Being Four

Being four means learning boundaries. It means talking back to mom and dad. It means thinking you know everything. It means learning confidence, even if it gets you in trouble most of the time.

I sometimes tease my husband that B is filled with all of our worst qualities:

• Stubborn as a mule (his side)
• Impatient and short-tempered (me)
• Doesn't listen well (him)
• Night owl and grumpy in the morning (me)
• Hates school (me again)

Be he's also:

• Empathetic and kind (dad)
• Loves to cuddle (dad)
• Creative (mom and dad)
• Loves music (mom and dad)
• laughs and enjoys life
• shops well
• travels wonderfully

I believe a lot of his attributes towards the end can be credited towards me and K having a more relaxed parenting style since he was an infant. We try really hard to let him experience life and learn and grow as he does without being too overbearing. 

I'm blessed to have this little boy. As much as he wears me out and has endless energy, he really is such a good boy. As he now embarks on the new adventures of school, I can't help wondering what the future holds for us. I'm not sure what road I take from here. For four years he's been my buddy, my sidekick. I'm kind of afraid to be on my own again. I know that, no matter what, God will help reveal that path. As He as lead me every step of the way thus far. 

Patience is a virtue, but it's hard to remember this sometimes. I'm going to be sad as nugget begins full-time school. It's hard to watch them grow up and away from you, but it's also one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever known.

Sleep-1 B-0

My B had been a sleeping nightmare since this past weekend! Saturday night he woke up at 3 am and stayed crying for a solid 30 minutes before going back to sleep.

The night before last he refused to fall asleep unless he was in bed with us. I finally left him in his room at 2 and he cried until he fell asleep 25 minutes later.

Last night I was more careful to monitor nap time and keep the bed time routine in check and he went to bed willingly for me at 9:45 pm. However, 5 am like clockwork he's up crying. I went into his room and consoled him. I told him if he laid down I would stay in there with him, but he refused. So I said okay and that I loved him and good night. I went into my room, turned on the bathroom fan to drown him out a little so K could sleep, and it only took him 10 minutes to fall asleep. I don't know if it was the fan noise getting into his room or if it was because he was more hysterical than normal.

I've tried it all. I can't sit in his room because it makes it worse. He wants to be in my arms and in my bed. I never let him sleep in my bed so I'm not entirely sure why he's decided he needs to be in bed with us. He's been doing this for months now off and on. Last time around I started giving him allergy medicine every day and he slept thorough the night fine. So I do wonder if he's having some reaction to the enormous amount of pollen in the air and it's just not something I can physically see.

Either way, I've also made sure naps are no more than 2 hours and our routine at night is always the same. He is a night owl like his momma and that's a problem! 

The hardest part about it is staying strong while he's screaming "mommy! Mommy!" In his room. At 3 am you are so tired and it hits you right in your heart! Regardless, I think the solution for B is being told he's loved and leaving him to go back to sleep on his own. He has a music box from his late grandmother, but I don't think it's working anymore. He's just plain stubborn and two. A hard combination.

Luckily I have had a lot of great support from other moms of two year olds and older. They've given me some great feedback or just a plain "stay strong!" And that helps a lot. Sometimes you feel like you're alone in this terrible toddler life, but it's never true. 

So, let's hope 10 minutes turns to 5 tonight! 

Mother's Day

Yesterday we went to my grandmother's grave to change the flowers. It was a pretty afternoon and the weather was nice and cool. It was the first time I really took B out to the grave site. It was amazing how powerfully I felt my grandmother there. It was like the moment we walked up I knew she was there. I felt her extreme love for her family,  and especially my B.

I often struggle with missing her when I think of how much she would have enjoyed B here in the physical world. I was reminded yesterday of how she is enjoying him in the spiritual world as well.

I truly felt her love for him. I could hear her voice talking to him and enjoying his silliness as he "fluffed" the flowers we placed on her grave. 

I have so many loved ones watching over my son and that's a great feeling. I miss my family who have passed on, but I often feel the presence of certain family members--even K's passed family members. When I feel them, I feel comfort. I know my little man is being watched over and protected.

It was a great feeling to have Leelish's presence around yesterday. I miss her more than there are words to describe, so it's nice to feel her love in such a physical way like that.

B is Two!

Two years ago today at this time (10:15 pm) I was sitting in my hospital room anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little man. I cannot believe it has been two years already! My little B has been the biggest blessing in my life, I truly could not love him more. I wanted to dedicated this post to him by filling out a questionnaire about my little man.

