A Letter My Son: Month One

Dear Cooper,

We went on an adventure today. Yes, I consider packing you up to grab lunch an adventure. We went to McCalisters Deli (I'm a sucker for their tea). While I was taking your picture, I noticed an older woman smiling at you.

Two of my loves.

"How old is your baby?" she asked me. 

"He is a month old - today actually!" I said.

She smiled and put her hand on my shoulder, "He's a doll. Good luck!"

I also noticed many other woman (and a few men) smiling at us.

Perhaps they felt bad for me because I was carrying your car seat, a diaper bag, my purse, a tea, and a bag with my to-go order in it. I'll get better at this packing thing soon ...and maybe I'll learn to balance things on my head soon! We can work on that next month.

On the drive home, I couldn't help but daydream about this past month.

You've been an absolutely INCREDIBLE baby. I mean that...sure there are moments when I wanted to jump out a window. And I once asked if you hated me ...because that seemed like the only logical explanation for your dramatic crying at 3 am (or you know - you were hungry and had gas at the same time).

Our first family picture.

But I should have expected you to be amazing. Not just because you're my son (I'm biased), but because I had such a WONDERFUL pregnancy. You made me want to be pregnant a million times - okay, that's a bit dramatic (I see where you get it from now).

BUMP!

 But I loved being pregnant...I felt so beautiful and I loved my belly. I actually miss it. I don't miss that number on the scale - I gained 50 lbs. You were only 7 of those lbs...and the other 43 lbs were probably tater tots.

Belly love.

On top of having a great pregnancy, I had a fabulous labor experience. I had you in like...5 seconds!

Okay kidding- it was more like 5 hours.

My water broke around 3ish and I had you at 7:41 pm.

"Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous.
It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
- Elizabeth Stone

 I'll never forget the moment I first saw you...you might expect me to say you were the most beautiful child I'd ever laid eyes on (YOU ARE). But you were blue, covered in a white film, and had a giant conehead. I noticed the wrinkles on your forehead too...that's a Bedwell trait. I (and your Grandpa Bedwell) both have wrinkles on our foreheads. Despite those first impressions, please know that I still think you are the most beautiful and perfect baby.

And I can't say much...I'm sure I smelled sweaty. I KNOW my hair was a HOT mess because I didn't have time to shower before labor (even though that was my ONLY wish for labor...take a hot shower before the hospital).

Crazy hair.
And crazy about YOU!

Also -in case you're wondering - your conehead is a LOT better than it was the first night. Hey, it happens to the best of us.

In the hospital - we had a moment. The nurse pushed you in the room. We were alone. I looked over at you in your little, clear bassinet. And you had this look on your face...a look of peace and comfort. You seemed relaxed and I felt like you were studying my me...just as I was studying you.

Neither of us have a clue what to do or expect. But we both knew one thing...

We are in this together. 

Our moment.

And that's when I first this rush of love...

A rush of joyful pride. 

You are my son. I'm already so proud to me your mother

And I can't wait to watch you grow up.

But I don't want this time to go by quickly. Even though I feel like it already has...

How are you a month old already, baby boy?

What are some highlights from month one? Here are a few:

- You pooped and peed so much in your crib (on night one) that we had to change the sheets...twice!

- I was so anxious to leave your side that I slept on the ground next to your crib that first night home too.

- We went on an emotional rollercoaster with your jaundice issues and my lack of supply (aka feeding issues).

- I spent a lot of late nights watching Netflix (especially Prison Break) while I was nursing you. That show will always remind me of our late nights and early mornings together.

- You live up to your nickname "Cooper the Pooper"  - for real dude. But thankfully, you save most of your poopy diapers for your father. 

- A lot of your newborn clothes didn't fit you at first- skinny man! I felt like you wore the same onesie over and over again. I promise I changed and cleaned you...I just didn't have a lot of wardrobe options.

The most popular onesie of all.
And this picture makes my hear sing.
You were napping and holding my hand.

- We've ran our first (of many) errands together - just the two of us. If you ONLY knew how traumatized I was to load you up in that car seat and walk out the door with just you...no one else by my side.

What if something happens? 

What if I forgot something? 

