Backtracking: Disneyland.

I know we have a lot of catching up to do.  I disappeared after Blake was born and then just jumped back in like I wasn't silent for 9 or 11 months or whatever, and that's not cool.  I need to ease back and do some backtracking, because quite honestly, a LOT has happened.  I turned 40, for one ("The old age of youth, and the youth of old age" as my cousin Tommy cunningly refers to it). I kept taking pictures of food and babies and people and fun but I just haven't discussed it or posted it.  so can we go back in time a little? Because I want to discuss that pork belly I ate in March, and show you that amazing handcrafted artisanal cocktail of which ingredients I couldn't figure out.  So I have some old footage here, old indeed but not forgotten and worthy of discussion.  Bear with me as I jump around :)

Disney.

Driving to Disney.  He has no idea!

The obligatory "nestled in the gifts" xmas pic

And we're off!

Go to Disney when it rains. No crowds!

Loving the carousel, no doubt

Always trying to get girlfriend Chiara's attention.  Just wait, buddy.

He's shy around princesses

None of them can get over this princess-filled lunch

Ahhh, love

...aaand chocolate cake.

The look of awe on the first ride really made me weepy.

So magical!

Under the sea

Dancing and singing lobsters.  Happiest place on earth.

Apparently the churros at Disney are the best.  I can't tell one from another.

Still in awe that they talk to you.  Ariel's grotto is the bomb.

Look at the face. The connection.  I have a sensitive guy on my hands.

So when my friend Christiana said she wanted to take Chiara and her friends to Disneyland for her birthday, I had a pit in my stomach. Barf.  Lines, chaos, parking, nausea, kids running everywhere, how to corral them; general suckiness.  But I brought my friggin breast pump, and prayed for rain, which there was, and we went anyway.  So my friend Liv says: "i'm so dorked out for this Disneyland trip!" and I was like, why? I really WANT to be that kind of mom, the kind that digs taking their kid to Disney and all, but it just gave me anxiety.  Some come the first ride, The LIttle Mermaid, I had a moment of enlightment.  I saw Dax's face, wide with bewonderment, and heard the song Ariel sings and my whole box of childhood memories exploded in front of me.  I had tears in my eyes.  I emerged from the ride elated and teary, exclaiming "I LOVE DISNEYLAND!!" 

...or at least it felt that way in my heart.