Busy, Busy, Busy!

While our calendar seems to remain event-free each weekend, we have somehow managed to fill up every waking moment with lots of fun, busy, "let's make sure we do this before Grady arrives" kinda activities!

I spent a lot of time sewing (and still have many more projects I am REALLY hoping to complete in the next 29 baby-free days!)

Lots of matching outfits/tees in the works!

And of course some birthday tees for the Birthday Girl who turns (sniff, sniff) THREE next month!!

My cousin, Devin, is working on the dress for her actual party, but I figured Whitney could wear these shirts (size 4t!) to school and for the next year :) 

Im sort of loving these matching ensembles since *I* personally made the shorts for Grady and the skirt for Whitney, as well as the applique/embroidery on each shirt. :) I just hope they fit each kid at the same time so we can snap some cute pics! (I was shooting for July beach pics, but we'll see...)

And my favorite so far: The dress Devin made for Whitney, and the shorts Mandy made for Grady, along with the tie onesie I made....perfect homecoming outfits :) 

Most of the sewing occurs while Whitney is napping (yes, she still naps and YES, I thank my lucky stars!!), but when she isnt Sleeping Beauty, we have been spending a lot of time outside, enjoying the FABULOUS (not-too-hot) weather this month! 

Family walks around the neighborhood with our awesome friends and neighbors....so nice to live so close to other fun couples with kids the same age as Whitney :) LOVE life here :) 

And Whitney has really taken an interest in walking her babies lately :) Her current loves have been pushed aside to make way for her newest love: Doc McStuffins. Anyone seen it yet? ADORABLE. Whitney is obsesssssed and asks to meet Doc McStuffins at Disney now :) I love that the characters are all nice/friendly, and there is a lesson in each episode. I dont mind letting her watch some TV when I know its not filled with name-calling, bratty attitudes, or just mindlessness. And it helps that she has taken on a new love for her doctor kit we got her for Christmas :) 

I didnt get a chance to blog this since I was focused on my baby showers at the time, but we had a fabulous St. Patrick's Day this year! We started the day at Magic Kingdom (in an effort to wear Whitney out and ensure a nice nap since we had fun plans that evening and needed a happy, well-rested toddler!) and we had SO much fun! We had PERFECT weather, and while it was technically Spring Break, we really didnt have long lines or waits! I kept thinking this might be Whitney's last Disney visit as an only child, but the following weeks brought TWO more trips to the magic. :)

We got to ride the NEW, IMPROVED Dumbo....and we give it two thumbs up! :)

And Eric took Whitney on her first LEGIT rollercoaster! Girl LOOOVES some teacups, so we knew she had a bit of a wild streak in her, but she loooooved this rollercoaster! While it doesnt go upside down, it does go REALLY fast and has dips and curves that I thought would make Whitney panic. Nope! She LOVED it! 

I love how Whitney is sitting on Grady in this pic :) 

After a nap, we headed over to my parents' house for their annual St. Patrick's Day party! I dont have any pics from the event, but it was FUN! Mom always goes all out and is an awesome hostess. Their friends are a lot of fun and were happy to see my pregnant belly waddling through the party :) 

I couldnt choose a favorite pic of the three of us:

The next week was Whitney's spring break from school.  We didnt have many plans lined up, so when Eric's sister texted that they were at Disney, I asked Whitney if she wanted to go meet her cousins Corbyn and Callie. Of course she yelled "YES!!" I have been struggling with some swollen cankles lately, so I wasnt sure I could do it alone, so I called Eric's brother and invited him to join us with our nephews Kyle and Dean.  We all headed down to Magic Kingdom and enjoyed beautiful (but HOT) weather. The crowds were INSANE, and Corbyn and Callie had been in the parks all morning, so unfortunately they had to head out shortly after we arrived. We got a few pics before they headed home :) 

After Corbyn and Callie left, Kyle and Dean were in search of roller coasters! Who can blame them!? So they headed out and went to Hollywood Studios for the afternoon. That left just me and my girl at Magic Kingdom with no plans and no limits. :) Unfortunately, the lines were insaaaaane, so we just watched Mickey's Philharmagic and then headed back home.  I love that we live close enough to make "quick trips" to the Happiest Place on Earth (but will definitely think twice before going it alone at 8 months pregnant! PHEW! I was BEAT when we finally arrived back home!)