What if you scream your head off in the middle of the store and I have to nurse you in the shoe isle at Target with no cover up? 

Hopefully I learn to stop playing the "What If?" game soon and just go with it + worry about those events when they happen.

- We took newborn photos and you were an EXCELLENT model.

You're perfect.

- I once dropped a bottle on your head because it slipped from my hands. You didn't cry. You just gave me a hilarious mean mug. I think if you could talk you would have said, "You get one, mom...now don't let this happen again!"

I can't take your mean mug seriously when you have a popped collar.

- We went on our first family walk and park adventure together when you were less than a week old. That felt like a huge accomplishment.

- We went to our first wedding together as a family. And when I say went, I mean pulled into the church parking lot as everyone was walking out of the church. I designed the wedding invites for my cousin, yet couldn't remember the actual time of the wedding ceremony! Opps!! At least you looked super adorable in your tie!

- You had your first babysitter...and I didn't have a total breakdown leaving you. This doesn't mean I didn't miss you -because you were constantly on my mind, little peanut!

- Speaking of little peanuts (get your mind out of the gutter), I call you a bazillion different nicknames. And I've called you Bandit a few times too. I sure hope you know your name after all of this...

My little love nugget.

- You smile. And you are trying to "talk" - I just know it. And once - actually twice- I witnessed you wipe your mouth once you were done eating. YOU ARE SO ADVANCED. Your father thinks this was just a coincidence, but I know the truth...you're a future Nobel Prize winner.

As my mind was flooding with all of these memories on our drive home this afternoon, I glanced at the sidewalk. I saw a woman pushing a really old man (about 80+) in a wheelchair. He was smiling big and you could tell he appreciated the sunshine and fresh air.

Then I thought about you.

You're going up so quickly.

"Pretty soon you'll be an old man!" I said (dramatic, I know). 

Then, as if it were planned, I paid attention to the lyrics of the song playing on the radio:

"Well, life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes..."

I thought about the old man. 

I thought about you.

Us.

Our family.

I started crying.

"These damn hormones," I said out loud in the car. 

Then I made a promise- right then and there - to always keep my eyes open and focus on what matters. 

To not let the long nights, difficult moments, or emotional breakdowns blind me from the love and joy that motherhood brings me. 

I've had a wonderful first month with you, baby boy. And I can't wait to see what the many, many, many, many (okay - you get the point) months ahead have in store for us.

I love you to the moon and back.

Much love,
Ashley

How I Won $300 and Survived 110 Degree Weather

Justin's parents have planned a Vegas trip to celebrate their 50th birthdays for a long time now.

I was really excited to go, but knew it would be a challenge to survive Vegas while 8 months pregnant. 

Walking too much = cramping back and feet. 

Eating out too much = swelling up like the blue girl on Willie Wonka due to all the sodium 

Not drinking = being completely sober in the city that never sleeps. And yes, signs all over the place reminded you of the dangers of drinking while pregnant...in case anyone was unsure: 

Flying = sitting still for a long time in a small seat with minimal leg room 

But I knew focusing on the negative would make the trip awful, so I focused on the positive! I was bound and determined to have a great trip ...even if the odds (and outrageous heat) were against me. So I declared this a birthday celebration and a babymoon! 

I picked up my "grown up" magazines and a bagel sandwich at the airport. 

Then we were off to Vegas! 

Thankfully, a little boy (about 11 months) named Cruise was in front of us. He made me smile and laugh the entire time. He was such an amazing baby. 

He did, however, have a massive blowout that made me want to puke! I better get used to that...

We arrived around 8 am Vegas time. We took a limo to the hotel, which always makes me happy! If only they had the chicken limo...

Obviously, I was ready for lunch right away. We headed over New York, New York for pizza, but we had to wait about 45 minutes until the pizza place opened up. 

I was walking around the casino when a burst of negative hit me. 

I am not into gambling - how will I survive this trip!? 

What will I even do!? 

Who will hang out with me? 

But I quickly gave myself a pep talk and walked toward the bar for a virgin piña colada! 

This trip will be what I make it, I reminded myself with that first sip. 

With time to spare, I headed over to a slot machine that had an owl theme. It reminded me of Cooper, which is the main reason I went for that machine. 

