It's a Jungle Out There...Vivie at the Zoo

I can't speak for other moms, but one of the best parts of being a mama for me is getting to recreate childhood fun. I was so excited to take Vivie to the zoo for the first time! I knew she was probably not going to understand what was going on, but it was such a beautiful September day that we had to take advantage of it and create some kind of experience.

Before we decided to go the zoo, Shane had already ordered his most exciting baby item for Vivie. I get excited about hairbows and dresses, and Shane gets excited about outdoor gear. He ordered a backpack to carry Vivie in from REI, and was very anxious to use it. We had so much fun testing it out in our living room! We love going on hikes, so this was the perfect solution for Vivie growing out of the Baby Bjorn. Since it arrived the day before we wanted to go to the zoo, we decided that would be a perfect time to test it out.

What a beautiful day! Warm and sunny weather is my favorite, so we slathered some sunscreen on Vivie and headed to the zoo. She loved looking at the people, and I really think she enjoyed riding on Shane's back!
We saw the elephants, giraffes, and tigers, and I bored Shane and Vivie with wanting to go on a tour of the 19th century home located on the property.

She was so engaged in everything going on around her, but the time soon came for a nap, and she could not hold out any longer. She fell asleep riding in her backpack, and I am pretty sure it was one of the sweetest, most adorable moments of her short little life. She slept for about an hour, but then woke up smiling as usual. I thought she would love the petting zoo, but since they only had about 2 goats to 20 children, we were disappointed that she did not get to pet more animals.

We ended our zoo experience with some shopping in the gift shop so Vivie could have a souvenir of her first trip to the zoo. She chose a fuzzy giraffe and instantly put him in her mouth. I think the trip was a success, and I hope to spend a lot more time at the zoo in the future.

After we left, daddy and mama decided to treat themselves to some Sweet CeCe's! I am so looking forward to the day when she gets to experience the joy of simple things.

What a perfect day. Beautiful weather, yummy treats, laughs, simplicity, my amazing husband, and my precious, precious, sweet girl. These moments are so special to me, and the warmth and sunshine from these days envelop my life each day. How lucky our little family is.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

Dear Vivie,
It seems as though I could gush and gush about how much I love you all day, every day. There are so many things that I adore about you at 7 months old...

I love your laugh. It is the most joyful and pure sound in the world, and I could listen to it for an eternity.

I love your cheeks and how smooth and sweet they are. Kissing them is the best.

I love watching you wake up in the morning and bury your sweet little face because it is way too early, but you greet me with a smile anyway.

I love watching you sleep and see the essence of peace.

I love how I can always make you smile. Even when you are so sleepy that all you feel like doing is crying, I can still manage to get a smile. I know that won't last forever, but I am taking advantage of it every moment that I can.

I love your sweet little coos and squeals. Even though you are not talking yet, I still feel like we have our own language of love.

I love how when I open up the car door in the back seat, you are always there with a big grin and an arched back because you are so excited that we have arrived somewhere.

I love how intently you stare at Stella trying to figure her out. It's as if you are asking yourself: why is she white? What's up with her tail? Why does she bark so much? Can I grab her?

I love watching your excitement over a bowl of cereal. You are not too excited about those peas, but you  love that cereal! When I was pregnant all I ate was cereal, so that my be mommy's fault!

I love watching you splash around in the bath, and that heavenly smell of your freshly washed hair and skin. Lots of kisses always follow bath time!

I love watching you play with your toys and the discoveries you make each day. 

I love how you are always happy and excited. You are always having so much fun and you smile constantly. I hope that you always enjoy each day. 

I could go on and on. I adore everything about you because you are my precious, precious gift from God. I cannot believe the depths of my love for you and the hopes and dreams that I have for you. I will continue to count the ways of how I love you. For now....there are about 100 million ways on that list.