Disney World!!!!

In early May we took a trip with my dad and Joyce and Em, Mike and Gavin to Disney World!! We knew it would be different going with a 1 year old and a 2 year old and figured we wouldn't get much in, but we still wanted to go since we both love Disney (Joe truly has learned to love it since meeting me). I was expecting Gibs to get grumpy from being so tired and Layla to be scared of things, but they really both did great--better than I expected, so that was nice! Gibs napped in his stroller when need be and loved the rides and shows. He normally doesn't like to sit still for long, so I wasn't sure if he'd get bored, but everything kept him really entertained and he actually sat fine on our laps during shows and such which isn't like him. We went to bed late about every night, but both kids slept in really well--which for the most part we let them sleep for awhile since we knew they were so tired. Layla didn't nap that much in her stroller during the day, but I think she just thought there was too much going on around her to be sleeping.
It was so fun going with Layla this time as she could really take it all in and enjoy it. She loves the princesses and Mickey and Minnie and their friends from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Last time we went she was only 10 months and scared of many of the rides (since most are dark), she was still a little scared this time, but not too bad. I thought maybe she'd be scared on Pirates, but Joe said she really liked it (I didn't go b/c the first time we tried to go they made us exit the line due to techinical difficulties and then the next time Gibs was sleepy so I was pushing him in his stroller trying to get him to sleep). I think it helps that she likes watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Layla's favorite ride seemed to be It's A Small World which I loved when I was little too:). Her least favorite thing was Mickey's Philar Magic which is a 3D show--Donald near the beginning spits on the audience so you get wet and she did not appreciate that:).
I don't know what Gibs' favorite part was. He clapped a lot at everything and squealed. The funniest thing he clapped at was when Ursala came out during The Little Mermaid show--most kids were frightened, but no, our Gibs cheered her on:). He also really loved the Disney Junior Stage Show. I wish we had had our video camera along to that b/c he loved dancing and clapping and squealing (Layla loved it too since she loves all the Disney Junior shows). And I couldn't think of anything that Gibson didn't like so I just asked Joe and he said, "going to bed". I think he was beyond tired and giddy by the time we'd go to bed so he'd do what we called his Jack In the Box in his pack n play. He'd pop up, then fall over laughing, then pop up again with a big smile and keep repeating. He'd finally fall asleep when we turned all the lights off and went to bed too. There are tons of pics, but it's always hard for me to narrow them down--I want to remember them all:). Layla has been talking about going to Disney World again since we got back and I miss it too! We had such a great trip!

Leaving for the airport! Packed and ready to go!



Waiting with dad at the airport...


They were watching the planes so sweetly and then a bit later we suddenly noticed Gibs was coloring with crayon on the window! Oops! That boy always gets into trouble!

Enjoying snacks on the plane...

Gibs had to ride on this side of the aisle (because of where the masks were or something dumb like that) so Joe sat there most of the trip since I wasn't feeling well due to being pregnant and even worse from flying, but really it went better than I expected.

Thankfully Gibs slept most of the time on both flights there and back...

Enjoying a bite to eat in Atlanta. I bought this stroller off of Craigslist before we went since I didn't have a compact side by side, and it didn't come with a snack tray so I got one off Ebay and it was definitely worth it!! Gibs' food would have dropped on the floor a million times throughout our trip if he had to always hold his own bowl! The kid can be so messy!

Waiting for the bus the first day on the way to the Magic Kingdom!

On the bus to MK...

Traditional castle pics...Layla still gets really excited every time she sees the castle (like in the beginning of all Dinsey movies)...

Joe posing by the Stanley sign (that's where he works)...

We didn't get to actually ride Dumbo (b/c it was too long of a wait), just pose in him, but Layla still talks about how she thinks she rode Dumbo:)...

Posing in their cute shirts made by Gavin's Auntie Becky...

Waiting patiently for the parade to start...

Pretty sleepy still waiting...

Watching the castle show...

She was really excited to meet Minnie and Mickey...

Mainstreet Electrical Parade...

Gibs slept up until the parade started and then just laid their staring at the parade and then the fireworks. Layla fell asleep at the end of the parade. Both kids were exhausted for the trip, but still did great!

Gibs just stared sleepily and pointed at the fireworks:)...

On Joe's birthday we went for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants near Disney, Chevy's. It was excellent as always...

In our room...this was probably before dinner, but I don't feel like moving the pictures around...

Gibs loved playing with the Mickey balloon from Gigi and Grampy:)...

Ready for bed...

We stayed at Disney's Riverside Port Orleans...this was our first time staying at this resort and we really liked it...

Layla loved the pool, but Gibs was a little apprehensive, although it was nap time and he was exhaustd from the whole trip, so it probably wasn't the best time to try him in a big pool.

Hollywood Studios!

Layla gave Joe his birthday presents from us on his birthday...(she looks very excited about it)

Layla loves Ariel...

Gibs' first visit pin:)...

The girl loves ice cream just like her momma:)...

I thought it was cute that he was sleeping with his hand out the back of his stroller like this:)...