I put in $15 and won $8 on my first spin! 

I better cash out now, I thought! 

But for some reason I kept going ...once I got down to about $10 I went to another machine. I got down to about $3 and then gained back $5. 

Goodness, I need a new machine or better luck...I told myself. 

I walked toward a Paris themed penny slot, but it looked boring. I turned around and saw another machine called "Hot flashes." 

Well, that's exactly how I feel! So I sat down, put in my $8 bucks, and hit "max bet" - suddenly the game started going crazy. Apparently I went into a bonus road. My machine kept ringing and dinging - the points were added up by the thousands! 

Justin and his dad came over and I said, "I have no clue what's going on, but it looks good!" 

Rodger leaned over to Justin and said, "30,000 credits...that's $300!" 

The dinging stopped and Justin said, "Holy cow! Cash out now." 

I won $300 bucks! 

I was in complete shock! Not only do I have the worst luck, but I never ever win anything. 

Being a good wife, I shared $100 with Justin. I used the rest to play a few more games. And yes, I lost about $50 before I realized my mojo was gone).

How else did I spend my winnings?

Well, I obviously bought delicious food!

Mini cupcake bites!

Serendipity frozen hot chocolate!

And bought a funny bib / onsie for Cooper: 

I planned on spending the rest on a pregnancy massage the next day, but they told me I was too far along (no wonder the robe didn't fit)! 

Hey - at least you can see a few toes down there still!

And how could I forget our favorite waiter?

His name was Steve and he reminded me of Cam from "Modern Family."

He told me I looked fabulous pregnant (which is all he really needed to do because I felt like a swollen blob when we walked around too much).

Not to mention, the food was incredible! 

A-ma-zing!

And so I left him a generous tip. 

So how did I survive the heat? 

Well- believe it or not, it was simple! 

I drank lots and lots of water! T the hotel had fresh fruit water, which made my heart sing.

Water in the spa!

I hung out by the pool (often in the shade) + kept the water flowing! 

Swimsuit #1

And swimsuit #2

Virgin strawberry margarita aka a strawberry slushy!

And Justin drank for all 3 of us!! 

When we went exploring Red Rock Canyan, I took a liter of water with me and lathered up on sunscreen! To be completely honest, I was really dreading this part of the trip. To my surprise, it was actually my favorite part of our vacation!

The view was so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I also enjoyed that we drove the 13 mile driving view and only stopped at the trail heads for photos and closer views. 

My little friend!

The whole crew!

Family photo!

And despite my fears of getting attacked by a rattlesnack or giant spider, we didn't see any wild animals...except for my little lizard friend (pictured above).

I honestly can't get over the beauty of nature.

And obviously the boys had to climb up a mountain.

How else did I survive Vegas while 30 weeks pregnant? 

I wore comfy clothes when going on long walks and explorations. 

Hey girl heyyy!

And I always propped up my feet when I found comfortable chairs! 

No shame.

Overall, we had a wonderful time. I loved spending time with family, eating great food, lounging by the pool, and making new memories and friends! 

If I go back to Vegas, I'll make sure we have a babysitter come for Cooper. And we will bring Bandit.

Even though Bandit was having the time of his life with our wonderful grandparents, I really missed his little face and kisses. Hey, I saw some dogs out there! I think Bandit would have a blast and really love the lazy river at our hotel!

How can I unpack when I just want to snuggle with my little alien dog!?

But right now, I am so happy to be home. 

When I am away, I remember how much I love Indiana. 

I love Indy. 

I love our little neighborhood.

I love the cornfield views. 

I love that asking for ranch dressing for my fries is a normal request. 

I love the friendly people in the Midwest. 

I just love home. 

And I am so happy to be here....

Much love, 

Ashley 

Boys Hate Belly Bombs

Yesterday, I had an entertaining and hilarious glimpse into my future at my nephew's first T-ball game.

I loved watching the kids run all over the field.

They would get SO excited when they hit the ball and then (usually) have no clue where to run.

The kids in the outfield would ALL go after the ball. There were like 15 shortstops.

It was outstanding.

And Braxen did such a great job.

He even hit the ball on the second try (without the tee).

