Celebrating Two Months at the Pheonix Zoo!

Ben finished his first year of school! He had training Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week so since he really only had two days off before starting summer school we decided to take the four day weekend and go down to Pheonix before it got too hot. We originally had planned to stop at a few National Monuments on the way down, but we didn't quite realize how much longer it would take to pack when you have yourself, two pups, and one baby. We headed out a little after noon. Then we hit another unexpected encounter; a screaming baby that you cannot do anything for because there is no exit on the freeway at the time. Our four and a half hour trip ended up being more like a seven hour trip with multiple stops to feed and consul an upset baby and a dinner trip for Ben and I.

Yes, things are more difficult with a baby, but enough with the negative because even though it may be difficult it is also way more fun. It is exciting to watch them discover how beautiful and wonderful our world really is. Jocee had a great time.

Friday we all woke up feeling rejuvenated. All of us were pretty happy there wasn't going to be any long rides in the car. We got ready and headed off to the Pheonix Zoo. We saw quite a few animals, however, many of them took refuge inside or under some shade because of the heat. 

Ben wants to make Jocee an animal book with all the pictures we have taken so she can learn their names. We took a plethora of animal pictures to add to the collection. Jocee slept for most of her first zoo trip in her brand new stroller; which she loves riding in! 

However, she was awake for the most exciting part of the day...

 Feeding the giraffes!

It was so neat to feel their tongues. They aren't slimy at all, instead they are kind of dry and rough. 

She even got her first souvenir! Ben and I were laughing because we were trying to pick something out for her and thought in a few years we are going to regret starting a tradition like this, because she is going to be begging us for multiple souvenirs. 

Catching up on some Zzzz's after the Zoo.

This little girl also celebrated turning two months at the zoo.

• She smiles all the time, and has started giggling (it at least sounds like a giggle to us). 
• She is showing her emotions so much now. You can tell when she is excited, she wiggles her whole body and makes the cutest noises. 
• She is quite the talker. She loves to tell you all kinds of stories. When I leave for a little and come back she talks to me so much! It is like she has to catch me up on everything I missed! 
• She still loves when Daddy makes faces and blows raspberries. She sticks her tongue out and tries to copy Ben. 
• She has also started to discover her hands and feet. She will kick her feet around and just stare at them and giggle.
• She definitely knows who her Mommy and Daddy are. She would smile at us and then someone else would come up to her and talk to her on the trip. They would tell her how cute and she would just stare at them. Then when she would see us again she was all smiles.  
• Some more great news...typically every night she gives me a six hour stretch of sleep!
• We LOOOOOOOVE this baby girl!