She was excited to meet Handy Manny until we got up there and he touched her:)...

A little better...

Tired kiddos!

Excitedly watching the parade...Gibs loved jabbering and pointing at everything while we were there...

Layla loves Buzz and Woody and their friends...

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

Watching the Beauty and the Beast stage show...

Hot kiddos!

Cooling down:)...

Epcot!

I put this on here to remember how much Layla talks about Captain Hook:). She doesn't like him and says she's scared of him, but she doesn't seem to be scared of him in a bad way. She just likes to pretend that he's stealing her toys or hiding in her closet or whatever.

Meeting Princess Jasmine and Aladdin...

We at in Japan and it was delicious!

Lindsey and Darrell had just arrived in Disney that day, so we quick met up with them at Epcot. Gibs had just fallen asleep so they watched him while they waited for Illuminations to start while we quick went on Nemo with Layla. It worked great for us that they could watch Gibs!!

They loved their airplanes from Gigi and Grampy! They still have them and still have no idea they are lollipops:).

Watching the water parade at The Polynesian...we mainly just wanted to get Dole Whips:) (it's delicious pineapple soft serve icecream you can get at the Magic Kingdom, The Polynesian and the Dole plant in Hawaii--maybe you can get i othe rplaces, but those are the only places we've found them).

Mother's Day morning we went to the Polynesian for a delicious breakfast...

Oops, I posted the blurry pic of Gavin in his cute glasses from Gigi and Grampy! I would post the better one, but it's so annoying moving the pictures all around on blogger!

Layla enjoyed her Mickey pancakes...



Waiting to ride the monorail...

Enjoying their monorail ride:)...

After breakfast we drove over to Downtown Disney and then took the ferry from DTD back to our hotel...

The ferry...

A view of the ferry dock at our hotel...

Layla fell asleep on Joe on the ferry shortly after this pic:)...

The food court at our hotel...

In front of one of the buildings at our hotel...I didn't get a pic of our building, but it was behind this one...

On one of the bridges at our hotel...

In front of the main pool area...I didn't get any pics of Layla swimming in this pool b/c the only time she went to this pool was when Gibs and I were napping in the room:)...

One last pic of a Disney bus on our way to the airport...Layla wanted a picture of one:). They got the little matchbox size busses on this trip.

Layla loved our rental car and still sometimes asks if we're getting our rental car back:)...

At the airport ready to go home:(..

Joe and I flew seperately from my family, but somehow between the two of us we managed to lug along 2 kids, a double stroller, 2 suitcases, 2 carseats, and 4 carry-ons:). We were slightly skeptical though of how on our next trip we'll make it with 3 kids:).

Dance Class

Layla took a Mommy and Me dance class this spring with me and with Jill and Ella. She seemed to like it overall so I think more dance classes may be in her future. She had one class, right after we had gotten back from Disney, where she was so tired that she was grumpy and didn't want to listen well, but other than that listened to most things. That day when we were all sitting in a circle doing the "butterfly" and "flying" to different places the instructor asked each girl (there were a couple of boys in the class, but they weren't there that day) where they wanted to fly to and all the others gave nice little answers like "to Tulip Time" or "the park" and Layla just grumpily said that she can't fly:). Being in that class definitely made me notice that she's very shy. It's not surprising as she always has been--which sometimes is nice b/c she's never wandered away and typically isn't very loud--but I really saw that when we would go around the room for different things and the kids would have to answer (like choosing what topping they wanted to put on their "pizza"--a stretching exercise) and she answers, but very quietly. It's fun to see her little personality come out more and more.

Brad watched Kipton on his lunch break during one of the classes and traded spots with Jill for part of the time so he could do some dancin' :)...

The girls both LOVE hanging from the bar (while they're supposed to be listening to instructions) and they both loved the balance beam that was in the room too. I was going to put Layla in gymnastics this summer, but our summer is filling up and already flying by, but she'll probably be more ready for it next summer anyway.

Listening intently:)

Posing outside together...

Ella and Jill doing one of the exercises...

Layla really loved the activities where they'd get to skip or gallup or whatever it was across the room. They sometimes had to jump over the "puddles" (the dots on the floor) and she was so quick that I didn't get a picture of her until she was all done:).

Hanging again...

And this was from yesterday while Gavin was over. The kids enjoyed their snack time outside...

Gibs likes to wander and explore, he is nothing like his big sis! Since we put more of the big outdoor toys out he does a little better at staying in one area, but still likes to try to take off towards the road. I see now where fenced in yards would be handy!