What a stud.

When Braxen was on on third base, one of the many kids around the base yelled over to his dad, "HEY DAD!"

"Yeah buddy?" The dad replied back.

"Guess what today is?" The little guy said.

"What's that?" His dad asked.

"I get my video games back today!" The boy said with such excitement.

Oh boys.

So funny.

So between listening to the hilarious kids and watching their excitement to be playing on a team for the first time, I had a great morning.

I asked Braxen if he would take a picture with me.

"Yeah!" He said, excitement to get all the attention.

"Alright," I said. "I'll have you kiss my belly too!"

"NOOOOOO!!!!!" He said with the most terrified look on his face.

He ran away and hid behind a tree.

I almost peed my pants from laughing so hard.

Eventually Braxen agreed to take a picture with everyone EXCEPT for me!

So I decided to photobomb his picture with my mom.

Cooper's first photo bomb.

Later that day, he told my sister, "I'm not kissing Aunt Ashley's belly! And I don't appreciate her belly bombing my pictures."

I couldn't stop laughing.

Thankfully, at breakfast this morning he came running up to me and gave me a giant hug while he said, "Happy Mother's Day!!!"

It completely melted by heart.

"Do you want to give kiss my belly today then?"

Sarah and Will (my sister and brother-in-law) both said at the same time, "NO! Don't seriously...he won't stop talking about that!"

Well, seems like boys hate belly bombs.

So clearly, I can't wait until my next opportunity to belly bomb him!

I can't wait to be a mom.

And embarrass Cooper on a daily basis.

Much love,
Ashley

What is Life All About?

Earlier this week, I got an email from a lovely 16-year-old girl that I’ve never met. She sent me the most heart-warming email I’ve ever received. I found myself both smiling and crying at the same time.

Without giving away her name or personal information, this is what she wrote to me:

So, I just stumbled upon your blog from pinterest.  Someone had pinned a link to your post "A Letter To My 17-Year-Old Self: All Caterpillars Turn Into Butterflies," and I felt the need to thank you.

I'm turning 17 in just a couple of weeks, and honestly, life is hard.  Life is so hard that I often feel as if it isn't worth working on anymore.

I just finished reading your article...and I still think life is hard. Haha.  I suppose it always will be.  But you inspired me.

Everyone tells me I have so much ahead of me, but never tells me what, never tells me why.  I guess there's not enough honesty in the world… And I know your post wasn't written for me, but it meant a lot to me.

I don't know what my point was in writing this to you, or if I will even send this, but I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you.  Thank you for the tips, because I need them now and I'm going to need them.

I immediately responded to her email…and since then, we’ve become pen pals of sorts. And I love it. I look forward to hearing about her day, sharing life stories, and even offering advice (without trying to come off as a parent).

How can I show her what’s ahead of her in life? Well, I'm not God and certainly not a fortune teller, so predicting the future isn't my strong area.

Back to the drawing board....

How can I describe really matters in life?

What is life all about?
I decided that I spend the next few days trying to figure out what life is honestly all about.
I told myself I wouldn’t let the little things bother me.

I wouldn’t yell at the idiots on the road. I get that from my husband.

I wouldn’t get upset if someone sent me a snarky email or silly request at work.

I wouldn’t dwell on fading friendships or lost relationships. They are in the past for reason.

I wouldn’t stress about traffic or the weather (i.e. things that are completely out of my control).

I hoped that discovering what life is about would be easy. That everything would just magically pop up, as if it was holding a sign, and say “LOOK AT ME! I AM IMPORTANT TO LIFE!”

But everything I discovered, well- it wasn’t easy. It required some self-reflection to understand and appreciate. Which is why I think it’s so hard for so many people to be thankful and appreciate for life.

Or even understand what life is all about.

Life doesn’t just poke us in the stomach and say, “This is important. You care about this. You should listen closely. Don’t take advantage of this opportunity.”

Although, life can really slap us across the face for a wake-up call with troubling or upsetting news when we least expect it.

Over the past few days, little moments have occurred. Sometimes even so tiny that they almost passed me by. And that’s how I discovered what life is all about. And in wake of those “slap you across the face” life moments, I hope you analyze these areas of your life.