A conversation with B (2 years old);
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Least Favorite Food: Tomatoes (Ironic, right?)
Favorite Sport: Anything involving a ball!
Favorite Television Show: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates
Favorite Thing To Do: Slide down the slide
Favorite Song: "Happy" by Pharrell, "What Does the Fox Say?" Yvelis
Favorite Book: "Animal Strike at the Zoo"
Favorite Movie: Jungle Book, Monsters Inc, Brave, and Frozen (But Disney movies are awesome)
Three Words That Describe Me: Stubborn, Short-tempered, Giving

B, while stubborn and short-tempered, is so very kind. He will randomly bring you a toy, share his food, and bring the dog her toys. He will come up and snuggle with you and give you a kiss. He is so loving and kind-hearted and that makes me melt. He is the sweetest little boy and is so fun. Anything to make you smile.

I have enjoyed every day of B's life. He has given me a whole new outlook on life. I cannot wait to watch him grow and learn more and more. I love my little B! Happy Birthday baby boy!

Spring Break

Spring is here and thus comes more activities with Easter, Spring Break, nice weather, etc.

We have been busy. We have visited the easter bunny, gone egg hunting, and I have been getting ready for B's birthday party. I cannot believe Easter is already this weekend! It's like April came and went in a flash.

B got his birthday present early this year. We got him a slide that he can climb over and under. I got it at a consignment fair and he has not stopped sliding on it since! He is thrilled and he definitely uses it to climb all over instead of me and my couch! It definitely has helped a lot on these rainy afternoons.

I've been re-watching That 70's Show. Have you ever watched the entire series the whole way through? It's on Netflix and I highly recommend it. It's such a hilarious show and I have watched it the entire way through at least 4 times. It's one of my favorite shows and one of the only shows whose series finale did it justice.

So there is what you can do next time you're bored!

Musical B

My little B is such a talented kid musically. He may not be talking, but he's singing! Today we were running errands and Katy Perry's "Roar" came on the radio; and the part where she's singing "roar" over and over and building B sang with her. At the climax of the song he made a real big face and sang it real loud. It was literally perfect and precious. I think I will miss these moments the most as he is in between talking and using his own chatter. We finished our errands around nap time and B started to drift off in the car and I turned on our favorite song. I used to sing it to him when he was a baby and he would always fall asleep. The song is "Fix You" by Cold Play, but my favorite version is sung by Tyler Ward and Boyce Avenue. I have that version on my ipod and when B is falling asleep in the car I will turn it on and he falls asleep without fail. I love to sing it to him and I love the words behind the song. I feel like it delivers a message of love and support and that's what I want B to know while growing up. That his mom and dad always love and support him. Here are the lyrics of the song and the video of the version I like the best. I hope it makes your day better.
Here is the video

When you try your best, but you don't succeed When you get what you want, but not what you need When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep Stuck in reverse And the tears come streaming down your face When you lose something you can't replace When you love someone, but it goes to waste Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you And high up above or down below When you're too in love to let it go But if you never try you'll never know Just what you're worth Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you Tears stream down your face When you lose something you cannot replace Tears stream down your face And I... Tears stream down your face I promise you I will learn from my mistakes Tears stream down your face And I... Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you

The sun's awake! So I'm awake!

Sunny week for the rest of the week! I am so happy with this news! Today we spent the greater part of the morning outside playing with friends and I hope to get my butt in gear and get outside for the rest of the week at some time. It also means more dog park time for B and Allie! Have I talked about how much B likes the dog park? Seriously. Almost more than the dogs! He loves running around the big open field and throwing the balls around for the pups. Sometimes he gets knocked over, but for the most part I make sure we are around friendly pups and the owners don't care. Anyway, the kids love running around so much at that park and there is a nice path to run around. Yay spring is here!

Mom Life

I am so blessed to be a stay at home mother in this economy. It is a blessing I try very hard not to take for granted. Especially on days like yesterday when no matter what I did B reacted negatively. He was fussy, whiny, and cried over everything! I have been struggling with the latest change in doses of my medicine and my patience just ended. I ended up snapping at B and yelling at him. This made me feel guilty, thus resulting in me crying. This cause B to cry and be concerned about me. Yesterday was not a good day. Days like that are hard to find the positive outlook on life. Especially when you already feel anxious and depressed. Being a mom is even harder. I run my household, plan meals, clean, and raise a beautiful little boy. And even with dream jobs you can have a bad day. I just hate having those bad days because I feel inadequate as a mother. Why can't I handle this? Why do I have to feel so depressed about silly things? Luckily I have a great support group. My hubby came home from lunch, my mom called me on her break, and I have a wonderful group of moms that I can talk to and vent to. I am so blessed and grateful to God for the blessings in my life. Even in my bad days I can take a time out and count my blessings. This is the start to turning a negative day positive. It's never easy and no one is perfect, but it's still worth trying.

