After work on Friday October 8, we flew to Orlando for 4 nights at Disney World! Eric had a dental conference and we jumped at the chance to be in Orlando! Lauren is starting to enjoy to look out of the window on the plane. This flight, she was looking at all the night lights. There was an extra seat in our row, so we put LEB in the seat with the seatbelt on and she stayed there for a good while. I guess she realized that if she was buckled in, she couldn't move. ha!
We utilized the Disney Magical Express Airport transportation bus and stayed at Coronado Springs Resort on Disney property. I would highly recommend this place for families. It's in the Animal Kingdom area, had 3 pools, a splash pad, a playground, lake, 3/4 mile strolling pathways, a cafe, food court and restaurant. And it was on the Disney bus route so you could take it to the parks which was great for us since we didn't have a car.
Saturday morning breakfast at the hotel. Can Lauren stack 6 blocks? Well, she can do it with 6 jelly's!
Running towards the playground for the 1st time. She loves ALL playgrounds!
Having fun at the splash pad.
"Ah! I think it got me!"
Making friends at the pool. LEB has no problem going up to new kids.
On Saturday afternoon, Ashlynn and Kaylee's nanny, Miss Lauren, came to sit with Baby Lauren at the hotel while Eric and I went to Gainesville for the LSU vs UF game. On the way to the stadium, I called my good friend Karen to wish her a "Happy Birthday" (her 40th--gasp!) and she said they were tail gating. Sssooooo, Eric and I dropped in and visited until the ballgame started! It was so great to catch up with Karen and George. I could have sat there all night and visited! I miss you, Karen! I'm that sure you're doing a better job than I ever did as BICU ARNP...but I still miss you! :-)
Uh-oh. The Gators lost! But we had a fun date night at the game!
Sunday: Animal Kingdom.
Riding the Triceratops Ride.
More slides!
"My word, Dada! This animal needs your dental help!"
Lauren's favorite thing to do right now is climb anything and everything.
Riding the train to Rafiki's Island.
"Hi, Pocahontas!"
"Rafiki, you're so nice!"
"Ew. Those lizards are weird-looking, Dada."
"You're so soft, little lamb"
On the Safari ride--looking at elephants.
"That elephant likes to climb, like me!"
She loved ALL the animal characters.
Sweet Goofy.
When it was our turn to see Thumper the Rabbit, I put LEB down and let her walk up him by herself. She walked right up to him and immediately gave him a hug! So cute!
"Whoo-hoo! Did you see that?!! I just hugged Thumper!"
"Lauren, give Thumper another hug." "Okay," said LEB.
We did the same thing with Donald Duck. She loved him!!
Donald was probably her favorite. She kissed his beak, waved, blew him a kiss, and didn't really want to walk away. See me in the background taking a video? Yeah, Lauren was so cute! Too bad the video wasn't even on! I was sick!! I couldn't believe I didn't capture ANY of it!! But just believe me, it was an adorable moment.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom for 5 hours! It was a great day and we saw a lot. Lauren took a 45 minute nap while we hung out in the park. The weather was gorgeous and we had enjoyed it!
That night, Uncle Mark came to have dinner with us at the hotel. Aunt Mary, Ashlynn, and Kaylee were in New Orleans. The 2 daddies made fun of how I dressed Lauren. I guess they should have--it didn't really coordinate but I thought she needed knee-high leggings since it was a little chilly outside. Oh well, I'm sure it won't be the last time I embarrass her!
The classic LEB hotel picture. Sunday night.
Monday morning. Our morning at Magic Kingdom.
We started with Breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends.
"Hey, Pooh!"
Doesn't she look like a big girl!? Not afraid one bit!
"Oh Pooh. I love you so much. You're so nice."
"Dada, did you just see that!? Pooh Bear just talked to me!"
"Oh, wow! Piglet!"
"Your nose is so pretty!"
"Smile with me, Piglet."
Lauren saw Tigger from across the room and started pointing. He was her favorite.
"Oh my gosh, Mama. We're having breakfast with movie stars! I can't believe it!"
And we saw Eeyore on our way out.
Sitting in Minnie's Living Room
We were in line to see the Princesses and Lauren decided it was time to sit on the curb and rest. Ha!
