Disney: How to Plan, Navigate, & Make Memories as a Momma

Going to Disney as a child is exciting. Going to Disney as a mama is so, super-duper, over-the-top, can you believe it?!, even MORE exciting. 

But also? 

Overwhelming.

Disney is magical. But Disney is overwhelming.

I wanted to make the absolute, tip-top, most of our trip. So, I did what any good former graduate student does: I researched. I did hours upon hours of research. I consulted. With many, many emails and messages with two different, much more Disney-knowledgable momma friends. And from all these resources, I was able to come up with a pretty good game plan. Honestly, the trip exceeded my wildest expectations, and I think the planning, and the promise to myself to also be spontaneous during the trip (which can be quite challenging for me!), had a lot to do with that. 

Just prior to, and even during, our trip, I was contacted by five different friends who are planning trips to Disney later this year with their kiddos and asked for tips, suggestions, advice, etc. 

So.

I thought a post outlining all of the information I gathered from my pre-trip research, and during-trip experiences, may be helpful for first-time-Disney-goer-mommas. And also? We are planning to go back in exactly two years, when we will have 5- and 3-year olds, and I will likely need to look back on this post to save myself the time of re-researching (fun new word). 

A quick disclaimer: This information is based on MY opinion. This was my first trip to Disney as a momma, and I know there are mommas out there who are much more Disney-knowledgeable than me. But the following represents my opinions and own advice: 

When to go: As far as age of the child? I think that age 3 to 4 is probably a great time to plan a first visit. Banks was just in complete awe, and I think a lot of this had to do with his age. It was so, so special to see Disney through his eyes. 

When to go: As far as time of year? It just so happened that my hub's annual work conference was scheduled in Orlando the latter part of the week; so, we planned our trip for the first half of the week, which was the first week of February. I was excited about going this particular week based on this graphic I found on Pinterest. Just based on our personal experience, I think this was an AWESOME time of year to go. There were minimal lines the entire day at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios (the three parks we visited). As in, walk straight on to some rides, wait 10-15 minutes max on other rides, and wait in line for only 35 minutes for just one ride. All day. Amazing. 

Also? The weather was to die for. We wore light jackets in the morning but were very comfortable in jeans and short sleeves the rest of the day, with the weather in the 70's and sunny. Lucky? Perhaps. But I think Florida weather is pretty mild during non-summer months. 

Packing for the trip: Because I knew it would be a little chilly in the mornings but warm in the afternoons, I packed outfits that were layered for easy transitioning for the temperature changes throughout the day. Also? I anticipated that we would be absolutely exhausted at the end of each day (This definitely proved true); so, I packed our suitcases in order of the days we would wear specific outfits, complete from under-garmets and shoes to jackets and jewelry (OCPD? Yes. But I so appreciated that I had done this ahead of time because it took the thinking out of it when I was tired from a fun day at the park and preparing for the next day). 

Oh, and there are Disney packing lists galore on Pinterest. I thought this one was pretty thorough, although I definitely modified to suit our needs and eliminated some of what she suggested. 

Also, if you can believe it, I DID NOT TAKE MY PURSE. Not just to the parks. I DID NOT TAKE MY PURSE TO FLORIDA. Disney is not a time to be high-maintenance. I threw my wallet and lip gloss into the backpack my hub carried around the parks and we were on our way. It felt bizarre, but I really didn't need it. 

Packing for the parks: One key tip I can offer? All you need for the parks is a large backpack with a lot of pockets. Each day, my hub just threw the backpack on and we were ready to go. Within the backpack, we had my "good" camera in its case, my point-and-shoot camera, our phones, a sandwich baggie containing first aid items (i.e., a first aid kit from Target-just in case, sunscreen, lip balm, etc.), a sandwich baggie containing "health" items (i.e., hand sanitizer, hand/face wipes, Clorox wipes, a Tide stick, extra hair rubberbands, etc.), sunglasses, a matte for characters to sign (more on this below), our Disney cards (which serve as credit cards/admission passes for guests staying at Disney resorts-easy peasy), our jackets, and snack packs. 

