Isn't it a little early to start a PTR?..Why yes, yes it is.(we are back!12/13)

[Lamping3]

Hello out there to everyone! I have been lurking on many trip reports (I've told my husband it's research). I finally decided to introduce myself! (Please bear with me I am still learning how this posting stuff works...I hope my pics post!)

Now for the intros:

I'm Tasha a 28 yo wife, mother of 1, pharmacist from STL.

Here is a pic of my husband Dave 27 who works maintance for a local hospital...my handyman!

And Last but not least our wonderful DD Amelia currently 18 months.

We are planning our trip December 3 to 10

You might ask why the happy dance so early? Well lets just say that we started the idea for this trip last September. So we were over 400 days at that point. I am VERY happy to now be under 200 days.

I have been reading every Disney book I could get my hands on....then I ran out of books. My husband wondered why I would read each book 2 to 3 times. What else do you do? Then I found this website and have been reading MANY trip reports. I have enjoyed all of them so much and gotten lots of good info from many that I thought I might as start my own pre trip report so we are all better aquanted before I do my own trip report. I was also hoping that I could get some good advice from all you seasoned Disers!

Stay tuned....up next my Disney Past!
PS my pics will not post...I guess you have to have 10 posts before you can post pics....so pics will be up this weekend...now I need to go post somewhere else...but where will that be..........

 

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

I'm first!! You are only a couple of hours from me. I live around Quincy, Il. Anyway, can't wait to see some pics.

 

[Lamping3]

Well I got my post on and got up to 10 posts so I could get pics on this PTR! I didn't realize I was that big of a lurker...so to all of the TR I lurked on hi!

So here are the pics I promised!

This is Dave and I at a friends wedding!
<a href="http://s615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/Lamping3/?action=view&current=106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/Lamping3/106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is Amelia at her 1st birthday party! She looks different now. She has more hair. I will have to find a better one later...I guess it has been that long since I transfered my pics to my computer!

<a href="http://s615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/Lamping3/?action=view&current=birthdaychristmas009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/Lamping3/birthdaychristmas009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I will have to do my Disney past tomorrow while Amelia is napping. I just thought I would post my pics so you could see who you were reading about!

 

[Lamping3]

AARRG!!!! They didn't post!!!!!Lets try again!


Dave and I

I didn't realize how out of it I looked in this pic!! Blame it on the wine!

And Amelia

Cross your fingers!

 

[Lamping3]

I'm first!! You are only a couple of hours from me. I live around Quincy, Il. Anyway, can't wait to see some pics.

Yeah! I have a reader....I am so excited! I am originally from IL also. Small town called Modesto about an hour southwest of Springfield. More on that later!

 

[Lamping3]

As I said before I am originally from a VERY small town in IL. My parents took my sister Misty (she is 7 years older than me) on usually one big vacation during the summer. My parents had a Buick Caprice Classic and we would drive to our destination. For most of the trip my sister wouldn't let me sit in the seat...she would lay on the seat and I would get half of the floor! (there was a hump in the middle of the floor and I would curl up with my pillow on the hump and all of our junk would be on the other side of the hump). My sister and I both have a huge place in our hearts for WDW. We both see it as the best vacation place and can't wait for our next time to go there.

My first Disney vacation was the summer of 1986, I was 5. The only thing I really remember is riding Dumbo with my Dad and taking all week to decide which stuffed character I wanted to get (we were only allowed one!). I got a baby Minnie Mouse...I might still have her.

I was always watching the Disney Channel....we were the first of all my friends to have cable. I loved Dumbo's circus ( I secretly wanted to be Lilly...I think that is her name... the tightrope walker!) and Welcome to Pooh Corner. From then on I was hooked!

We returned to Disney the summer of 1990. We did a Carnival cruise before going to the parks. I remember more of the cruise than I do the parks.

We returned the summer before I went to college (1999). My sister was divorced and had a 4 year old son Alex. Again we drove (I got a seat this time!). This was the first year we stayed on site. We stayed at PO riverside in the bayou section. I remember how much fun it was seeing Alex's reaction to everything, he was so amazed by the characters. We did the Pooh character breakfast at the WCC at the WL and I was taken aback by how beautiful it was.

Our most recent trip was June of 2006. My sister had gotten remarried and had another son Logan who was 3. So my parents, my sister's family and my then finance Dave all flew in to Disney. Again we stayed at PO riverside. This was Dave's first trip to Disney....he didn't think he would like it. He was wrong! He loves AK and EP (esp WS).

Here are some random pics from that trip! (sorry they are so small...I can't figure out how to fix them)

Dave and I waiting for the parade.

One of the many pics of Dave in Disney hats! He is such a good sport!