To paint a picture that illustrates a bigger focus and puts a perspective for why you are here.

And trust me, it’s not finishing PowerPoint presentation for work or school or sending that final email before you call it a day.

Self-Reflection: It only makes sense to start the blog with this discovery. In order to live a happy and fulfilled life, you must dig within yourself. You must analyze your own happenings, thoughts, and daily activities. What made today great? What upset you today? How can you keep being great or fix what’s upsetting you?

Without self-reflection, you will merely stay as you are today. 

And we all have room to grow. Every single one of us.

Friendship: I’ve always considered my friends, my family that I’ve picked for myself. Lately, I’ve received the most encouraging, uplifting, and motivating messages and calls from my friends. Each of the messages came when I needed them the most and I realized that friendship- true friendship matters in life. Friends will come and go…and over the last year I’ve seen a few really close relationships slowly fade or disappear into thin air. Instead of trying to figure out why, how, or when it all started…I’ve decided to focus on what I do have in my life…which is beautiful and amazing friends who send cards for no reason and schedule dinner dates just to catch-up on life.

Don’t waste your energy on people who don’t realize the value you bring to a relationship.

You…me…us…we are better than that!

Face-to-Face Conversation: Text messages, blog posts, tweets, Facebook messages, and emails are ruining one of the most important concepts in life: face-to-face communication. I’m so guilty of not making time for more to have conversations in person. Without distraction. Last night, I had dinner with two of my friends and it was lovely. We barely checked our phones. Instead, we spent the evening laughing, sharing memories from the past, and even making plans for more dinner dates.  Last Saturday, I spent the evening with some of my best friends playing Catch Phrase. And tonight, we have dinner plans and games planned with even more friends. So, friendships and face-to-face conversations are taking the lead for what matters in life.

Pick up the phone and make plans.

Let’s catch up.

Paying it Forward: The year was 2009. I logged into my bank account. Total savings = $0.00. Total checking = $0.38. I had just made a payment on my wedding dress, paid rent, bought groceries, and filled up my tank so I could drive to work.

I closed my eyes and prayed, “Lord, I promise if you get me through this…I’ll pay it forward to those in need one day when I have the extra money. I promise that I’ll give any extra amount that I can. But help me get through this tough time…”

I had zero credit card debt (thankfully dad taught me well on avoiding credit card debt) and I managed to pay for my tuition for the semester using a 50% reimbursement I got through my job for getting good grades. I would have loved to use that money to schedule a trip studying abroad or plan a fabulous spring break trip, but money was tight. And I knew what I needed to do.

Flash forward to today; I’ve never broken my promise. I always strive to pay it forward. I’ve been donating monthly to organizations that touch my heart via My Year of Random Acts of Kindness. I stop to give homeless people gift cards for food. I support my friends in their fundraising efforts for organizations that impact their lives. And every single time a cashier asks me if I want to make a donation for ANY cause, I say yes.

A few days ago, my mom posted this status:

My daughter Ashley Marie Sieb has been so amazing & inspiring to this MamaT....that I am proud to say I saw a woman holding a sign today saying "Homeless with Kids...." so i pulled over & gave her all the cash in my pocket. The feeling I felt when she thanked me with tears welling in her eyes was wonderful & made my heart so very happy. Thanks Ashley for teaching your MamaT to be a better person!!!! ;-)

Paying it forward in life matters.

Family Bonds: I’ve always heard that you take everything out on the people you love the most. Not only do I believe that is true, but I also believe that usually means your family suffers from your attitude or mood swings. But family bonds and relationships are so invaluable. They are the people who will stand by your side no matter what. They are the ones that know your secrets or bad habits, and still love you anyway. And whether good or bad, they’ve shaped you into the person you’ve become today.

NO family is normal. EVERY family has problems.

And that’s just part of the package. But don’t understatement the power of family bonds. They get you through the “slap you in the face” moments.

Enduring Love: Just like family bonds and friendship, enduring love is a key ingredient to happiness in life. Justin, while super stubborn and difficult at times, is the love of my life. And he puts up with me when I am also stubborn and difficult and needy and high maintenance at times. Enduring love means you can hate someone and love them at the same time. Enduring love means that no matter what temptations come your way, you will remain faithful.

