Monday, June 9, 2014

June- Ashlan turns 3 1/2 years old and Aila turns two months already!!


These two make my heart melt.  I put Aila in the swing and went to the other room, I come back and Ashlan's "reading" her a book.  She's showing her pictures of animals and saying what sounds they make, and Aila is looking at her and smiling away.  I took a picture to commemorate the occasion, lol.

Then I overheard her whisper to Aila that she was her best friend and that she'd take care of her forever.  That literally made me tear up!  Ashlan's been such a good helper too.  She's fetching me things when I ask her to and keeping up with putting away the silverware.  She's also still helping me with diaper laundry.  She puts the cloth wipes in a pile all by herself.  She tries to help with stuffing the diapers but it just ends up all bunched up and I have to redo them...but she still tries!  She's been picking up toys lately too when asked.  It's so crazy to think she's already three and a half and so independent!  

Aila had her first round of vaccinations a week ago.  Let's just say she was not as strong as Ashlan was with first shots, lol.  There are three shots and a liquid administered.  Ashlan didn't even so much as wince through all three, whereas Aila screamed bloody murder from the first one.  I don't remember if we pre-medicated Ashlan on the first one but we didn't Aila- but we will for sure from now on!  She was miserable that whole day and night.  And she is apparently one in 50 that has vomiting as a side effect because holy cow- exorcism right here!  I've never seen a baby spout vomit like that but I was covered!  I had to completely change clothes and give myself a wipe down.  Thank god Dan was home or I might have had a meltdown, lol.  Thankfully, she was back to herself the next day but man, that was rough!  She still slept through the night though from almost midnight to 6am.  She's usually asleep by 10, but because of all the vomiting, cleaning up, and feeding again, we got in bed late that night.  I felt so bad for her, but it's a necessary evil.  Anyway, the stats are in: Height was 23 in for Ashlan, 22 7/8 in for Aila (both 75-90%).  Weight was 11.9 for Ashlan, 11.5 for Aila (60%).  Head circumference 15 in for Ashlan, 15.25 for Aila.  

We went to Disney this past weekend.  We went to Epcot on Friday afternoon and actually got a lot accomplished!  It was obviously Aila's first time there and Ashlan's first as a passholder.  She was so excited!  When we first got there, Ashlan wanted to do Spaceship Earth so we all did that.  Aila slept through the whole thing!  Then we had a late lunch and Dan and Ashlan went on Test Track.  It was Ashlan's first time because she was finally tall enough and she loved it!  Then we hit the Nemo ride, where Aila was asleep again.  She was so good on both rides.  We all went on the Mexican boat ride and then Ashlan and I rode the Maelstrom.  Dan and Ashlan went on the Mexican boat ride again and then we left for the hotel because it was getting late and Ashlan hadn't taken a nap that day.  We still ended up getting to bed around 10, and she woke up at 7, which is super rare, lol. 

On Saturday we went to Magic Kingdom.  The night before, we tried to get fast passes on our app for the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride and to see Elsa and Anna but they were all taken.  So we arrived at the park exactly when it opened, to see if we could we stand in line for a short time.  It was already a 240 min wait to see Elsa and Anna at 9am!!!  That's right, 240 min!  It was about 110 min wait for the Mine Train ride but we weren't waiting for that either, lol.  So now since we have our new fast passes, we can reserve them up to 30 days in advance, so we will do that for next time!  Dan and I could have gotten fast passes before with our app but we bought Ashlan's pass when we renewed ours in February, and because we had to go to the park to activate it, Ashlan wouldn't have been included in those fast passes, which defeats the purpose, lol.  I ordered our magic bands too so those should come soon.  So instead we headed to Tales with Belle.  If you haven't done that before (this was our first time), audience members are picked to play parts and then they "perform" a shortened version of Beauty and the Beast for the remaining audience members.  That morning, I told Ashlan we'd be seeing Belle because of our fast pass that we had, and she wanted to wear her Belle dress.  Ashlan was picked to play the part of the beast because she roared so well.  :)  
She did really awesome!  She roared when she was supposed to and then her and Belle danced at the end and had pictures together.  I am kicking myself for not video taping it!  I had no idea what it was like because I most definitely would have had the camera out.  We took pictures but she was just precious in all of it and what a priceless experience.  That has been my favorite Disney experience so far, hands down, just from watching her interact and her expressions.  (Side story: The next day we went to Hollywood Studios.  As we walked into the Beauty and the Beast live show, Ashlan said, "I'm ready to go onstage now."  Lol.) 

So then Ashlan met Jasmine and Aladdin, and then Tinkerbell.  Dan and Ashlan went on the Magic Carpet ride, and the Barnstormer twice and I went on once with Ashlan.  Then she played at the little Splash park for awhile because it was soooo hot.  It was in the 90's both days we went.  They also did the race cars, Lilo and Stitch, the Ariel ride, and Dumbo.  I met one of my sorority sisters there who lives in the area and we chatted for a few hours while Dan and Ashlan went on rides.  They did so much in the time that we were talking, lol.  They went on the Mad Hatter teacups, Peter Pan, Pooh, It's a Small World, and Mickey's Philharmagic.  It was a busy day and we were all exhausted so we went back earlier than normal- plus it was hot and we all needed showers!

So the next day we went to Hollywood Studios but we didn't get very much done because it was too hot and we left early.  Plus, it was Star Wars weekend and was more crowded than we're used to.  So Ashlan and Dan went on the Star Wars ride and we all watched the live Belle show.  Then we got ice cream and left, lol.

I think the weekend was very successful though, and Ashlan had a great time!  Both girls were such troopers!  Ashlan was so patient because we couldn't do as much and had to stop more often because of Aila, and Aila was patient, being in a new environment, and was good about us changing up her "routine".  Aila doesn't like the car seat though!  She is ok if she is fed, but it seems like she hates being strapped down.  She honestly hardly ever cries, usually only when she's hungry.  We are definitely lucky in that aspect.  It just seems that a lot of times when we're in the car, she screams bloody murder.  And a 2.5 hr trip turned into a 4.5 hour one on the way down and a 3.5 hr one on the way up.  So, progress, I guess!  Lol.  We decided we will NOT be going down to Disney for the rest of the summer anyway though, because it was extremely hot and though totally do-able with a baby like Aila, it doesn't seem fair to her either to submit her to the heat.  So, we'll just wait for Food and Wine fest in September.  :)  

Here are some pics:



Helping mommy make shrimp risotto.  She's such a great help in the kitchen.  Always wants to help me!

QT with daddy.

Such a happy baby!

My little performer!  "Mommy, watch this.  WATCH THIS".  Lol.

Love!  <3

:)

Ashlan "reading" Aila a book.  




Ashlan loves to be with her, and Aila saves her biggest smiles for her sister.  :)

Happy two months Aila!

Ashlan had to get in the pic too, but she turned 3.5 years old the day before.  

Picking up toys after I asked- and no bribing this time, lol.

Putting away silverware when I asked too...but I threatened to take away the iPad, lol.

Silly girl.  

At Disney- check out how happy Ashlan is, lol.

On Spaceship Earth.

Lucky girls- ice cream and fans.

QT before Disney.

<3


My first princess.

Ashlan got picked to be the beast in Tales with Belle.  

A worker telling her what to do.






Just look at her face!!!  So happy!  What an experience!






Dumbo ride.

With Tinkerbell.

With Jasmine and Aladdin.  

Sooooo hot!

Tired out.

Snuggles <3

Aila actually watched all of the Beauty and the Beast live show!  Lol