The Land of Disney

Also known as Disneyland!

We were surprised by Daddy during our trip last week to California. He worked a little extra so we could go to Disneyland and California Adventure after our long week of therapy. We are lucky to have such a daddy!

This was not Christian's first time there. No, he's already been there. About two and a half years ago we went while I was about 4 months pregnant with him, right before I found out I was having a boy. Then about a year and a half ago we went when he was around 6 months old.

We've certainly been on the Disney kick these last few years. Would you believe I hadn't been there since I was about 12 years old prior to the beginning of our Disney kick? Would you also believe that I only had half an interest in anything Disney during my childhood and young adult life? I mention this because there are those who are raised or raise their own kids on Disney. Not us! We repeated VHS tapes of Footloose and Grease over and over until the tape actually broke in half. We didn't have a collection of Disney classics like my cousin. We had maybe two Disney movies in our possession - The Jungle Book and Robin Hood. So I didn't really have an inbread appreciation for all things Disney.

That all changed a few years ago when we decided to go one rainy February weekend. It may truly be the happiest place on earth. I know it's gotta be the tastiest place on earth, that's for sure. I mean after you're there for a couple hours, it seem perfectly reasonable to purchase a Tinkerbell t-shirt or a Minnie Mouse backpack knowing you will never wear either one again outside the walls of Disneyland.

I love going now. I think of the next time we'll go and worry maybe we won't go for another twelve years like when I was a kid. Memories of Disney adventures are even better. Looking over pictures that captured first roller coaster rides, or a first encounter with Sleeping Beauty.

So, of course, I took pictures!

Lola modeling her new mouse ears.

Big brother, Christian, has mouse ears just like Lola's, sans the big bow and pink hues. It's also blue and says Christian.

Christian's first time on the Dumbo ride. Not impressed. But he didn't cry so that's usually a sign he's cool with it.

I love this picture. This was taken while entering into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Christian's eyes got huge and he was so engaged with the whole thing. Talk about sensory overload. But he hung in there. He didn't even make a peep through the entire ride. I'm gonna say that one was his fave.

Not the best picture, but this is the castle lit up in purple and pink.

Lola even got a pin that says "My First Visit." She likes it.

My sleeping prince.

Until next time, Disneyland!

Lola's New Toy

The Exersaucer is perhaps my most favorite baby gear item.

I had one with Gabe almost twelve years ago. I used to put him inside the disc shaped contraption and let him sit in his Nana's garden and watch the birds, while he played with the gadgets and doo-dads that were available for the taking.

I had one for Christian we got from a friend of ours. We got it used and, man, did we use that thing. I dragged it all over the house, to every room I happen to frequent. I gave him little edible finger foods like cheerios and fruit puffs to nibble on while he navigated his selection of Exersaucer toys. His daddy would take him out to the garage and let him play in his Exersaucer while he worked on project cars and introduced Christian to his first tools. That Exersaucer saw Daddy's garage, the backyard patio, and camping in the dessert. We used and used and used that Exersaucer until the day that Christian decided he'd had enough and was frankly bored of thing. I was sad because that meant he was growing out of baby hood.

So, of course, I had wanted one for Lola. Of course, I did. She's been ready for one for about two months now and I could use it for my own sanity. She's tired of her swing, she's grown bored of her bouncy seat, she doesn't want to roll around on the play mat, she's over it! The girl wants to stand.

So what did Lola's Tia Maggie bring home today???

An Exersaucer!!!

She tasted...

She explored...

It was a success!

I know this sounds far reaching and like fuzzy nonsense but these oversized discs overflowing with toys and lights (And can I just say Gabe's didn't have a single electronic device on his, it was oldschool), these miniature baby jungle gyms are memory makers as far as my children go. Every one of my babies has jumped and played and laughed and giggled in one of these until they're tired and ready for Mommy again. Lola followed suit tonight.

Thank you, Tia Maggie!!!

Gabe

Gabe is a really cool kid. He's my first baby that is now eleven years old.

Eleven going on sixteen.

He's matured quicker than other kids his age and in his class. In fact, he's one of the younger ones in his class because he has a summer birthday. His voice dropped early, he's taller, he has peach fuzz - you get the picture.

Is he embarrassed? Not a bit. He loves it.

I don't love it. I want him to be little again. He doesn't even have to be a baby. Just younger, maybe by a few years.

This "tween" phase is really annoying. I remember being in it myself - those middle school years - and they were annoying to me then, too. Those were perhaps the hardest years of my adolescent life. I don't think they'll be quite as hard for Gabe. He's a likable kid and makes friends easily.

But it's still hard on me! The mother! Middle school years have come to haunt me again!

He hates everything except for things that are the color black, music, and video games. If you try to deviate from those three things, he gets awfully upset.

I admittedly spoiled him. I was a single mom for the first part of his life so I spoiled him. My philosophy was that he wasn't going to go without just because he only had one parent. That hasn't turned out so well because now he has this sense of entitlement and hasn't really had to work for anything. It drives me insane that I have created this in him.

Another thing I didn't count on was that he would be embarrassed of ME! His mother! I'm twenty-frickin-nine years old. I thought for sure that since I was a young parent (which he used to be embarrassed about when he was six because his friends thought his older sister was picking him up, but now he thinks that part is cool that he has the youngest parents out of all his friends) I was in the clear!

Wrong. Turns out it doesn't matter what age you are, if you are a parent, you are no longer cool. Damn, I thought I dodged that bullet.

I think the thing that has rattled me the most is that we had this bond all his life and it doesn't feel like he's very bonded to me lately.

So I'm looking for things to add some diversity to his life this summer. Things that don't have anything to do with sleeping in until noon, video games, and complaining.

He is a good boy, though. It's just a tough age for kids and parents, I guess.

Oy, we're not even in the teens yet. Say some prayers for me, please.