No More Paci for Hannah

Big news in the Schmidt house hold this past week.  A spur of the moment decision to break Hannah of her paci happened on Saturday. 

While visiting Dale in the hospital on Saturday morning Andy took a look at Hannah's paci only to find that the plastic nipple part had started to rip.  This is the second paci in two weeks she has done this to.  Obviously it is very unsafe to have that going in her mouth with the fear it would break off and she would choke on it.  So we made the decision right then and there that we could no longer give her the paci.  Something I had been dreading even more than she.  We took a walk down to the nursery and showed her the newborn babies and told her that she isn't a baby anymore and doesn't need her paci.  We said that the babies need it more than she does.  So she handed it to the nurse and said bye bye.  Seemed pretty easy - huh??

If you have time you can read this post Here on when we took the paci away from Henry.  And boy was it brutal.  So you can see why I have been dreading it. 

As I just reread that post I see that Henry was 2 years 1 month old when we took it away from him.  We are taking it away from Hannah 6 months earlier at 19 months old.  I do think the younger age has made it easier. 

Saturday was awful at nap time.  She cried for an hour straight, finally fell asleep but for only an hour, and then cried for a good 10 minutes after her nap.  Night time wasn't as bad, cried for 20 minutes or so.  Sunday was even better.  I think she only cried 10 minutes before she fell asleep for a long nap.  So far success.  So much easier than it was with Henry - thank goodness!  I think it helps quite a bit that we did it much earlier.  And that I haven't given in at all.  You are a little bit tougher with that second child.   

I called to check in at school and they said she has done fine today.  She didn't cry at nap time, though they did have to sit next to her crib for a short while to help her settle down a little bit.  Such a relief!  Henry gave Hannah one of his 'sleeping' stuffed animals today to give her some comfort.  He can be such a nice big brother at times:)

Hello Orlando

Sunday morning we headed north on Florida's turnpike to Orlando.  We definitely saw some gators on the way!  It is crazy how they are just hanging out in the ditches along the side of the road.  You could definitely tell we were tourists as we shouted 'GATOR' every time we would see one.  We got to the resort in time to hit the pool for a few hours. 

Welcome to Wyndham Bonnet Creek.  It was our first time visiting this resort - and it will definitely not be our last.  What an awesome place!!

They have two lazy rivers.

Several pools that are perfect for kids.  All are zero entry, and have ledges that are perfect for jumping off of. 

Henry jumped off the ledge until the adults couldn't keep up.

He would take turns and jump to Andy, Deb, then Heidi.

Hannah was perfectly happy sitting pool side with her goldfish snack.  I can already tell we are going to be partners in crime on future vacations sitting on the lounging chairs catching the rays while Andy and Henry swim in the pool.

They have an awesome playground. 

Of course Hannah has to do everything Henry does. 

Big girl going down all the slides all by herself!

Life size chess pieces. 

The resort has a daily activities calendar that is jam packed.  We took advantage of the face painting. 

Is that Batman - or is that Henry??!!

Sunday night we ventured out to Downtown Disney.  We figured there had to be some kid friendly dining options there.  Andy saw an add for a dinosaur restaurant called T Rex Cafe.  Boy was it awesome!!  Dinosaurs everywhere.  Henry and Hannah just loved it, and honestly so did the adults!  The food was great too. 

We got seated in the meteor room where 2 or 3 times an hour there would be a meteor shower.  Pretty awesome. 

We made it back in time for baths and bed.  We needed a good night sleep with destination Magic Kingdom scheduled for Monday!

Andy's Graduation Ceremony in Miami

Saturday morning we woke up and confirmed that Heidi's flight took off on time!!  So Andy, Deb and Henry went to pick her up from the airport at 9am.  Once Heidi got unpacked we headed right for the beach.  Saturday's weather was just beautiful.  Thursday and Friday were a little on the windy side, but Saturday was just perfect.  We definitely took advantage of getting our toes in the water. 