Regarding the latter, yep!! You are allowed to take your own snacks and drinks into Disney parks. So. I pre-packed snack bags for each day, containing things like protein/granola bars, goldfish, Ritz crackers, and gum. I labeled each bag for the park in which we would use it (again, hello OCPD) and just tossed them in my suitcase (again, to take the thinking out of it) and then threw the appropriate snack pack in the bookbag each morning before we left the hotel. Easy. And a major money saver. 

Also, we did NOT take a stroller. We did not want to deal with the hassle of traveling with one or pushing one through the park. We had been advised that it may be helpful, as you average walking 5 or 6 miles a day, which is tiring for those little 3-year-old legs, but we opted against it. Instead, my hub (mostly) or I (sometimes) just carried our little guy when he wore down.

Accommodations: I strongly, strongly encourage those who are planning a Disney trip, and are able, to stay on Disney property (i.e., in one of the Disney resorts). Not only is this very convenient as far as distance to the parks go, but there are quite a few perks as well. Perhaps my favorite? FREE transportation, all day every day, to all of the parks. For us, this was in the form of constantly running shuttle buses. You simply walk out of your hotel and get on the bus headed to the park you plan to visit. So easy! Same for when you are returning home at the end of the day. Other resorts have access to the monorail, boat rides, or are even walking distance to some parks. This is a great resource for those who are looking for more information on where to stay.

Also? The staff are SO friendly. I had several phone conversations, pre-trip, with Disney staff to set up our character meals, ask questions, make specific hotel room requests, etc., and they were all so happy! And helpful! And nice! Our package also allowed us to take advantage of an awesome dining plan, resulting in three different character meals within the parks as well as convenient and delicious non-character meals both within the parks and at our hotel. This was all set up with the help of a Disney employee, over the phone, about a month before our trip. BUT. And this IMPORTANT. Apparently, many people plan their Disney meals 6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE. Because we decided to go just two months ahead of time, we did not have this luxury (nor did I know to schedule the meals right away). Luckily, there were still great character meals available when I called to schedule all of our dining experiences. I will say, if we had been taking a little girl, who undoubtedly would have wanted to dine with Disney princesses, we probably would have been out of luck, as I know those character meals book up quickly. So, if you are going later this year, BOOK YOUR MEALS NOW!!!

Also? We opted to get a "Hopper Pass." This basically means we could hop around between parks as much as we liked over the two days we had it. This turned out to be of huge benefit to us because, although we originally planned to do Magic Kingdom the first day and Animal Kingdom the second, we realized on the second day that we didn't need a full day at Animal Kingdom with a 3-year-old. So. We changed our plan, mid-day, and opted to finish out our trip at Hollywood Studios. This made the day versatile and fun and easy to modify thanks to the Hopper Pass. 

Now, I will say, at least at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you are NOT paying for a huge, immaculate room with super comfortable beds. Nope. The room itself was just average. But. You are paying for amazing views, fun experiences, Disney park convenience, delicious, authentic meals, and friendly staff. Oh, and you get Extra Magic Hours (i.e., access to parks during hours when they are closed to the general public). Nice!

Disney Days Game Plan: If you haven't already gathered in this or my previous posts, I tend to be quite the perfectionistic schedule-freak. A personality pro? Sometimes. A personality con? Sometimes. For this trip? Both. I will say, I think it helped when it came to planning our days at Disney. I knew our time was limited (two days at the parks!), and I wanted to capitalize to make sure our little buddy got to see every single thing I thought he would love. So. I researched. A lot. A lot. A lot. And, thanks in large part to this awesomely awesome post, figured out which rides/shows were "must sees" for a 3-year-old boy and which were skippable. Thank goodness I did this! Because y'all? As I said, Disney is overwhelming. There is a LOT to see and do and limited time. So, we had a tentative itinerary, mapped in large part based on where in the parks we needed to be for our specific, pre-scheduled meals, as well as which areas we needed to hit first thing in the morning in order to escape lines due to high crowd appeal (just FYI, go to Fantasyland FIRST in Magic Kingdom-we walked straight on three popular rides with no lines!). 

