We Came, We Saw, We Disneyed

"So now that you have gotten your stimulus check, what are you going to do with it?"

"GO TO DISNEYWORLD!"

We survived, we enjoyed and we made some great memories. Our flight left nice and early and on time. We are lucky enough to have a direct flight to Orlando. Just 3 hours later we were on the Magical Express.

Now our 4 year old daughter only knew that we were going on vacation - but she did not know where we were going. The airport luggage handlers saw our struggle with the luggage, stroller and carry-ons and assisted us into the airport. He noticed the Cinderella's Castle luggage tags and asked LOUDLY if we were going to Disney. We both answered, "No, South Dakota." We had to tell the ticket counter to remain hush and they went with our South Dakota ploy.

Finally sitting in the airport she asked where we were going, so I told her - Orlando. She, of course does not know what "Orlando" is. She is typically quite an observant child - however, this morning with her focus being primarily on trying to figure out where we were going, she did not really pay attention to all the little girls in the same area dressed in Princess gowns. Nor did she find it odd that Mom bought her new Ariel sandals and a whole Disney outfit.

When we were on the plane she was looking at the AirTran magazine that was in the back of the seat and inside they have a picture of Cinderella's Castle. She said, "It would be sooooo cool to see this castle." Mom - "Mm hm, that would be nice dear but that is at Disney, we are going to Orlando."

We land in Orlando and conquer the task of finding the transportation to the resort. Now, this is a special area for Disney 'residents'. There is Mickey everywhere and cheerful happy people (not typically found in airports). She still doesn't get it. We get on the big MICKEY bus, nothing. The video comes on showing all the standard Disney characters and she still doesn't get it. It wasn't until they showed Cinderella's Castle - she remembered it from the magazine - castle=Disney.... Everyone on the bus was watching her because they realized she didn't know where we were going. That moment of realization and surprise was so precious.

We went to Epcot first, since we only had half of a day. The Nemo ride and Turtle Talk with Crush were really big hits. We were able to avoid the madness on the Test Track ride since we had GM all access to sneak in a back way. She was a little scared on that one, but not too bad. Ask her and she wasn't frightened at all.

We wandered around from country to country and met lots of characters. She really enjoyed getting signatures from everyone that we could find. She thought she was quite the pop star. We had dinner at the Akershus House in Norway. She was able to get pictures with Belle and we were visited by Aurora, Ariel, Cinderella and Jasmine during dinner. Let me tell you - that is the best way to get a 4 year old to eat quickly. "Hurry, before the next Princess comes!"

Monday we went to Animal Kingdom. Slowly easing our way into Magic Kingdom. There were some small 'carnival' rides for her. She was a bit bored, you can only look at animals for so long. We were able to catch portions of the parade while we ate dinner. We watched a Lion King presentation, Nemo on stage and Pocahontas. We stumbled upon the Hundred Acre Wood clan. I was able to meet my favorite character, Pooh. He is just as cute in person!

Just seeing the look on our daughters face made it all worth it. She was just living and enjoying every moment as it came. She was awesome the entire time we were there. We had a caricature of her made into Ariel - definitely cool!

Now Tuesday - the big day - Magic Kingdom. We arrived at opening and we were able to see the opening parade and get sprinkle with 'fairy dust'. Her eyes just lit up when she saw the castle in person for the first time. The realization that it is real, not just a toy. The rides at MK are definitely much better for entertaining a 4 year old and for making the 30 year-olds sick from spinning! Those tea cups, just too much. We were invited to dinner at the castle and our Princess was able to meet and talk to Cinderella. Her biggest question, whether Cinderella had on her glass slippers, but alas, she was wearing special silver slippers.

So to wrap it up - she met over 30 characters, touched Lightning McQueen's lightning bolt, all of the Princesses, Belle taught her to curtsy and Beast danced with her. Each night, like magic, a character visited our room and left her gifts. Her favorite was Beast - no one else had one and everyone asked her about it. We closed off our trip by seeing Beauty and the Beast at Hollywood Studios and ended it with the Fantasmic presentation - that was truly amazing.