Enduring love means that you can hold hands and face the same direction as you walk into the ugliest storm.

I’m so blessed and thankful that I have enduring love in my marriage.

Failing: I’ve found that failing is extremely important in life. Without failure, how can you appreciate success? Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t like failing and I have a hard time accepting failure (strongly tied to my perfectionist ways). But failing teaches you important life lessons. Failing teaches how you can improve and do better next time.

Failing sets you up for greatness.

And personally, I’ve found that failure can motivate people- as long as you pick yourself back up and keep trying. Failing in life is important.

Health: Lately, I’ve been reminded that good health touches so many aspects of YOUR life and those around you. Do everything in your power to remain healthy. Don’t exercise to lose weight. Exercise to live a longer and healthier life. Don’t just eat healthy food so you can fit into a bridesmaid dress or bikini this summer.

Eat foods packed with powerful nutrients that give you energy to tackle anything that comes your way.

Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands!! Yes, I sound like your mother, but your health is important to living a happy and satisfying life.

And over the past few days, these thoughts popped into my mind….

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Self-pity gets you nowhere.

Having a positive work environment is critical to your happiness. After all, you spend 40 hours a week at work- you shouldn’t be unhappy and resentful all of those hours…

Say thank you any and every chance you get...

If you someone looks nice or if you notice they've lost a few lbs, let me them know! A compliment can go such a long way.

Few projects or emails can't wait until Monday morning.

If you're afraid of something - absolutely anything- try to overcome that fear soon. A life full of fear is not worth living. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up camping in the wilderness for aliens this summer.

Stop over-analyzing every single word someone says to you.

Don't worry about the unknown or things that haven't yet occuured.

Your mind is your biggest enemy. Learn how to defeat yourself when needed. 

Say NO! Seriously. Do it. Saying "No" is perfectly fine and does not make you a bad person.

Yes, you used to be skinner. Stop trying to be your "high school" weight.

Going to bed at 7:45 pm is perfectly normal and acceptable. Rest up, my friend.

So, the biggest lesson I learned while writing this blog post is that I might joke about retail therapy or that my life depends on Starbucks. But when times are tough, really tough- I can’t reach for my pair of boots or run to Starbucks to feel balanced and happy again. I dig deep for some soul searching. I call my friends and family to request some personal time. I lean on Justin. I try to make someone else smile or find happiness. Or I go to the gym to de-stress.

So, I’ll hardly ever say this- but stop reading this blog post and go focus on one of these areas in life that you need to work on.

Go on.

I’ll be waiting for you to come back.

I promise.

Go.

Much love,
Ashley

The Happiest Place on Earth

Morning Rush

I have a confession.

I was apprehensive about Disney World.

Now don't get me wrong- I was extremely thankful for the opportunity to go to the "happiest place on Earth!"

But...I have the patience and attention span of a hyperactive four-year-old.

Not to mention, the overload of people in this city for the holiday made me want to scream. We had dinner at Taco Bell our first evening- and the line was long enough to assume a roller coaster would be at the end! And we waited 20 minutes for our food. TB was simply a mad house...

Taco Bell Hell.

Anyway, I digress.

I knew I would be stressed out by the long lines, screaming children, over-priced (unhealthy) food, and general problems associated with trying to make a "game plan" for 13 people.

Instead of going into the trip with a negative attitude, I tried to go in with an open mind.

Justin saw me getting ready in the morning and he walked into the bathroom.

He could tell by the look on my face and silence that I was stressed out. 

He wrapped his arms around me and said, "This is the one day I am telling myself that I'm not in control. You need to do the same."

He was right. I'm not in control.

And that's an interesting concept.

We didn't have a timeline.

Or game plan.

No stress? (Unlikely-but again, I was going into the day with an open mind).

We left a half hour late. I didn't freak out, I promise. Remember my mantra for the morning was: You are not in control.

I was dreading the drive into the park. I imagined we'd be stuck in traffic for an hour- just waiting for a parking spot.

But thankfully I was completely wrong! The drive was smooth and quick. We parked SO close to the ticket gate - we could just walk, which was a blessing in disguise because later it ended up POURING rain.