At the same time, I tried to be spontaneous, too. When my little guy saw an attraction not on our tentative itinerary, we made sure to make it a priority. Case in point? This awesome race car ride that he ended up loving. Finally, use those Fast Passes!!! Basically, if a ride has a long line (which, for us, meant longer than 20 minutes), you can get a Fast Pass, which gives you a specific time frame you can come back and basically jump to the front of the line. Awesome! This was a key reason we didn't have to wait in lines. We would simply get Fast Passes for popular rides and then go take advantage of rides with smaller lines while waiting for our Fast Pass time to come. Worked out great! 

For those going during busier Disney seasons, I would strongly suggest bringing activities your child can do in line to keep them occupied, such as an iPad or iPhone (or other smart phone) with child-friendly games, crayons and coloring books, stickers, etc. 

Making the trip special: Anyone who has a 3-year-old knows they love to test limits, which results in frequent "No's" (am I right, mommas out there?!). We wanted to Disney to be a special, memorable trip for our buddy; so, we made it a point to minimize the "No's" and maximize the "Yes's." It was so fun to say "Yes" so much more than "No" and see how excited our little buddy got (Gum?? Yes! Extra desserts? Yes! Chocolate milk with every single meal? Yes! Yet another souvenir? Yes!). 

Also, rather than take an autograph book, I bought a frame with a matte from Target. I packed only the matte, which we kept in a folder (to protect it) in our park bookbag each day, along with different colored Sharpies, and had the characters sign it. I am going to put it back in the frame, along with a photo of my little buddy from the trip, and put it in his room. A sweet memento that will remind us all of this magical trip. 

Final suggestions: Make sure to leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Also, if you are staying in a Disney resort, or other nice hotel, try to schedule in some down time. We did this the first day we arrived. We were able to take advantage of the beautiful sunset views of the land and animals, explore the hotel, and have fun at several different spontaneous hotel events before getting a good night's sleep. 

Oh, and obviously, the gender of your child will largely dictate the activities planned for your park days. For us, with a little boy, we skipped out on meals/visits with princesses and events at girly boutiques, etc., and focused our time on all things boy. Just plan accordingly (as if I needed to say that). 

Lastly, we made it a point to make the trip special from beginning to end. A special Disney countdown was started two weeks before the trip, personalized shirts were made, a special rolling suitcase for our little traveler was purchased, etc. We wanted our little guy to know how special this trip was. I think he got the point. I know we did. 

So, that's it. Just a little ol' post, right? Sorry for all the details. Disney is overwhelming as a first-time momma attendee. But also? Completely special, magical, exciting, and over the top amazing. 

I hope this helped! Have fun! I'll look forward to hearing about others' Disney experiences. And I'll be re-reading this post myself in two years...

Friday Family-Fill In: Resting Up

Whew!!! 

We are back from Disney. Actually, we've been back since Wednesday afternoon.

Y'all?

It was the best trip of my entire life. It exceeded every expectation I even dreamed of. It was purely magical. I will never, ever, ever forget it. I think of all the special, amazing moments, of my sweet boy's face, and my heart just smiles. So hard. There are just no words to truly describe the experience, and I'll treasure it forever. 

But y'all?

I am exhausted! Still! Part of this may have to do with putting in loooong, fun-filled days at Disney and then immediately returning home to care for both of my kiddos, solo, for five days. Ex.Haust.Ed.

Hence, I just wanted to stop in to say, I'll be back next week with photos, memories, descriptions, tips, suggestions, and all things Disney. 

For now, I am off to spend the weekend with my babes and (attempt to) rest up.

Cheers to Disney!

Three, Two, One...Disney!

In two days, two quick days, we are taking our little buddy to Disney World!

Disney!!!!

Y'all?

I am so, completely, beyond, 110%, over-the-top, can you believe it?!?, ahhhhhh, EXCITED about our trip!!!

