Saturday, June 27, 2015

Oh, he looks just like...

People are constantly saying whom my son looks like, whose eyes he has, how he acts just like so and so, which picture of who at what age he resembles... On the whole, when I look at my son, I see my big blue eyes, with my husband's nose squarely in the middle. However, there are moments when he does something and the only thing I can think is how much he looks like whomever it is. One morning, he looked at me with this surprised expression, and I started laughing because he looked just like his paternal grandmother.
When we took pictures for Christmas, Alex had the audacity to learn to smirk. I can't imagine where he picked up that habit…





Who do you see?



Sunday, June 21, 2015

Ode to Daddy

He tucks me in at night.
He shows me how to be strong.
He lifts me up and holds me tight.
When I'm sad, he sings me a song.
He makes everything alright.
He never does anything wrong.
When I cry, he loves me all the same.
That's because Daddy is his name.

Thank you to all the daddies out there. With guys like you out there, being a Super Mommy is that much easier and life is that much better.

Happy Father's Day!




Sunday, June 14, 2015

More Disney adventures!

Adventure Land:
Alex coped pretty well with the Enchanted Tiki Room. There is a section of it where the Tiki totems are beating on drums that it gets pretty loud, and after that, there is thunder and rain. If you stay pretty close to the exit on the far side, you can duck out if your child doesn't survive the whole show. Plus, in the waiting area, you can walk around to the different tiki gods when they "awaken" and talk.
The Jungle Cruise risks your little critter struggling overboard into the waiting mouth of a hippopotamus! If you're child isn't much of a squirmer, you might be safe, though there are some loud moments.
Tarzan's Tree House is just a walk-through activity. If your arms aren't tired, it is pretty innocuous, but that also means there isn't much to hold attention.

Frontier Land:
There are two riverboats that go around the Rivers of America: the Columbia and the Mark Twain. The Mark Twain riverboat is a bit easier to handle because there is less stuff to maneuver around on-board. The island is fun to walk around with its caves and activities. You can't take a stroller over, though, which is probably for the best.

Critter Country:
There is a Winnie the Pooh ride. HOWEVER, a large portion of it is about "heffalumps and woozles", which is Pooh's nightmare scene. Alex stared and stared at everything as we went through the ride. He sat in my lap the whole time. I thought he would get upset in the dark, but it was very benign. Pooh and friends do also hang out in the back of Critter Country for photographs.

New Orleans Square:
There isn't really anything here that small critters can enjoy. A band plays around here sometimes in the French Market restaurant.

That's it for my current view of Disneyland. Feel free to let me know if I missed something; I'd love to see it, too!!

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Lands of Disney

Main Street:
The train ride around the park can be fun, and particularly nice when you've been walking everywhere. However, after Tomorrow Land, there is the Grand Canyon and land of the dinosaurs, which can be dark, loud, and generally scary. I've ridden the train with other children who weren't bothered by it, however. Between New Orleans Square and Toon Town, the train goes through Splash Mountain where the critters are singing happy songs. Aside from being dark for that brief section, it isn't too bad. Most of the rest is open and a squirming child can be managed. Alex was fascinated by the train itself. It took him awhile to notice something was going on around us.
At the Coke Refreshment corner, there is often a pianist playing, a barbershop quartet singing, or Mary Poppins dancing with Bert. The Plaza Inn across from that does a character breakfast, but you should get reservations if you're going to try that.

Fantasy  Land:
You should definitely try "It's a Small World". It'll help give you a baseline for your child, and there are enough other parents that no one will condemn you if your child starts screaming. I sing "Small World" to my son on a regular basis, so he started bouncing along to the music in the boat. Most of the ride is very well lit and it isn't overly loud. No sudden noises or scary jolts.
The Storybook boats aren't scary, but if your little prince or princess insists on trying to move, it can be difficult. Going through the same content, the Casey Junior Train has cars that mimic old-style cages for circus animals. That might be a bit more manageable. Alex loved riding in the "Monkeys" cage car and looking at everything going past.
The castle has a Sleeping Beauty diorama you can walk through, but it’s a little dark.
If you're thinking of riding the iconic Dumbo ride with your baby, keep in mind that there is not a lot keeping a determined child from escaping Dumbo… Not enough for me yet anyway.
However, we did enjoy King Arthur's Carousel. Alex was very confused for a minute, but then his eyes went wide and he smiled. So fascinated with the experience.

Toon Town:

Meet Mickey! We wandered through Mickey's house, and Alex giggled like crazy when he met the mouse. Some children can be very afraid of people in those big costumes, but Alex has loved every character he met. There are a lot of them in Toon Town. There are also some play areas around here aside from meeting different characters. The town itself is amusing to walk through because of the bright colors and assorted interactive parts throughout the area.

Tomorrow Land:
The Finding Nemo submarines start out benign, but it goes badly when the land mines explode. Tons of noise, flashing red lights, and, oh yeah, a confined space where you can't get your scared little friend back into the daylight. My little guy loved watching the seascape and fishies outside the porthole prior to the sharks and explosions.
Overall, there isn't much in Tomorrow Land I would suggest to toddlers, though the monorail station is here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Disneyland: view from the stroller

I love Disneyland. My son is still too small to really understand all that is happening around him. Going through the park, one sees a veritable sea of strollers and child paraphernalia. However, you'd be surprised how few attractions there really are for the tiny people. Young children can, of course, find infinite attractions for their amusement, but that isn't so for those still finding their feet. So, what do you do in the park with your tiny creature? Here are my suggestions, based on explorations.
Before I begin, I'd also like to comment that there is a parent station at the end of Main Street, next to the photography store and hot dog cart. They have high chairs, a room for nursing, and a nice diaper changing area. If you've forgotten something your little one needs, they probably also have it here.

Shows and Parades:
There are assorted shows and parades. Alex managed to sleep through the Sound-sational parade, which is quite impressive considering it is comprised of lots of music and drums. There is a story-telling stage next to the castle if your critter likes to sit still for more than a couple minutes. The Jedi show in Tomorrowland requires a bit more patience, as does the Aladdin storytelling area next to the Jungle Cruise. Next to the Toon Town Train Station, there is a larger stage. Currently, it is showing Mickey & the Enchanted Lamp.  There are lots of songs from different Disney movies, plus bubbles drop from the sky! The Golden Horseshoe in Frontier Land has food and a show, but it was a little louder than my son appreciated. Alex did however enjoy the Disneyland Band going down Main Street.
We stayed one evening for Fantasmic and the fireworks. Alex did well for awhile and wasn't really startled or scared by any of Fantasmic. However, he did lose patience; I think the main problem was just how long we waited around for Fantasmic to start. After food and a diaper change in the quiet, well-lit children's center, we went out to watch fireworks. That, I think, was just too late for our small critter. We were pretty much in front of the castle. Once we got to Tomorrowland and it wasn't right in his face, he did a little better, but the little guy was tired out by then!

If I've missed anything you think toddlers would enjoy, please feel free to comment and I'll make the addition. I've only included restaurants that have something else going on in them, but if I've missed an attraction, let me know.

More lands coming soon!!!