Florida Vacation

A year ago, I applied for January vacation from work, not really knowing if we would go anywhere, but knowing I would get almost 3 weeks off from work.  Chris had a very, very hectic Nov/Dec travel time and by January needed a vacation!  YAY! for us!  He also had gotten 4 free nights at an Embassy Suites in Orlando for a mistake they made with a previous reservation for him, so Florida it was!! 

We decided we would try going to Disney for a day or two, then visit my grandparents in Crystal River for a few days before we headed home. 

Hailey had a blast!  I will thank Disney for getting her over her stranger anxiety.  She said “Hi” to everyone and waved/gave kisses to random people.  She also got over having to be held if someone walking by smiled at her—which my back was thankful for. 

At the airport!  She was excited to see Mickey right away!!

By the castle with Daddy!

She really wanted to go into the water...

Chris wanted to see the map after I led us in circles and Hailey was telling us how she wanted to get there!

Swimming with Daddy at the hotel.  

As she was throwing a fit in the pool, I took this picture and told her that I hoped her face didn't get stuck like this and that I would show future boyfriends if she wasn't nice to her mother!  

These are from CoCo Beach.  We drove an hour, so Hailey could be on her first beach.  It was only 72 degrees out and a little chilly with the wind, but Hailey didn't care.  She just wanted to stand by the edge of the water and wait for the waves to roll in.  

I LOVE SAND!!!

Second day at Disney.  Above is the only part of the Pooh ride she liked- the toys in line.  She HATED the ride!  Below is the carousel, which she LOVED.  While waiting in line, she was snuggling with Daddy- a rare occasion when she doesn't want me, so I had to get a picture.   

Donald is now her favorite stuffed animal after seeing him TWICE!

This may look like an ordinary picture of a kid pushing her own stroller, but really.... 

She was trying to push her stroller by the handles that we push it with and obviously, she can't reach them.  So we would hold her up and let her horribly steer the stroller.  When we would put her down, she would throw a fit, even when we were trying to show her that if she held the braces, she could push it herself!  Finally, after FOUR (long) days, she figured it out by herself and was pretty darn proud of herself.  

This probably tells Hailey's personality more than anything--you can try to show her or teach her, but until she figures it out for herself, she won't do it!

We went to the Lion King show and when we came out, Minnie, Mickey, Donald and Goofy were all outside!  Chris and I really didn't know what she would do when she saw them.  When we got closer in line, she was so excited--jumping, squealing, waving, saying "Hi", blowing kisses.  It was so cute to see (and made this preggo emotional) 

When Hailey saw the bunny, she thought it was a cat and kept meowing at her and petting her!  It was adorable.  

Donald is #1!

Crystal River pics!!  I don't have too many because the screen went out on my camera and I had not a clue was I was taking pictures of!  Chris wanted to make sure that I got a butt crack picture though!!

Hailey and GiGi playing on the computer!

Chris and Grandpa were going golfing and when Grandpa came out of the bedroom with his hat on, Hailey walked over to the table and put a hat on her head.  Then Grandpa turned his hat around, so Hailey did too.  

We had a lot of fun and Chris had some nice relaxation time in Crystal River.  Hailey did great on the planes too.  She napped on all 4 flights (we connected through Atlanta), even on the way home with a sinus infection!