While I am not  super-duper excited to be leaving our little girl back at home for a few days (we decided, at the ripe ol' age of 1, she would just not get much out of Disney), albeit to be spoiled by her Bammy (!), I am excited to see the look, the awe, the amazement, the complete wonder on my sweet, little 3-year-old boy's face when he sees the MAGICAL world of Disney. 

I will say, in anticipation of this trip away, the hub and I spent a full, solo weekend with our girl last weekend (while Banks spent some wonderful time with grandparents), making sure to spoil her and love on her extra, extra good. This included a fun class at Gymboree, lunch with Momma and Daddy, an afternoon Momma date that consisted of cupcake eating and window-shopping, lots of one-on-one playtime, an out-to-eat dinner date with Momma and Daddy, and a morning at a new church with new, 1-year-old friends. Whew! This was a long overdue weekend that she so deserved, seeing as how she usually has her (very loving but attention-seeking) big brother by her side. 

Regardless. It was a wonderful weekend with our girl. And now, we'll spend a wonderful trip away with our boy. Did I mention I am just a teensy, weensy, little, teeny, tiny bit excited?!?

Now.

I will apologize in advance for the picture overload posts that will follow this trip. Because I will be taking pictures, many, many pictures, trying to capture each moment and memory. I have a feeling they will be some of the sweetest, most magical memories of my life, and certainly of his, to date. That being said, I am also going to make it a point to put the cameras down and soak in the moments, too.

Anywho.

In anticipation of our trip, we have been getting in full-on Disney mode:

The hotel and flights have been booked (My little buddy flying on a plane? This may end up being his favorite part of the whole trip!!). The "hopper passes" and meal plan purchased. The character meals scheduled. The itinerary tentatively arranged for the areas, rides, sites, and attractions we will visit within the specific parks we will be adventuring through. The Disney movies watched ahead of time. 

And also? We've been having our own little countdown since we told Banks, two weeks ago, about our special trip (a conversation that was magical in itself [and captured on video!]. Man, that Walt Disney really knew what he was doing): 

And also? I kindly asked my sister-in-law, owner of the awesome Goat & Lulu, if she could re-create two different, personalized Disney shirts for my little guy that I eyed on Pinterest. She did. And they rock (here's one of them):

Now, I just need to pack. Oh the packing. Thank goodness for Pinterest and the readily available, thorough pins containing packing lists, must-do's for 3 year olds, suggestions, tips, advice, and, really, all things Disney. I have read them. Planned accordingly. Typed up packing lists. Wished for good weather. Written out a few helpful "care instructions" for our little lady. Ordered a new swimsuit for my little buddy. Bought out Target of hand sanitizer and snacks and sharpies and Clorox wipes and sunscreen and on and on and on. Snuggled my girl extra hard. Reminded my boy, every day, about the fun we are going to have. 

And now...all that's left is...

3...2...1...Disney!!!!!!!!

Working Momma vs. Stay-At-Home Momma

I am now four months into this whole stay-at-home momma gig and here's what I know.

Being a working momma is tough stuff.

Being a stay-at-home momma is tough stuff.

Brilliant conclusion, right?

Honestly? I think both are challenging and rewarding jobs each in their own. 

But. 

Different. And hard for different reasons.

Here's what I think, as a seasoned 4-month-in-as-a-stay-at-home-momma pro novice and as someone who was a full-time working momma for nearly 3 years.

Stress level? Much, MUCH higher as a working momma. The amount of stress, worry, and work that goes into getting one, or in my case for about six months, two little ones up, dressed, fed, packed up, out the door, and dropped off at school each morning, all under the pressure of getting to work at a specific time, is really high. It's why I had laminated check lists for morning and nightly prep--because despite my perfectionistic, organized self, unless things were written down, I would forget them (okay...that's still true...). And don't even get me started on when I got the call that one of my kiddos was sick. Bring on the high alert, code red stress level. Because crap! I have patients scheduled all day tomorrow and my kid can't go to school. And my husband has appointments with clients. Double crap. So, the award for the most stressful job goes to....the full-time working momma.