Wont You Be My Neighbor?

K recently told me that there is a show on Netflix that B has been very interested in, and it was a PBS show so we were both happy. I didn't put much thought into it until I watched a show start from finish one day. The show I am talking about is Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. I PBS spin-off of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and his make believe land that the trolley would visit. I was immediately thrown back into my own toddler self. Mr. Roger's was my main man for a while. I loved watching him go explore different things, I loved his fish tank, his sweaters always made me happy that they matched his shoes, and make believe land was a fun trip. Daniel Tiger lives in make believe land, the king is there and everything! I couldn't believe it! In the specific episode I watched, he went to the post office with his mom and there was a cartoon version of the mail man who always visited Mr. Rogers! I was immediately excited about this being B's new favorite show (seriously every time he turns on Netflix he turns it on). One episode he watched yesterday was about anger and how to calm down from getting angry about something. Little B has a bad temper, so I was very glad to see a show like this existed. I appreciate Disney Junior and every show on it; I feel like there are lessons in each show. However, where Disney Junior seems to offer more scholastic lessons, Daniel Tiger seems to offer more emotional lessons. Exploring how kids feel when they lose a favorite toy, when their parents leave them for a bit, and when they get upset about something. They explore those feelings and they do not discredit them, but encourage kids to work through them. I really appreciated the show's meanings. Anyway, I was more excited about hearing that familiar tune at the beginning of the episode and watching Daniel put on a sweater and riding the trolley. What a cool idea for a television show! And now my little B gets to grow up watching something so familiar to my own favorite! On an unrelated note, B has begun talking a bit more! We are watching a friend's little one who talks quite a bit and has been for awhile. I had always hoped while watching her, that B would pick up on some words. Well, this morning it was like the switch turned on. "Oh, she's actually communicating to mom and dad. Not just saying nonsense like me." Suddenly he threw out the words, "yay", "bye", and "wa wa". Such a big step from the one and only "ball" we have been hanging on to for months now. Don't get me wrong, B will talk your ear off! Unfortunately, he speaks his own language. I cannot believe I will soon be able to communicate with him like two normal human beings! The more he grows, the more in awe I am at the fast developments of children. They learn SO much in such a short amount of time and they learn it from us! How cool is that? I cannot believe my little baby is a little boy and continuing to grow! I don't think I will ever get over it! I will be the embarrassing mom at his graduation saying how just yesterday he was in diapers! I'm okay with that.

P is for Positive

I saw this picture on Pinterest today and I thought again of how I truly believe in being in charge of my own happiness. So I wanted to share this to remind myself and others of this quote. Sometimes hormones get involved, or your day just plain sucks. That doesn't mean you don't have the ability to change it! Little man is turning 2 in almost 1 months! (ACK!) And he is ACTING LIKE IT!! Every day he becomes more of a terror. He cries and becomes angry ALL THE TIME!! FOR NO REASON!! It can be so hard to deal with! Especially as I am dealing with my own emotions while lowering my medication levels. I have had to take a couple of steps back some days and really center myself and re-focus my energy on why he is upset. I find new things to do, or I simply go walk around Target for a half hour to give him a new environment. Today was a beautiful day outside! We were able to go to the park and play and use energy that way! It was wonderful! I am trying to stay positive about the weather forecast for Tuesday. Snow. Again. The cold ALWAYS bothered me, anyway. So this weekend go outside, enjoy the beautiful weather, and be positive! Your entire being influences the people around you. A smile can change a life.

