To Disney World We Go!

In the few months before Beau was born, I told Ben that I wanted to take him to Disney World for his first birthday. Ben laughed it off and said that probably wasn't going to happen. :) I just told him that forever reason, it was in my mind as a really sweet milestone marker for God's faithfulness in Beau's life during his first year. Again, he laughed off my bringing of God into it.. haha! I really just had it in my mind as a sweet celebration of that first birthday. But I didn't think much of it, although we did tell several people of my ruse to convince Ben. :)

We had no idea the journey ahead of us in the months that followed. You can read about that here, but the end of my pregnancy and the beginning of Beau's life wasn't what I had planned. But He is faithful, and we are so grateful to God for planning each day of Beau's life in His sovereignty. Beau's first night in the NICU was one of the hardest of my whole life. I had bonded so much with him in our first two days and now he was in a little bed by himself, hooked up to machines. Every baby in the NICU had a little sign with their name and birth stats on it. Most of them were animals, a few flowers, butterflies, etc. No characters. But that first morning that we woke up and went to feed Beau at about 5am.. the nurses had put up Beau's sign. As you can see above, we were greeted that morning by none other than Mickey Mouse. It seems so silly, but that was the encouragement I needed in a really dark time. I KNEW we would get through it. That little Mickey helped me cling to my faith. Everyone agreed this was a huge encouragement, and I told Ben I wouldn't bully him into taking us, but he said he already knew he was on the hook. :)

So as you read this, we're either on a plane to Orlando, or settling into our resort at Disney World. I am going to absolutely loose it when I see my boy meet Mickey Mouse. I want to take this opportunity to thank y'all so much for how well you have loved me in my first year of motherhood. I've received so much encouragement and even prayer. Every comment on Beau means the world to me and makes me so proud. I'm so grateful for this blog and the sweet connections that it has provided.

If you're interested in what we're doing.. you can anticipate no less than 4 instagrams each day of our trip. Haha!! I wish I was joking. Follow along @victoriastrader. XO

"Little Boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older." - Peter Pan 

Never grow up, my sweetest heart!