and almost cried when she saw the Little Mermaid.

Preggo Update

I realize that some people have entire blogs actually dedicated to their pregnancies and I really haven’t talked about it much at all.  Its not that I am not excited about it but I guess most of my blogs are based on photos taken, events attended or happenings such.  And while pregnancy is definitely a big happening I have failed to really write that much about it.  For those of you who have asked, I am sorry. I will try to do better!!

So to bring everyone up to speed:  I fell down the stairs. Got a little whiplash and a high ankle sprain. Went to the doc yesterday and everything is a-okay.  Couldn’t talk him into an ultrasound. No gender news yet.

 

WHAT???
  UGLY BETTY SEASON 3,  EPISODE 1 “Who Pushed Christina down the Stairs?”

 

Ok, if that was all too fast for you or you just really like a long story here you go:

Last week, I had gone upstairs to get Campbell’s valentines so we could get them ready for her party at school. I was wearing some heels (not stilettos…and they did have rubber bottoms..) and had a dress on with tights. Our stairs are carpeted and I guess I lost my footing and the next thing I know I am in slow motion tumbling down the steps, let out a little yelp and Matt finds me upside down-cross ways on the mid stair landing. 

How totally cliché… pregnant woman falling down the stairs??!!!

Immediately I wasn't really hurt, just rug burns on my hands and knees and shin. I was supposed to go to the Edible Art party but decided to just stay on the couch.  I never once felt a cramp or anything unusual with the baby so I wasn’t really worried but knew that I needed to take it easy.  I could tell I was developing a bruise on my shin.  When I got up to get ready for bed my right foot/ankle/leg was extremely stiff.

The next morning I could hardly walk on that leg. I actually had someone visiting in town for work so I tried my best to hobble without being noticeable so I didn’t have to explain but it was painful.  Eventually my leg got better but my neck started getting really sore and couldn't really turn it. So I went to see my chiropractor friend yesterday and he had to work on me a little extra and a little rough (I can't have regular therapy since I'm preggo). So last night I felt like I was in a neck brace, just really stiff and not a lot of range of motion.

Anyway, my chiro friend said I actually had whiplash from the fall. I think I probably overcompensated my neck trying to turn when I fell to make sure I didn't fall on my stomach. And my leg is more than likely a high ankle sprain-nothing to do but rest, ice my neck and take Tylenol for the inflammation.

But of course when a few of my friends found out about my spill they were concerned and told me that yes I did need to call my doc and request an ultrasound immediately. 

I never did call the doc since I had my appt already scheduled butI figured that when I did tell him it would be a great reason to get the ultrasound early and find out what we are having!

Well, today was my 17 week appointment and I did not get to have the ultrasound. Yes, even telling him I fell down the steps (and Matt was in the room to tell him details!). Dr. A pretty much said there shouldn't be any problems since I didn't have any spotting, cramping, pains, etc. and it happened over a week ago so if there was problems I would have experienced something. The baby is well protected and even in car wrecks and things like that that happen all the time the mother usually gets more hurt than the child. So he told me to put up the high heels and look where I was going.

I told him I shouldn’t have downplayed the fall and made it worse than it sounded so we could get an ultrasound and find out what we're having.  Well, he said that it would have to happen in the ER or something, its not part of the scheduled plan. They like to have the blood work done first so that if anything unusual shows up on the results they know to look for something special in the ultrasound. So instead of getting an ultrasound I got my blood drawn—yuck!!

We did get to hear the heartbeat which was great, the baby is moving a lot.  And Dr. A even said the heartbeat sounded like a boy which made Matt's day BUT I know he also told a few friends of mine the same thing and they had girls so I'm not even thinking about it. (and I looked it up online and there is no real evidence) SO, we'll wait until next time. He did let me schedule it right at 20 weeks and we made the appt on Matt's bday, March 9. So that will be a great Birthday present for Matt, no matter what we find out we are having.

Sorry to disappoint with the not so exciting news but we'll all have to wait a little longer....