2016 Trip Report: Day 5 - Let's Go See Some Animals

Wednesday, July 27

We got up nice and early to go get breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Of course, I bought some little things for Addison in the store. I cannot resist. Cracker Barrel's store always has the best stuff. It ranges from old timey candy to ruffly Easter dresses for little girls. I love it and it runs in the family because my mom always spends some money there too. We have been buying her Cracker Barrel gift cards so she doesn't have to spend her own money there anymore. 

After eating, we all piled back into the car to head out to Melbourne to go to the Brevard Zoo. It took about an hour to get there, so I sat in the trunk and read Inferno on the way. When we got there, it was HOT. I know you're like, "It's Florida in the middle of July, so yea it's hot." But, honestly, it was 93 degrees up in New York, where we came from, and I've been to Vegas in July, so I know hot. This was humid and we were at a zoo so the vegetation just emits heat.

I was able to use my AAA card to get a discount on tickets and we got a map of where to go. The whole zoo was a big loop, so we started to the right and eventually got to the giraffe feeding. Uncle George bought a few leaves of lettuce and Jackson took one and turned right around to feed it to the giraffe whose big head was resting on the fence right next to him. He wasn't the least bit afraid, but Addison wouldn't even hold the lettuce, so Jax got to feed the giraffe a second piece. 

We walked around and saw rhinoceros, lemurs, crocodiles, fish, macaws, monkeys, kangaroos, jaguars and a bunch of other animals. At the halfway point, there was a little restaurant and I got myself a watermelon slushie and got TK a root beer float. On the way out, we found the splash park for kids and I let Jackson go in with his shorts on and Addison went in with her romper on. I just changed them before they got in the car. Jackson had fun with the other little kids and Addison crawled around in the warm water. I am sure it wasn't very refreshing, but they had a good time. 

After we took the hour-long ride back to the hotel, we all got dressed and headed out to dinner at Cici's Pizza. We had BOGO coupons, so that was the cheapest dinner all week, by far. They had a lot of different pizzas and those hot cinnamon rolls never disappoint. 

We decided to go back to Disney Springs so we could shop again and see more of the new area, including The Landing which was a new series of shops and restaurants. My brother came with TK, the kids and me over to what was the West Side. We hit the Star Wars store, the Marvel store and then Sunglass Hut so TK could get his sunglasses tightened. Then, we made a pit stop at Raglan Road for a beer to go. While we waited for our beer, we got to see some Irish step dancers perform and that is always pretty cool. We walked back to the Lego store to meet the rest of our family and Jackson and Addison were able to get a couple of things. On the way out, we stopped in Uniqlo and Under Armour. I didn't buy anything again, but TK got some UA items. 

When we got back to the room, TK, my brother and Uncle George headed out to the sports bar, Drafts. I waited for my dad and then we walked over. We had a couple of beers and talked until 11:30. We all walked back to the room and I tried to move Jackson to our room, but he refused to sleep with anyone but Nonna, so we let him so he wouldn't wake his sister. TK and I had our beds to ourselves and fell asleep rather quickly. 

2016 Trip Report: Day 4 - Water and Food (What's Better?)

Tuesday, July 26
On what was probably the most relaxing day of our trip, we headed down to the Shipwreck Island again, but this time, we decided to stay on the bottom deck where there was a zero entry pool with spraying palm trees and slides for the kids. The deepest the water got was like four feet.

Jackson wasn't interested in going in, but I put his life jacket on, picked him up and took him in with me to force the issue. I knew he liked to splash around and that he would love it after he actually loosened up a little. Well, I was right because I could not get him off those slides. He said he wanted to go down them a million times. He only got out to eat lunch and by the end of our time there, he was jumping in to TK off the side. He was even doggy paddling by himself. Addison was also having a great time in the shallow end and then swimming from one of us to the other.

The bottom deck also had a quick service restaurant and a bar. We had lunch there and the portions were huge, and our order was also huge. I had a giant cheeseburger and got myself a refillable mug of beer from the bar. I was able to refill my cup anywhere in the resort for $6. Addison was napping while we ate.

Back at the room, we got ready and Jackson and TK took a nap so they both could be in a good mood. I took a walk with my parents and Uncle George with Addison in her carrier on me. We saw the market, the bar and the ice cream/coffee shop. They sold Hershey's Ice Cream and Starbucks Coffee. Addison ended up falling asleep when we sat down to drink the beverages we bought.

When we got back to the room, we waited for everyone to get ready and I went out to the balcony to read my book, Inferno by Dan Brown. I think I ended up closing my eyes and dozing off.

For dinner, we headed out to Texas Roadhouse because we heard it was good and a lot of fun. We heard right. The wait staff was line dancing and they played country music the whole time. They had peanuts on the table and they served warm rolls with cinnamon butter. I had a 6 oz. steak, rice, shrimp and two $4 margaritas. It was a lot of fun.

When we got back to the room, we went down to my aunt and uncle's room because we had desserts left over from two nights before. I was able to see the fireworks again from the balcony. At that point, my dad and uncle left to go get my brother at the airport. The rest of us went to bed.

2016 Trip Report:Day 3 - Water and Disney Springs

Monday, July 25
We woke up and headed over to the resort's water park, Shipwreck Island. We got there before the park opened, so we had to wait outside for a few minutes.

When we finally got in, we headed up the stairs to the second level. There was a huge splash pad with a pirate ship and slides. The whole area was surrounded by a lazy river. Addison liked the little sprayers and Jackson wasn't interested in all of the water going every which way, including into his face. We nudged him down a slide and he hated every minute of it. We decided to try again another day with him. All of the tubes for the lazy river were gone, so I walked around the river. Lazy, my butt. 

After splashing around for a while, we headed back to the room to eat the leftovers from the night before's Italian feast. Then, we showered and changed, and headed to Disney Springs. I was so excited to finally see the new area. First, we approached the parking garage and there was a sign that told us how many spots were open on each level. Amazing. When we parked and took the elevators to the entrance, the doors opened up and I was impressed, but I usually am when Disney is creating something new.

There was a beautiful fountain, Spanish-style architecture and a fantastic array of stores and restaurants. We walked around a little before dinner. There are a lot of new restaurants and shops, including Melissa, a shoe store that sells some Disney-themed merchandise. (What a beautiful name, right?) Of course, we had to visit the Lego store for Jackson. He used some of his Disney gift cards to buy Legos for himself. It was getting late, so we decided that we would come back at another time to shop.

