Counting Our Nuts Like Chip & Dale, a Financially Aware PTR *Update 4/17 Pg 62 *

[Lady Lallie]

Yay!!!

I'm so glad to see that you're keeping this PTR open. I can't wait to follow along and read all about your Baby's First Trip plans. I think it's going to be great!

Since all resorts are open, I'd say any of the monorail resorts. Just because MK will be a must-do for a baby, because they have the most baby-friendly rides, so that'd make it easy to get to MK. Plus, riding the monorail to the park or to the TTC and hopping on another monorail to Epcot sounds simpler than packing everything in a car.
But I really have no idea. I'll be listening to your plans and then reading how your adventure goes and taking notes for when the days comes for me to take a baby.

I think it's going to be a great trip too. It will be about a two year wait for the both of us by the time we get back and I know we will be jonesing for some Disney for sure!

I love your idea of a gender reveal party! Are you going to bake a cake with the cake color being the gender or are you just going to blurt it out?!

I don't think we are doing the cake. I think we are going to do a big cardboard box and then when we open it pink or blue balloons will come out and then everyone will know at the same time. Marc & I will of course know because I will not be able to wait.

How fun to plan a reveal party! I had a friend do one with her family where it wasnt told until they cut the cake which had the inside the color related to the gender! Good luck and continue to plan happy things as you get ready for baby!

I don't think I can wait, I have read about putting the gender in an envelope and then a bakery making the cake but I'm impatient. I can't wait. I wish I could find out today. I honestly don't care, I just want to know!

Boardwalk or BLT would be so much fun! And definitely two wonderful and convenient locations!

The gender-reveal party sounds like so much fun!! I'll admit, I so enjoy checking out your ticker and seeing what size fruit the baby is now! A peach! How cute!

I love my fruit ticker, on my blog I have a development ticker and baby is developing vocal cords and little teeth this week!

Just wanted to post real quick to sub, haven't read all of your PTR, yet, but I will. When I saw you were a displaced Mainer, I had to jump on board - I am, too! Living in Alabama, now. Can't wait to go back and read!!

Hello fellow Mainer!!

Totally think you are having a boy! Love your party idea! So crafty and fun! I think I saw you looking at cupcake toppers on etsy?

Ah..I love all of your choices already! I say definitely shoot for option #1 or #2. Think big, go all out, save save save! The more I think about it, can totally see you, Marc and baby at the Wilderness Lodge!

I was looking at cupcake toppers but decided to skip those. I'm currently trolling Etsy to see how to reveal our chosen baby name at the party. We have decided that in a large group that there are less chances of nasty comments about what we have chosen.

Love the idea of a baby reveal party!!!

I am really liking the idea of renting points these days! Maybe you can help me plan my trip to help you pass the time.

I am having so much fun planning it. I told my mom my dad has to bring his video camera so I can post a video on facebook for all of my "virtual" friends as my mom calls them.

I would so totally love to help plan your trip! I think renting points would be great for your family for the space and for the budget. You have been doing OOP food on your last few trips, right?

I think the renting points idea is wonderful. You would love BLT for the proximity to the park and the monorail access. It really is a winner of a choice. Even in a studio I think you will be fine.

I also agree that VWL would be a good choice. It's got a very homey feel and there are always tons of small children staying there!

I would avoid POP for the reasons you listed - just too hectic. If you are having a bad baby day (and we know they exist), it will be difficult for you to wind down at Pop!

Love the party idea!

I really like the idea of WL if we rent points or not. I am sure we could score a pretty decent discount code if I play the Disney website right.

never hurts to think ahead...i have already figured out our resort choice for June 2013 and have mentally changed it and gone back to the orignal

hope that renting points would work for you...to have a 1 BR and the washer/dryer would be great for the baby


gender reveal party so sweet

I'm glad others are planning way into the future, makes me feel a little less crazy.

It would be FABULOUS to have a washer and dryer with baby but I can also see where we will probably have more resort downtime so doing laundry near a pool wouldn't be horrible either.

