Countdown to Disney

I've been neglecting the blog a bit lately (not that we've not had PLENTY going on :)) in favor of preparing for our much anticipated trip to Disney World! We are visiting Disney in celebration of our upcoming 10th wedding anniversary (which is actually in July, but somehow I don't think we'll be up for a vacation then). We wanted a destination where Jackson could have a good time, too, so Disney it is!

I had always thought that Jackson, at 20 months, was too young for Disney. However, I've been told by several friends that their toddlers had an absolute blast there. We've even booked a few character meals for his benefit. I know he loves Mickey Mouse whenever he sees him in his books and on his diaper packages, as well as his giant stuffed Winnie the Pooh- but let's hope he still likes them when they're 8 feet tall, walking around, and trying to glad hand him.

I've basically got two days to complete the following for our loooooong drive down (yes, we're already regretting our decision to drive, but it's too late to do anything about that now! We're going to think positive... and drive at night! :)):

1) packing for all of us. Packing for a toddler basically involves bringing EVERYTHING they own. I'd better get started right now in hopes of finishing by Saturday.

2) getting the car washed and vacuumed. It's just one of my (many) idiosyncrasies, but I can't stand to be in a messy, small space. Those cracker crumbs, extra toys, and various things I probably don't want to know about under and between the seats have got to go!

3) compile and drop off dinner and baby gifts for our friends Elizabeth and David, who are at home with new baby Carter and big brother Mason(see previous post).

4) finding summer weight pajama sleepers for Jackson. He's only got fleece right now, which will never do for sunny Florida! The ones in size 3T that arrived from Old Navy yesterday fit him like a glove without even being washed and shrunk. They leave absolutely no room for growth- up or out! As Eric said, they won't last him 2 weeks. Seriously, Old Navy... 4T? For my 20 month old?!? I'm really annoyed- because hunting down the right type of pajamas in-store is easier said than done, many times.

5) getting a "car ride crisis" care package together for Jackson, including his favorite snacks, drinks, and toys. This will be our longest car ride yet. He's been absolutely excellent on trips to the beach and to Charleston, SC, and we want to keep that streak going. We've also bought him his first full-length movie for the DVD player, Cars. Given his obsession with the subject matter, I think it'll be a hit. As my friend Jenna told me- don't let him see it until you've resigned yourself to him wanting to watch it every day...at least once. Seems that every boy Jackson's age or older is head over heels in love with this movie!

6) picking up a gift for a special birthday boy who we'll be seeing during our trip to FL- after 5 months! He is one of Jackson's very first friends, and had moved away from our area last year.

Those are the highlights of my Disney to-do list! Better get started. Upon returning home, I'll post a trip recap and of course, pictures. This next week of vacation will also mark the last week of my second trimester, and of putting off preparing for the new baby! As of tomorrow, we're in the double digits of days left in the pregnancy, which definitely has me feeling a growing sense of urgency to prepare our home for her arrival. More on that when we're back home!