Our dinner reservation was at 4:15 p.m. at T-REX so I checked us in at the booth and waited in the gift shop for our name to be called. It only took five minutes before they ushered us in the restaurant and over to the Ice Age Room. All of the rooms that we walked by looked really cool, like the Ocean Room with a huge octopus covering half of the room. From our room, we could see fossils, an animatronic Triceratops and a Pterodactyl. At first, Bianca was afraid of the dinosaurs, but she warmed up. Jackson loved all of it and was making faces and noises the whole time. Addison was afraid here and there, but mostly, she seemed a little confused and annoyed. I had the Tuna Tataki because I knew I would be getting dessert elsewhere a little later on.

When we were all stuffed, we went shopping in World of Disney, but I didn't find anything that I wanted. We went for ice cream at Ghirardelli and I ordered a sundae that I knew about, but wasn't on the menu. It was vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and a warm chocolate chip cookie at the bottom. They discontinued all of their peanut butter items, or I would have gotten the Gold Rush. Jackson was going to town on Dad's Cherry Vanilla cone. He was shoving his face in it and making a total mess, but he loved it, so I didn't care.

We hit Once Upon a Toy on the way out and TK and Jackson found the light sabers and Star Wars items. Soon, Jackson started to act out and we headed back to the room.

2016 Trip Report: Day 2 - Downtown Orlando

Sunday, July 24
We woke up and had breakfast in the room. After we got ready, we headed to downtown Orlando for the Orlando Farmers Market. All these years of traveling to Florida and we have never been to the actual city of Orlando. I've been to Orlando almost 20 times in my life, but my Orlando is either Kissimmee or Walt Disney World. It was nice to see more of the area and get an idea of where the locals hang out because they probably avoid the touristy areas as much as they can.

The Orlando Farmers Market was next to Lake Eola. We found a parking spot in a real estate agency's parking lot and walked a couple of blocks to the market. There were booths for baked goods, fresh fish, kale chips, Cuban food, lemonade, cake pops, cookies and many other offerings.

The first thing I bought was Sugar Cane Juice with Pineapple. It was sweet, refreshing and perfect on a hot day. Then, we bought cookies and took a look at the lake and the fountain in the center. It was a very nice area. We were told it was expensive to live in this region, but we decided that it couldn't be worse than some areas of Long Island. Jackson went to the playground and played for a little bit while Addison swung in the infant swing for a good 30 seconds. TK kept getting nervous that she was going to fall out.


We finished walking around the rest of the Farmers Market and bought snow cones, lemonade and pierogies. I told Paige that I was confused about boiled peanuts and wondered what the big deal was. Well, she bought a cup of them and let me taste one. It was kind of odd to eat a mushy peanut, but it really just tasted like a bean. It didn't taste anything like a nut, especially with the spices they add to them.

Everything we purchased was either really delicious or pretty good. We were satisfied with everything we tried. I love festivals, fairs and farmers markets, so I was perfectly happy walking around and discovering what everyone was selling. Even the fresh fish folks sold their wares out of a big wood boat. That was pretty cool!

After the Farmers Market, we decided to stay in downtown Orlando while everyone else went back to the hotel. Mom, Dad, TK, the kids and I walked around a little bit and then we ate a snack at Wildside Bar & Grill. I ordered shrimp, but they ran out of it, so I got Gator Bites. The waitress felt bad, so the restaurant comped my meal. I was surprised, but it was so nice of them. I don't think that had ever happened to me before.

We got back in the car and drove around a little bit to see more of the area. We drove aimlessly and didn't see much of the city, but we did see a lot of signs that said #OrlandoUnited or #OrlandoStrong. It was heartwarming to see the city really display their support in any way they could. 

While driving, we stumbled upon a neighborhood called Baldwin Point and it had gorgeous homes and parks. There was a big park called Blue Jacket Park that had everything a family would need in their neighborhood. I checked Zillow to see how much the homes were worth and they were a bit out of our budget. 

Our dinner reservation was at the Florida Mall, so we headed over there to do a little shopping before it was time for our meal. We walked around the entire mall and all I bought were two Funko Pops and then TK and I shared an iced tea from Teavana. Luckily, there was a snack place in the center of the mall that only sold children's snacks, so I bought Addison milk and got Jackson some juice boxes. The kids started to get grumpy, so we got back in the car. We bribed Jackson into taking a nap by telling him he would have Legos when he woke up. When he fell asleep, we went into Toys R Us and bought him Legos. (We were able to mention those Legos all throughout dinner too in order to control his behavior. )

When we got to our dinner reservation at Buca di Beppo, they showed us to the Pope room because our party was so large. In there, we met Aunt Annie, Aunt Marie, Jelly and Bianca. We had a party of 15 and that room was an elaborate production. In the center of the table was a bust of the Pope and it was mounted on a large, wood lazy Susan. The waiter used the lazy Susan all night to get beverages, food and plates to our party. I found it amusing. The food was served family-style and it was delicious. 

After dinner, Georgie, Paige and Garrett went home, and we headed to the hotel. We could see Epcot, Everest and Tower of Terror from the front door at the hotel. At around 9:35 p.m., we noticed that fireworks had started close to where we thought was Hollywood Studios. It went on for a little over 10 minutes and the fireworks were not like the fireworks we were used to seeing during Wishes or Illuminations. These were really cool and pretty new. I surmised that we were actually watching the new Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular and I love fireworks, so it was great to see them without the price of admission. I continued to watch them every night when I was at the hotel for 9:35 p.m.

2016 Trip Report: Day 1ish - Road Trippin'

Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23

This trip was meant to be a nice, long, relaxing vacation with an emphasis on family. No theme parks. No craziness, just fun and quality time.

As soon as my dad and TK got out of work, we were ready to get on the road. Addison (14-months-old) was already sleeping before we were even finished packing the car with our duffle bags. When we were all filed in, we stopped at Wendy's for a to-go dinner and hit the open road.

Mom started the driving and didn't stop until Virginia. In VA, TK, Jackson (4-years-old) and I got out to use the bathroom at some random diner that was open 24 hours. I got my dad some coffee and it was $3.20. My mom bought the same size coffee and they charged her $2.80. Huh?

TK drove from there and I guess I was asleep when they switched a second time from him to my dad. When we got into Georgia, I started to communicate with TK's cousin who we planned on meeting for breakfast in Savannah. When we got to Savannah, we met up at a Cracker Barrel with Aunt Janice, Dona, Matthew, Lauren and Nicholas. It was really nice to finally meet TK's cousin Dona and her children. We already love Aunt Janice and now I get to know more of our family and so do my children. We were so glad that the time was right.