Motivational Wednesday

Because my last post was so gross and full of complaints, I feel complied to equal out my complaining with being positive. Hopefully I can motivate some friends and family in the process of explaining how I motivate myself. First and foremost I like to start off by saying I truly believe that you are in charge of your own happiness. You can wake up in the morning and have slept poorly, missed your cup of coffee, and decide the day is going to be crap. Or you can decide to treat yourself to an extra special lunch and keep a smile on your face. Each day is how you make it and if you decide to be a spoil sport about life, well your day is bound to suck. I'm not saying this is an easy task. Clearly when you are in a bad mood it's not easy just "getting over it". And when someone tells you to "get over it" it usually ends up making you more crabby. The challenge is to try. It's like a habit, the more you try the more positive you become on a daily basis. So next time you are having a bad day I challenge you to take a step back and focus on your attitude. Can you change it for the better? The next thing I like to try to do is say a prayer. I like to take a moment and humble myself and chat with God about what's going on. Ask for His help in my attitude change, and most importantly, thank Him for my blessings. Because as always, things could be worse. Usually my little frustrations are something others wish could be their own frustrations instead of what they are dealing with. Example; I was sitting in the doctor's office with B to figure out why he had been throwing up on and off for two weeks straight. I hate having to take him to the doctors, and I hated that he was sick. It hadn't been the best day and I was a bit sour about it. Then walked in someone I graduated high school with. Mind you, I graduated in 2007, not even 10 years ago. In that short amount of time this young person had been married, had children, had step children, and lost their significant other very suddenly to a disease that came so quick. They had no warning, the person got sick and died in a very short amount of time. This person is my age and now they are trying to raise multiple children and mourn the loss of their love? What a way to put your life into perspective. Here I am with my precious B who is not deathly ill, and I am texting my husband about waiting so long in the waiting room. What a life I have! It's a beautiful one and I NEVER want to take it for granted! Humble yourself and pray. Sometimes that simple act can change your day. As much as I can have bad days and bad moods; working out and eating healthier have changed my life. I am trying to force myself into this lifestyle change. I am working on making exercise a routine and stop the buying of junk food. It's not easy at all, but what little I have already incorporated into my life makes me feel significantly better on a daily basis. I feel better about myself and my self esteem. Even if I only do about 10 minutes of floor work in a day, that's better than doing nothing. And that's the attitude I try to keep. Something is better than nothing at all. Even if it is only taking a small walk outside, at least you got off of your couch! One step at a time, baby steps DO count and they SHOULD make you feel better about yourself! Missing a day of working out is not the end of the world, just add another 5 minutes the next day. And like I said, at least you're doing something! What have you done for yourself today? Always take a few minutes of the day for yourself. Sometimes this is near impossible, especially as a parent. Sometimes you have to sacrifice sleep in order to have these few minutes. That's okay. Sometimes my few minutes is me hiding in the bathroom after K comes home and simply getting on my phone to play a game for a few minutes. With the bathroom fan on, I cannot hear the commotion going on outside of the door and I can find my center. These are just some of the things that I do to help myself out of my funks. Sometimes it takes more, sometimes I need to hide away in the basement after dinner and watch television or read a trashy book. And sometimes I just need to take a step back and force myself to "get over it". This morning I forced myself to get things done, I slowly hacked away at my to do list and the more I did the more motivation I had to KEEP at it. Soon, my to do list was complete and I feel amazing about myself. All because I kicked myself in the butt and forced the work out. I hope this helps some of you to get motivated and feel better about yourself. You are in charge of your own happiness! You can do it!

Countdown to 2

My almost 2 year old is already giving me samples of "terrible two" syndrome. This week: the battle of B versus the word "no". Disclaimer: I love my son. Read any of my posts and you will know that I love my son more than life itself. He is the greatest blessing I have ever known. That being said, he is also human. Most moms say that terrible twos is a real thing, some say it's threes; and unfortunate few are wondering when the "terrible" actually stops. I've always regarded moms with respect because I could see from day 1 how stubborn my little boy was. I soon learned that not only was he stubborn (just like his father), but he was incredibly short tempered (I will take blame for this trait). Now that we are only a few short months from reaching 2, his fun little quirks have now enhanced to all out battles. As I stated above, this week it is B versus the word "no". Actually it's B versus any word that comes out of mom's mouth because he truly does not listen to a thing I say. He climbs, he throws, he hits, he pulls; he is 100% boy. Of course this means he doesn't listen to save his life. I take dangerous things from him (like electronics or knives--you know death causing items) and I try to calmly explain that it can hurt him. Unfortunately my words fall on deaf ears because he's laying on the floor screaming bloody murder. I've read parenting articles on this fun toddler stage of life, and I am currently reading a book about raising boys and how scientists believe boys think versus girls. So I try to remember what I've read as I try to approach things in a different light. AKA not just yelling at him and constantly putting him in time out. Again, he could care less. He is beginning to learn, as I have told him since the day he was born, that I can out-stubborn any Dronenburg. This is an unfortunate thing for him as today he tried to climb on the couch to jump on it for probably a good 5 minutes, while I pulled him off and repeated "no" over and over again. Eventually he gave up and is currently on a tent that he knocked on it's side and is jumping on it. As every mom before me, I am left exhausted and ready to throw in the towel. And we are not even 2 yet. I am glad for the family roots in me that have left me unwilling to admit defeat. I refuse to lose to a young child and this fuels me to stay patient and loving. Plus, my kid is cute. And that helps. Needless to say, I know my experienced mothers out there can read this and laugh at my naive and inexperienced nature, and reflect on the times when their own son (or daughter) did the same to them. I know one day I will look back on this post and laugh myself, as B calls me to complain about his own son. Because Karma is real people.

