Mommy is coming mommy is coming ......... home that is

[swimchick1984]

Well we are taking this trip because I (mommy) am soon leaving for this lovely place



I am not excited to leave my family behind but I am excited to come home and go to Disney. Even better is I get to take my lovely and adorable daughter to Disney world for the first time .

So now the players:

First there is me:


I am an Army Captain and the one going away this time

Then there is DH:

He is also an Army Captain who went away last time, and whom we celebrated his return with a disneyworld/disneycruise trip. (See it's a tradition now )

FInally there is the beautiful and lovely DD:

and because I think she is cute

we also have two doggies:

 

[swimchick1984]

Saved for index because I like them .

 

[LeslieLou]

What a wonderful and difficult reason for a trip. Thank you for your service! We did the exact thing when my af captain came home from Afghanistan. Happy planning and I hope you have a wonderful trip!

And! Your dd is adorable!

 

[swimchick1984]

Let's start with something cute!!!! Someone crawled all the way outside the other day.

So I have been thinking about doing a half or full marathon for a little bit now. I am thinking my post-deployment block leave will be around the beginning of January 2013. Can you see where this is going?

I have decided to sign up to the Disney World half marathon in January, my husband has also been talking about doing a full marathon. So that means we are both going to do the marathon weekend, me the half the DH the full. Does that make us crazy ? Very possibly but I tell myself it is only 13.2 miles so I can do that.

This is where I break into a question for the audience (if I have one ) has anyone participated in the CHEARsquad for the marathons? I was thinking about signing up for both days as it says they have character interactions and kids activities I thought it would be fun for DD, and the parents while the other parent was running.

Hmmm so after all that rambling I should get to the point! We are going to go marathon weekend, right now maybe arriving on Thursday the 10th at night and going until the 18th. We are also planning on staying at the animal kingdom with a savanah view (sorry no picture as I have not taken one myself). This will be nice for the DH and I, while the DD is taking a nap, she sleeps we go on the patio and watch the animals.

Ok enough talking for now. oh and just so you know this will probably be more than a pre-trip report. It might be a what I can share deployment report/training/weight loss report who knows.

 

[swimchick1984]

Sooo I have been gone for a long time from this trip eek. I hope you all understand, I am in Afghanistan after all.

So what is going on since I last updated you?

Well someone got super big

She is now 11 months old. how did that happen? My little girl is almost a year old. We are having a change of mom guards this week and my mom is flying in for a month to help the DH with DD. So my mom and I are planning her party over the computer. She is having a hungry caterpillar party with some friends. It is going to be super cute. I may have bought her some toys from the disney store for her birthday.

I also thought I would share with you what my family did for the 4th of July. DH and DD had a backyard bbq.

Can I just share that my DD makes the same scrunchy face that I do. Makes me feel special because I am not there to see it but she still does it.

I ran a 5k in celebration. Someone at worked was asked by a member from another country if the 4th of july is always celebrated by physical fitness events. You see here on camp they had pushup and pullup contests, a 5k run, a vehicle pull and some other things it was funny what the perception is.

Ok so onto the good stuff out vacation! I once again have semi-firm dates for leave. So I booked the Animal Kingdom Lodge Club Level for the 7th to the 13th. I am soooo happy, to have been able to get AKL. We will be able to sit out on the patio enjoying the animals while DD is napping.

I am also going to run the half marathon this year, so I need to sign up for it soon so that I can get my name on the racing bib. I have also started a 10k training program, and when I finish that I will do a 10k to half marathon, that should finish just in time for the disney world half marathon.

well that's all I can update for today. I need to get going for the morning.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Your daughter is a cutie! AKL is on my bucket list. I priced it out this time, then shared the price with DH. Um, yeah, that was a no go.

 

[Alysa]

Oooo - what is this CHEARsquad? That sounds like a great idea! Congrats on all the running! PS - your little girl is super cute - hope she has a great birthday!

 

[swimchick1984]

Oooo - what is this CHEARsquad? That sounds like a great idea! Congrats on all the running! PS - your little girl is super cute - hope she has a great birthday!

