An 8 Year Old's Adventure

Over spring break, Libby overheard me telling Rachel that I didn't think our family would be able to come out to FL to meet her new baby in October.  I didn't think it would be fun for a mom with a newborn to have so many of us there, and, and, and....but maybe I could just come.  Libby got really sad that she wouldn't be able to come meet baby X (the name wasn't determined at that point).  So, I decided maybe I would go and take Libby.  We had plenty of miles on our Southwest card (if you want to see why you can go back to the master bath post, haha) and they no longer fly to SLC (the only other place we fly) so Libby and I flew to FL for $22.
When I bought the tickets, I wasn't prepared for how much I would want to be there with that baby!  I really wanted to hold him and help my sister.  So I was so excited!  And so was Libby.  A week without school or siblings?
Then, we prepared to leave.  I was kind of freaking out.  How was Derek going to do my job?  And he had so many preseason wrestling meetings, and a home Husky game....and Libby realized she was going to miss her siblings very much.  I was asking myself what in the world was I thinking when I decided to do this?
But, we left, with lots of tears from Ben and Sarah and headed to the sunshine.

My favorite thing was when we got to Orlando, it was dark.  So in the airport Libby put on her sweatshirt.  I told her she probably wouldn't need it.  She said, "it's dark outside!  I'll be cold!"  Then we walked outside.  Into the heat and humidity.  She was so shocked.  And even more shocked when she took off her sweatshirt and it was still hot!  We climatized pretty well except for my neck.  The skin on my neck was inflamed and itchy the whole time we were there.  Maybe a heat rash of some kind.  It calmed down after a few days back at home.

Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect in Orlando.  Would the baby be the fussy kind that keeps everyone miserable?  Would we be spending most of our time taking care of baby needs?  Would the apartment be big enough for all of us?

Well I was VERY pleasantly surprised.  Baby Devin (name finally determined!) was FAB!  He let us spend about 5 hours at Epcot one day when we thought we would only spend 1 or 2.  He also let us spend like 10 hours on a Disney Adventure day (Animal kingdom and then Magic kingdom).  He blissfully slept and observed.  He went on Target trips.  He let Libby help with his baths, feedings, and playtimes.  He slept in the stroller while she went swimming.  Seriously, he was in a good place.  And so were we!  My sister is a great mom!  The transition is so hard and she is doing it gracefully.

It was really fun to spend time with just Libby too.  I feel like my attention is always so fragmented, so it was good for both of us to be able to be together without distractions.  We watched episodes of Murder She Wrote together in the evenings and munched popcorn.  I felt like I actually listened to her in a way that I don't often.

Airport Selfies

Cheesehead selfies

Devin's Tubby Time (and yes, she sang him the "Tubby Song")

Devin's present to me.  It's amazing how  you forget little things about having a baby.  Like how you should always change their diaper before feeding since they often poop while eating.  If they start out clean, it can often stay contained.

Our surprising Epcot day.  It is such a cool place.  I love the World Showcase.  I could have spent a long time here!  Libby coined a new phrase after this day.  You already know hangry, right?  Hungry and Angry?  Well Libby said she was Tangry.  A mix between tired, hungry and angry.  Or you could be Tungry.  Just tired and hungry.  I only got 8,000 steps at Epcot that day, but it was really tiring!  

Brad, my brother-in-law is a Disney employee. So we enjoyed the parks with his guest passes.  Amazing!
He works a lot, and long hours.  He was complaining though, about having only 8 hours between shifts.  I laughed.  During Mariners Derek usually only has 2 or 3 hours.  Perspective I guess.  But working in the FL heat would be exhausting!  

Libby's favorite thing was the pool in Rachel's complex.  We went there 3 or 4 times.  I got in once.  Libby is a splasher!  

Libby's favorite night was when my cousin Nancy drove up from south FL with her son Joshua.  Together Libby and Joshua created Walter's Ice Cream Parlor, complete with written menus and money for us to buy stuff.  It was awesome!  Libby just got a letter in the mail from him and is SO excited!  I also spent a long time chatting about education with Nancy who is a passionate homeschooler.  It was fun to hear about her perspective about encouraging kids to love learning.  It made me look forward to being in the classroom again someday and helping my students get excited about learning.  

Devin seems a bit concerned.  

We went to a baptism for one of Rachel's adopted nephews.  Libby was helpful so I could lead the music and Rachel could play the piano.  After the baptism we went to hang out with the family and friends.  There were two girls there who were really mean to Libby.  She tried to befriend them and they were nasty.  Turning their backs on her, asking her to go away.  But I was proud of Libby for remaining kind to them and ignoring their rudeness.  I was so mad I wanted to punch them both.  

Our Animal/Magic Kingdom day was a long one.  But Libby was a trooper.  She loved seeing the sights, going on the rides, eating ice cream sandwiches and cheeseburgers to fuel her.  

Libby with Russell and Doug.

EVEREST!  Libby was a little scared to go on this ride, but she did it.  And she loved it.  TWICE.  Me, not so much.  I did it once and that was enough!  

It was a pretty slow day at the Animal Kingdom.  So we didn't have to wait long for anything.  Except to see Pocahontas.  It was a short line, but a long wait.  Libby thought it was worth it though.    

It's already Christmas at the Magic Kingdom!  I would have loved to have spent an entire day there.  Guess we will have to go back next year!

The castle all lit up!

Derek asked me if the experience was making me baby hungry.  Hungry to hold other people's babies?  Yes.  Having my own again (and having the bathtub, bouncy set, play mat, stroller, changing table, diapers, bottles, binkies, etc), NO WAY!  I was delighted to come home to my 4 yr and 7 yr old.