Alex and Logan showing the brotherly love in Dinoland

Don't they look excited! My Dad, my BIL Shane and Dave waiting at a character greeting. (Notice the matching shirts...my sister got us all one and we wore it to our character breakfast!)

Misty was the big planner on this trip...I just let her tell me when. I was too busy planning for our upcoming wedding in September.

That sums up my Disney past. Dave and I have only went on one "good" vacation since Disney (our honeymoon). We will get to why in the next post!

 

[Craftydawn]

Hey there! I am signing on for your trip report! Sounds like you are so excited for this trip. I will actually be in STL next month!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

 

[Lamping3]

Hey there! I am signing on for your trip report! Sounds like you are so excited for this trip. I will actually be in STL next month!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

I am very excited! You will realize why in my next installment.

 

[Lamping3]

So after our 2006 Disney trip all my attention was focused on our September 2 wedding. We spent our honeymoon in Maui and if I realized at the time that it would be our last "good" vacation for a while I would have tried to enjoy it more (not that I didn't enjoy it).

After the honeymoon I got bit hard by the baby bug, it was all I could think about. Most of my friends were having babies and I wanted one too!

Dave and I decided that if the Cardinals won the World Series that we would take the plunge and become parents at the time they were the underdogs....little did we know. We ended up getting tickets to the last 2 World Series games her in STL. I bought the 1st set off of ebay as a suprise for Dave. The 2nd set we got from Dave's dad (his company has seats). On the way home from the game we looked at each other not really knowing what to say.

We decided to wait a little longer to get some financial things in order and my wisdom teeth needed to come out. Finally in Feb of 2007 we were ready. I asked Dave if he wanted to let it just happen or did he want to really try for the baby....he didn't understand the difference. After the explanation he choose really trying!

Fast forward to 4 weeks later and I feel funny....not a bad funny. We had an awful busy day at work and usually on days like that I come home so stressed out. That day did not faze me a bit. I decided something was up. We bought a pregnancy test and I took it. Here is the diaglogue from that night.

Me: I think that is a line.
Dave: NO that is just where the line would be if it was there.
Me: I really think that is a faint line.
Dave: It can't be you have only been off the pill for like 4 weeks!
Me: We are going to have to take another test.

We went to target that night and got a variety of tests including the "stupid person test" that just shows up with pregnant/not pregnant in the window. Can you guess what it said?

 

[Lamping3]

We were pregnant! (well I was anyway you get the point)

We were going to avoid using up too many vacation days this year and the next because I wanted to save as many as I could so I could stay home for the full 3 months after the baby was born.
I was excited because my due date was 11/24/07...Thanksgiving. This would mean I would be on maternity leave through all of the holidays. (I work at a retail pharmacy and unfortunately we are always open....we either Christmas or Thanksgiving every other year and 07 was my year to work one). I have learned that a baby born at that time is only good for the first year (you will find out why later!)

We had planned to spend a few days in May at my in laws condo at Lake of the Ozarks but my Dad ended up having a heart attack before we left and I spent my vacation week sitting in the hospital and helping my mom. (This was Bittersweet as I really wasn't looking forward to several days in a row with my husband's stepmother! That is all I am saying

One of my College friends decided to get married in Vegas! The wedding was in September and I would be 6.5 months pregnant. Dave and I went.....we had an ok time. I know now we should never go back to Vegas! I love the place ( I am not a gambler but the shopping, food, and overall sights are so exciting!) Now Dave on the other hand needs to go to gamblers annoymous. We came home fighting about the money he gambled away! To top it all off I was made even more upset being so pregnant!

Fast forwart to November of 2007. My due date came and went. We finally welcomed our Amelia Grace on November 29, 2007. I ended up having a c-section because she wasn't reacting too well to the induction.

Here we are ready to go home!

In 2008 our vacations included 2 staycations...where we stayed at home and enjoyed relaxing and visiting the many attractions StL has to offer.

We also went to Branson for a week during July. I was hoping for a relaxing week of outlet shopping and swimming and Dave could get his fish on! It ended up being awful! Dave woke me up in the middle of the night our 2nd night there and he was burning up! If any of you have a husband like mine and they are worse to take care of sick than your children you know how exciting that was! Luckilly we were there with my parents and my sister's family so I could leave with them and let Dave rest. We ended up having to take him to an Urgent care where they diagnosed him with strep throat. We actually had to go to 2 urgent cares....the first gave us a zpack! ( Now I as a pharmacist should have known better but the Dr was a jerk and I knew he wasn't going to listen to me) The second gave us Amoxicillin and some Prednisone to help with Dave's extremely swollen throat.