Alysa, it's a spot for the family members of people who are participating in the marathon or half marathon to hang out. From what I have read there will be character encounters, bathrooms, breakfast, bleachers, and a heated tent thingy. I thought that it would be fun for DD and DH.

 

[swimchick1984]

So since posts are boring without pictures I will add some in here.

First is someone loving on her doggies.

Do you think she likes them? They are so good with her, the basset hound lets her crawl in her crate and just chills with her in there. The lab still knocks her over sometimes but that is ok.

I also have to share a picture of DD pouting

grandma said on facebook this is what she does when they tell her not to do something. this little girl cracks me up.

I know it's barely July but i ordered DD Halloween costume today. I found a super cute dress on ETSY, and knew it would take a little bit to be made. The dress I picked out is the pink dress that the mice make cinderella before her step sisters destroy it. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68016694/disney-pink-cinderella-princess-dress?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=disney&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all There is a link to the dress.

I also booked us to be at 1900 park fair the night that we go to universal studios and move into our hotel. I figured that she could also wear the dress to that dinner. See double duty .

I am also ordering some stuff from this shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/bulldogsenior08 I think that she makes super cute hair bows. I am going to get the goffy one, and the cinderella/fairy godmother one. The shop owner says she can change the Cinderella bow from blue to pink for me. I am on the fence about the Captain Hook or the Peter Pan one, I really like the Captain hook one though.

Tomorrow or the next day I will post what parks we are going to which days, I keep forgetting the darn list in my office, and I am in PJs and not uniform so I cannot go grab it from work.

As a side note does anyone else remember how to spell tomorrow because of the TTC "Paging MR. Tom Mr. Tom orrow"? I'm the only one just checking.

 

[swimchick1984]

Oh I forgot to add that I have been stuck at 165 pounds for like two weeks now, today i weighed 163 pounds, wahoo the scale is starting to go down again. Only 9 more pounds until I do not have to be taped anymore and I can fully trick out my new computer when I get home.

 

[swimchick1984]

pps. does anyone know how to get to a single post so I can start my index

 

[reyasmommy]

Your DD is sooo cute! I love and miss those gummy smiles. My DS has the last of his molars coming in right now and it hasn't been very fun around here. When Jayden isn't happy, he makes it a point that NOBODY in the house is happy. I'm so glad the teething is almost over. Not something I'm looking forward to if we decide to have one more baby. that's for sure.

Anyway..... I look forward to reading more about your upcoming plans, I bet you're super excited!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Augh! I am such a sucker for hair bows, and that Etsy shop had some of the most original Disney-inspired ones I've seen! My friend makes the princess-shaped bows, so I had her make my daughter an Ariel mermaid, Tinkerbell, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Aurora. She recently made a Queen Elinor barrette for herself, and it was precious!

I went into Babies R Us today, and they have several Disney costumes for babies. I took a picture and sent it to my MIL & SIL, thinking about my adorable niece who will be 6 months when we go to Disney.

 

[holleypie]

pps. does anyone know how to get to a single post so I can start my index

To open up a single post you click on the post number (over on the right) then you can copy the URL and edit your index post.

We will be able to sit out on the patio enjoying the animals while DD is napping.

Thanks to you and your husband for your service. Your little girl is adorable and I can't even imagine how hard it must be to be away from home, especially when she's so young. You definitely deserve a Disney trip!

Also, good luck with the training! I'm doing the Baltimore Marathon this year but really really really want to do a Disney race at some point. I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[rachel09985]

Your daughter is very cute!! Thanks for the service and congrats on the scale going down! I wish it was that way with me!! Hahah

 

[swimchick1984]

So I finally remembered to bring my paper with what park I am visiting and where we are eating from my officer to my room.

So our trip is the 7th to 14th of JAN.

7th
Universal Studios for the day
Dinner is 1900 Park fair - DD is going to wear her pink Cinderella dress that I bought for her.