Justin pretending he is Magic Mike on the monorail. I'm not mad about it.

Within minutes of walking around the park, I quickly realized I was the only person wearing a fanny pack. And I didn't have one fanny pack to choose from, I had two!! (Thanks Grandma Sieb)!

The winner.

The runner-up (by default).

Spoiler alert: We visited all four parks and I only saw one other fanny pack. I tried to act hipster and not care, but I secretly did. 

Magic Kingdom: Becoming a Child Again

Our first park was Magic Kingdom. Immediately, I feel in love with the characters and "cast members" at the park.

I took a minute to absorb the moment.

The music.

The smiling faces of children around me.

The adults, who walked into a new World that made them feel like children again too!

Everyone was so happy and friendly!

Hap-pay, Hap-pay, Hap-pay!

Our first ride was the Pirates of the Caribbean. I was amazed at the detail and creativity that went into designing the ride. The pirate "robots" looked SO human...everything from blinking eyes to leg hair to the dirt found on their feet. I was truly amazed.

Next (and thankfully) I grabbed a cup of coffee, which ended up being cheaper than Starbucks coffee. At that moment, I realized I just MIGHT have a bad addiction to Starbucks.

With my cup o' Joe in hand, we went on the following rides:

• Magic Carpet Rides - A total kid ride, but I had a blast! 
• Haunted Mansion- I absolutely loved the story behind this ride + the animation was outstanding. My nephew Braxen said this was his favorite ride of the day.
• It's a Small World After All- The creepiest ride / experience of my life. Seriously, those small dolls gave me nightmares last night. And that song will probably never escape my mind.
• Lilo and Stitch- An "interactive, alien experience" - need I say more? (Yes, I screamed and grabbed Justin's hand the entire time). 

After we finished the above rides, the park was packed. I had false hopes that the park would be slow, especially because it took so long to fill up! Waiting times for rides exceeded an hour and one ride was 2.5 hour wait. With my patience was starting to run out, I was getting very hangry (hungry + angry). A deadly combination....

We all wanted to end the night at Magic Kingdom, so we decided to eat lunch stay for the holiday character parade then head to Animal Kingdom.

In case you're wondering I ate a grilled chicken sandwich (tried to be as healthy as possible). 

Animal Kingdom: Climbing Mt. Everest

We had to take a bus to Animal Kingdom, which wasn't as awful as I expected. Most of the "big kids" had the mission of riding one of the newest rides, Expedition Everest.

This was also the first time I had a beer all day.

And that, my friends, was magical.

Cheers!

The group split up and the big kids went to the new roller coaster while the kiddos went to Dinoland.

The wait was long, but not awful (about an hour and a half). It was interesting to learn about the history of Mt. Everest and the mythical creature, The Yati.

Once we got up to the line, everyone paired up - so I was riding solo or with a stranger (neither of which bothered me).

I ended up riding with an adorable little boy.

"Will you be annoyed if I scream?" I asked trying to make conversation.

"It's okay," he said. "I have two sisters, so I'm used to it."

I could tell he was nervous about going up the roller coaster (that part always freaked me out as a kid too). So we made small talk and I tried to make him laugh. 

Finally, we went down the "hill" but it wasn't a straight shot. We dipped over to the right and saw this:

Broken track!!

You stay in this position for a few seconds, wondering what the heck you'll do next...and then, you take off backwards!!!!

The kid and I were both screaming and laughing.

"I can't breathe, but this is so much fun," the kid said.

He was the cutest and made me excited to share moments like that with our kiddos one day!

After the ride, we turned the corner toward the safari ride and I nearly had a panic attack.

The walkways of Animal Kingdom looked like crowded China.

China aka Animal Kingdom on Friday, December 28.

I think the park exceeded it's maximum capacity. By a thousand or three thousand. 

People were barely moving.

Eager moms and dads were running into people with their strollers.

And clumsy people like me were tripping over small children and strollers.

I was (obviously) walking too fast for everyone, so we kept getting separated. 

"Okkkkk," I said. "It's time to get out of here. I'm losing my mind."

"I'll be right back," Justin said.

"Only come back if you have food and a bottle of wine," I shouted.