From Savannah, TK drove and I sat in front with him until we reached our destination - Westgate Town Center in Kissimmee. We arrived at 3:30 p.m. and met Uncle George, Aunt Rosie, Georgie, Paige and Garrett in the lobby. Our rooms weren't ready yet, so we had to wait. When one of the rooms was ready, we all went there to wait instead. One of the staff members brought our room keys to us. Our room was two floors above my aunt and uncle's. We unpacked a little, which means I put my clothes in a drawer and threw the kids' Ziplocs in a drawer. Then, we headed out for dinner.

We chose Steak n Shake and that was a big mistake. It was messier than I remember and the food took for-ev-er. I am going to cross that one off the list for future trips. After dinner, Dad, Uncle George and I went to Super Target for food and supplies. When we got back it was super late, so everyone was either asleep or almost there and watching Zootopia. I took a shower and called it a day. 

A Disney Tragedy

When you pass through those arches, a strange feeling comes over you and you are excited and eager. If you've never been there, you don't know what I am talking about. But, if you have, you feel like for the next week, or however long you'll visit, all will be happy and wonderful and fun. You get there and you are in this happiness fog that comes with being in Walt Disney World. I know because I've been there 14 times. Disney is my happy place.

Image from the day that Walt Disney died.

If a lesson comes out of this awful tragedy, let it be this: Watch your kids. Keep them within arm's reach. It is wonderful Walt Disney World, but danger does lurk at every corner because that's a fact of life. 

I am not saying that these parents weren't being responsible because they were. They were close by and watching their children. I am just saying to still be careful with your kids, even at Disney. This tragedy could happen to anyone anywhere, which is why this blog post by Pebbles Thompson is completely relatable. She's so right in saying, "I am you." Tragic accidents happen every day and that is the true discomfort of parenthood. You worry about your children until the day you die. 

Cinderella Castle

When I took my son to Disney at 16-months-old, it was the first time I bought and made him wear a child harness. It was a little stuffed elephant backpack with a leash. I always looked down at them, but then my kid was a runner. He had two speeds, asleep and running. I couldn't explain stranger danger to a one year old. I couldn't even demand for him to stay near mommy and daddy. I first bought the wrist leash, but he cried and was annoyed by it. So, that night, I sent my husband and my cousin to Walmart to buy the harness. I gave in, and I was so relieved and happy that I did. I used it at Disney with crowds at their highest and my son was walking freely, but with a little blue elephant attached to him and attached to me. We traveled with my aunt, uncle and cousins, who were not used to caring for a toddler, so when my son was with them, he wore the harness. I felt much more comfortable and they kept him near and secure. It was Walt Disney World, but kids get lost, kidnapped or hurt every day in the real world, and I had to make sure it was not my kid. Yea, I got looks and laughs, but those people were not going to help me if I had to search for a missing toddler, would they? 

To this day, I still defend my decision to harness my kid at Disney, but I now have another child and if we go to a theme park, I will break out the harness for her too. It is a tool that I use to help me keep my kids under control and safe, especially at Walt Disney World. 

After this horrific tragedy, I read in all of my Disney groups how people were apprehensive about bringing their children to Disney. Don't be. It was a freak accident. Yea, it could happen to anyone, but as long as you learn from this incident, and I believe Disney also should, your child will stay safe and you will have the magical time you were promised as a guest. 

I am heartbroken for the family because I cannot fathom what they are going through and pray I never have to. They are in my family's thoughts and prayers, even though that is all we can offer. We never met them, but we hope they can find happiness again. 

What I Learned While on Vacation with a Wild Toddler and a Precious Infant

In December, we took a family vacation to Walt Disney World with both of our children (Jackson, 3 1/2; Addison, 7 months), my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my cousin, his girlfriend and her son. This was Jackson's second trip and Addison's first.

One might think, "You brought an infant to Walt Disney World? Are you nuts?" The answer is no. But, I was nuts to bring my son. He was scared on the plane, so he had a tantrum and he had tantrums when he was tired at the end of the day. That was nightmarish.

So, I learned a few things:

1. Last time and this time, I shipped all of the baby/toddler supplies to the resort two weeks before via UPS. They held onto the box for us until we checked in. I had a bigger box of stuff this time because I added a child since last time, but it was still only $26. 
2. Use the carseat in the airplane if your child is afraid of flying or if you think they will be too rambunctious. The child will be strapped into their car seat safely and they are used to it. We were "that family" on the plane and that was pretty nerve wracking. They both ended up falling asleep 20 minutes in, but the first 10 minutes were the worst and I wish my son would have been restrained, safely of course. 
3. Fly on the first trip of the day. My children were so tired by the time they got on the plane that they slept for almost the entire flight. 
4. Let your children fly in pajamas. They will be comfortable and so will you. 
5. Go back to the resort in the middle of the day to take naps or just relax. You and your children will be refreshed and a lot less cranky.
6. Be careful what you charge on your Magic Band. I charged souvenirs and food, and when I got my bill, I was SHOCKED. How did I spend that much? Easy. 
7. Don't plan a park for each day. It's too much for everyone. Schedule some downtime between parks. 
8. If you have a double stroller, bring it. My son and my daughter enjoyed their time in the stroller and sometimes my son wanted to run around and would climb back in when he was tired. 
9. If you are dining at a Disney restaurant and don't see something on the kids menu that your kid will eat, ask for something they will eat. They will probably make it for you, if it's not something crazy. 
10. If you need to warm a bottle, ask the Disney wait staff for a cup of hot water. 
11. We had a lot of stuff in our stroller, so we made sure everything was in a backpack and a bag before we got on the bus. We were able to grab the bags and fold the stroller before inconveniencing anyone else at the bus stop. 
12. A carrier is great to have for when your baby falls asleep and you have to get on a ride or see a show. Your back will thank you. My cousin even had a turn wearing my daughter around Epcot. 
13. Our stroller was one that the rental companies have in their inventory, so we made sure to put our pirate bandana on the handlebar. We were able to notice it in a sea of other black double strollers. 
14. Travel with more people than just you and your husband. The more helpers the better. My mother is my children's caretaker, so Nonna is great to have on vacation. She knows my children's schedules like the back of her hand and they ABSOLUTELY love her. 
15. Bring an extra bag for all of the souvenirs you are going to bring home. We spent a lot of money on souvenirs and it showed. My husband and I shared a shoe bag, so we were able to bring another bag for all of the extras.

If you have any tips for traveling with your kids, let me know in the comments, even if your tip is to bring a bottle of wine for every day you are away. Whatever works. 

Trip Report Day 7: Knoxville Zoo and Mel's

Unfortunately, TK felt off from the feeding frenzy the night before, so he stayed at the resort and rested. The rest of us ate breakfast and headed out to the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville, obviously. It was about 30 minutes away from Gatlinburg.