Galentine's Day

Snow storm "Pax" has made it's way to Southern Maryland. We down at the end here were not hit too hard last night! Just hard enough to be kept in from school's and the base employees to take liberal leave. B was still able to go to his Valentine's party with his friends and mom got some grocery shopping done at Target. Unfortunately, our adventure we had planned to Disney On Ice was cancelled! We were not happy about this! We are hoping to be able to hit another showing this weekend, but snow has started falling again as night fell on the town! Tina and I decided to make the most of it and B got his Valentine's Day present early! Tonight we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Ruddy Duck, for dinner followed by PJs and The Jungle Book!

Funny story about Jungle Book; my mom used to play it for me all the time. According to her, I would be quiet and watch the whole movie and she was able to take a nap after my brother was born. As an adult, I remember hating this movie growing up. I have sore memories of King Louie and the snake with the creepy eyes. And the end was sad because the kid had to actually be a human and it basically underlines the fact that you can have some fun in life, but you always have to face responsibilities and reality at the end of the day. Either way, B is obsessed with animals, particularly the jungle ones so I thought this movie might be right up his alley. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be that into it. We will try again another day.

Book Worm

My little man is quite the avid reader. He will pull book after book off of the book case if you keep offering to read them to him. He has always been this way, since he could touch a book. He is the same with movies. If he is upset or bored, I will turn on a movie and BOOM instant gratification from him. He loves Disney and almost any Disney movie will please him. He absolutely loves Brave and Hercules. A recent favorite has become Robin Hood; which was my favorite growing up so that makes me happy. His current favorite books are "Animal Strike at the Zoo" and "Star Wars 123" which speaks highly of his interests right now. I decided recently on a Zoo theme for his birthday party this year because he absolutely loves animals. He has many animal books that he will go to over and over and he is particularly fond of giraffes and elephants. I'm really excited because he also LOVES to play with balls and I found Zoo themed beach balls! Anyway, these are his two favorite books...

Another thing B is huge on is music. This kid tries to play "drums" and taps his hands on things, claps to the beat of the music, and dances. He dances and sings along to everything. He would match our pitch almost perfectly at 18 months and he now will finish singing some of his favorite songs if we sing the beginning lines. It astounds just how musically talented he is already at such a young age. I often see him growing up to be the next teen pop star. I don't know if that's something I'd want for him, but if he's that talented then why not? I definitely want to keep encouraging him with his love for music to see where it takes him. He literally has his own playlist on my youtube of his favorite songs and videos and will watch them all on repeat. One of his favorite songs is Ollie Murrs "Heart Skips a Beat". If you have never heard it before I highly recommend you go look it up. Tell me it's not worth it? It will be interesting to see where these random interests and talents take my kid. I can't wait to look back on this post a few years from now and compare where he is.

Mother Son Date Night

What a day. B woke up this morning, happy and chatty as can be! However, when I walked into his room I saw that he and his bedding were covered in poop. Unfortunately through the night B fills his diaper with pee. Pee+A LOT of poop= enormous mess. It was the kind of mess that ended up with PJ's in the trash and B straight into the shower. These are definitely the less fun moments of motherhood that you just have to laugh at. What a way to start my week, full of more poop! B and I had plans to go to our local Chic Fil A for a mother/son date night that they were hosting. I had made reservations a couple of weeks ago and was looking forward the evening with him. He loves Chic Fil A so I was excited that it was a place he actually liked. He decided to not nap today, so I am pleasantly happy to say that dinner went well. It was a cute little set up they had of a 50's diner. We got ice cream afterward and headed home. At home we got into PJ's and B got a second wind. He has been running around the house screaming and playing as if I fed him sugar straight from the packet. Luckily, K is being amazing and took him downstairs to hang out for the last hour of the evening before bed time. Hopefully no nap B will be nice and tired in about 40 minutes! Recently found out that Disney on Ice is in DC right now! I was unaware that it was coming near us! Me and Tina are looking into tickets to take B with us. He still gets in for free and I think he would truly enjoy it. We found front row tickets for only $100 and we have been debating whether or not to get those and have a real treat this weekend. We will see what happens!