Physical exhaustion level? Much, much higher as a stay-at-home momma. Now, don't get me wrong. Being a momma in itself can be exhausting, thanks to unexpected, late night awakenings, early morning risings, and children who have so much energy you want to bottle it and sell it to make a profit to pay someone to come watch your children for a few hours so you can, please dear Lord, get a couple more hours of shut eye. Yes, mommas always have an underlying layer of tired. It's part of the job description. But. As a stay-at-home momma, I am more physically exhausted now than ever in my life. It's because, for the most part, from the time my children wake up until the time they go to bed, I generally do not stop moving. There is no sitting behind a desk (and thus, getting a little rest for the weary). It's up the stairs. Down the stairs. In the car. Out of the car. Wipe a hiney. Change a diaper. Fix a meal. Clean up after the meal. Put kids down for naps. Do the dishes, laundry, chores, etc. Play, play, play, play, and play some more with my kids, because that's the sole purpose of being a stay-at-home momma. And it is absolutely exhausting, with little to no rest for the ol' body most days. But. It is also the most fun and rewarding kind of exhausting.

Intellectual level? Hmmm....different for different reasons. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I exercised different parts of my brain on a daily basis. It was constant reasoning, understanding, searching my anatomical lexicon to understand the workings of the human brain and relate it to child behavior. It was exhilarating. But also, intellectually demanding. Being a stay-at-home momma is intellectually stimulating in a different way. No, I am no longer required to consider neuroanatomical correlates when talking with parents (who would probably find it weird, given that my conversations with other parents now tend to be on the playground, rather than during a feedback session). But. I am constantly wracking my brain about how to challenge my kiddos to stimulate their developing brains: whether it's practicing recognition of numbers and letters or stretching their imaginations or ensuring their language is developing within, or above, developmental expectations, my new role as a stay-at-home momma allows me to exercise a more creative component of my thinking that I wasn't always able to tap into as a neuropsychologist. So. I call this one a tie. 

Multi-tasking level? Total toss up. As a working momma, it would not be out of the question to be studying for boards while thinking about the results from a result neuropsychological evaluation while planning what to bring in for my child's Thanksgiving celebration and also beginning to think about Christmas lists and, oh yeah, wracking my brain for what we could have for dinner that evening. As a stay-at-home momma, it is common to be carrying on a conversation with my son, who may suddenly launch his 40-pound body on my back, while I am changing the diaper of a wriggling toddler and trying to think three steps ahead to ensure that everything we need for our planned outing is packed, a dinner plan is in the works, and the dog is cared for. Multi-tasking and mommahood are synonymous, whether you are a working momma or stay-at-home momma.

Emotional level? Without a doubt, with question or hesitation, being a working momma can be more emotionally challenging...in one sense of the word. For me, I absolutely ached in my bones to be with my children when I was a full-time working momma. I missed them so desperately. As selfish as it may sound, I wanted to be with my own kids, helping them, teaching them, kissing their booboos, telling them many, many times a day, how much I love them. I loved my job, I loved helping other children and families, but I missed my own. Now, being a stay-at-home momma is also emotionally taxing in its own right at times, but only because I must be the bearer of discipline, and the soul care provider for two active kids, each and every day, which can take a toll at times. It is hard. But at the end of the day, I am with my kids. And even though it can be emotionally demanding and patience-stealing, it is worth it.

All in all, I honestly don't believe one job is harder than another. Each role is demanding in its individual ways. And I don't think one job is more important or more meaningful than the other. We need working mommas for the world to function. At the same time, I need, so deep in my soul, to be a stay-at-home momma right now, which is what makes my world go 'round. 

At the end of the day, we are all mommas, who love our babies, and want to do what's best for them, for our spouses, for ourselves, for our families, whatever that role may be. 

Sometimes Mommas Make Mistakes

I am, without a doubt, a perfectionist.

No question.

I do not like to do things wrong. I do not like to be wrong (just ask my hub).