We were a little surprised to find out that Lauren was very shy when she met all 3 princesses! Definitely the opposite of meeting the animated characters!
First, she wouldn't walk up to them on her own. Then she would barely make eye contact and kept her fingers in her mouth most of the time! It was like she was star-struck and embarrassed or something!
"Lauren, how old are you?" Lauren says," Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous right now, I don't even how old I am!"
"Rella. I'm so sorry. I'm so underdressed! I'm so happy to meet you, though."
"Belle, your dress with flower is absolutely beautiful!"
Serious Lauren.
Sliding and playing in Toon Town.
Riding the Merry-go-Round. At this point, Lauren is about to lose it. She wanted the ride to start and got a little impatient. Imagine that.
So, we brought out Bunny.
And this was less than 5 minutes after the ride stopped. Sound asleep in the stroller.
That afternoon while Eric was at the conference, JB and Noah came to our hotel to play and swim! Lauren was feeling a little puny and was in need for an afternoon nap, so we had to leave the pool a little early but Lauren loves seeing her boy cousins and they were so sweet to come and see us!
That afternoon it was time for us to go to Mickey's Not-so-Spooky Halloween Party! Lauren dressed in her Halloween costume: Snow White.
We were very parents walking around the MK that night. We thought Lauren was the cutest little Snow White we had EVER seen!
Miss Heather found her red sparkly shoes and bought them for her. Lauren loves them! In fact, a week ago Eric told Lauren to go get her shoes so they could go to Sam's. And she came back with her red sparkly shoes! Ha! So, the good daddy-of-a-daughter that he is let her wear them to walk around Sam's. :-)
Walking around and prancing in her costume!
We were so happy to meet up with Fia and Gabby Koagel and their cousins Amanda and Allie! Lauren loves playing with these two girls. Fia was Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty.
Gabby was Ariel from Little Mermaid
Lauren with her Dwarfs!
The Queen of Hearts
We trick-or-treated a little bit but there were places all around the park to get candy. I've never really been to a special Disney event, but loved it! The lines were dramatically shorter and there were tons of options for character greetings.
Here is our group: Berry's, Koagel's, and Natt's!
Eric gave Lauren a lollipop with the wrapper on it and thought that she'd like to just hold it. Ha! Well, within a few minutes she had the wrapper off and was licking and biting the lollipop!
Riding the Snow White ride. It was kinda scary...can you tell she was really in to it!?
"That witch with the apple is so mean, Mommy!"
Riding the Merry-Go-Round again. She really liked it.
Looking at Cinderella's carriage...it was so pretty!
Just dancing in the streets!
There were 4 or 5 places in the park where you could dance with characters. We took all the girls to dance with Woody. This was right up Lauren's alley! All the girls loved it!
Watching the leader on stage clapping and copying them.
Lots of dancing...
Aren't they all so cute?!
And we're still dancing!
Can you find Lauren?
Lauren and her friends danced for 45 minutes!
Resting her feet outside!
Less than 5 minutes (again) after we put her in the stroller. We stayed until 10pm.
This little Snow White had the best night! So many memories...for mommy and dada. :-)
Tuesday morning breakfast at the hotel.
With The Little Einstein's.
We watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Show and strolled around while she took a 45 minute nap. Even after a nap, she was kinda sad and didn't acted like she felt good. We were standing in line to see Mickey Mouse when I started to feel uncomfortable with how warm she felt (thermometer and Tylenol were packed away and on their way to the airport via Magical Express) and how she was acting. My mommy instincts were on high alert--so we left 1-1/2 hours early.
Poor Lauren
We stripped off her tights and skirt and sat in the lobby at the hotel and let her nap in the stroller. When she woke up, she acted normal and seemed fine and we got on the Magical Express for our ride to the airport.
After eating her McDonald's hamburger--watching a movie with Dada.
Making friends in the airport terminal.
Of note: When we got home Lauren had a fever of 100.9 and ran a low fever for 2 days. She then broke out in a rash on her face, neck and upper chest and back. No other symptoms except being fussy and wanting to be held a lot. After talking with Dr. Rachesky, we feel like this is a reaction to the Chicken Pox vaccination she received last week. <5% of children will develop a fever and rash 10-14 days after the shot. I guess we are part of that 5%.
