Baby Swimming

It's pool time around here!  That means relaxing in the backyard, drinking frozen drinks, and getting a tan (FINALLY)!  It also means wearing a swim suit.  YIKES!  But, the great part about being in your own backyard is that most of the time there is no one here that would care how you look in one.  SCORE!  

When we are outside with Simone we put her under the trees on the far side of our pool.  This keeps her shaded & happy.  We've tried a few dips in the pool, but she's not big on it yet, and it's still just a bit cold in there for her.

I'm going to take this little miss to infant swimming classes in the next few weeks now that she's old enough.  We want her to be trained to know what to do in the event that she ever found herself in a pool by accident. Of course, you never foresee an event like that... I really can't imagine her getting past us, the doors, and the pool gate.  But, I know that's what every parent thinks.  We will be checking out the Hubbard Swim School in Phoenix soon to get her started.  

Living in Arizona where there are pools in nearly every yard (and not always fences), we look at Simone having this knowledge as mandatory.  If you have never seen a baby who is ISR (infant swimming resource "self-rescue") trained, check this out.  I saw it while I was pregnant with Simone and immediately knew we would get her in swimming right away.  Shortly after I saw that video the Hubbard Swim School sent me a letter about infant swimming lessons.  There are so many accidents where we live involving children and pools, even when parents are good people, and are watching.  

And, on a lighter side of things... we are a swimming, snorkeling, scuba, and pool party family.  This means, we need to get our little guppy up to speed on the water works!  

Stay tuned for our adventures in swimming with Simone!

Fin...noggin'...duuuuude.

Butterfly Wonderland

For our two year anniversary Todd got me the BEST gift.  I really love butterflies, I mean, I got them tattooed on my ribs.  And, anyone who knows about getting a rib tat... you MUST love what you are getting tattooed there.  It stings.  So, for my gift he got our family a membership to the brand new Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale, AZ.  It's the largest butterfly pavilion in America.

Butterflies on my side.  Oh, pre-baby body...why was I ever hard on you!?
Honeymoon in Provo, TCI

This is especially special to me because while we were in Key West to get married we ran out of time and missed the butterfly conservatory there.  One of the coolest parts about this new Butterfly Wonderland in Arizona is yesterday was it's grand opening!  

The place is pretty amazing.  They have facts about butterflies everywhere, and I read them all to Simone as we walked through.  You start off going to the 3D theater to watch a short movie (in the most bad ass 3D I've ever seen) about the generations of the monarch butterfly and how they migrate.  It's beautiful, and I was so proud of Simone, she watched the movie like a pro without a single peep!

After you leave the movie you get to see the stages of the cocoon or chrysalis for different butterflies   It's pretty amazing, and there were several that opened up right in front of us.  

Checking out the cocoons 

The best part, in my opinion, is what comes next.  You go into a 10,000 square foot atrium where there are butterflies flying everywhere!  It's basically a rain forest (and feels just like it... so don't blow dry your hair!).  I was in butterfly heaven in there.  Beautiful blue winged butterflies are the dominate species, but there are tons of different butterflies   Best part, THEY FRICKEN LAND ON YOU!!!  

One landed on Todd's shoulder and Simone grabbed for the little thing, and thankfully missed!  As she gets older this place will be a blast to take her to.  Right now, she's just kind of looking around like what the heck?  It's hard to tell in the pictures, but butterflies are swooping all over the place.  

Right when we walked in one landed on my purse!

This butterfly took a ride on my purse for a while

Daddy explaining about butterflies!

Simone was getting extra sleepy at this point...Those eyes.

I was pretty determined to get a butterfly on her!

Me, overly excited....Simone could really care less

Way past nap time...

But this little guy loved us!

And after awhile, she took notice!

Mine...

He started walking up my arm...

And, they really tickle!

I was telling Simone hey, check this out, he's going to fly away...

And he decided he would hang out on my lips.

Todd started snapping pics, so a few photographers came over...

You have a little something on your face...

Simone was hardly entertained!

       We caught the attention of the right guy.  One of the pho-togs was taking pictures of the opening day for the advertising.  And, guess who is signing a waiver for my image to be used for marketing materials?!  Whattttttttt!?  Too cool!  Right place, right time!

Photo credit to Richard Henne - Really nice guy!

   After all of that excitement, Simone was spent.  She fell asleep like this...

Feel asleep with her arm out waiting for a butterfly!

 I was dying for one to land on Simone all on it's own.  I was bummed that she passed out, but five minutes later this happened...

Have you ever seen anything so cute!?

After you leave the atrium there is a room where you can pet stingrays, live ant colony exhibits, honey bees in their combs, and tons of fish.  We cruised through that part pretty quickly since we already had a sleeping baby.  We lucked out, she opened her eyes just as we were leaving the gift shop, so we were able to grab one family pic before leaving. 

We had such a good time.  I want to go back right away!  Kudos to my hubby for another awesome, thoughtful, and perfectly suited to ME gift.  Here's to two years, baby, and MANY MANY more!

xo

Our Monkey at the Zoo

My friend Josie and I went to the Phoenix Zoo last Wednesday with our little ones.  It was a really awesome day, beautiful and warm with a good breeze (um, WIND I should say).  The zoo is big and I liked getting the exercise of walking the whole thing (and carrying her most of it).  

Simone had a blast.  Though, I think she loved watching the other kids a little more than the animals.  Can't wait for her to be a little older so that she can get into the play areas more.  No rushing though... she's already growing faster than I can handle.

Real Life Sophies!

         

I dressed her for the day in an elephant onesie, but we missed the elephants!  Not sure why they weren't out, every other animal was.  But, she looked adorable none the less, and of course, I had to match her.

They force you to exit through the gift shop... so this purchase happened.

 The zoo was so much better than I remember it being!