Days 1 and 2 at Disney World

These posts may take some time.  I have about 1,000 pics to sort through and I'm already forgetting rides and restaurants we did.  I'll also include a post on tips and tricks we learned because I know a couple people that are planning a trip and may want to know. 

No better way to start vacation then with a 3:30am wake up call.  There wasn't a ton of options for direct flights so we booked a 6am flight and was there by 10am (time change).  It was Home Alone style with us almost missing our flight.  We didn't expect the airport to be as busy as it was.  But we made it! Thanks to Derek's A list status, he saved the back of the airplane for us to all sit together! The kids were perfect on the flight and if I remember correctly, the youngest 3 took a cat nap.

Only our room was ready so everybody unloaded their carry ons (hotel picked up our luggage at airport and delivered them to our rooms a little later) and we headed to Disney Springs for lunch and shopping.  Brooks had the flu 3 days before we left and still wasn't 100%.  He would seem fine until he ate and then he'd act like he was going to throw up and would get super tired. He fell asleep in the stroller while we walked around a little.   We were all pretty tired to do much shopping but Disney Springs is for sure worth checking out if you get the chance. 

The kids were pumped to swim so we let them do that for a little bit (pools are heated but still not very warm) and then grabbed a quick dinner at our hotel.  Everyone was in bed pretty early, ready to tackle the first day at the parks!

 

First park day: Magic Kingdom

Our hotel was within walking distance to MK so we walked there and got there shortly after it opened.  It was the entire groups first time at Disney World so we were all ecstatic and in awe of everything. 

 

 

 

 

 Our fast passes were for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger (not worth a fast pass), Space Mountain for Derek and most of group, Meet Mickey at Town Square (the only one) for some of group and Peter Pan (not worth a fast pass). 

Sit down meal- A character buffet at Crystal Palace (Winnie the Pooh characters)

 

using up snack credits

 

Thanks to a Disney high and sugar, we stayed the entire day and even lasted for the fireworks at 10pm. 

 

 

 

 

Kai at 6 months

The quality of these photos are ridiculously bad.  It was a cloudy day so I got what I could.

 

 

Here we are, half way to a year.  I hate how fast they grow up!!! At 6 months, Kai weighs 14lbs 8oz (5%) and is 24.5 inches (>2%).  His pediatrician wasn't thrilled with these stats so we'll be back in a month for a weight check and 2nd flu shot.  We went through this exact thing with Brooks at 6 months too.  My kids just plateau around this age.  He has been liking almost all his baby food so I'm hopeful he'll gain a decent amount of weight before his follow up.  He's liked all fruit and green veggies are hit or miss.  I just hide them in some fruit and he gobbles them down.  I've been offering solids 2-3 times a day and he nurses 6 times throughout the day, waking once in the middle of the night to eat.  He drinks 5-6oz in a bottle before bed. He's got the pincer grasp down and picked up a cheez it and took it to his mouth (no, I didn't let him eat it) but he couldn't quite get a puff in his mouth.  He proceeded to gag when I put the puff in his mouth so we'll stick to purees for now. 

 

I never thought he'd sleep better at 1 month then he does at 6 months.  His middle of the night waking was getting earlier and earlier so we've been doing some sleep training.  I'm hoping we are on the up.  In his defense, he had a double ear infection and cut his first tooth this month.  I took him in for a never ending cough and cold and those weren't concerning but his ears were.  #momfail.  He never ran a fever and hardly touched his ears.  I figured he was rubbing his ears because of teething.  His bottom tooth is barely poking through his gums and the other one is close. I don't mind feeding him in the night, just preferably not before 3am.  Naps are usually 30 min, sometimes he'll cut me some slack and sleep 2 hours but it's very rare.  Almost every night at 6:45pm on the dot, he gets fussy and is ready for bed.  

He's sitting unassisted for quite awhile.  I still don't trust him enough to leave him alone, mostly because he reaches for toys and face plants. He rolls all around the family room and pushes off with his feet to go upwards.  He went in a swing for the first time this month and is sitting up in the bath tub now.  He's a maniac in his doorway jumper.  We never had one with the other 2 kids and I wish we had. He loves it and it's a lifesaver when we are in the kitchen.

 

If he spots me, he whines for me to hold him. He'll be  happy as can be playing and then we make eye contact and it's over. If someone is holding him and I take him cause he's whining for me, he'll turn to them and smile like "ha ha, I got my mommy."  I've learned to be very sneaky around him.  He get's so excited when he sees Collins, Brooks or daddy.  He's still fought over daily.  Now that he's sitting in a high chair, it's a daily debate on who get's to sit by him.  Collins is in heaven getting to feed him baby food and Brooks usually wants to feed him a couple bites as well. 

 

He'd chose a rag or sock over a toy any day. He gets so mad when bath time is over and I take the wet wash cloth from his mouth.  I'm sure it feels good on his gums. I've put pear and apple slices in his little feeder and he loves to chew on that while I cook or we're eating a meal.  The car seat is still not his favorite, I need to start looking for a bigger car seat and pray he likes that more.

He seemed to enjoy his first Christmas.  He tried to unwrap his presents and was eager to play with his new toys.  He didn't like sleeping in a pack n play so he got to snuggle with me for a couple nights.  I didn't mind it a bit. 

Kai, you are such a smiley and happy baby.  I think your smiling 90% of the day.  Happy half birthday! Love you so much!