Joyous Times

As you know I have yet to have children, but Darin and I are lucky enough to have a god-daughter. Last Monday we were lucky enough to experience first hand what it is like to have children and go to a theme park. My cousin and aunt were coming down to go to Disneyland and we decided to join them. Not only do you have to have an extraordinary amount of stuff with a baby you have to deal with all the other people who have an extraordinary amount of stuff with a baby. You have the diaper bag, the stroller, all your stuff, and of course THE BABY! It was a zoo at the park, but I didn't expect anything less considering they have a new ride, new shows and it's summer! We spent half the day walking around with the stroller and trying to keep everybody cool, including Charlotte. At one point my aunt told Amy, Darin, her friend Wendy and I all to go onto Soarin' Over California in California Adventure while she took care of the baby and tracked down her sister. We didn't have a fastpass so we stood in the line, which was a good 45+ minutes. Then we walked back over to Screamin' to meet up with everyone. When we arrived, we saw that Charlotte was having a meltdown. She was crying so hard and my aunt and her sister looked very frazzled as having not been able to soothe her. Amy took the baby and went to feed her, but mostly to calm her down. Everyone all went on rides so I was left to sit with the stroller and wait. When Amy emerged we did some shopping and waited for the rest of the group. When Darin and my aunt showed back up she had two turkey legs in her hands one for her and one for Darin. They looked so barbaric eating them, but I thought it was amusing.

After a little more shopping we went to go see the new Little Mermaid ride. I had been a long wait all day, but we decided to bear the line, I mean we knew it was going to be worth it. They had told us that we could bring the carseat on the ride, but that Charlotte would have to be taken out while it was in motion. So once we got to the front, Darin picked up Charlotte out of the carseat and went to get in the clam shell. I grabbed the carseat and told Amy to go and sit with Darin. We did a back and forth of you go you go, until they finally told us the bar went down already and we couldn't go on the ride with him. So we both crammed into the clamshell with the diaper bag, the carseat, my camera bag, and both of us! It was crowded. Darin got to ride with Charlotte on her first ever theme park ride....all alone! Damn him! It's ok though cause she LOVED it. It was so cute to see my love enjoy the baby on the ride.

Afterward we did a little more shopping and then went to the car to get the frontpack. Basically a backpack for babies it was a godsend! Charlotte decided that was time to take a nap. We had dinner and then went on Pirates of the Caribbean, which she also loved. Then we made the trek over to see World of Color. After the show the group decided to go onto Tower of Terror. Now I am a big chicken so I told Amy if she wanted to go on the ride that I would take the baby so she could. When it was time for them to go we did the baby pass and I put the front pack on. Which in turn woke up poor Charlotte. She had a full out melt down outside the ride. I felt helpless and like everyone was looking at me like "what a horrible person letting that baby cry!" I bounced, rocked, sang, rubbed her back, NOTHING was working! I decided to take a walk away from everyone so that they wouldn't have to listen to her cry and as soon as I did that she stuffed her hand in her mouth and stopped crying. So I just kept walking until she was completely calm. Whew! Crises averted! I was thinking, "Oh no! She can't be crying when Amy comes off the ride! She'll never leave her baby alone with anyone!" I felt so proud of myself, the veteran mother's couldn't calm her down but I (not a mother!) was able to do it! Score one for me! Hehe! When they came off the ride she was great and calm! :-) It was then time to leave. We walked toward the exit, and my aunt got stopped by a survey taker so we were held up at the gates. While up there California Dreamin' was playing on the speakers and I started to sing to Charlotte and dance with her. She was looking at me, smiling and singing back with her little coos. It warmed my heart and I felt so happy to be her godmommy at that moment. I thought to myself, "this is why people have babies, what a joyous feeling this is." It was a special moment that I shared and Darin got his special moment too! I cannot wait to have more special moments with her, as well as my cousins! Please enjoy some photos from the trip!