How to deal with Growing Up

Maybe it's the Holidays or maybe it's that time of month, either way I'm super emotional about Jase growing up. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way from time to time. Moms who have been moms before me warned me a million time "it goes so fast, enjoy it" and other similar words. BUT seriously... IT GOES WAY TO FAST!

My husband and I took Jase to see Santa in our downtown today and I just kept thinking, here is my big kid, my toddler, where on earth did the last year go. I can remember it like it was yesterday taking Jase to see Santa for the first time. I remember his cute little outfit and the silly face he made for his picture. Like most kids his age he had the "why am I sitting on this mans lap face". Not crying, but not smiling. This year he pouted a little and basically gave us a similar look after that but a little more pissed looking. How in a year, though, does he look so much older?!

At the same time I'm missing my little baby, I'm also so grateful to be at the stage we are with him now. Seeing his eyes like up when he sees the Christmas lights, enjoying meals with him when he talks back to us and seeing him grow and learn everyday is nothing short of amazing.

What I find hard is how to enjoy the now without missing the back then. I think theres a place in our momma hearts for both, but where's the line? Is there one?

<3 Lindsey

Disneyland with toddlers

 We are a Disney loving family! Ever since I was little, my mom has been obsessed with anything Disney and she's definitely passed that love on to me and my two sisters. My youngest sister is a Character Host at Disneyland and has been auditioning to be a princess there. We've had annual passes for the last 15 years and go at least 5 times a year. So you can see we're kinda crazy about it :)

Going to Disneyland is always fun, but going with a baby is a completely different experience! We first took my daughter when she was 3 months old. She had no clue what was going on but she was perfect!  We went again at 7 months, 10 months, 14 months and then this past weekend. Each time we've gone has become easier and yet much more difficult at the same time. As a little baby, she spit up a lot so we had to pack several back up outfits, bibs, burp cloths, etc plus I was breast feeding so frequent feedings had to be taken into consideration as well. Now she can wear the same outfit the whole day(thank you Jesus!) and can eat pretty much anything so that has been the easy part. The difficult thing is she does NOT want to nap or sit in her stroller while we're there. She is a child who needs a nap, and mommy needs her to sleep too. We've learned to just strap her in the stroller and push her around until she knocks out.

All of that being said, we see Disneyland through a whole different light when we take Emery. It's a magical place and the older she gets, the more fun she'll have. Rides need to be fast and spinny or she is not impressed, and she pretty much hates all of the characters and cries if any of the masked characters come at her which can be funny for the rest of us. She loves walking around like a big girl and she especially loves wearing her Rapunzel dress and twirling around in it. She's really been into holding her autograph book and pretending to write in it, and she does not want to give it up to the characters to be signed. I love sitting back and watching her take it all in and even though she won't really remember any of it, I'm glad I can pass my love for Disney on to her.

I've learned to not stress over all the little details. If she doesn't want to wear a bow that's ok; if she spills on her princess dress I'll wash it out; if she decides not to nap until 4pm well, we'll just deal. I just want to enjoy her while she's this little and this innocent. Pretty soon we'll be taking family trips to Disneyland and she won't want me to pick out her outfits or go on Dumbo or take pictures with characters. She'll want  to go off on her own, ride the big kid rides and laugh if I try to get a character to sign her autograph book. I love the age she's at right now and just want to soak it all up. <3