Bye Bye Baby

I'm sure I have touched on this before, but it just astounds me how much B has grown in the last few months. I am officially putting away 24 month clothes as he wears them and they barely cover is little belly, and pulling out the 2T; official toddler status. It's amazing because it truly just happens in a blink of an eye. Boom. Bye bye baby, hello toddler! They just look at you one day and ask for food and you show them some options and they choose one and run along there way. You realize, "Oh my gosh, I just had a semi-intelligent conversation with my toddler." B is famous for Sunday morning melt downs. This kid will run away from me in a crowded public place and care less that he has "lost" me in the crowd. Try to leave him in nursery on Sunday? Hah. He is hysterical until K or I stop singing and go grab him from the poor (and now deaf) nursery worker. Even the moms who he knows and have watched him before outside of church will have to suffer through his cries. Well, two Sundays ago we were sitting in church and he had been doing just fine. We were by ourselves this day as it was one of the Sundays K was home sick (January has been a sickly month for this house). About the time pastor started his sermon B decided he was over sitting quietly with me. I walked him over to the nursery door and explained his options to him. "You can sit quietly in church with mama or you can go into nursery and play with your friends. Would you like to play in the nursery?" "Ah." He responded and grabbed the handle. ("Ah" is yes in B language for future reference)I opened the door and expected the normal fight, but it never came. The nursery worker smiled and asked his name (she was new) and he strolled right inside. She offered to read him a book (his favorite past time next to movie watching) and he was sold. I sat by myself in church and listened to the sermon and never heard a peep from my boy. I couldn't help but sneak a text to my husband and let him know the accomplishment! "He's getting to be a big boy now." K responded. I simply sent him a crying emoji in return, I was not ready for this. Again today, it came time for me to go sit with the choir to sing. K, once again sick, was home and it was just me and B. He was with one of his favorite nursery workers. "Okay, I am going to go sing now. Do you want to keep reading with Z in here?" "Ah." He responded, not even looking up from the book in the little toddler chair he sat in. I walked in to the church and sat down, expecting to hear cries at any time. They never came. He played quietly until I returned (it was my Sunday for nursery duty as well). He's learning more and more each day and surprising me with every bit of it. If he sees the Petco sign he starts pointing and saying "Meow" because he knows we stop in sometimes to visit the kitties that are inside. He told me he was hot in the car one sunny afternoon while we were out running errands. I took his coat off, and he was pleasant for the rest of the trip. But with this new toddler independence comes new appreciation for those loving and tender moments. When he wakes up from his nap and just rests his head on my shoulder for awhile. Or when he stops in the middle of playing and jumps into my lap and wants a kiss. His smiles and laughter all mean so much more because so much more thought is behind them. He understands so much more so it means he knows what he's laughing at or that he specifically wants a hug from mom in that moment. Those are the times where my heart literally melts with love. Although watching him grow up is hard, and helping him learn his boundaries can be even harder; it is the most rewarding experience in the world. I am so proud of that kid my heart could just explode. Even when he decides to have a temper tantrum in the middle of Target and lay completely down on the floor while screaming as other mothers walk past with a knowing smile. I don't even mind those times. Because one day he is going to stop needing me, and then he'll be grown and leaving me. I dread those days. I relish in these days. I don't want to forget them.

Days 5-7; I'm 25!

The rest of this week flew by, as I knew it would. Wednesday we explored some Disney Resorts and shopped Downtown. 

Thursday was the "big" day! We did Magic Kingdom this day and it was my *gasp* 25th birthday! It was an amazing day, despite some rainfall. We truly enjoyed ourselves as we met Merida, Goofy, and Donald. Road Buzz Lightyear's ride, ate at Be My Guest, and finished the day with Mickey's Christmas Party! We got to have dessert on Tomorrowland Terrace while they performed a light show on Cinderella's Castle followed by some amazing fireworks. It was a full day and it was obvious by this day that B was getting a little overwhelmed by all of the events. My poor guy was fast asleep by 9:30 after the fireworks and stayed passed out through our shopping, ride home, and right into his crib! All in all, it was a fantastic birthday, I felt so blessed to be able to spend my special day in the happiest place on earth.