Oooooh! I can't wait to find out the big reveal! Not that gender matters, it's just exciting! It's strange how they can change due-dates like that!

You and me both. It is literally taking all of my freaking patience to wait until October 25. Sigh. The gender doesn't matter at all, I just want to know! I want to buy cute outfits, I want to decorate the nursery! I've got things to do.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

One of my friends did the cake thing last week. It was their wedding anniversary so they had a cookout. What I like about it is that the WHOLE family found out at once. The insanity that happens when you are pregnant. My MIL still hasnt' forgiven me that my mother found out Aisling's gender before she did

 

[jenjolt]

I really like your options 1 and 2! I think being in DVC with more room would be great for baby's first trip!!!

OOOH a gender reveal party, how fun!!! It is going to be a blast!!!!! I can't wait until you tell us!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

One of my friends did the cake thing last week. It was their wedding anniversary so they had a cookout. What I like about it is that the WHOLE family found out at once. The insanity that happens when you are pregnant. My MIL still hasnt' forgiven me that my mother found out Aisling's gender before she did

Mmmhmmm...sounds familiar. My MIL made a big point about how everyone "officially" found out on the same day. As my mom knew the day I went to the doctors and then we told MIL the next day after the blood work confirmed my pregnancy so she has pointed out several times that everyone found out "officially" on the same day.

And to be honest, my mom, bless her, has been driving me up the wall crazy about this pregnancy so I think it's a great equalizer to tell everyone at the same time. Though to be fair my mom and dad do know our baby name choices...well a lot of people do because I can't keep a secret to save my life.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I really like your options 1 and 2! I think being in DVC with more room would be great for baby's first trip!!!

OOOH a gender reveal party, how fun!!! It is going to be a blast!!!!! I can't wait until you tell us!!!

I can't wait to tell everyone! It's going to be a very long time from the 25th to the 29th of October! I don't know how I am going to keep it all inside.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am having so much fun planning it. I told my mom my dad has to bring his video camera so I can post a video on facebook for all of my "virtual" friends as my mom calls them.

Yes, this virtual friend wants to see video!!!

I would so totally love to help plan your trip! I think renting points would be great for your family for the space and for the budget. You have been doing OOP food on your last few trips, right?

We have been paying OOP for food -- we will probably do it the same way for the next trip, too.

 

[MeMom]

Yes, this virtual friend wants to see video!!!

And this one.

And a few dozen others, I believe.

I think we should show the reveal on the big screen at the outdoor theater in DIStown. What do you think?

Are you thinking of names already? You may have said some, but I haven't been able to DIS much lately.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love the gender reveal parties! I can't wait to hear all about the plans that you have for that!

I agree that DVC would be a good option for a baby. It seems like it will be much easier to care for your little one away from home in a more "homey" environment. I think BLT would be an excellent choice since it's so close to the MK.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yes, this virtual friend wants to see video!!!

We have been paying OOP for food -- we will probably do it the same way for the next trip, too.

We are actually talking about getting one of those Flip video cameras for ourselves since I am sure with baby we will be wanting to record things more often. I hope we can get one before the party.

I love paying OOP for food for us, it just gives us so much more flexibility in ordering.

And this one.

And a few dozen others, I believe.

I think we should show the reveal on the big screen at the outdoor theater in DIStown. What do you think?

Are you thinking of names already? You may have said some, but I haven't been able to DIS much lately.

That sounds perfect to me!

We are thinking of names but I think we are going to keep them secret until we reveal the gender at the end of October. My mom and I actually made name banners for the gender reveal party yesterday, seeing the names in big letters really made this whole pregnancy seem so much more real. Crazy how that happens with something like that.

I love the gender reveal parties! I can't wait to hear all about the plans that you have for that!

I agree that DVC would be a good option for a baby. It seems like it will be much easier to care for your little one away from home in a more "homey" environment. I think BLT would be an excellent choice since it's so close to the MK.

I am so excited for our party. I think it's going to be so much fun.

