wedding road trip

Day 17: Don’t Buy Cheap Diapers

I’m not gonna lie… Jess and Todd totally win the cool prize for suggesting that we spend our day together at Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure…. courtesy of Jess’s VIP passes that walked us right to the front of every line.  I was also dubious as to how much fun it was going to be hangin’ at the theme parks with a twenty-month-old. My fears were alleviated the second Alexa peed straight onto Jessica’s tank top as we waited for the Shrek 4-D Experience to start. Todd leapt into dutiful dad action as he proceeded to strip her down and change her in under two minutes. Alexa, not Jess. (Though I think the guys watching nearby would have much preferred to have seen Jess in this position.) Lesson of the day, straight from Jess’s mouth? “Don’t buy cheap diapers.” Duly noted. I’ll remember that the next time I shop for Chris.

Alexa turned out to be the highlight of the day. I’ve never seen a kid that young adopt such a carefree attitude. When Jess and Todd took her inside the Twister ride,  a live tornado simulation, Alexa watched, a smile on her face, as a cow flew by and landed on a house. Meanwhile, on the Jaws ride, I practically leapt over Chris and Todd as a paper mache shark  “attacked” the boat. When Todd took Alexa to the Curious George Bucket-o-Torture to experience hundreds of gallons of water dumped on her head at once, she barely blinked as she came up for air. Meanwhile, I cowered behind Todd and clutched at his shirt as we went down the log flume on Rick Saw Falls.

I have to say, both Chris and I love Todd and Jess’s parenting style. They speak to Alexa like she is a mini-adult and treat her as if her opinions matter… to a point. Earlier in the morning, when Alexa said she wouldn’t do something, Jess was quick to say, “you don’t say no to Mommy.” Alexa rarely cried, and when she did, it was obvious that something was up and that something was a matter of importance. She went to bed when she was ready and managed to sit through two meals in which she kept herself entertained as the adults chatted and Todd talked too.

Hmm… maybe being a parent isn’t such a scary thing after all. We shall see. We shall see.

Tags: day 17 orlando florida, wedding road trip orlando, wedding road trip theme parks