A Magical Surprise

This was the weekend we had been waiting for and couldn't talk about for some time now. Greg's dad, Big Poppa, arranged the surprise of the year for Grammy Flash's birthday by inviting Greg, Kennedy and me plus Ross, Jennifer and the girls to surprise her in Orlando. We all got in very late - I will save you the travel play-by-play but Kennedy did fantastic and it was the wee hours of the morning before we were to the resort. The surprise was planned for Friday at breakfast - and it couldn't have gone any better. With my glue gun still hot from the UT craft project, I even made Kennedy a Minnie Mouse bow to wear for the occasion. (Our friend Lizzy loaned us a similar bow, but it was huge on her teeny head.) We staggered our entrances and Greg and I got to watch his mom scream with excitement when she saw Ross, Jennifer and the girls before making our presence known. After some delicious Mickey waffles we all headed to the Magic Kingdom. I think Grammy Flash was pretty much in shock all through breakfast!

We weren't sure how going to Disneyworld with a newborn was going to work out, but it was such a good time. Disney, obviously catering to families, had Baby Care stations where we could escape the heat, change her diaper, relax in a quiet indoor space and they even provided private nursing rooms. Greg and I got to go on a couple rides and we really had fun getting to spend time with his whole family. Saturday night we all went to the Micky Halloween Party and watched a great parade.

On Sunday we all said our good-byes and Greg and I went to walk around Downtown Disney before our afternoon flight. We picked up some mouse ears for Kennedy and took the ferry back to the resort. We were then transported to the exact opposite of the Happiest Place on Earth, the baggage check line at the Orlando airport. It was an easy flight back to Dallas and we returned to a lovely crisp and cool evening.

Greg and I cannot wait to bring Kennedy back to Disneyworld someday when she is old enough to get excited about everything there. Watching Julia and Natalie take it all in was so cute. Julia is at the perfect age to enjoy Disney because to her, this is all real. Those are the real princesses, that is the real castle, and this is where they all live.

A handful of the many, many pictures we took:

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom.

Fantasia Greg

Happy Birthday to Grammy Flash!

Taking a break from all the excitement for a nap and some TV watching with our new best friend, Minnie Mouse.

Getting ready for Micky's Halloween party.

Ross, Jennifer, Julia (plus Princess Jasmine) and Natalie watching the parade.

A very happy Grammy Flash and a very sleepy baby Kennedy.

Good Bye Orlando!

Looking Around

On Monday, Kennedy turned 11 weeks old. I'll probably say this every few weeks for the next 18 years, but I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing. She is really aware of her surroundings and prefers to be upright these days so she can look all around. We are trying out some different ways to help strengthen her neck in addition to tummy time - which she really does not enjoy. So far the Bumbo chair and the new highchair have been successful.

She is cooing and 'talking' a lot more now. In the mornings she wakes up squealing and smiling at her Sleep Sheep (a sound machine that looks like a stuffed animal.) The other morning I walked in and she had rolled herself on her side and was gabbing away to her sheep. I think we might have a little chatterbox on our hands.

She is so happy and sweet and I am so glad we get to spend so much time together during the day.

I love her little curled piggies.

The Littlest Longhorn

Fall is in the air. Somewhere. Certainly not in Dallas, though it is cooling off, we are far from crisp fall mornings. Despite the lingering summer temperature, it is fall and it is is also college football season. This year we have our own little Longhorn at home.

I love this outfit - the skirt was a gift from Craig and April and I bedazzled the onesie and bow myself. That's right, mama is gettin' crafty. It was really easy to make and a fun project for me while Kennedy was sleeping one afternoon. I have a feeling this will be the start of lots of little projects I make for her. I bet Greg can hardly wait for me to fill the dining room/playroom with all my craft supplies.

Enjoying NM

We are 2 months old and having a lovely visit to New Mexico. Most importantly, we surivived the plane ride (as did our 600 lbs of luggage). Kennedy did great on the plane, only made a peep when she had a dirty diaper and slept the rest of the flight. I was lucky enough to get to change her diaper in the airplane bathroom...you don't really realize just how small those bathrooms are until you have to cart in a baby and all the changing supplies. I kept dropping things and bumping my head, elbow, shoulder, knee, etc. on all the surfaces, much like the airplane scene from Tommy Boy. I hope Kennedy has a repeat performance on the flight back to Dallas.

When we got off the plane, we were so excited to see my brother Eric. He has been living in South Korea teaching English for the past year and aside from a few Skype calls, we haven't seen him in a while. I was so excited for him to meet Kennedy and she definitely liked him. Whenever he would talk she would stare at him so intently and I don't think she ever cried when he held her. He brought her some awesome baby clothes from Korea and we couldn't wait to put the littke folk dress on her to take some pictures.

Kennedy has also gotten to meet most all of her extended family including both sets of great-grandparents! On Saturday we celebrated Nani's birthday (my maternal grandmother) and Kennedy got to meet the whole Garcia clan. Kennedy got pretty fussy while we were there - but I think it was because there were so many people, we were up way past her bedtime and I think the altitude here might be bothering her a little. She gets to meet the rest of the McMahon side on Saturday.

Greg returned to Dallas on Monday despite a travel FAIL on my part. He went to check in for his flight on Monday, only to find out I had booked it for Sunday. Lovely. But we got it all worked out and he made it home safe and sound. We did get to enjoy a date night drinking wine with some friends while we were here.

This week Kennedy and I have a lot t to look forward to and will be spending lots of time with our family and friends before we head back on Sunday. I even get to enjoy a facial on Thursday while my aunt Anita watches Kennedy. I am definitely enjoying all the extra help and baby holders!