Justin, my lovely husband, showed back up with another beer and a bag of chips.

A few minutes later, we made plans to split up again. Big Justin aka my husband aka Uncle J-Dog, Devin, Cierra, Justin Jr. and myself all decided we wanted to ride the Hollywood Tower of Terror in Holllywood Studios + grab a drink in Epcot. Everyone else decided to head back to Magic Kingdom.

On to another bus ride...

Hollywood Studios: The Best Elevator Ride Ever

Once we arrived at Hollywood Studios, I grabbed a cup of coffee to wake myself up. We walked back to the Rock N' Roll ride + Tower of Terror (they are right next to each other). 

The Rock N' Roll (Aerosmith ride) was a three hour wait!

Never.

Will I ever.

Wait 3 hours for a ride....

Well, unless they serve free drinks and healthy snacks while I'm waiting.

The Hollywood Tower of Terror was only a 90 minute wait, so we hopped in line.

The wait was worth it! The Hollywood Tower of Terror was my favorite ride of the day!

I was terrified the majority of the time...and little children in Magic Kingdom could probably hear me screaming from the top of the tower, but I loved every second of the ride. 

Epcot: Drinking in the Rain

As we waited for the bus to Epcot, our fourth and final park of the day, I had a margarita on my mind.

Unfortunately, it started raining and the air was cold.

I was freeeezzzinnngggg. Not to mention, I looked like a wet muskrat.

As we ran toward the park (with the majority of people looking at us like we were crazy as they were leaving the park), I came across a janitor.

I asked him him I could have a trash bag.

"Can I see your ID?" he asked.

I was confused, so I just laughed and said, "Oh no ID! I just want to use a trash bag!"

He looked confused and just ripped one off for me.

I put the bag over my head and tore out of hole the size of my face near the top. I made my very own poncho!

Brilliant, Ashley.

Just brilliant.

We rushed over to Mexico so I could get a Mango margarita.

Class act.

A stranger who was leaving the park gave us three fast track tickets to do an interactive spaceship ride.

Big Justin and Cierra went to Germany and I took the other boys to the spaceship ride. I chugged my margarita on the way over, which was a bad life choice.

The spaceship ride was a stimulator. And I kept reading signs that said you shouldn't on the ride if you are prone to motion sickness or don't like tight spaces.

They really should add another sign that says: If you just chugged a margarita, do not board this ride.

But I suppose that's common sense. 

The ride began with a video, explaining your role in helping the space ship land on Mars. Every person on the ride had a role. I remember feeling so much pressure...like I would actually die on Mars if I didn't press my buttons at the right now.

Thankfully, we survived the ride and I pressed my buttons at the right time. Maybe I missed my secret calling as an astronaut? Get real, you know I'd never do that...I'm too afraid of aliens, darkness, the unknown, and well dying in space in general.

I left the group to eat a Caesar salad while the others went on another ride. Once I was done shoveling the salad in my face (at least I tried to eat healthy!!), everyone was soaking wet and tired.... so we made plans to leave the park.

It was about 10:45 pm, so I would say we had a successful day at the park!

The Final Countdown: Heading Home

The rain continued as we walked to the van. We were getting ready to cross the street when a Disney safety guard said, "It'll probably be safer if you walk around the other way."

We all looked the other direction.

The sidewalk was probably only another 500 feet away, but at that point...everything hurt, we were tired, and just wanted to go home.

Big Justin looked at her and said, "Safer or required?"

She smiled, but didn't respond.

And that was all we needed...we glanced at each other and all took off running the "unsafe" way.

Just as we reached the other side of the road, Justin Jr. hit a part of the sidewalk that was painted and he lost his balance on the wet and slick ground. His feet slipped up over him and he landed on his butt.

We all lost it and everyone was holding onto the wall crossing their legs, trying not to pee themselves.

The cross guard was probably smiling and thinking karma...it'll get ya!

As we walked to the car, still laughing at Little Justin's fall...I told everyone we needed a theme song to end the day.

Big Justin wasted no time and started singing, "The Final Countdown."

So I joined in.

And they all rode in the 15-passenger van home and lived happily ever after.

Much love,
Ashley