I really wish I could just buy DVC but I think I will have to content myself with renting points for 2013.

 

[999ghostslover]

Those flip cameras are great. I gave my brother and his wife one for their wedding and they got to walk around with it and record the wedding from their perspective. They also got to take it everywhere on their honeymoon. They love it.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I love the idea of a gender reveal party. How cute!

Ooh, VWL would be a great choice! I love WL. It is always so relaxing and calm there. It would be perfect for baby!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Wow! I was 5 pages behind!

I can't wait to hear what you are having. That is such an exciting feeling. I can't believe I'll have to wait until I get back to find out though! I'll be wondering about that the whole time we are down there! We leave the day after your doctor's appointment, so I'll have to wait until November to find out. I might have to cheat and check in on my phone.

I think your party idea sounds great. We should have done that b/c we had to deal with all that "I bet you told her mother first, didn't you!" mess from my MIL. VERY good idea you had there!

As for the best resort, I'd just want to stay close to MK since that is where I would spend the most time with a baby.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Those flip cameras are great. I gave my brother and his wife one for their wedding and they got to walk around with it and record the wedding from their perspective. They also got to take it everywhere on their honeymoon. They love it.

Oh what a neat idea for a wedding! I wish I had thought of doing that at ours.

I love the idea of a gender reveal party. How cute!

Ooh, VWL would be a great choice! I love WL. It is always so relaxing and calm there. It would be perfect for baby!

I'm really excited for the party, I have been having so much fun planning it.

Wow! I was 5 pages behind!

I can't wait to hear what you are having. That is such an exciting feeling. I can't believe I'll have to wait until I get back to find out though! I'll be wondering about that the whole time we are down there! We leave the day after your doctor's appointment, so I'll have to wait until November to find out. I might have to cheat and check in on my phone.

I think your party idea sounds great. We should have done that b/c we had to deal with all that "I bet you told her mother first, didn't you!" mess from my MIL. VERY good idea you had there!

As for the best resort, I'd just want to stay close to MK since that is where I would spend the most time with a baby.

Well...maybe I can message you before you leave as long as you don't tell anyone else on the DIS!

I really think the party is a great idea for us because of those issues you had. I don't want to play games like that or listen to people complain and whine that so and so found our first. That is also why we are revealing the names to his side of the family then so there will no comments made in front of my family.

I really love the idea of Wilderness Lodge for this trip, especially since we have both stayed there before and know the lay of the land.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Well...maybe I can message you before you leave as long as you don't tell anyone else on the DIS!

My lips would be TOTALLY sealed!

 

[Lady Lallie]

My lips would be TOTALLY sealed!

You got it then. You will have the inside scoop.

 

[MeMom]

We are thinking of names but I think we are going to keep them secret until we reveal the gender at the end of October. My mom and I actually made name banners for the gender reveal party yesterday, seeing the names in big letters really made this whole pregnancy seem so much more real. Crazy how that happens with something like that.

Jill didn't have a party, but she gift-wrapped two packages each time - one with a girl's outfit and one with a boy's. When she found out, she called and told me which gift to open. With Brooklynn, the first thing I saw was blue, and as much as I really, really, really wanted it to be a girl, I was going to be in instant love with a boy, too, of course. Then I got the tissue paper opened a little further and realized the blue was a blue flower. I even verbalized, without thinking, "Is that a flower?" That was followed by, "It is a flower!" In the quiet of my house, there I was looking something like this -

I was happy again when I found that there would be a second girl on the way.

My prediction for Jill was two girls and one boy, so when Bella is a little older, I'll have to get Jill busy on fulfilling my prophecy with my first grandson.


Life is about to change forever and for better for you guys, and your DIStown pals will enjoy seeing him/her grow up through pictures.....

and hopefully occasional trips crossing paths in WDW.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I am VERY frustrated with my computer, just had a whole update typed up and I go to get a picture from photobucket and my internet decides to freeze up and I lose my update.

Let's see if I can remember everything...

