Jacksonville Zoo

Field trip day!   Today my new friend, Melissa and I, and our 3 little ones, jumped on I-95S and headed to the Jacksonville zoo.  We met up with Heather who we knew in RI and now lives in Jacksonville.  You enjoyed seeing the wildlife and riding the train around the park.

But mostly, you enjoyed the splash park!

I thought is was sweet the way you crouched down on the animal's level to check them out.

You sure do love animals!  And they love you!  And I love being a stay-home mom (and living in the south)!!

Our family of four is complete

Well, now you know where daddy was during your birth.  While he spent 4.5 hours holding mommy's left leg during Laken's birth, he spent the duration of your arrival photographing some pretty gruesome images.  But Daddy likes to be where the action is.

So here you are, and if you're anywhere as observant as I am, you'll notice the time on the clock.  Records show you were born at 8:36 am.  So, which clock were they looking at when they determined that time?  You look pretty 'born' here to me.  The guy in the back is worth mentioning.  He was the anesthesiologist who comforted me while Daddy was in the trenches.  He was very nurturing. 

 I'm grateful to Daddy for these beautiful shots.

More gore.

 I don't wanna know what this is.

You were born at my request for a c-section because I had had enough vaginal pain for one lifetime after Laken's birth.  Sorry for the information, but I know one day you will ask, so there ya go.  I don't regret my decision.  I healed nicely and seeing you for the first time was just as magical as Laken's birth.

Now we are complete.  My beautiful, blessed, family of four.

Sea World

Every year, the military family is extended free admission to Sea World.  Since we are living in GA, we were able to take advantage of this great offer. 

 Laken was glued to the whale show.  She enjoyed seeing the animals even more than we thought she would.

 Very cool to see a trainer surfing on the back of a dolphin!

 There was a big, beautiful Christmas tree at the exit of the park

Laken was passed out before we got out of the parking lot!

See ya next year, Sea World!  Next time we'll be a family of FOUR!

On the road again

Let's just say you spent a LOT of time in that car seat during Daddy's deployment.  Sometimes you were happy about it.

A lot of it, you slept.

 And once in a while, you puked.

Karli, Laken and I traveled from PA to NC to GA to get some fall clothes I had been lacking in PA and to check on the house.  It was a fun roadtrip.  We were both pregnant.  At one point we realized there were actually 5 females in the car!

We took advantage of the sights while we were in the area, such as Forsythe Park

And Tybee Island

You and I on our boatdock

We also spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Bailey while we were in PA.  You were a complete joy for them to be around.

Two of the sweetest females on this earth!