In Sept of 2008 I was talking about how bad our vacations had been and how we needed a "good one" I started talking about Disney and how I have always wanted to see it at Christmas time. I asked Dave if we could go in December of 2009 and he said sure!

I started my research right away!

up next why do we have to wait so long to book our vacation!

 

[Lamping3]

Here are some pics from the dreadful Branson Vacation!

And from a weekend trip to Lake of the Ozarks!

 

[Lamping3]

Here are some tshirts from the Disney Couture Line that I plan on ordering for Amelia for the trip. I don't know what size to order. She wears a 18-24 months is some stuff and I get her a 2T in some shirts because they are longer. I will prob buy them big incase it is cold and just put a long sleeved T under them.

 

[Lamping3]

I changed the name of my thread thinking it might get me some more posters! Can anyone tell where it is from?

Anyway here are some updated pics of the family.

And some more recent ones of Amelia

So it was September and my husband had agreed to a December Disney vacation. I started thinking of resorts and my first thought was the GF. when I looked at the price for a weeks vacation I changed my mind. If you remember we went to the WL for breakfast in 99 and I had always wanted to go back there. I thought it would be perfect for my outdoor lovin husband.

We had to wait and wait before we could make reservations.....at my job every pharmacist in the area puts in for vacation for the following year in late October/early November and the approved weeks come out sometime in December. So I put in my dates and crossed my fingers!

Lucikly I got just what I wanted. December 7 to 12. I had to wait until January (we can't put in for individual days until the first of the year just weeks are approved in November...confused yet?) to see if I could get the 3rd and 4th approved...I had the weekend of the 5th and 6th off and I am off on Wednesdays so I was off the 2nd!

We have decided to drive....I know I know ( I will explain later!)

We are hoping to leave for Nashville (maybe?) after I get off of work on 12/1 and arrive in FL late on 12/2 and stay offsite that night and then check into WL from December 3 to 10.

I have a woods view room booked from December 3 to 10 and have requested a king size bed. I am thinking that if Amelia does not end up sleeping in the pack n play at least we will have room for her in our bed!

So that is what is definate so far other plans.....are up in the air. I will share next why we are driving and how our departure time could vary!

 

[Craftydawn]

You have a beautiful family and Amelia is so precious.

Your plans sound great so far! Wow, that sounds like a long drive! It will definitely pay off in the end when you see that glorious site!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

Great family picture. Amelia is adorable!! I know all about the driving, that is what we do. It takes a loooong time but it will be fun and it does only make it that much better when you get there. You appreciate it even more.

 

[punkin413]

hey, there! i'm here. i tend to lurk more on pre-TRs but i'm along for the ride! can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Count me in! I do love getting in at the beginning of an adventure! Your little girl is sooooo cute! Two things about your trip that intrigue me - the driving part and the Christmas part! It is one of my Disney Dreams to drive and another to go at Christmas time! I'm in for long haul!

 

[OhMari]

Hi,
I'm going to move you over to our pre-trip board.
I know it is a lot of moving around,
but let me know when you return, and I can move you back to this regular TR Board.
Ohmari

 

[Lamping3]

You have a beautiful family and Amelia is so precious.

Thanks!

Great family picture. Amelia is adorable!! I know all about the driving, that is what we do. It takes a loooong time but it will be fun and it does only make it that much better when you get there. You appreciate it even more.

Thanks! I am soooo glad to hear someone else still drives! (and you are further than Me!) Everyone that I talk to thinks I am crazy for driving but I just can't see me getting through a plane ride with a 2 year old and still be sane!

hey, there! i'm here. i tend to lurk more on pre-TRs but i'm along for the ride! can't wait to hear all about it.

Thanks! I have lurked enough! I need to get to your NYC trip report the title makes it sound pretty interesting!

Count me in! I do love getting in at the beginning of an adventure! Your little girl is sooooo cute! Two things about your trip that intrigue me - the driving part and the Christmas part! It is one of my Disney Dreams to drive and another to go at Christmas time! I'm in for long haul!

Thanks! It has been one of my Disney Dreams too to go at Christmas time! I can't wait! Stay tuned and you can live through my TR!

Hi,
I'm going to move you over to our pre-trip board.
I know it is a lot of moving around,
but let me know when you return, and I can move you back to this regular TR Board.
Ohmari

Sorry! I realized there was a separate PTR board after I posted and I wasn't sure how to move. Thanks

 

[OhMari]

You'll love Christmas time.
I went the 2nd week of Nov. and Disney was just starting to put out all the decorations, and it was amazing, even though it was 88 degrees everyday.
I was just disappointed that the Osbourne Lights were not turned on until after thanksgiving.
Let me know if I can help with anything.