Yesterday was our last day, sadly. We spent the day in Hollywood Studios and it was very apparent on this day that B was worn out! Luckily, this is a smaller park and the first thing we did was see Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, followed by a Disney Junior live show! B was enthralled and literally caressed Jake's face like he couldn't believe he was real! The show was a blast and keeps the kids involved! I was so impressed by how they could bring the kids into Disney Junior's world! Hollywood Studios was a great close to a fantastic week full of fun and adventures. B has fallen in love with Buzz and Woody on this trip, my greatest investment were a Buzz and Woody action figure set. He's played with it every day since.

My B has been a champion this week. I think my family and myself kept him in his own boundaries. Meaning, we didn't push him. When we could tell he hit his limit we went to a quiet area of the park until he fell asleep in the stroller and let him sleep while we took turns watching him. It all worked out so well and B slept every day in the park for a nap. I know that I am a very lucky mom and my son is a very laid back kid that I can take him to Disney World for a week and not worry about him losing it from lack of routine. However, I truly believe that as parents, K and I are more laid back as well. We know our boundaries and limits, but we don't sweat the small stuff. And that has encourage B to be the child he is. So if I could give any advice for Disney bounce parents it would be to just relax! The kid will miss some things and everything won't be perfect, but what they do see and experience means the world to them. Take that with you. I've created memories on this trip that will last me a lifetime. 

Now we are about an hour away from our first stop on the long journey home. The nice thing about an action packed week is that B is so exhausted. He slept in this morning while I finished packing and then slept almost 3.5 hours on the drive today.  He will probably be up some tonight, but that's okay! My kid is awesome and this was one of the best weeks our family has shared in a long time. We needed this week and I'm so glad we got it.

Day 4: Disney World Adventures

Today we hit Animal Kingdom followed by a delicious dinner in Epcot! In Animal Kingdom we road the Safari and saw a lot of great animals, including B's favorite; a giraffe! They walked right past us! It was so neat to see and to watch his reaction to everything. 

We also so the Lion King show and that was terrific! Truly a great show for the family to see! B met a few more characters today including Pooh Bear and Tigger. He was enthralled to meet them and it is the most heart warming experience a parent can have.

We went to Epcot for a fancy steak dinner that my aunt and uncle had snagged reservations for. There we got B chocolate "moose" and it was delicious! 

All in all today was a busy, but more relaxed day in the parks. Tomorrow we are doing some shopping and lighter activities. And Thursday is MY BIRTHDAY! Hitting the big 2-5 this year! Yikes! Thursday is Magic Kingdom day and will probably be the most action packed day we have. Literally the best park, we have a lot of rides that B can go on (including Pirates of the Carribean and Haunted Mansion--yes!!) and we have a special Christmas celebration for park after hours.

Friday is Hollywood Studios day and our last day--so sad! 

K is doing better, but still sore after the days are done. We decided it would be best if he stayed in the bungalow tomorrow and rested for the day. Especially since we will not be visiting a park tomorrow and Thursday will be a long day!

Again, I can't help but humble myself and take these blessings in! It has been an amazing trip so far--I am a lucky woman this week.

Road Trip To Disney: Days 2 and 3

I definitely spoke too soon about my decent trip down to Florida! Saturday night we got to the hotel, B woke up and was hard to get back down. And K had his back problems (due to an accident some time ago) flare up drastically. We eventually got to sleep around 1/1:30 am.

At 5:30 K woke me with a start, "Sam, I can't breath. I have to go to the hospital."

In my jumbled tiredness I tried to comprehend this without waking B. "What's happening?" I asked, needing symptoms explained.

"The pain is so bad, I literally cannot take it anymore."

What words to hear at 5 am, miles from home, with your 18 month old still asleep in the room! After much discussion, we decided to send K to the hotel's front desk and get a taxi to take him to the nearest hospital. I remained behind so that B could stay asleep, and not enter an ER.

Around 9:30 I went to pick K up. I was under the impression from a phone conversation at 8:30 that he was being discharged and could be picked up. Little did I know that the massive amount of pain killers they injected him with caused him to pass out twice and therefore, be re-admitted. To have a nurse answer your husband's phone and tell you to wait outside for her to come talk to you--not a great experience! However, she was so kind and merely told me they were trying to get K in best shape to be taken the remaining 5 hours to Orlando. She suggested a few things I could do with B while waiting for him.

