After a long day of flying, car rental, wrong hotel directions, and getting up way too early I had pretty much decided that Chibby and I would spend today at the hotel while Techie did his thing.  This morning with a full night of sleep and full tank of bravery I thought I’d take Chibby to Sea World, at least until he melted down, and then we’d come back and hang out until dad was done. 

I expected a long hot stressful day but what I got was an unexpectedly perfect day….just the two of us. 

You have a toddler and everyday, well every minute, is different.  One minute they’re playing and laughing, the next they’re laying on the ground kicking and screaming.  While luck favors the prepared, even the prepared are no match for a toddler.  When I set out for Sea World I was excited, prepared, and thankful for the good morning we were having thus far.  As it happened both luck and my toddler were in my favor.   

Our mommy-baby adventure was filled with big smiles, beautiful weather, lots of kisses, and enough fun to make Sea World worth every penny.  I totally expected a fight about the stroller because Chibby hates to be strapped in.  But we immediately found an arrangement that agreed with each of us.  At each exhibit I either wheeled him up front so he had a perfect view from the stroller or took him out and stood him up on it so he could see and when we moved to the next exhibit he gladly rode along. 

He ate like a champ at the deli and made friends with the girls at the table next to us (are we surprised?)  During the dolphin show he kept turning around to hug and kiss me which is his very adorable way of telling me thanks. He clapped along with the crowed and shouted “ooooh” during every trick.  The smile plastered across his face was, and even now is, enough to make me cry.

It struck me today when I noticed the woman next to us (who was super nice and a Grandma herself) watching and enjoying Chibby’s reaction to the show that there’s no way that someone without a kid could have had as much fun as I did today.  That grin and those chubby little hands clapping so furiously made Sea World really and truly magical. 

I’ve always wanted to go to Sea World and until today I’d never seen a dolphin, or manatee, or a whale.  Having Chibby along with me on my first visit made it all the more worth the wait.  Sea World is awesome and if you have a toddler I think it is an awesome place to visit.   With a bit of prep you can even go it alone, although, I think it would have been even more fun if Techie had been there to share in our great day!

Love to you all from toasty beautiful Orlando!