So to add to the chaos that is my life (pregnancy, fractured foot, physical therapy starting on Monday...), Marc & I have decided to move. We live in a house that was built in the 1880's and the upstairs really hasn't been remodeled at all so we have wide wood floors with huge gigantic cracks, it will be bad for little baby's fingers, not to mention the old nails sticking up. Plus the heating situation is less than ideal upstairs. Turns out our downstairs neighbor is leaving in October and that means the downstairs is going to be ours. It is a much better set up for baby, nice new floors, heat in every room and the thing I like the best is the nursery connects to the master bedroom which I think is a neat little feature. There is also a lovely screened in porch and way more room. The only downside is the hideous wallpaper but I figure this Mama has to do what is best for the little one and pretend the hideous wallpaper doesn't exist.

In trip news, I have made two decisions.

#1. Wilderness Lodge is now my #1 resort choice. I find WL just so relaxing and I think that will be a good thing for this trip. I also have lovely visions of taking the boat to and from Magic Kingdom. I love that boat. So I will hope for a good deal on Villa DVC points or hope for a really great discount code on a regular room. The other factor is that I like that Marc & I have both stayed there together compared to Boardwalk where I have stayed or BLT where neither of us have stayed.

#2. We are going to skip park hoppers. I think traveling with a baby will be overwhelming enough, I don't think we need to add park hoppers to the mix and like always if we decide they are worth it when we get down there we can add them on.

We also have decided to make a purchase this weekend. It's related to the trip because I am sure it will come with us. I have visions of capturing baby's reaction to rides....

A Flip Camcorder!

This is the stupid picture that crashed my last post. It's on sale at Best Buy for $57.99 right now. It holds one hour of video, which I think is plenty and most importantly I will be able to capture the gender reveal to share with all of you. I'm quite excited about that.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Jill didn't have a party, but she gift-wrapped two packages each time - one with a girl's outfit and one with a boy's. When she found out, she called and told me which gift to open. With Brooklynn, the first thing I saw was blue, and as much as I really, really, really wanted it to be a girl, I was going to be in instant love with a boy, too, of course. Then I got the tissue paper opened a little further and realized the blue was a blue flower. I even verbalized, without thinking, "Is that a flower?" That was followed by, "It is a flower!" In the quiet of my house, there I was looking something like this -

I was happy again when I found that there would be a second girl on the way.

My prediction for Jill was two girls and one boy, so when Bella is a little older, I'll have to get Jill busy on fulfilling my prophecy with my first grandson.


Life is about to change forever and for better for you guys, and your DIStown pals will enjoy seeing him/her grow up through pictures.....

and hopefully occasional trips crossing paths in WDW.

Isn't it about time for that grandson? Shhh, don't tell Jill I said that.

I really love our DIStown community, I think of everyone quite often and I feel like everyone is an extension of my close circle of friends. It's a little weird but really nice.

My mom is so set on this baby being a boy, it's funny. She actually took a picture of the boy name banner and made it her cell phone wall paper. My dad on the other hand is convinced it's a girl. It's quite cute.

That is a really cute way that Jill told you what the babies were! Very cute.

 

[jenbear123]

You are a busy bee! Too bad about that internet crash. I hate when I lose an update. That's why I always always ALWAYS save a copy in notepad or something just in case. I'm glad to hear you're thinking WL. Love that place. I'm so excited for the gender reveal. I'll be waiting!

 

[Lady Lallie]

You are a busy bee! Too bad about that internet crash. I hate when I lose an update. That's why I always always ALWAYS save a copy in notepad or something just in case. I'm glad to hear you're thinking WL. Love that place. I'm so excited for the gender reveal. I'll be waiting!

I usually do that too, but this whole pregnancy brain thing is truly a thing that wreaks havoc with my normal brain power. I've been losing my train of thought mid-sentance, I even left my desk unlocked at work over night which is a HUGE no-no. It's been bad so I think that is why I forgot to keep a copy in notepad. Whoops!

I am so excited for the gender reveal. Who am I kidding? I am just so excited to know what the baby is.