a whole new world

The day finally came.

Audrey's glasses came in the mail today. I pulled the sweetest little frames from the adult sized glasses case which only made them seem that much smaller. They were so pink. So miniature. So perfect.

I had been watching the mail like a hawk for the last week. Knowing that the frames would have prescription meant that things were about to change for Audrey in big, big ways. And I was so excited! I was anxious to see how she would react to them. Would she leave them on her face or would she constantly be pulling them off? Would she start observing her world more? Would they make a huge difference in the way she perceived her world? I was like a kid on Christmas.

They finally came.

So I grabbed my phone and we captured her first moments with her glasses on camera. We placed them on her petite face and wrapped the band around the back of her head. She curiously looked around and seemed surprised. A couple minutes later she was grabbing at them pulling them down off her face. I think what I love most about this age is how everything she does is so pure and innocent and that exactly describes what these moments were.

And what followed next was lots of playtime, crawling, rolling and smiling. And not once after her first attempt did she try to pull the glasses off. We could tell she was seeing better from her reactions and I think she was honestly happy to have the glasses on. Once again Audrey handled everything like a pro--I'm always so blown away by her unbreakable spirit.

After dinner we headed upstairs for her bath, or 'spa night' as we call it in the Schneller household. I decided we'd play some fun bathtime music and turned on Pandora.

And that's when it happened. The moment came and knocked me off my feet.

Now I'll admit I'm an emotional person and motherhood has only made me even more so (so bear with me if this sounds super cheesy...). But "A Whole New World" was the first song to pop up and I started singing along. And then it hit me. The lyrics were so perfectly describing what we had just experienced earlier that evening. I completely lost it.

"I can show you the world

Shining, shimmering, splendid

Tell me, princess, now when did

You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes

Take you wonder by wonder

Over, sideways and under

On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world

A new fantastic point of view

No one to tell us no or where to go

Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world

A dazzling place I never knew

But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear

That now I'm in a whole new world with you

(Now I'm in a whole new world with you)

Unbelievable sights

Indescribable feelings

Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling

Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world

(Don't you dare close your eyes)

A hundred thousand things to see

(Hold your breath, it gets better)

I'm like a shooting star

I've come so far

I can't go back

To where I used to be

A whole new world

Every turn a surprise

With new horizons to pursue

Every moment gets better

I'll chase them anywhere

There's time to spare

Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world

A whole new world

That's where we'll be

That's where we'll be

A thrilling chase

A wondrous place

For you and me"

Audrey, I am so excited for this whole new world you're about to experience and explore. I cannot wait to see how these glasses change your life. Keep thriving little girl. I'm so proud of you!