We survived Disney and are the stronger for it. Four is the perfect age without a doubt - the magic is still alive and the wonderment of it all is more fun for Mom and Dad than anything. Now it is a daily parade of our daughter in her dress up costumes asking us if we would like her signature and our pictures taken....

Who's the boss?

Just a few short days after the 'where to babies come from' question, I was hit with another 4 year question bomb. I wasn't expecting it. I was blindsided and it wasn't fair. But 4 year olds don't have the same definition of fair. (And I am pretty sure they have some book at school she reads - 'Questions that will flip out your Mom on the way home').

Once again, driving along having just picked my daughter up from school. We again, going through the routine of the day and BAM! 4 year old 'Emeril' hits me upside the head with this one 'when am I going to have a little brother or sister?' WHOA! Pull back, hold on, slow down.

Now it is one thing for the parents, grandparents, neighbors and even strangers to ask when we are going to have the next but when the 4 year old begins the prodding, it has just gone too far. And of course, at this point, she is an expert on where babies come from (see previous blog) and knows that this is possible, not because I carried and birthed her but simply because I am a girl. (Who answered that question anyhow?)

So my first question back (which is always the response for the adults that question us on this) - 'are you going to pay for school?' Followed by a look of 'sure' with a the standard 4 year old sholder shrug/head tilt. I stop with the adult line of questioning because that would just lead to further questions. Thus begins the questions you can only ask a child:

'If you have a baby brother or sister, would you help mom and dad with:
Q) Dressing A) Yes
Q) Feeding A) Yes
Q) Washing A) Yes
Q) Hugging A) Yes
Q) Loving A) Yes
Q) Playing A)Yes
Q) Snuggling A)Yes'

Okay, my tactic at this point was not working. And I think she is starting to convince me this is a good idea. Then, it came to me, I had it...

'Would you share your toys, even your snuggly and babies, with your little brother and sister?'

Thinking.... short pause... 'Yes!' NO! Not the right answer! I mean it is, but it isn't - this isn't helping my case. She continues with the 'so can I? so can I?' as if the local Babies R Us just has them there for us to pick up when we are ready.

Now how to explain gestation.... to a four year old..... I explain the tummy, the growing, the time it takes. She is okay with all this (as are most people when it isn't their body for 40 weeks). So I guess it is a done deal. Dad and I have some work to do. When it finally really hits me, the winning question:

'Okay, one more question, would you help change the diapers, even the stinky, icky, gross poopy ones?'

'EEWWWWW NO!'

I win!

I won - didn't I? I mean I get to change ALL the poopy diapers when the time comes...

Where do babies come from?

Most everyday I get the distinct joy and pleasure of picking my daughter up from 'school' - which is really daycare in disguise. I always get to find out first what happened in the day, what lunch was and who had a special day. I cherish those moments and I have to admit, I am selfish and always want those moments. But with those moments come the moments of 'what did you just say'?

Just the other day I had picked up my wonderful daughter. We were going through our normal routine of 'what did you do today? what did you eat? did you do a craft?' To which most answers are 'I don't know' followed by me saying, 'well, weren't you there?' Then.... a moment of brief silence and then the question that no mother is every prepare to hear from their daughter. Especially a 4 year old! 'Mom, where do babies come from?' Well.... I believe in the honest approach to parenting, to a certain degree. I will not lie (okay, I will but only about Santa, Easter Bunny, Fairies, etc - those mythical creatures that a child needs) but I will not be entirely honest.

So, wheels turning knowing I can not possibly tell a 4 year old the whole truth because the following would happen:
1- freaked out beyond anything known to man or beast
2- she will repeat the conversation verbatim to her teachers and we will have to have a conference
3- she will ask more questions
or
4 - all of the above

I was not ready for any of those. Finally - the answer came to me and I held my breath that it would work.... 'Well honey, they come from girls. Girls are very special and are the only people that can have babies...' Me.... still not breathing..... and lo and behold, it worked. I quickly changed the topic of conversation and I am already beginning to dread her being a teenager!

AHHHH!