8th
Magic Kingdom
B: I have an early morning ADR to crystal palace, so that DD can see the pooh characters. We bought her a stuffed eeorye toy and she loves it.
L: just grab a light lunch/snack because....
D: is a early dinner at Cinderella's Castle to meet princesses because.....
Extra: Wishes dessert party

9th:
Hollywood studios
B: Something from the concierge offerings at AKL
L: Light lunch/snack
D: Early dinner at mama melrose with a fantasmic package

10th:
Animal Kingdom
Extra: Found out DD can do the sunrise safari so we are going to do that which means
B: pizzafari
L: Flame tree BBQ
D:Chief mickey's followed by DTD

11th
Magic kingdom
B: just grab something
L: Be our Guest
Nap time followed by me picking up my race packet for the half marathon
D: Whispering Canyon Cafe
Possibly go back to magic kingdom

12th
Half marathon day
Epcot
B: Whatever sound good after running 13.1 miles
L: Sunshine Seasons
D: Via Noplia - ready for yummy pizza

13th
Animal Kingdom
B: Tusker House - Safari outfits! I am in
L: ???
D: Room service or boma or saania

14th
Road on to Atlanta
B: Ohana

 

[swimchick1984]

Wow it has been I long time since I have updated my pre trip report. I guess since I am now 79 days out from leaving it would be a good time to start keeping up with my pre-trip report.

Last I left you my DD just had her first birthday and got a lot of Disney presents. I can now say I no longer have a baby, she is all toddler. She loves to walk around the house and I think by the time I get home she will come running at me. Or at least I hope she does. My biggest fear is that she will be afraid of me and miss me.
So on to our trip. I am very excited for something special. I have booked my family to have an Epcot photo shoot. I have ordered DD her dress for the photo shoot, and plan on making my self a skirt to match with her dress and to wear a white t-shirt and a black flower necklace to go with her dress. DH is going to wear a black polo shirt if I can find one and khaki pants.
I need to start getting some stuff for DD for our trip. I know that I want to get her some of those plastic table coverings, some leashes to attach to her stroller for her sippy cup, and most likely a new stroller. Any moms have some more suggestion of things I need to bring with a 17 month old? I plan on using the suggestion of someone else and packing wipes/diapers in individual plastic bags so I just need to grab a bag and change her. I will also do this with a change or two of clothes.

In ADR news after trying for weeks I finally got an ADR to be our guest. I am so excited to try out the new fantasyland. I hope that DD will like the new Ariel ride, and many other things. Which reminds me I need to get DH to start getting her to watch Disney Movies so she knows who the characters are.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Welcome back! Hope things are going well. The photo shoot sounds awesome!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you and your husband for your service to our country.
It must be so hard to be away from your daughter. She is beautiful.
Enjoying your PTR. It's getting close now. Planning is fun.
I live in KCMO, and will be there about the same time as you all, though not Club level (I wish!)
The ChEAR Squad packages sound great. I wish you both good luck and good time on your runs.
My daughter is starting a Professional Internship as Conservation Education on Jan 9. She is too busy now working on her Master's Thesis and teaching to have time to be thinking and getting excited, so I am getting excited for her.

So, anyway, maybe I will see you around the Lodge.

 

[swimchick1984]

Welcome back! Hope things are going well. The photo shoot sounds awesome!

I am not home yet, I still have about 5.5 more weeks but I am sooo close. When I get home disney is 30 days away It's super hard being away, but I get to talk to DD on skype all the time, I need to upload the picture of her throwing a tantrum the other day it's so funny.

Thank you and your husband for your service to our country.
It must be so hard to be away from your daughter. She is beautiful.
Enjoying your PTR. It's getting close now. Planning is fun.
I live in KCMO, and will be there about the same time as you all, though not Club level (I wish!)
The ChEAR Squad packages sound great. I wish you both good luck and good time on your runs.
My daughter is starting a Professional Internship as Conservation Education on Jan 9. She is too busy now working on her Master's Thesis and teaching to have time to be thinking and getting excited, so I am getting excited for her.

So, anyway, maybe I will see you around the Lodge.

Does she know if she is going to be working at Animal Kingdom? We love Animal Kingdom so much we are spending two of our days there.