I attribute my perfectionism to a number of things: Perhaps it's in my blood (my sisters and I tend to house quite a bit of anxiety and perfectionism at times. One point for nature). Perhaps it's because I am the second born child but first born daughter (if you ascribe to the personality traits that typically accompany birth order and gender; One point for nurture).

Honestly, though?

I think it was one solo event that really steered me in this direction: The unexpected loss of a parent at a young age. Because you know what? I quickly learned that, while I cannot control the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors of those around me, I can control me and my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Which can make the world feel like a less scary place sometimes.

Sometimes, I think perfectionism can be a good trait: I am an organized person and, thus, usually on top of things and able to plan ahead. My house is clean. I made a 4.0 when obtaining my doctorate. I landed great internship and post-doctoral fellowship opportunities.

Sometimes, I think perfectionism is troubling: I worry about things being, well, perfect.

But.

Do you know who's not perfect? Me.

Because I am human. I am supposed to make mistakes.

And do you know who else is not perfect? My children.

Because they are children. They are supposed to make mistakes. It's how they learn. It's how they grow. It's how they discover the "rules" of the world.

Sometimes, I forget that my children are allowed, are supposed, to make mistakes.

And I get frustrated. And they know when I get frustrated. Because I may raise my voice or speak to them too harshly.

I don't always like myself, more specifically, the way I choose to initially respond, in those moments. Because I forget, momentarily, that they are children. And they are allowed, they are supposed, to make mistakes.

But.

Shortly after those moments, I am quick, and make it a point, to tell them one thing. A thing that I am proud to tell them because I think it is an important life lesson. I get down on their level, look them in the eye, apologize for snapping so quickly or speaking too harshly, tell them I love them, and then, always say,

"Sometimes Momma makes mistakes."

Because it's true.

Mommas make mistakes. Sure. We do our best. We try to stay calm and patient and understanding. Even when our child just spilled his third plate of food in so many nights after horse-playing at the dinner table. Even when our child just took 10 minutes, again, to simply put on pajamas.

We Mommas, we give mommahood everything we've got.

But.

Sometimes Mommas make mistakes.

And that's okay. Because, despite our best efforts, we are not perfect. And we, too, are learning. We, as mommas, are supposed to make mistakes as we learn to be mommas.

For me, I want my children to know that no one else is perfect either. Mommas make mistakes just like everybody else.

And at the end of the day, that's the best I can do: When I make mistakes, learn from them and try better not to repeat them. And show my children that it's okay to make mistakes, as long as we acknowledge them and attempt to do better next time.

Make mistakes? Sure. But learn from them? Absolutely. Hopefully, my children will learn that perfection is not expected.

Because perfect's not so perfect after all.

Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes

Change is good.

Right?

Change is scary.

Right.

It's easy to get stuck in my comfort zone. I know expect how things are supposed to go. There are no surprises. It's comfortable. It's easy.

But easy isn't always best.

This has brought about two major changes currently happening in my life. In my family's life. Right now. As we speak.

I will write about both in greater detail soon. After these changes settle in and become a part of our family's daily life.

But.

For now, I will just say that we're challenging ourselves, for the betterment (is that really a word?) of our family and hoping to come out on the other side as better versions of ourselves. And I'll be happy to share these changes, these life-altering modifications, with y'all, who actually take time out of your own busy lives to read this little ol' blog because maybe, just maybe, you'll be interested in these types of changes, too?

Change is scary.

Yes.

But also?

Necessary.

So, here's to being brave, to facing change, and coming out with a fresh perspective on the other side.

Stay tuned...

One Year: The Comings and Goings of My Girl

As a Momma, I always swear that I will remember each of these precious moments as they are passing. 

But. 

You know what?

It's hard to remember each and every detail. Case in point: I know my son started walking around 10.5 months and starting saying single words shortly thereafter, but the actual details of the other activities and abilities he was engaging in are hazy. 

So. 

I want to document, honestly more for myself so I can reflect on this down the road, when the details are again hazy, exactly what my little Raleigh is doing now that she is the ripe ol' age of 1 year. 