Yay - Heidi's here!!

Best family shot at the beach.  Henry was so concerned with his shorts getting wet that he kept looking down at the water. 

Loving the Ocean. 

Hannah loved having her toes covered up in the sand. 

Hannah also loved being in the ocean and watching the water come and go over her feet. 

Henry and Papa listening to the waves and watching planes in the sky.

The kids kept filling their buckets full of water from the ocean and dumping it in a hole we dug in the sand.  It was pretty funny with Hannah because she would have a drop or two left in her bucket by the time she got back. 

Henry's turn. 

Enjoying the rays and sand.

We then headed down to Miami to the Convention Center for Andy's MBA graduation ceremony.  Check out his sweet gown!

Walking across the stage. 

Me and the Master!

Our last night in Ft. Lauderdale was spent balcony side, drinking daiquiris, and watching the beautiful sunset. 

Friday in Ft. Lauderdale

Friday was pretty similar to Thursday.  We woke up to another beautiful day.  Played mini golf, played on the playground, played in the sand, and then checked out the local flea market.  Friday afternoon Andy, Deb and I drove down to Miami to get Andy registered for his graduation ceremony the next day.  We ate some Cuban sandwiches bay side, and drove over to Miami's South Beach. 

Hannah playing peekaboo.

Of course she had to taste the sand. 

She thinks she is so funny when she does stuff she isn't supposed to do.

We would eat as many meals as we could on the balcony. 

Hannah loving some chips on Grandma Schmidts lap.

Always being little monkeys and climbing on everything.

While we were in Miami the kids got another game of mini golf in - who would have guessed!

Enjoying the big bubble bath. 

Friday unfortunately wasn't the best day we were there.  Andy's sister Heidi was supposed to arrive ocean side at 12:30pm from Illinois.  All of her flights were either delayed or cancelled.  She finally made it to Charlotte, NC only to have that flight get cancelled do to staffing issues.  None of the flights were cancelled do to weather.  So awful!  She finally made it at 9am Saturday morning - but wow - that really sucked....  But we made up for it the last three days of our trip. 

Fun at the Ocean - Thursday in Florida

Thursday morning we woke up, put our shorts on, and headed downstairs to play outside.  I think one of Henry's favorite things we did while we were there was playing mini golf.  He loved it and would have played the entire time if we would have let him. 

Henry actually understands the concept, where Hannah isn't quite sure.  She knows she liked to pick up the ball at anytime, even if people are trying to hit it!

We then hit up the sand.  Playing in the sand at 9am isn't too bad of a deal!

We then loaded up the kids in our rental van and headed for the beach.  It was so beautiful!!  At first both kids weren't quite sure what to think of the sand and ocean (water as far as you can see!), but they warmed up to it really fast.

Building sand castles with Grandma Deaner.

Picture of our awesome balcony.  Many hours were spent out here the four days we occupied the unit.

View from our balcony.  Awesome pool.  We came at the right time too, because hardly anyone was there!  January is definitely the time to visit Florida. 

After we hit the beach we suited up the kids and spent some time at the pool.  It was a little chilly in the shade, but once the sun hit it was perfect. 

Henry wore himself out.  He honestly almost fell asleep floating around the pool on his inner tube.  He finally agreed to get out and lay on my lap.  Not five minutes later was he fast asleep!  I can't remember the last time this kid has fallen asleep on my lap!!

After the kids woke up from their 3 hour naps (awesome!), we had a great dinner.  Grilled burgers and crab legs.  Yummy!!

Mr. Serious showing off his crab legs.

Dinner time with our surf and turf.

One more visit to the playground. 

Henry teaching Hannah how to climb up the slide.

Taking daddy for a ride on his space rocket.

And of course another game of mini golf in the dark. 

Winding down with Grandma Schmidt for the night. 

Ocean, mini golf, playground, swimming, and lounging pretty much sums up our Thursday.