My day was turned upside down. I wanted nothing more than to just be able to get to Disney and finally start my vacation! Being in a new city without my husband was not ideal, but you know what I say about life handing you lemons! F*** the lemons and bail! 

I texted my husband and told him to rest and relax and not worry. And I cried in my car for 5 minutes, bucked up, vented to my mom, and drove my sorry butt into downtown Savannah, GA. 

It turned out to be a fantastic decision on my part! B and I had a lunch buffet at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons, and walked the river walk. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and it wore B out so well that he fell asleep on our ride back to the hospital to pick up K.

Once my husband and son were safely buckled in, fed, and asleep; we were on the road again!

B slept for 3 hours of that trip! And K slept for 2! After a stressful day I was very happy to have those couple of hours of quiet driving to be alone in my own thoughts and just blank out! Not having to worry or think about a thing!

We FINALLY made it to Disney World and our Treehouse in Saratoga Springs Resort at 7:30 Sunday evening. 

We had a busy day and early morning ahead of us. I definitely took my suitcases apart, packed B's backpack for the next day and crashed! We woke up early at 6 am this morning (Monday) and got ready for our first Disney day! 

We has breakfast with characters and B got to meet Pooh Bear and Tigger! My B is a child after my own heart, a huge Tigger fan! To see his face light up as he realized Tigger was standing right in front of him was unreal! In hilarity, Tigger leaned on the table to be closer to B and B immediately picked up some stray food near Tigger as if to say, "don't stick your hand in that food and get dirty!" Truly my child! 

After breakfast we hit Epcot! K rented a motor chair so that he could be more comfortable and we went off to lots of fun rides and attractions. There was not a huge lot of things for B, but the sights and rides he could see were enough to knock him out for a good hour or two after lunch! And once he was awake he was back at it and ready to play!  He got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto! And that experience had tears in my eyes! To watch him meet Mickey was absolutely amazing, he was so awe-struck and amazed--what an incredible experience as a mother! That was one to cash into the memory banks for eternity!

All in all, Day 1 at Disney was nothing less than successful. B has been an incredible kid for only 18 months old. He has so much to take in, and his routine is gone and yet, he's been so well behaved. Only a breakdown when it's time to eat. I truly hope and pray that this is the bar set for the rest of the week. Because if so--we are about to have one of the best weeks of our lives. I'm so grateful and blessed to have this experience with my family. I'm so glad we could do this.

Road Tripping!

Today we embarked on our journey to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL! I have been BEYOND excited for this trip. There is a 6 year old girl inside of me ready to scream and pee herself when we see those giant Mickey ears. 

We are so blessed to have my Aunt and Uncle help us with this trip. More than we deserve! They travel down every year and so, as veterans, they are hooking us up with a lot of great stops and reservations. They also got us upgraded to tree house bungalows outside of Animal Kingdom--we are staying fabulous on this trip! 

So yes, we took the brave (and cheapest) route down; driving. From our home to Orlando averages 12-14 hours driving time, and we have B with us! 

As day 1 is coming to a close I feel so proud of my little 18 month old. Stuck in his yucky car seat for almost 10 hours today he only cried about 30 minutes. No break downs, as long as the iPad was playing a movie we seemed to be under control. I packed a zipper tote full of toys new and old and I didn't have to pull out any "big guns" so far! This will be the hardest trip of the entire journey. On the way home we are more evenly split and we have more time to stop and stretch. I chose to leave around nap time today and B chose this day not to nap. I can't lie, I was concerned, but man was he a trooper! And as a result he passed out around 8:30 and has been snoozing soundly ever since. Hopefully when we get to the hotel he will transfer smoothly.

We are stopping in Savannah, GA. I have been once before, but as K and I were chatting I thought to myself, "why not stop and see some sights?" We wanted to take our time getting back on the road tomorrow so that we were not throwing B directly back into the car seat. I don't want to over use his patience with us, even if it is just 4 hours. So we were tossing ideas out about what we could do and I remember my family and I ate at Paula Deen's Lady and Sons restaurant on our previous visit. So I googled it and sure enough they just changed it so that you can make reservations for small parties online and they had times available! So we are going to spend the morning in downtown Savannah, maybe walk the river walk, and just enjoy a new family spot to mark on our maps! 

This week is going to be one to remember and I'm going to try very hard to document as much as I can, so that I can look back on this and relish in the memories!