Layla understands that we're having another baby, but she actually doesn't talk about it too much. If she does, she says she wants a sister b/c she already has a brother. Makes sense I guess:). I'm still not feeling well, but better overall--it's more just parts of days now that I am sick and it just really depends on the day--but I still eat all the time and in an attempt to explain to Layla why she can't eat all time and can still only eat at meals and snack times I told her that baby was hungry and it was baby's turn to eat. So now she likes to talk about baby being hungry like if I have a lot of food on my plate she likes to point out which food is for me and which food is baby's:). Oh, and I thought it was funny recently that a couple of times she has asked if we're moving (which we're not) and then says she wants to move to Derek's house--he's our next door neighbor. Apparently she likes the area! :) Derek is moving so I'm sure that's where the idea of moving came from. Oh, and Gavin is also going to be a big brother just like Gibs!! The kids are (or maybe will be is more like it) excited to have another cousin to play with! We are just praying that baby cousin stays put for a long time too (since Em had Gavin at 31 weeks also)!! Em and I are due only 3 weeks apart so who knows who will have their baby first! :)

Baby G. #3

We are excited (and a little nervous!!) to announce that baby #3 is expected to make an arrival in early December (hopefully not too much earlier!). We were a little surprised to find out, but we understand how that happens, haha:). I didn't think that going from 1 to 2 was that much of a transition (or I guess just easier than I expected), but I've been thinking that going from 2 to 3 will be a huge change--3 to get ready in the morning (good thing we don't normally have to be anywhere too early!), 3 to get into carseats in the car, 3 kids with only 2 hands and the list could go on! :) But so far since announcing it on Facebook, a few people (with 3 kids) have said that the transition from 2-3 isn't as bad as 1-2. So for now I'll just believe that they're telling the truth:). I'm really just praying for a healthy close to full term baby and that's really what matters! We'll deal with dealing with 3 kids when that comes:). I have not been feeling well, similar to my other pregnancies, but more similar to Layla's I think, so right now I'm trying to enjoy the time before baby comes and before bedrest, but at times that is easier said than done! Hopefully in another month or so I feel a bit better and hopefully soon I get some more energy back. Oh, and so for details, I'm 11 weeks, I'm due December 8 and no, we won't be finding out the gender this time. It was fun not finding out with Layla and it was fun in a different way knowing with Gibs, but this time since we have boy and girl stuff already and I honestly don't care what it is and really don't know what I want, I figure there's really no need to find out. We heard the heartbeat yesterday and it was 160. I don't believe in going by that though b/c both my kids always had similar heartbeats and whenever they'd hook me up to monitors I'd see the heartbeat go way up and then way down. I feel like it's a girl and feel like I should be right b/c I guessed correctly with both our other kids, but since I think that, I'm probably wrong:). Ok, I think that's it:).

Layla Lately

I was talking to my step sister on the phone tonight and somehow we talked about the silly things 2 year olds say and I thought about how I'm so bad writing them down and I basically don't remember anything I don't write down:). So this may be boring for others, but it's for my own memory (and for Layla some day). Here's some recent things she says that make me smile:).

Our cable company recently changed our On Demand and Layla could no longer watch Mickey or Diego on it, so we added more channels so that she can now get them again. So when the cable guy came yesterday he knocked on the door then said he would be working on our cable box outside first. So then Layla was asking what he was doing and I said he was adding the Mickey and Diego channels back and she responded with, "Where did he have them? In his pocket?". She couldn't quite make sense of how he was adding them back via our box outside:)

She loves to talk on her pretend phone to people. Sometimes I'll hear her say, "Hi, this is Meredith Geurink. Mmm-hmm. Yep. Okay. Thanks. Bye-bye." Or things like, "Hi Gavin, you going to Meijer? Okay. You need bread? Okay. Bye-bye." Or yesterday it was, "Hi Gavin, whatch you having at your birthday party? Oh, monkeys? Oh, cool! Hahahahahehe. Ok. Bye-bye." (even though he's not having monkeys--that was Gibson's first birthday theme) And then often the whole time she's on the phone she's at the counter "writing" notes from what she's talking about. She also loves taking orders like she's a waitress and writing them down. "Mommy, you want french fries? And coffee? Ok. And chicken nuggets? Ok." And the list goes on and on!

Tonight at dinner she randomly brought up that she was scared of Donald Duck. It confused us b/c she likes Donald and that was the animal Gibs got in Disney and she got Daisy (and she thinks it's funny when I do a . So we questioned her and she said she was scared of Donald on the show. So I assumed she meant Mickey Mouse Clubhouse which is completely not scary and I thought was strange. So then she also said that he got her wet and got her shirt with an "L" on it from Auntie Becky wet (Gavin's Auntie Becky made the kids shirts in Disney--pics to come). So finally after a few minutes we figured out that she was talking about the Philar Magic 3D show in Disney World where Donald does fly at you (in 3D of course) and get you wet. It's just so funny how she remembers things so much better than Joe or I do! Although with this, I guess she just couldn't get scary Donald out of her mind!

She also loves complimenting people. She worked on the garden with Joe this weekend and then he did a bit more after she came in so last night he was showing her what else he had done (and I'm sure he loved having someone that will listen to him tell about his garden:D) and she just kept saying, "Oh, that's wonderful." :). Most things she says I know they often come from me, but I'm pretty sure I don't often call things wonderful:).

Ok, that's all I can think of for now. I know there are many others, but I can normally only remember them for about a day:).