Ever since Berrett and I spent our honeymoon at Disneyland, we have dreamed of taking our child to that magical place. We would vacation there about every 2 years throughout our married life and every time although we had fun, we had a sense of something missing.
Berrett has been planning this vacation with Maddi almost since the day she was born. We had a idea that the adoption might be done some time in May, so we picked a date and hoped it could be a celebration of our forever family. We were in luck, we finalized the adoption in court on May 5th and we had her sealed to us in the temple on May 10th. We had a fun potluck dinner that evening with family, friends and members of our LDS congregation. It was a wonderful day! Her daddy gave her a name and blessing the next day, which happened to be Mothers day. In the LDS faith we don't baptize our babies, but they are christened with a name and her father or another male member of her family will pray for her, or "bless" her with special talents and hopes for her future. We believe that worthy men in our church hold the power of the priesthood, or the "Authority and power that God gives to man to act in all things for the Salvation of man."
It was a great mothers day present to see our baby girl all dressed in white and hear her Father bless her.
We left for Disneyland the next Thursday. We stopped overnight in Henderson NV and spent the evening with a good friend of mine and her family. Maddi travelled really well! We stopped at our tradition rest stop at Cove Fort and took the traditional picture of Maddi in my arms. So fun to see how she has changed!
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| 6 days old at Cove Fort |
We got up early the next morning and drove to Anaheim and checked into our hotel. We unpacked a little, changed our clothes and Maddi, loaded up the stroller with diaper bag, food, water, sunscreen and headed into the park. I will admit that we both shed a few tears as we crossed through the main gates of Disneyland. We stopped at city hall and picked up celebration buttons for ourselves and a "first time" button for Maddi. It was crowded, hot and yet wonderful!
We attempted a trip to the Tiki room, but it made Maddi cry! Too loud and too dark. She had the same reaction to the Pooh Bear ride. She
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| Almost 11 months old at Cove Fort |
did enjoy the slushie we bought in critter country and watched Tigger from afar. She and mommy found some shade and drank some water and rested while daddy rode a few rides.
The highlights of our trip: Maddi and Minnie and friends at the Plaza Inn. Although she spent most of her time at breakfast in mommies arms, she looked so cute dressed as Minnie and it was a moment her daddy and I had dreamed of. We expected her to be unsure of those big furry people and she was! Still it was a experience we enjoyed for the first time as a family.
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| Maddi dressed as Minnie Mouse, ears and all! |
She also loved the parades! She clapped her hands and smiled and watched the floats go by with great interest! She loved the Casey JR. ride and Little Mermaid ride.
The best part of the trip was our lunch at Ariels Grotto. She was dressed as Snow White and looked so cute!! She smiled at every Princess and was so excited about the food, the crown, and the compliments of those around us!
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| Watching the parade with daddy |
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| The wearing of the Royal Crown |
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| Some day my Prince will come.... |
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| our pretty mini Snow White |
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| Maddi and Aurora |
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| So excited!! |
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| Snow White was so sweet with her!! |
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| She loved Snow White |
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| Our little Beauty looking starry eyed at Belle |
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| Listening hard to Cinderella |
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Check out that sweet smile!
Another great moment was when we stopped at Snow whites Grotto. Her daddy had proposed to mommy there. I had made a wish into the well every time we were there. This time no change was needed, our wish had come true!
It was a amazing trip! She slept a lot in the park, and we didn't ride as many rides as we usually did, but we were sharing the magic with Maddi and that alone felt like a miracle!
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