The price was very reasonable considering the price for admission to the Bronx Zoo and some theme parks. I believe I paid $20 for myself and another $17 for Jackson. Addison was free.

We started out the day in the children's section. Jackson tried to talk to a baby goat as he tapped it with a brush instead of brushing it. After I cleaned his hands of livestock bacteria, we entered the area with the little birds in it. My dad bought a few seed sticks for us to feed the birds. None of them were interested in the seed stick I was holding and Jackson hit one of the birds with his seed stick. I was actually surprised that we were not attacked by 60 miniature birds. I had to get out of there. They were pretty, but there were a lot of them and they outnumbered us.

When we all exited the little bird area, Jackson ran around a little area that allowed children to splash around, but he wasn't interested in getting wet. At the snack stand, we were able to buy him juice boxes. We thought it was wonderful that they made juice boxes so available for kids. Even the big theme parks mostly have milk jugs, apple juice in bottles or the worst option, soda. Juice boxes are so much more convenient for toddlers and their parents.

Next, we headed to look at turtles, snakes and lizards, and then inside the exhibit that enclosed spiders, mice and owls. I didn't love the animals in that enclosure (except the owls), but it was air-conditioned and I had to change my daughter's diaper, so we hung out with the rodents for a little bit. Afterward, we went over to the Red Panda exhibit and we could actually enter the habitat where they climbed above us. I figured they had really great insurance for that area. I had never been so close to an actual panda, red or otherwise.

Finally, we saw some elephants as we were walking over to eat lunch. They were also very close to us and we were able to see them in full view. Not many zoos allow for that. We ate lunch at a place called the Safari Grill and the burgers were pretty good, but the drink deal was a little odd. There was a huge drink for almost $6 and a very small one for $2. The huge one was refillable, but it resembled a bucket. I guess it's a great deal if you go to the zoo all the time, but we were heading back to New York the next day.

After lunch, we went over to their giraffe section. Jackson was able to feed leaves to one of them and I loved that he wasn't afraid at all. He stuck his hand right out and almost into the giraffe's mouth. The kind woman who was in charge of the feedings warned us that a giraffe's big head was more dangerous than its tongue or mouth.

The final stop of our day at the zoo was its splash park area. I changed Jackson into his bathing suit and followed him around as he ran through the sprayers and sprinklers. He was having a blast and I don't think he stopped moving the entire time. I took a break from watching him run in circles to change a poop diaper, but when I got back, we told him that we had to leave. He shockingly agreed and changed his clothes with no problem. What?

My mother and I agreed, the Knoxville Zoo was a great place to bring children. Every exhibit and attraction was geared toward children and there was something they could do to keep them busy all day. If I lived in Knoxville, I would have a membership and visit a few times a month.

We packed up the car and headed back to Gatlinburg. The kids were asleep in 10 minutes. Ahhh, silence. We stopped at the Tanger Outlets on our way and TK met us because he was feeling better. I did a little shopping at The North Face Outlet and purchased matching fleeces for Addison and me. At the Disney Store Outlet, we purchased Jackson's Ironman Halloween costume and some clothes and toys for Addison. We also stopped at Lil Dolly's to see if they had any christening dresses for Addison. No dice, but if she wanted an outfit for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue to play the washboard, she would be all set.

For the final night in Tennessee, we ate at Mel's Diner. My dad loves it and the menu has reasonably priced comfort food. I had a wonderful Chocolate Shake with my meal and I love that. It was a great, casual family meal to end the vacation.

Trip Report Day 6: Mom's 60th Birthday and the OGO

I woke up and gave my mother her gift because it was her 60th birthday. We bought her a necklace that says Nonna in the center and has a ring around it that says Jackson and Addison, and their birthstones hang from the chain as well. She said she loved it. Score!

Mom and Dad inside the OGO

This day was all about what Mom wanted to do for her big day. We started at the Outdoor Gravity Park, which we previously knew as Zorb five years ago. Five of us changed into bathing suits and took the van up to the top of the hill. TK and I hopped in the first ball, so we could get down first and I could start taking pictures. We took a video inside the ball and I laughed the entire time, and swallowed a little water. When we got to the bottom, we were soaked and I grabbed my camera to take photos of my parents as they made their way down. When they got out, the smile on my mom's face was priceless. She had a blast. Uncle George was the next to come down and he made his way down zigzag course. He had a great time too.

After our great trip down the hill, we went back to the room so my dad could change. He only decided to participate last minute. We headed over to downtown Gatlinburg so we could stroll around. Our first stop was the Sugarlands Distillery so we could pick up the moonshine my cousin requested. We ended up sampling some and this time, I was smart and skipped all the ones that would burn my esophagus. After some miniature cups of , we went to get lunch at Dick's Last Resort and had a ton of laughs because the wait staff made fun of us the whole time. I thought they would be rude and I would get annoyed, but they were pretty funny.

We walked off our lunch afterward and headed over to Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine to purchase the moonshine and t-shirts we had seen earlier in the week. I got a red shirt and made sure we bought Shine Nog, which I am saving it until Christmas because it will be a good replacement for my beloved egg nog. There was a bluegrass band playing in the courtyard, so we sat and listened to them for a little while. My dad even bought their CDs. They were very good and my kids love bluegrass.

Of course, our walk in downtown Gatlinburg led to The Donut Friar. Five years ago, we were introduced to the fresh and delicious donuts that they craft in their ovens. We each ate a donut of our choice and then made sure to take some back to the hotel. The Village Shops, where the Donut Friar is located, are adorable and sell some pretty great things, like neck pads with cherry pits in them, educational toys, German beer and hot sauce.

With delicious donuts in tow, we headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. We were having a celebratory dinner for my mother's birthday at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen at The Island. The food was family-style, so we all shared in the southern goodness of Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Macaroni and Cheese and Butter Cake, among others. When we headed out of the restaurant, the fountain was dancing again, and so was Jackson. We did a little laughing and then headed back to the hotel.

Trip Report Day 5: Whitewater Rafting and Harpoon Harry's

We woke up, ate breakfast and got our gear on for whitewater rafting. The location was 45 minutes away, so we had to get on the road. Our reservation was for 11:30 a.m. We drove for a while and past some not so touristy spots in Tennessee until we got to the Smoky Mountain Outdoors headquarters.

When we got there, we checked in and were told to wait in an area with a lot of picnic tables. While we were waiting, my dad said, "I want a guide with a beard." So, when they tried to call our name (they could not pronounce it), we got assigned to Birdman and sure enough, he had a serious beard.