Thus, the comings and goings of Miss Raleigh Jane at 1 year:

• Raleigh weighed 19 pounds, 3 ounces (20th percentile) and was 31 inches tall (95th percentile) at her one-year well check. Long and lean? Looks like it. This means she has gained 11 pounds, 3 ounces since birth and has grown 10 inches. And I promise--this girl can eat! Sometimes she will out-eat her brother, and that's saying something!
• Raleigh started walking right around 11 months. Her initially wobbly steps are wobbly no more. In fact, I swear this child is almost running half the time. She loves chasing after her big brother and is CONSTANTLY on the move. One of her activities of choice these days? Climbing. Up stairs. On couches. Up slides. On stools. You name it, she'll climb it. And let me tell you, there is nothing that makes a momma's heart skip a beat more quickly than turning around after 2 seconds and seeing your toddler standing tall on the couch, with a huge smile on her face as the sweetest giggle escapes her lips. Seriously. I wouldn't be surprised if I have a stomach ulcer from all the lets-keep-momma-on-her-tip-top-toes tricks my two little teamsters orchestrate each day.
• Raleigh looooooves talking. Loves it. In addition to "mama" and "dada," her current vocabulary includes Banks (which, truthfully, sounds like "Bay"), Coop (our dog, which, honestly, sounds like "Boop," which is exactly how Banks used to say it!), baby, bye-bye, up, dog, uh-oh, milk, cup, hat, shoes, and ball (and maybe a couple other words that aren't coming to mind right now?). She will also make the animal sounds for cow, snake, monkey, bear, and dog. And she has this to.die.for. giggle, in which her entire face lights up and she squeals at the top of her lungs. She knows her Daddy and Momma love it; so, she does it all the time. Swoon.
• As of two days ago, Raleigh is no longer breastfed. She is a good little eater (with three big meals and two to three smaller snacks throughout the day) and loves whole cow's milk. She uses either a sippy cup or straw cup for all of her milk consumption and loves to throw it on the floor when she's done. Her favorite foods include waffles, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, lasagna, Cheerios, and toddler "granola bars." Oh, and sweets. She is her Momma's daughter, after all.
• Raleigh loves to do whatever her big brother is doing. Often, this means racing cars side-by-side as her brother zooms around the playroom. She is starting to learn golf, thanks to mimicking her big bro, and absolutely adores kicking around the soccer ball. Maybe she'll be an athlete? She also, as I mentioned, loves climbing on any and everything as well as swinging at the park and pushing her baby around in the stroller. 
• Raleigh adores being around other babies her age. She gets so excited to see someone her size and is VERY affectionate. Not only with her Momma, Daddy, and brother, but also with  her buddies. It is the cutest thing to see her go up to her new friends and try to steal kisses. 
• One of our favorite things Raleigh does right now is, after she or anyone else in the vicinity, finishes taking a sip of her/their drink, she will proudly say, "Ah!," as if to say, "Man, that was refreshing!" Especially appropriate after Momma or Daddy takes a swig of their adult beverage. She will also point to a few different body parts on command (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth, belly, head), although usually more on others than on herself.
• Raleigh has four teeth: two on top, two on bottom, which we brush twice a day with a baby (i.e., finger) toothbrush, although we'll likely switch to a big girl toothbrush soon. She doesn't such her thumb, fingers, or paci. She will, on rare occasion (e.g., when bored during car trips), suck her toes. Gross. But also, quite flexible. And also, her Momma used to do this as a baby.
• Raleigh's hair is sloooowly growing in. It looks like she'll be a blondie like her big brother. And right now, she has one single curl (that sometimes curls up into a ringlet!) in the back. Come on blonde curls!! 
• Raleigh now, generally, takes just one nap, which has been averaging 90 minutes to 2 hours the last few days. She goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 pm and will usually sleep until 6:30 or 7:00 am.
• Raleigh is truly the sweetest, happiest little lady I have ever been blessed, privileged, and lucky enough to know. I am so, so excited to see what Year 2 holds for my precious girl. It is hard to imagine my love for her could increase any more, but my heart continues to grow in love, exponentially, for both she and her brother, each day. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed.