Well, we kissed Ft. Lauderdale and the comfort of land goodbye as we sailed off to our first port, Nassau, Bahamas.  Our family didn't plan lots of excursions this trip.  Actually, we didn't plan any.  We pretty much played it by ear and did what we wanted when we wanted.

It was so nice!

Kristin and Lee chose to stay on the boat while the rest of us decided to explore awhile.  Our ship was to leave the Bahamas at 2:30 (or at least we were to be on board by then), so we didn't take any chances catching a taxi anywhere.  We stepped off the ship and continued on foot exploring the Straw Market, other little shops, and the rest of the marketplace area.

Me and my bestie in front of our ship

Mama, Daddy, Rhonda, and Michael with Atlantis in the background

Inside the terminal-like building, we found a local band playing and dancing in the center of many craft vendors.  Millie Janalee even played with them a bit.  *Immediately after this picture, I wiped her hands down with wipes.  Ha!  We enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Bahamas.

Musical talent

Such a ham wanting to run wild in the Bahamas marketplace

After a very hot stroll through town, we began our walk back to the port.  Once we got back to the terminal, I allowed Millie Janalee to walk all the way back to the boat.  She was so proud of her new purse from the Straw Market and wore it all the way back to the ship...and several times during the cruise.  Haha!

Me, Millie Janalee, and Russ with Atlantis in the background

Mama/daughter Bahamian stroll

Russ and Millie Janalee standing next to the mooring lines...just to show you how huge these ropes are that tie the ship to each port.

When we got back on the ship, we all went straight to our staterooms for a bathroom break and to cool off.  Millie Janalee and I enjoyed some playtime on our stateroom balcony.  Did I mention that her personality grew and grew with each passing day?!  This girl cracks me up!

For those of you wondering "What about Christmas?", we did continue our 25 Books of Christmas on the ship each night.  These books proved to be wonderful during down time in the room.  After settling back into our rooms, we strolled around the ship and found a nice spot to watch as we left the port.  Our ship was so tall and huge that I never could get a good view of the actual process of taking the ropes off and setting sail.  I wanted to see that so badly...it fascinates me!

In addition to our first port, this night was also our first formal night on the boat.  "Formal" means different things to different people.  We saw everything from tuxes and ballgowns to dressy pantsuits and sundresses.  Millie Janalee donned her formal summer dress with her new purse from the Bahamas as she raced up the hallways squealing with excitement.  Our neighbors loved us, I'm sure!  Ha!

Pretty Princess

Our table on formal night

Frank and Felix made Millie Janalee a special dessert plate

After dinner, we enjoyed the amazing Oasis of Dreams show!  This was a show filled with gymnastics, tricks, synchronized swimming, choreography, and high diving.  The Aqua Theater is on the very back of the boat and is the deepest pool at sea.  The audience faces the stage and pool with a beautiful view of the ocean in the background.  You see those two tall towers over the pool?  That's where the high divers dove into that small body of water.  I was a nervous wreck!  Amazing!

When we arrived in our stateroom at the end of a full day, Millie Janalee found a fun surprise on our bed!  Our stateroom attendant, Gregory, left a fabulous creation for Millie Janalee.  He even found her sunglasses laying around and added them for flair.

And then a Christmas book to end a beautiful day in the Bahamas!

Bon Voyage!

On December 13, Russ and I packed three suitcases full (49 pounds each), loaded the stroller and car seat, and a bag full of any medication we might ever need in preparation for our 7 day Caribbean cruise!  I have a few fears - needles and snakes among them - and fear of heights and ocean water are two of them.  I get nervous every time we load an airplane or board a ship.  Add a 16 month old (almost 17 months) to the mix, and I become filled with major anxiety.  Packing four or five different kinds of nausea meds for children and adults...prescription and over the counter...along with any other kind I wanted to add to the arsenal.  I plan to write a separate blog post about packing a toddler for a cruise.  I found some that were very helpful for my own packing, and I was able to gauge what was necessary and optional.

We met the rest of my family (minus Dustin, who had to work) at the airport early Friday morning.  We had a connecting flight in Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale with not much of a layover.  Millie Janalee, as with everything she does, was a champ!  This girl was made to travel and cheer on those Bulldogs.  Ha!

We spent the night in Ft. Lauderdale and caught the first shuttle at 10:30 to the port.  Millie Janalee and I stuck together through customs, and we made it through with flying colors!  Russ was the leader of our pack, and he helped us label and maneuver our stroller and 3 large suitcases, two carry-ons, car seat, and baby back pack all through the terminals.  He also humored me by stopping for the occasional memory making picture.  He's a gem, and I can be pretty annoying when it comes to stopping for photos. [Imagine that.]

We made it through customs!

The temperatures in Ft. Lauderdale were a comfortable 75 degrees or so.  Amazing weather and quite different from the 20 degrees we left at home!  We boarded the Oasis of the Seas with time to explore.  Our staterooms wouldn't be ready until 1 that afternoon.  Millie Janalee sat in awe of what would soon become one of her favorite hangouts on the ship - the kid pools area.

We found a restaurant to eat lunch overlooking the Ft. Lauderdale view.  The Windjammer became our "welcome spot" as the waiters helped us find a table, get our drinks, and stop to talk to the "princess" of our crew.  Thus began Millie Janalee's royal treatment.  She took full advantage and her personality grew three times bigger that week!

When the cruise director made the announcement that our staterooms were ready, we decided to unload our carry-ons and take a look at our accommodations before finding a table on the open deck to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere.

I should mention that I spent my 30th birthday on board the largest cruise ship in the world!  I partied like it was my birthday!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Millie Janalee and Pawpaw on our balcony

After the mandatory emergency drill where all 6,200 guests gathered in their assigned areas where life jackets and lifeboats are located and got all the instructions in case of a crisis...we found a wonderful spot to relax and watch as our ship sailed out of the port in Ft. Lauderdale heading for the open seas.

Millie Janalee danced to the music as the armed coast guard (the little boat behind her) patrolled our ship until we left the port.  Apparently the largest cruise ship in the world would make for a dangerous target.  Comforting, huh?

See ya later USA!

Mama Kristin with her fruit drink from the kids menu

After sailing off into the sunset, we all took some time to settle in and check to see if our luggage had been delivered.  This cruise, we enjoyed "my time dining" with the same waiters at the same table every night at 8:30.   So, we met Felix and Frank (our servers for the week) and enjoyed dinner with our friends, Rhonda and Michael, who joined us for the fun trip!

We also laughed as a team of servers sang and played percussion with the tops to butter bowls singing "Happy Birthday" to me!!!  A great way to start off my 30th year.

We enjoyed shows nearly every night after dinner.  Our first night, we settled in for an amazing show on ice...Frozen in Time.  Millie Janalee was enthralled and followed the skaters around the ice with her eyes and head the entire time.  She clapped, danced, and cheered with excitement.  Some of us may or may not have teared up a few times as we watched her. 

Our night ended with falling asleep to the waves and a slight rocking that could only be felt when laying still.  Rocking us to sleep night after night!  Lovely!

We're Getting Our Sea Legs Back

 For the past week, our family has enjoyed a Caribbean vacation on the seas!  There are many, many, many pictures to share - as you can imagine - and so much to tell you.  But for now, I'll leave you with these highlight cruise photos as we reboot and watch Christmas movies all day getting back into the Christmas spirit!

Click on this picture to enlarge and learn more about our ship

I am so thankful that I worked so hard getting everything on my list completed before leaving for vacation.  It makes coming home much  more pleasant.  Today's list includes unpacking, laundry, repacking for the holidays, and watching Christmas movies.  We started with Babes in Toyland, and it is a success!

We're getting our sea legs back slowly but surely.

A Starry Night with the Family

Last night, Russ and I took little Miss Millie Janalee to meet the rest of my family (minus Dustin) for our second annual Starry Nights carriage ride.  The weather was delightfully frightful!  It was a very cold 30something, but we were all nice and cozy under all the blankets our driver provided and those my parents brought.  Millie Janalee would NOT sit under these blankets.  She preferred standing for awhile.  And before long...took her little gloves off too.

My first mistake was leaving her diaper bag in the car with her paci, snacks, juice, etc in it.  Note to those taking 15 month olds on a carriage ride...take the diaper bag.  She was an unhappy camper for a little while until she found her Christmas spirit in Susu's lap singing carols, then in Pawpaw's lap with a cell phone.  Don't judge please.  Once again, bring the diaper bag if you plan to do this with a young toddler.  Ha!  She still had a great time, and loved looking at the horse.

Kristin and Lee

Pawpaw and Susu

The Christmas lights were beautiful and the carriage ride was lovely.  We finished our night thawing out as we ate dinner at Bonefish Grill.  We enjoyed Bang Bang Shrimp, filets, and a plethora of other yumminess!  We are so thankful for my parents and their intentional event-planning to make priceless memories as a family!

Santa Trauma

Remember last year when Millie Janalee basically slept through her first visit to Santa.  Then there was the infamous visit to his workshop where she spit up all over his nice rug and hardwood floors.  But she ended with a signed ornament and her name on the "Nice" list.  We also saw him in Chattenooga at our supper stop on our way to Gatlinburg.

All three visits last year were complete successes!

This year, our schedule is kinda insane.  Which is our normal actually.  So we decided to visit Santa early...the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Russ was working, so I got Millie Janalee bathed and dressed for the big man himself, and we stood in a very lengthy line at a local gift shop in our hometown.  Halfway through the line, my sweet Christmas angel began to get antsy.  I felt the same way, but I wasn't strapped to a stroller.  Bless her heart!  By the time we made our way to the front of the line, my mom had arrived just in time to assist with "smile and photo duty."

Here's the story of what happened...

Once upon a time, there was a sweet, beautiful baby girl who was not a fan of sitting on Santa's lap.  At all.  She tried with all her might to get off that red velvet suit and away from the white fuzzy fur.

Try as she might, she could not get loose.  It was her mother that put here there, and it was her mother who stood behind the guy with the camera making silly noises and faces trying to get the baby girl to smile...like that was gonna happen!

It was the mother who, after the torture had reached an all-time high, finally offered to sit in the picture in hopes of a calm happy baby girl.  One who doesn't leave traumatized by Santa, but one who loves Santa and can't wait for his visit to her home.

It was this mother who decided these pictures are my favorites so far.  So although the pictures look like a very unsuccessful trip to Santa's lap, I will mark this in my books as a SUCCESS as far as memories go.  Nervous sweat and all!  

Millie Janalee may not agree.

Won the Day!

In case you missed it or live under a rock or are just not a football fan (does that even exist?!), you know that Thanksgiving week was a huge week for football.  A couple of games in particular were way too exciting for this little heart of mine.  Let's start with the game dearest to my heart...the EGG BOWL!

This year the Egg Bowl was returned to it's rightful place - Thanksgiving Day.  It was a freezing cold day, but that can't stop this girl and her crazy family.  My sister-in-law asked if we were going to the game, and I replied, "Yep.  Look for us on TV.  We'll be the looney toons with a 16 month old."

My dad and brother were already busy setting up the tents when we arrived.  They were putting up some walls to block the cold wind for Millie Janalee.  This was her first time wearing gloves and multiple layers.  I hated to pull out the snowsuit before the game, so we went with a heavy coat, leggings, fleece pants, boots, two shirts, and a of course her cheer top.  She seriously sat in one spot without moving for an hour.  She's not a fan of big layers.  She wouldn't talk or smile.  She just sat there...and whined occasionally.

Next thing I know, the boys are off to the car filled with heaters and propane (I think that's what it was).  Walmart made a pretty penny as this family prepared for the cold.  Nothing can stop us from enjoying our gameday!  Ha!

By the time my dad and the rest of the boys finished, we had our own little heated "den" and Millie Janalee was able to take her coat off.  Boy, did she come alive!  Dancing, singing, squealing, playing, reading books, and more!

Dustin, Lee, Russ, Daddy, and I played some corn hole to pass the time.  I never won.  Just so you know.

Kristin worked on nice decorations for our Thanksgiving lunch...including that fantastic Egg Bowl centerpiece!  My mom had our meal catered by the on campus catering service.  It was like a real Thanksgiving lunch outside: dressing, turkey, macaroni and cheese, veggies, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, pies, cakes, and more!  It was delicious!  Of course, we loved sharing a meal with all the family and friends!  That's always the best part.

When game time came around, I've gotta admit...I had some anxiety.  Like couldn't catch my breath nerves.  I couldn't figure out why I was having these "episodes", but I'm almost positive it was nerves about the game.  Here's the thing about the Egg Bowl:  No matter what kind of season you have had, you NEVER KNOW who will win this game.  

Everyone began taking tents down, packing cars, and adding layers.  And layers.  And layers.  Millie Janalee was our little marshmallow baby!  And the cutest marshmallow baby I'd ever seen.  She started running toward Uncie Bucket and fell flat on her face like the kid in Christmas Story.

Russ and I overprepared for this game.  Whatever we might need, so that we wouldn't have to leave the game early.  Ski bibs, a puffy coat. long johns, headgear, gloves, hand and toe warmers, boots, scarves etc.  By the time we got into the stadium, I was sweating!  You should know that I never put my coat on! 

The game was not pretty on either side.  But, man, was it exciting!  It came down to overtime and the last play.  I don't need to replay it, but we forced a fumble as Ole Miss's QB was running into the end zone...winning the game!  After that it was pandemonium in the stands.  Some say luck?  Whatever!  That was a great play!  I've seen the replays (and some of the controversial after play ones too), and I still get excited every time.  Then I feel sorry for Wallace for a little while.  But, that's just the game.  It happens.  It just wasn't his day.  We've had plenty of "not our days" too. 

But the Egg Bowl 2013...it was our day.

You see, this game determined our eligibility for a bowl game.  Four years in a row, we're going bowling!

The crowd stayed around for a while after the game.  We cheered the team as they ran around the sidelines with the Golden Egg.  We sang the alma mater.  We rang our cowbells.  We cheered some more.  We even watched on the Jumbotron as the coach gave his post-game pep talk to the guys inside the locker room (or whatever that building is called).

It was a great day to be a Bulldog!

We won the day!  365 days of bragging rights are ours.