Birdman gave us our life jackets and helmets. Of course, my dad and Uncle George put the life jackets on wrong, so we had a quick laugh. We were given a brief overview of the paddle and how we should keep our hand over the T-grip or we could knock our neighbor's teeth out. I made sure my hand never left the handle of the paddle.

We all hopped on the bus and headed up the Pigeon River to where we would get our raft in the water. TK and my dad were assigned to the front of the boat because they were the strongest of us and I sat behind TK. We asked our guide why they called him Birdman. He told us that he has an African Gray and he used to take the bird to a lot of events. Eventually, people would say, "Hey, did you see that bird, man?" And, eventually Birdman stuck.

When we finally got in the water, I shoved my foot so far under the center and side of the raft, that they got numb at one point. I did NOT want to fall out of the boat and I didn't want to get yelled at for doing something wrong. I listened to Birdman instruct us on how to paddle and the directives he might shout out during our trip. During the ride down the river, there would be up to Class 4 rapids. I believe Class 6 is the highest.

As we traveled down the river, Birdman told us what each area was called. There was Microwave, Razor Blade, Tombstone, Rollercoaster, Accelerator and Powerhouse, to name a few. We also learned about some of the ecology and history of the River. Birdman said that after the whole life jacket debacle, he was nervous, but we all did great paddling and he didn't have to do much work at all or yell at us to keep our hands on our T-grips. We kicked butt!

At the end, we were able to jump in the water when it was calm and we were just drifting, so I did. The water was very refreshing. When Birdman pulled me back in the boat, I got really embarrassed because I flew right on top of him. Something embarrassing happens to me every time I do something adventurous. When I went ziplining in Hawaii, I almost knocked the guide off the platform with my butt and when we went zorbing, I tried to jump in the ball and my hips got stuck. That's just my way. I made sure to ask Birdman if that happens every time he pulls someone in the boat and he reassured me that it does. PHEW!

The trip lasted around two hours and we had a great time. I was able to check another item off of my life list. The only complaint I had was that Birdman never asked us our names ... I found that odd. I guess he didn't want to get to know us. That's too bad because we are pretty cool.

While we were driving back to the resort, we passed by the Bell Mason Jar factory and the Bush's Beans headquarters, factory and visitors' center in Dandridge, Tennessee. Too bad we didn't stop. I want to go there next time we visit because, honestly, I like beans. When we got to Pigeon Forge, we stopped at Arby's because we were all starving and we don't have one close to home. Also, my mother was not with us. She doesn't like Arby's.

When we got back to the resort, we showered and got ready to head out to Harpoon Harry's for dinner. It was pretty empty and the food was delicious. We had a nice quiet dinner with a few televisions to entertain us. I had a very refreshing beer and felt very relaxed afterward. We headed back to the resort and called it a night. 

Trip Report Day 4: Dollywood

We got up, got ready and headed over to breakfast at Shoney's. The waitress was not as smiley as we are accustomed to in Tennessee, but it was a hearty breakfast as we prepared for a full day at Dollywood. Unfortunately, I found a splinter in my finger and tried my hardest to get it out, but failed miserably and it was hurting a little. Everyone yelled at me to leave it alone, so I finally did.

After breakfast we made it over to Dollywood. We drove through the parking lot and saw no cars, so we were wondering if it was even open. Well, it was and it had the perfect amount of people ... practically none. I had bought the tickets online before we arrived in Tennessee, so I was all set with ours. Fortunately, Jackson and Addison were free.

Immediately after passing through the turnstiles, a sweet Dollywood employee overheard me asking about their baby care center and gave me directions to it. I headed right over to it and was able to change Addison quickly, quietly and cleanly. It was lovely. I love theme parks that care about moms with young children (Disney has them too). It really makes my life easier.

My mom took Addison and got directions to the first aid station, so I could get my splinter out. It was the first time I had ever visited a first aid station in a theme park. It was quick and painless, almost enjoyable.

Eventually, after caring for Addison and me, we finally were able to get on a ride and we chose Smoky Mountain River Rampage. Jackson was actually able to ride, but he was seriously afraid and only started to ease up after my mother and I got soaked. He didn't love the ride, but he visited the family clothing dryer with us to see if it could dry us up a little bit. It failed and we just looked like a group of idiots standing in a box. Unfortunately, a lot of attractions were closed because of the light crowd.

We decided to keep the ride action going and went over to the Rockin' Roadway. Jackson was able to ride on this too and he shared a car with TK. He kept reminding him to, "Go easy, Daddy. Go easy!" I rode in a car with my mom and tried to wave at them the whole time, but Jackson was too focused on having a calm ride that he didn't notice. He was done with rides after that and walked right by all of the children's rides. The adults rode Demolition Derby and gave each other whiplash, but we had a great time laughing. My dad and I got Jackson on the carousel and he cried the ENTIRE TIME. That was about as much fun as a root canal. After that, we gave up on rides for Jackson. Instead, my family spent $100 on all of the carnival games. They came out with a very expensive stuffed Minion and a giraffe, and a Florida Gators football.

For lunch, we went to Miss Lillian's Chicken House because we went to Aunt Granny's the last time we were there. The food was pretty tasty and I really do love that macaroni salad is a side dish in a lot of Tennessee restaurants. By this time, Addison was getting pretty cranky, so I walked her around until she fell asleep. Then, TK, Uncle George and I rode Blazing Fury, which wasn't all that exciting. It needs an upgrade. TK and I rode Firechaser Express and that was a lot of fun. It went forward and backward. As we walked out from Firechaser, TK tried his best to convince me to ride Wild Eagle. I watched it go around and it looked intense. I finally said yes and we got right on with no wait. I screamed the entire time and it was kind of cathartic to be able to scream at the top of my lungs. TK loved it and convinced Uncle George to ride it with him. It was one of the best rollercoasters that I've ever experienced.

When we were done with the rides, we looked for some snacks and headed toward the front of the park. I picked up some Peach Amaretto Pecan Honey Butter because the salesman was really good at his job and the honey butter was delicious. My aunt got her funnel cake, my dad got a float and TK got a sundae. There was an apple pie there that was 25 pounds and once slice was $18.99. It was monstrous. We made one last loop through the souvenir shop and then we were out. We had a long, tiring, yet really fun day.

Trip Report Day 3: Indoor Water Park and The Island

When we woke up, we all got our bathing suits on and headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and a little shopping since we bought my mother a gift card for her 60th birthday. They always have such cute baby items and seasonal decor. It is a fun place to shop and eat.

Afterward, we took a quick drive through downtown Gatlinburg and then headed to Wild Bear Falls within our resort. Wild Bear Falls is an indoor water park that we weren't able to visit the last time. We received passes for the entire week because my parents are Westgate timeshare owners. 

