Or how two became three.
Now we don't really need to discuss how two became three, right? I mean suffice it to say you're all pretty well-versed in that arena? Well, I hope you are anyway, because if not, all these references to Jack Sparrow probably don't make much sense.
Actually, if you want to get technical, I know exactly when two became three. And I can tell you that I had just gotten back from a really relaxing trip to the World with mom and nana, and had a great time, but definitely missed DH. The rest, as they say, is history.
So we had our little peanut. And had pretty much decided that trips to the World would have to wait for a while, especially when I lost my job and decided to stay home with said peanut. Ah, my little man. Most of the beginning is a big haze, but I know one thing. Love at first sight. You know some of those baby books who say its okay if takes time to bond with your baby, there's nothing wrong with that. Well, that is obviously true, but not for me. One look at that little nut and I was smitten. I have been ever since. Even when he pushes all my buttons and makes absolutely crazy with his three year old striking out for independence but I still need you mama antics, I look at those beautiful eyes, and I see myself. I see what I was like as a child, and I see so much of myself in him, in his looks, and his mannerisms. Don't get me wrong, there's a very fair share of DH in there as well, but he is so me all over again. My lovey.
Thanks to some help from mom and nana, my little peanut's first trip to the World was when he was about eight or nine months old, sometime in October. That was before the lure of free dining became so all-consuming I had to go in September. I love the World in October and wish I could justify doing it again. Someday.
Here are my favorite memories from that trip with my little nut.
By the time we got to a park each day, he fell asleep. I have pictures of him sleeping in every park we went to. It's adorable, and made for a very interesting scrapbook. His very first Disney meal was at Nine Dragons in China. We had chinese food. He had a lovely apple cinnamon mixture by Gerber. And began his tradition of pooping in China, where there is no changing station. Let's pray as they renovate Nine Dragons they do the bathrooms too, eh?
I loved watching him at the Crystal Palace with all the Winnie the Pooh characters. He was sooooo into them, they were so soft and loveable, and I had dressed him in a Pooh & Tigger shirt for the occasion, so it was much appreciated. I have an adorable picture of him holding onto Pooh's arm, giving him a huge hug. And I remember he loved Piglet so much, he held his arms up to try to leave with him. After that meal, we all got our picture taken in front of the castle as a family, and just the three of us. That's one of my favorite photos.
I took him on whatever rides we could because he was able to. Mom and I took him on Dumbo and I hate heights, but I did it anyway just to see his happy face.
For
MNSSHP, we all "dressed" as pumpkins. The adults wore the jack o'lantern orange tees, and we put DS in an orange onesie, and I bought a hat shaped like a pumpkin. All night long, we were called the Pumpkin family.
Truthfully, there's so much more that I remember from this trip, but it would take me a whole trip report to describe it, and I'm just not up that!
His second trip, he was one and half when we went, and it was for free dining. We did have mom, nana, and father-in-law with us for this one. This was fil's first trip, so we felt overwhelmed trying to show him everything. So silly, he's the most laidback man I know, and as happy doing whatever we were doing. Long story, but after DH's parents were divorced, we spent a few years not talking to DFIL. Once we had DS, I told DH, if he wants to come see his first grandchild, I'm not going to stop him. It's time. If we invite him, and he comes, then we invite him again. And we keep inviting him to things, and he keeps coming to see us! It truly was baby steps, but now DH and he actually have a relationship again. And I think DFIL was just so grateful to spend that amount of time with us, we could have been anywhere and he would have been happy. This trip was the first time I had a Dole Whip float, DS was actually napping at the time, and we had a quiet moment.
My favorite character moment from this trip is when DH and I ditched the fam for a few hours and went to the character connection in Epcot at a really off time, meaning the three of us were the only people in there. All the characters were great with DS, but at the end we saw Gideon and King Louie. They must have spent twenty minutes playing with us. King Louie got down on the ground and played peek-a-boo with DS around one of the pillars. I have a pic of the two of them on all fours. Then Gideon would scratch King Louie's belly and show DS how to do it. And DS was never afraid, he had so much fun. Well, when Chip & Dale realized what a grand time we were having, they came over to get in on the action. And one of them took DS by the hand, and they started walking towards the doors, like, see you later, we're going to walk the World Showcase. It was the best.
And, and I'd be totally lax if I didn't share my walk around the world. You see on this trip we had a hard time getting DS to drink milk, it was sooo hot. And it was hard to keep juice for him cool in his straw cup. We tried water with the crystal light packets and it seemed to work. But what we never realized is that those crystal light flavorings will make you have to go...like a lot! DS had peed through both his outfits when we were at dinner in Italy. And then, guess what happened? Alas, peed through the last outfit.
Do you know that you can't buy children's clothing/sleepwear anywhere in the World Showcase? I know. I know because I walked the whole bloody thing. In the middle of dinner. Keep in mind I was looking for a top and shorts for him. I ended up at Mouse Gears, and finally find some adorable Nemo PJs. I bought them a size too big on purpose so they would last. Actually, we still have them!
Then I walked back to Italy. Anyone following how far that is?
When I got back, our dinners had been out and gone back. Our waitress, who was wonderful, took them back and had whole new dinners made for me and DH. Oy...my walk around the World. That has definitely gone down in our Disney Hall of Fame.
Our last trip, DS was about two and half when we went. Again, mom, nana, dfil, and us. This trip was slightly more relaxed in that dfil had already been there, so no pressure to do specific things.
Again, so many memories, but I have one night that's my favorite. The ladies (myself excluded) wanted to eat dinner in France, and I declined, figuring one night apart would do us all some good. Well dfil decided to come with us, which was fine. We decided to wing it. Well, suffice it to say I walked out of Restaurant Marrakesh, long story, and we decided to eat elsewhere. Well, just as we were coming out, Aladdin and Genie were greeting over by the lagoon. The line wasn't too bad, so I said, let's get our pic taken, why not?
It ended up being the best character interaction I think we've ever had, bar none. DS was nervous with face characters. To him, it was like meeting a stranger. So he was very shy of Aladdin, and threw his hands up in front of his mouth. Well, Aladdin got right down on his level, and started talking to him. Meanwhile the photopass photographer is getting all this on film. Well, as I'm getting Genie's autograph, Aladdin takes DS behind the hand, over to the fence, and starts pointing out across the water toward Spaceship Earth and they're talking away.
To this day, I still have no idea what Aladdin said. DS wasn't old enough at the time to tell us, so it's between them. I can just tell you there was a lot of talking, and laughing.
The PP, seeing a prime opportunity, hopped the fence and started taking picture after picture. I have the best picture of DS and Aladdin, their heads tilted together, smiling into the camera. I may be a Tarzan/Jack Sparrow girl, but I love Aladdin now.
He made my night.
After that, we took a leisurely stroll around the WS, and ended up in Mexico, where DFIL and I began the margarita tradition. We got counter service there, and sat in a nice spot and could see the water as it was getting dark and it was beautiful.
It was unplanned.
It was spontaneous.
And I was feeling good from our meeting with Aladdin and my yummy, yummy margarita.
And that my friends, is why I threw out my itinerary.
Because I want my boy to have moments like those.
Will it still feel like a Disney trip without Pirates??? I've never not ridden it when we've been there. EVER!
Who knows!?! DF is working on 3 hours of sleep and wants to watch the 3rd one with me, and putting in a movie will probably just make him fall asleep. Poor guy, it took him 2 hours to tell me about all the bachelor party drama from last night. 
And I thought girls were the drama queens!
