Disney Baby: Will is Twelve Months Old

My baby boy is 1! This day seemed like it would never get here when he was just a newborn. I remember reading about things babies did, or hearing stories from my mom friends, about their kids being 1, and thinking how that seemed so...far...away. 

Happy to say we all survived and dare I say thrived during Will's first trip around the sun. 

This past month, Will has:

- had a cake smash photo shoot at the Magic Kingdom

- attended another workout with Mommy at Disney Springs

- celebrated Christmas in July at Disney Springs

- rode Universe of Energy one last time at Epcot with friends

- had a Magic Kingdom playdate 

- accompanied Mommy to a yoga class at Lilly Pulitzer in Disney Springs

- visited the Orlando Science Center and LOVED it

- rode The Great Movie Ride four times before it closed

- met Mr. Richard at the Grand Floridian

- celebrated his first birthday with a small party with his grandfathers, daddy, and mommy/baby workout friends

- celebrated his first birthday with lots of friends and family in our backyard

- experienced a solar eclipse

- started 'school' two mornings a week

I keep saying it but it's true, each day just gets better and better. William John, thank you for allowing me to be your Mommy; I can't WAIT to see what the next year has in store. 

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Catching Up

Hello, anybody there?

Haven't been around these parts in a while. Figured I'd jump back in to touch base and catch y'all up on what's been shakin' over here. 

Most of this I hope to turn into posts at some point in time, but I'll give the CliffsNotes version here. 

Will turned one. ONE! John and I constantly ask each other if we can believe we have a one year old. Will is so awesome. He's just the neatest kid and it's a joy to watch him grow and learn. I know it's a cliche, but he really does amaze us every day. 

We had the most fun first birthday party for him. It was a fantastic mix of friends and family who we love dearly, and who love Will in return. I can't WAIT to share pictures. 

The next day, John and I went to a festival at a local winery, while my dad stayed with Will. John and I even went for dinner and drinks in Disney Springs! It was such a nice day for all parties. 

Thanks to one of my favorite friends, Annastasia, whom I worked with during my job at Buena Vista Construction Company, we went to the first Mickey's-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party of the year. One of our friends refused to go since they're starting is so early, lol. It was hot and humid and rainy as always, but we still had a great time. John and Will went home a few hours before the party ended, so mama had a few hours to trick or treat with the grown ups. You should see the bag of candy we have (and it's one of those big clear plastic shopping bags they give you in the gift shop, too!)

Speaking of Annastasia: on a whim this last Thursday, she asked if I'd like to go to Disneyland with her this coming Labor Day Weekend. The deal was too good to pass up, so here we are planning our hearts out for her first trip out there. Excited is an understatement. Will is spending the weekend at my mom's and John gets a weekend to himself. Win-win-win. 

My friend Laura from Connecticut was down with her husband and two kids, so we got together and went to Gatorland and MNSSHP. She and I taught together for a few years when I lived up there, and we had the most fun. I just love her to death. 

Let's see, what else. I started an eight week workout program with my mommy/baby fitness group, Fit4Mom-Celebration. The program is called BodyBack, and it's challenging but really rewarding. It will finish up right before we take a family trip to NYC in mid-October, so the timing is perfect and the motivation is real. I amassed such a beautiful collection of Lilly over the years and while working there, and it's so sad to just see it hanging in my closet because it doesn't fit well anymore. So, that's my goal, to get back into my duds. Superficial, yes, but also practical so I don't have to buy a new wardrobe (Hi, John. See, doesn't that logic make sense?!)

So with that being said, Will goes to a little in-home childcare/'school' a few days a week for an hour and a half while I go to my workout. It's been so cute to pack his breakfast (instead of lunch, since we go first thing in the morning) and drop him off with a few of his pals, and to pick him up after. He's started a routine of carrying his shoes over to us when he wants to go somewhere, and he eagerly meets me at the door when I arrive. 

Alright, that's a good stopping point, and pretty much gets you up to speed on everything. Ah, yeah, I need to share about my D23 Great Movie Ride walk-through and breakfast. That was a bittersweet day. Anything else...?

Oh, and I want to write a post about what to bring/wear to Disney when it rains, including baby gear. It's actually not terrible to be there in the rain, since it clears out the park and cools it down somewhat. You just have to be prepared is all. 

Ok then. Hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be getting Will's twelve month (one year?!) photo and post up within the next few days. 

Thanks for reading!

XO, Ashley

Disney Baby: Will is Seven Months Old

Wow, seven months. That kind of seems OLD to me, in baby terms.

This kid gets better and better each day, or maybe I feel more confident as a mom each day, but either way, we are enjoying the heck out of Will. He's made such gains this past month; every day is something new!

This month, Will has:

- said "da-da" and perfected the art of blowing raspberries

- visited Barnes and Noble for the first time (I hope he inherits my love of bookstores)

- discovered he LOVES pasta

- visited the new Geyser Springs lounge at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and rode a Friendship Boat

- rode the Epcot attractions (Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Nemo and Journey into Imagination) for the first time

- visited the Orlando Public Library and Downtown Orlando

- met his second cousins and great aunt

- had his first Disney Park playdate at Animal Kingdom and met the awesome mommies and babies of Fit4Mom-Celebration

- went to Magic Kingdom with his Nana for their first time together and got his first pair of Mickey ears

- moved into a new house!!!

- visited La Cava del Tequila for the first time (where his mommy and daddy met!)

- stayed with his Nana and Papa for five nights while Mommy and Daddy moved into the new house

Love you, kiddo. 

Thanks for reading! XO, Ashley 

Disney Baby: Will is Six Months Old

**Truth be told, Will is six and a HALF months old, because his ol' mom here is the pits about getting stuff posted in a timely manner. BUT we've had a lot of (good) stuff happening on this side of the screen, which I can't wait to share with you in just a few days.

Anyway...

Half a year. Our little man has been with us for half a year. It seems like he's been a part of us forever.

In Will's sixth month, he's:

- experienced his first Inauguration Day.

- visited the (now defunct) Artegon.

- celebrated his first Valentine's Day (and signed his first Valentines, hence the red marker all over him in the picture below).

- visited his Great Grandfather and extended family.

- tried LOTS more solid foods- he really and truly likes anything, but seems to especially enjoy pasta, nectarines, and sweet potatoes. He's also learned to suck through a straw. 

- visited the theme parks at Walt Disney World countless times, and met some of our Disney friends.

- spent his half birthday in the Magic Kingdom, doing some new-to-him attractions like Country Bear Jamboree and The Enchanted Tiki Room.

- mastered sitting up independently.

- continued to get from point A to point B with his army crawl, but will push up onto hands and knees and scootch forward. He hasn't grasped the whole crawling thing yet, though

- still not gotten any teeth! He's been teething since he was around two months now, but nothing yet!

Will, you light up our life. You charm everyone with those beautiful blue eyes and dimply smile. You are so happy and easy-going and fun. We love you so much!