It was nice for Whitney to have a little bit of time with her cousins though :) 

And yes,.....MORE Disney fun!!!

We were soooo excited to have our fabulous friends Mandy, John, and Avery join us at Magic Kingdom where our two Princesses giggled their way through the day last weekend! How cute are they!?

We started out with a visit with Mickey and Minnie since Avery had never met them :) 

And I was/am pretty confident this will be the last Disney visit before we are a family of four......I think. 

We got a LOT accomplished despite the crowds! The girls watched the morning parade from a distance...

.....then giggled their way through some super-fast tea cup spinning!!

After the dads tackled the teacups, it was time for some roller coaster "fun"! OK, so to be fair I have to admit that it was only fun for 80% of the riders. John, Mandy, Eric, and Whitney LOOOOVED it.  Avery? Not so much. 

Because the roller coaster had not lived up to Avery's expectations (read: scared the crap out of her), she was less-then-excited about the carousel. I suppose its hard to believe the four adults who just tried to convince you that the roller coaster would be "awesome!" 

As soon as the horses started moving up and down, Avery realized this really was a FUN time, and she could smile and enjoy it all :) 

And I always think I get some of the happiest faces from Whitney when she is on this carousel :) Such a simple ride, but she just LOVES it!

Happy girl :)

After mastering the carousel, we headed to Mickey's Philharmagic...one of our all-time favorites! The girls were adorable .... 

....and of course we had to keep the paparazzi at bay :) 

After some lunch and a walk through frontierland, we decided to catch the afternoon parade and maybe catch a picture with some princesses on our way out. The girls were PRICELESS during the parade! Even though Whitney has seen this same parade (same dancers, same songs, same characters, etc) about a gazillion times, she always lights up and becomes mesmerized :) I hope she never outgrows this phase :)

The were both SO EXCITED to see Cinderella's step sisters and step mother!

And of course, it melts our hearts when the princesses wave "right at Whitney" :)

After the parade, there was just a short wait to meet the princesses so we decided to give the girls Eric's cell phone, fully loaded with a Doc McStuffins episode, and wait it out. We were shocked and amazed when we got to the front of the line and a man walked through the door asking our girls, "Who is your favorite princess?"  Avery quickly and excitedly answered, "CINDERELLA!" The cast member asked if they would like to go to a SPECIAL meeting with Cinderella and her friends, and of course our girls said "yes!!"

We followed the man through a different door where, much to our surprise, three beautiful princesses were just waiting to meet our girls!! Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Cinderella were in the room with NO LINE, no waiting, and no other guests. We were confused at first, but realized this was no ordinary meet-n-greet. The man said he just liked to do something special for the little girls who were obviously so excited to see their favorite princesses.  We tried to lift our chins up off the ground long enough to thank this cast member a gazillion times, but this experience was truly priceless!

Our girls initiated a game of hide and seek in the giant curtains, and we couldnt figure out who was having more fun....the Princesses, OUR princesses, or us!? We snapped countless pics of the fun and games, and Mandy was smart enough to take some video on her phone. The giggles are insanely infectious and we couldnt have had a more perfect ending to a great day!

No other guests were waiting to meet the princesses in this special room. No one was herding us along to the exit or shuffling us to the next photo spot. It was just our girls, our cameras, and their favorite princesses.  Amazing. THIS is why Disney is the happiest place on earth.  THIS is why Disney never ceases to amaze us. One time, I went back through my calendars and counted...Whitney had been to Disney World over 80 times, and Im certain we have surpassed 100 visits by now.  Yet, something surprises me and impresses me every single time we visit a park.  THAT is the Disney magic. 

Priceless.

And in case you havent had enough Princess cuteness:

Whitney and I headed to her "Birthday Party Park" in my parents neighborhood yesterday. She got her fabulous bow from one of her besties, Natalia, and we couldnt wait to wear it. Im not gonna lie...I might use some of these pics for the Thank You notes after her birthday party. Her smile and sparkly eyes are too cute to keep to ourselves :) (and I will be giving birth to her baby brother just 3 short days after her party...so I would love to tackle thank you notes quickly!)

Whitney was so excited to see her Mac at her "pawty pawk"!

 

And we continue to tradition....."Im gonna make a siwwy face first, and den I will smile nice for you, okay???"

Love this happy almost-three-year-old :)