We had a great time splashing around. Jackson loved the kiddie area where he could run through sprinklers and splash down slides. In the kiddie area, the water was only ankle high and it was pretty warm, so it was really nice for the little ones. I was able to sit in the water with Addison and it barely covered her legs. Jackson went through the lazy river with us, after a little bit of a struggle. When Jackson needed to rest and Addison had to eat, TK and I went down the slide on a double tube and I laughed hysterically the whole time. One time, I went underwater and TK and the tube ended up on top of my head. It was a lot of fun and I swallowed a lot of water.

When Jackson was ready to play again, I took him over to the hot tub with my parents and uncle. He just sat at the edge and put his feet in. After we had our fill of the hot water, we went back to where we were set up and TK and I went up to the snack bar for drinks and a bite. Oddly, everything cost $5.49 each. Drinks? Pretzel Bites? Wine? $5.49. We left shortly after and headed back to the room to shower off. 

After we all were dressed and ready, we headed over to The Island in Pigeon Forge. There, we ate at Margaritaville. Most of us ordered margaritas and my mother even had a Bahama Mama. As we were leaving and I was getting Addison situated back in her stroller, I banged my head really hard on the staircase overhead. I saw stars and my teeth hurt; that's how hard I hit it. I had a bump for a few days. 

We walked around and visited a few shops throughout The Island. There were a variety of stores and we didn't actually buy anything, but we did buy Spaghetti Ice Cream from Poynor's Pommes Frites. It was so cool looking, but essentially, a tasty ice cream sundae. 

Included with the shops was Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine and we met Uncle George and Aunt Rosie for a tasting. Some of the flavors were brutal, but others were pretty smooth, especially the Shine Nog. We made sure to buy a bottle later in the week. 

Afterward, we watched the dancing fountains and went over to get a drink at Dick's Last Resort. The servers are supposed to belittle you, but we had a nice conversation with the bartender and a couple by the bar. We told my parents that we would meet them at 7:15 p.m. at the Margaritaville coffee shop, so we had to leave after one drink. We played cards again before bed.

                      

Trip Report Day 2: Getting Settled

After breakfast at Flapjack's, we had energy and continued on to our resort to check in. My parents own a timeshare, so our stay was at Westgate Smoky Mountains Resort and Spa. We received a two bedroom and a connecting one bedroom. Each room had a balcony that overlooked the Smoky Mountains and it is a gorgeous view. TK and I took the bedroom downstairs for us and the kids, and my parents took the bedroom upstairs. My aunt and uncle took the one bedroom. 

We all unpacked and decided that we all needed a hot shower, separately of course. Fortunately, our bathroom had two showerheads, so it felt wonderful to step in and get sprayed with warmth from all directions. I would love to have that at home, but it may lead to really long showers and possible fainting spells.

After we all showered and changed, separately, we headed out to Walmart to get some essentials. Walmart is always better in the south. I made sure to get water and milk for the kids. By then, we were hungry for dinner, even though it was still the afternoon. We went to Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que because it had pretty good reviews during the research phase of my planning. It proved to be delicious and you know how I enjoy patting myself on the back. This was another good choice.

After our meal, TK and I went to find the grocery store for Tennessee's "build your own six pack" deal that I remembered from five years ago. We got really lost and ended up in the Smoky Mountains National Park. Whoops! So, after some accidental site seeing, we made a U-turn and finally found Food City. We brought back beer and a cake.

To end the night, we played poker and then all went to bed. 

Trip Report Day 1: Traveling to Tennessee

We got on the road at 8 p.m. with a fully packed car, complete with one infant, a toddler, an activity mat, four duffle bags, bags of books, an Avengers backpack, a cooler bag, a snack bag and a portable DVD player. We had everything we needed ... and more.

Unfortunately, we hit traffic in Staten Island and added an hour to a trip that should take around 12 hours. Finally, we met Uncle George and Aunt Rosie in Pennsylvania and I was able to feed and change Addison on the folded down seat in front of me. She was in good spirits, thankfully.

The next time we stopped was in Virginia at 2 a.m. to get gas and some snacks. I actually found the elusive Little Debbie Peanut Butter Sandwich Pies that I've heard about, but have never seen. They were good, just a little sweeter than I'd hoped.

There was something really peaceful and serene about sitting in the back of a car staring out the window into the darkness at a foreign location in the middle of the night. 

We stopped one more time to change Addison, but by then we were in Tennessee and needed a meal. We started our stay in Tennessee with breakfast at Flapjack's in Pigeon Forge. We had eaten there five years prior, so we knew it would be good. It was the perfect way to start the day. 

The (Toddler) Cars Garage

In our home, we only have three bedrooms. One of them is the master bedroom and the other two are for our two children. We had to move Jackson over to a new bedroom so Addison could use the nursery furniture. So, we created a Cars bedroom for Jackson ... with help from our Uncle Frankie, cousin Michael and Extreme Painting and Wallpapering.

We started with new lighting by putting in high hats. Then, TK painted the room a light gray. We purchased Disney wallpaper to mimic diamond plating that you might find in a real mechanic's shop and outlined it with chair rail that TK painted red. Aunt Maria bought Jackson Cars Fatheads for Christmas, so those all had to go up ... of course. The carpet was purchased from Lowe's and installed by Gemini. It is nice and plush. I see us all lounging on the floor and watching movies in the future.

We purchased a Lightning McQueen bed, sheets and a comforter to go with the theme and it was super easy to do because there were a ton of options at Toys R Us, Kmart, Target and Walmart. The stickers for the bed were annoying to apply because they just show you where they should go and say, "Good luck!" Not my idea of an efficient assembly.

We bought a checkered valance from an Etsy shop and checkered knobs for the dresser. The dresser was purchased completely unfinished and TK painted it red and black and fastened the knobs. We saw a set of drawers that we liked on Pinterest and were trying to emulate that same garage look. The plastic desk was donated to us from my uncle and aunt, so that fit in quite nicely.

For decor, we made sure to hang up his framed Disney stock and an authentic Disney sketch of Lightning McQueen that we purchased while in Walt Disney World in 2013. On the outside of the door, we hung a metal Cars parking sign that we also purchased in Walt Disney World. That sparked Jackson's interest before he knew that he was getting a new, cool room. TK also painted the door with chalkboard paint so Jackson could draw on it, if the mood ever struck him. We also added framed photos, sports banks that his grandparents bought and filled for him, and his Mickey ears.

Fortunately, we already had a television for the room when we thought it would be an office, so we bought a bracket and got that up on the wall. He also has a Blu-Ray player to watch his Disney movies on.

Tonight, we finally showed Jackson his Cars Garage Room and he was so happy that he spent most of the time jumping on the bed. That led to visions of me rushing him to the hospital for stitches, but we are not going to worry about that right now. He also named all of the characters on the wall and the movie that was on his TV. (We made sure Cars 2 was playing when he walked in.) When it was bedtime, he even agreed to go in his room (with a small bowl of Goldfish) to go to sleep.

We still have a few things left to do this weekend, but the room is ready for him to sleep in. There is still a monitor to watch over him, so he is not that grown up or trusted yet, but he has made the transition nicely so far. Now, let's see what tonight has in store and if he gets totally freaked out when he wakes up in the middle of the night and sees vehicles with eyes staring at him from every angle. At least they all look friendly, especially Guido and Luigi.

So, the Cars Garage Room was a success. Ka-Chow! 

I am creating a sibling

When TK was a child, he had a happy little life with his hamster and his mother, and the new dad he had just met the year before. That was until his mother became pregnant with his younger brother. She went into the hospital to have his brother Steven and TK went to stay with a family member. When everyone returned to the home, the nursery was newly painted and TK's hamster was dead. TK would never forget the day he gained a brother and lost his beloved pet. He thought his new sibling killed his hamster, which we all know is not true, but it was such an issue that it made an appearance in Steven's best man speech 26 years later.



Steven and TK

I am praying that the transition for my little boy is a lot easier and a lot less traumatic than TK's experience. The fact is that Jackson is getting a sister. She will be almost three years younger than him and he knows that she is in my belly right now and that her name is Addison.

We are trying to be really smart about introducing her to him because we don't want his little perfect life to change. So, the first step is designing a full Cars bedroom for him. We have diamond plate wallpaper, Cars Fatheads, a Lightning McQueen bed and added Cars items. We still have the carpet on its way and the dresser that TK will be painting black and red. Today is my due date and his room is still not done, but Addison will be in my bedroom for a few weeks, so we still have a little bit of time to get it ready.

Next, we have a few Cars Radiator Springs race track sets to wrap up for Jackson from his new sister. He loves to open presents and if he receives one from her, it may soften the blow of a new person living in our house. We also bought him a few new cars to add to his collection of more than 100. He is always excited for new cars. Yep, he is spoiled, if you can't tell.

So, the final step will be the introduction of the two. I hope it is a very loving meeting and Jax does not smack her in the face or squeeze her too hard, but that's what a brother does, so if it happens, it happens. These two little beings will be the most important and most cherished people in my life and it is my job to keep them cared for and loved throughout their lives. I just hope that they find love for each other and realize that when they have no one else who understands them, at least they have their sibling.


Me and My Brother, Michael

Disney Planning ... AGAIN! (YIPPEE)

Cinderella Castle

Yes, Jackson will be 3-years-old and yes, Addison will be an infant, but we are planning another trip to Walt Disney World. You may not think so, but there is still a lot that we haven't done or seen at the "Happiest Place on Earth." And, there is nothing like watching a child's face when they see Mickey Mouse for the first time or when they wonder why the elephant that they are sitting in is now flying. Fortunately, our family can enjoy everything about Disney World together and create countless memories—and, we love it!

This year, there are several things that I am looking forward to. They range from mom things to foodie things to family things, but they are all fun things.

And, here they are:

1. Dressing up a baby girl in Minnie, Tinker Bell and princess outfits. You can't say that little girls don't look adorable all dolled up. Think about it. See?
2. Eating at Boatwright's at Port Orleans. My parents said the food there was the best on property. I accept their challenge.
3. Riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It is new this year and we need to give it a whirl. 
4. Trying anything at France in Epcot. The photos of the elegant French pastries really look amazing, so I just need to eat one ... or one dozen of them. There's a Brioche Ice Cream Sandwich, an Ice Cream Martini and Profiteroles au Chocolate. They just all sound delicious. 
5. Shopping at the new Sanuk store in Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. We love Sanuk flip flops so much that our family should be sponsored by them. There is also a new allergen-free cupcake shop called Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC.
6. Drinking a Frozen Hot Chocolate. TK and I loved them at Hershey, so we need to try them everywhere now. 
7. Checking off festive food in the Holiday Food Passport at Epcot. I know there's a Cronut listed on there and a Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. Both will be ingested.
8. There is some dessert illusion called Biramisu. It is Tiramisu, but it is made with beer instead of coffee. Now, I am just curious. 

Jax and Donald Duck

This year, we are also hoping to throw in a little Legoland and a little Busch Gardens Christmas Town. We've experienced Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, so now we want to see how they do it in Tampa, Florida.

Any other thoughts on what we should not miss this year? I may have already done it the other 14 times I've been to Walt Disney World, but you can still suggest it and I will definitely take it into consideration. 

Maybe she will be a swimmer?

After eight months of pregnancy, I've learned that I am anemic, I have sciatic nerve pain and my pelvis is softening. All very glamorous, yet normal. 

However, last week I also found out that I have polyhydramnios. Only one percent of women get this condition and I have it, but all of my tests have come back normal with zero issues thus far. I found out about this condition on the internet because, of course, I had to Google it. However, the information I read just confused me because none of the reasons for the condition pertained to me. Polyhydramnios means that I have extra fluid in my amniotic sac that my little girl is swimming around in. So, my OB sent me for testing and a consult with a high risk doctor. Fortunately for me and the baby, there is a great doctor on Long Island who is one of the best in his field, Dr. Goldstein. 

On Tuesday, when my doctor called me, she told me that I needed this testing and the consultation and so I cried on Tuesday and Wednesday out of worry and fear. I never had a complication with either of my pregnancies, so I started to over-analyze every little pain and started to feel fragile, which I seriously hate. Eventually, I was able to regain my composure and realize that I am strong and I will do whatever it takes to protect my daughter. That's the job of a mother and I have to do MY job, no matter how scary or painful it is. 

On Thursday, my mother and Jackson accompanied me to the doctor's office where they started me out with a very detailed sonogram. Since there was a flat-screen TV on the wall where I could see everything the tech was doing, I saw my daughter's face, spine, stomach, hands and the four chambers of her heart. The tech even checked out my uterine arteries. Like I said, it was SUPER thorough. The tech said that everything looked good. One point for me!

From there, I did a urinalysis and then moved to the stress test. They sat me in a seat and wrapped two bands around my stomach with heart-rate monitors strapped to them. I received a button that I had to push every time I felt the baby move. It was like the morphine or epidural button at the hospital. At first the baby moved very sparingly, but then I was given a cup of cold water and she was more mobile. The nurse took my blood pressure and I told her that I was pretty nervous so it might be a little higher than normal. She told me not to worry because my tests were all good and this was not considered a complication. She also told me that the doctor would explain everything to me and that she's seen patients who had a lot of excess fluid and they ended up being just fine. Another point!

Then, I went in to see Dr. Goldstein. He described the condition to me in a very sensitive and thorough manner. He reassured me that he thought I would be fine, but he did want me to come back every week until my due date for monitoring. He was confident that my fluid would go down and that I would be able to go full term. (PHEW!) I did ask what would happen if the fluid increased and there was increased pressure on the placenta. To which, he said that I would go into early labor and be induced. He said there would be no need to drain the fluid or for a c-section, which was music to my ears. I was induced with Jackson, so that is the best, worst-case scenario. He also said that there was nothing I could really do to make the situation any better and that there would be no residual effects on the baby or me. Another relief! 

This could have been a serious issue if my tests weren't all normal, like my glucose tolerance test, my sonograms and my blood pressure for my entire pregnancy. In severe cases, it could lead to fetal death or chromosomal abnormalities. Luckily, my case is very different and the reason for my poly is that my daughter just likes to pee a lot. Those were the doctor's very scientific words. 

So, tomorrow I will be trekking back into the doctor's office for my weekly test to see if my fluid amount is less than 28. I need it to get down to 20 or less to be considered normal. Fingers crossed, everyone!

So, I'm Preggers!

My 34th birthday was a more dramatic time than I had originally thought. Shortly after we learned that TK had a kidney stone, I took a pregnancy test and the lines were there. Our second child was on their way. We kind of planned it this way, but not to exactly happen at the same time as a kidney stone.

When I was only five weeks pregnant, we decided to announce the pregnancy to my parents. So, we picked up four pumpkins and wrote Daddy, Mommy, Jackson and Baby K. on them. Then, we placed them on their kitchen table and waited for them to come in. My brother saw it first and congratulated us, and then my parents walked in and hugged us. We were all very happy about these new developments. Jackson was going to have a little brother or sister. We also got Jackson a shirt to announce the pregnancy to my in-laws and it said, "I am getting promoted to BIG BROTHER." My in-laws were very happy to read the news.

At the end of September, I made an appointment with my OB and the nurse confirmed my pregnancy and told me that my due date is May 14, 2015. Then, the nausea started. I felt sick all day, but did not vomit. The only time I didn't feel sick was when I was eating, so I decided to try to eat through the sickness, and eat, and eat ... By the time my second trimester started, I was sick less and less, and by the time my 14th week came along, I was feeling MUCH better. This pregnancy was very different than my first. During my first trimester with Jackson, I was only nauseous at 4 p.m. every day when my stomach was empty. Most of my pregnancy was enjoyable until the end when I got swollen and itchy feet and hands. That was awful, but it ended as soon as I gave birth, thankfully.

At Nicole's Christmas party, I asked Colleen to take a baby bump picture of me to announce my pregnancy to my friends and family on Facebook. I really don't like pregnancy pics because they look awkward and make people uncomfortable. I decided that if I would have a bump pic taken that it would only be a silhouette so people could only see the outline of my body and not my actual body. It turned out pretty well and people could definitely tell that I was pregnant, which was the goal. My belly popped a lot earlier with my second pregnancy, which I hear is normal. I guess your body just remembers what it was like and goes right back to what it was like the last time. This time, I was noticeably pregnant by the time my eighth week came around. Last time, I was about 14 weeks before I had to stock up on maternity clothes.

For this year's Christmas card, I added another little announcement to the back of the card. The front of the card had a picture that I loved of Jackson from the summer at the Central Park Zoo and the back had an image of my 12 week sonogram that I added a Santa hat to. Some people had no idea what it was and needed someone else to fill them in. I just hoped people actually turned the card over.


In the beginning of December, TK and I also decided that would we do a gender reveal cake at my parents' annual Christmas Eve party to find out the sex of our second child. I went for my level II sonogram on December 15 and asked the technician to write down the sex on a piece of paper before placing it in an envelope. I took the envelope to Audrey's Bakery in West Sayville and had them make a cake for us. I asked that it look like a Christmas present with a huge bow on it. I also asked that they put "Bows or Bow Ties?" on the gift tag. I picked up the cake on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. By 9:30 p.m. and a few nudging text messages, we had the cake out on the table and ready to slice. My cousin and his girlfriend were set to video it. I cut into the cake and then told everyone not to look at the knife (which they did anyway) and found out we were having a GIRL! I cried like a little baby and hugged all of my family members. I also made a few of them cry as well, but it was worth it. We were all so excited to have a little perfect boy in Jackson and find out that a little lady was on her way.

I am currently five months pregnant, or halfway, depending on how you want to put it. I am trying my hardest not to buy every cute little thing that I see and there are A LOT of things. TK, Colleen and Catherine all think that I should have a girlie event like a Girls Brunch or something at someone's house, so I am considering it. I don't want a full-blown shower because I don't want to do that to people. Most of them were at my first shower and I don't feel comfortable forcing people to buy the baby gifts. If they want to buy something, that's fine and I will be thankful, but I don't want to force the issue. Also, I think we are registering this weekend for some girlie things because I can get 10 percent off everything on my registry at Babies R' Us. I need to save some dough because little girls are expensive. I'll let you know how it goes.

P.S. If you want to see the cake video, it is on my Youtube Channel, here.

Our Last Day in VA - Day 4

On our last day, we got up and got ready to leave. We made sure everything was packed up and that we didn't leave any of Jackson's cars or planes in the room. Then, we checked out and headed to breakfast. We decided on Mama Steve's House of Pancakes. It was a very quiet, unassuming spot with waitresses dressed in blue colonial attire. We all enjoyed our food and then said our goodbyes to head back home.

During the drive back, we stopped at the Maryland House rest stop for lunch and I really wanted Clam Chowder from Philips, but it was so expensive. What a bummer! On the way out, I bought everyone pretzels at Auntie Anne's and got back on the road for home.

We enjoyed our festive trip to Christmas Town, but there were a few things that I've learned during our weekend getaway:

1. Make sure you have a full bag of activities for a long car ride and only bring them out one at a time, as needed.
2. Always pack Tylenol.
3. You can't force a Santa picture.
4. Always carry snacks.
5. Bring winter gear when you are traveling for the holidays, even if you are traveling south.
6. Walk slowly while pregnant and know where all of the bathrooms are.
7. Let people help you. You can't be everything at every moment. 
8. Try your best not to eat at any restaurants that you have at home. Always go for new and different. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (Until next year ...)