Mama's In Charge!

Since we have moved to North Carolina, I have anxiously awaited the day when I could go to the zoo with miss Lily. The North Carolina Zoo is way over in Asheboro which is a good hour and a half away so it has taken me a while to want to brave an all day zoo trip with her. Last week, my good buddy Megan gave me a call and said that they were going and could get Lily and I in for free. So we went to the zoo.



The Zoo is ENORMOUS. It is different than any other zoo I have ever seen because it is more like an enormous nature park with animals than a touristy zoo. Seriously, if you walk along all of the pathways and see the animals in both the North America and Africa side you will walk over 8 miles. Needless to say, with two babies and a 5 year old we took the tram between the sides.




The weather was nice, humid, but nice and all of the pathways through the habitats were covered with lush North Carolina foliage. Lily can see the animals really clearly now (at least if they are active) and found the animals so funny. It was adorable. She watched the turtles and the penguins with abandon and just loved their antics.


After a couple of hours the kids all started to get fussy and a little rambunctious right as we were headed to the elephants. Megan and I couldn't help but stop at this sign for a picture.


Yes, Mama is in charge!

We all had such a great time being together and I just have to say how much fun it is to have a little girl to take to places like the zoo. It was a long day and Lily was exhausted when we got home, but it was great to see lions, tigers and bears, OH MY!

The Cone of Shame

After a wonderful week away in the Mountains and away from my dog, I found myself looking forward to starting fresh and getting back to my four legged running partner. I even found myself missing him and all of his little quirks. Then we got home.

I came home to find our wooden gate destroyed, the blinds on our front door destroyed and that instead of just licking his legs he has transitioned to licking his body. No joke, my neurotic dog has now gone full fledged self mutilation and is literally licking his behind off. On Tuesday morning as I was headed out on my run, I discovered the 3 inch diameter open wound on the side of his hip. No kidding, an open, oozing, bleeding, smelly wound brought on by his own doggie craziness. I instantly called and got a vet appointment scheduled, but would have to wait 4 days. Oh no! The next day I woke up to a 6 inch wound that literally made me feel as nauseous as I felt when I was pregnant. So stressful and disgusting!

The only thing I could do in an effort to get him the next 4 days to his appointment was to subject him to the cone and a makeshift duct tape bandage. Yes, Rocky has a cone on his head and a diaper bandage on his butt.




Laugh! It is hilarious. It is the only thing that I can do. Seriously Rocky? You have a family that loves you, a house, a backyard, daily runs. Laughing is the only thing that keeps me from screaming in frustration.

Since we have instituted the cone, sleep has been fleeting for me. Rocky has no spacial awareness so he runs into everything, walls, doors, stairs, nightstands (he has knocked over one of the Jessup's tables 3 times) furniture, humans and yes, he tipped Lily over the other day just walking by.


At night it is literally like I have a tornado moving through my house. Since I have heightened Mommy senses, I don't sleep and have once again found myself only able to catch some zzzzzzs on the couch. There have been many moments where I have wanted to say "It's Me or the Dog," but know deep down I would never truly give the ultimatum. Why is it that once animals take up residence in your heart, no matter how much trouble they bring to your life, you still love'em?

Lily thinks the cone is so fun to play with and was banging, pulling and crawling on it the other night. Once she discovered her doggie was in the cone that made it even more fun for her.




He finally got to the vet today and is now on antibiotics and hopefully headed towards recovery. However, there is a part of me that thinks we may have only solved the problem temporarily. I think his issues run deeper than a round of antibiotics and a cone. O well, we will just keep a sense of normalcy for him and hope that it restarts his doggie brain and gets him off the train to Crazyville.

Mountain Adventures!

Our trip to Colorado was so much fun! As always it ended far quicker than I would have liked, but with Bob left on the East Coast, Lily and I had to get back soon. While we were up in the Mountains, however, Lily and I had a wonderful time and Lily Grace had so many new and exciting experiences.
Lily and I left early last Tuesday morning for our flight. Because of the time change, we landed in CO right around 9AM and had to whole day to play and spend time with Feddy and Kemo. After a much needed baby nap, Feddy quickly took over and showered the baby with kisses, snuggles and love. GranFran got to feed the little one and Lily spent the rest of the afternoon in Grandma's arms. We played fetch with the doggies, sang music with Jayney and saw the horses.




My mom had such high hopes that Lily would instantly take to the big furry creatures. Poor Miss Lily was quite overwhelmed at first and firmly convinced that they most likely would eat her.



She didn't scream or cry, but was much happier when they were at a distance instead of right in her face.

Wednesday was a wonderfully full day complete with a massage for this tired Mommy! In the morning, Lily discovered how fun it would be to feed Oreo and Skittles' Cheerios. They were in heaven and Lily was so giggly.



Grandma Feddy then gave the munchkin a big treat. Lemon Meringue Pie for breakfast, mmmmmm. We headed down to Denver to meet with Aunt Jayne for a massage, A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.! Afterwards we stopped for lunch and Jayney snuggled with Lily Grace.



She slept and slept, so precious. The afternoon was busy with making hummingbird food and a long bathtime. Big day!



On Thursday morning, I got the awesome opportunity to ride a horse again. After a 2 year break WOW did my legs hurt.



The views were just breathtaking and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in the mountains. Lily got to stay home with GranFran and Kemo. They played boogeyman and snuggled together.



What a good morning. We headed down to Conifer that afternoon because Feddy wanted to show off "her baby" (yes, Grandma has taken ownership and Lily just loves her) at the Dental Group. While Mom had her meeting, Lily and I got the wonderful privilege of going on a date with Dad/Kemo.




Let me tell you, I LOVE MY DADDY! So glad he gets to be Gpa Kemo! Before bed time that night Lily and Feddy watched the hummingbirds, Lily was just mesmerized!



Friday was a day at home and a wonderful one at that.





We played with the horses all morning (many wonderful horse pictures to come), sat by the pond, looked at some flowers and rode the TRACTOR! Lily got all of the ranching experiences. Kemo was in his working garb, but took some time out of his busyness to show Lily the big orange machine.






Lily was so cute, not overly excited, but not fussy either. I think she was just glad Mommy had a good hold on her! She finished the evening snuggling with GranFran.


All of us girls got to enjoy tea on Saturday! We all got dressed up and headed down to meet Beth, Jayne and Jessi. Lily looked so cute complete with baby curl (complements of Feddy).





Her little dress was so cute and she was the hit of the morning. I just love all of these ladies and couldn't imagine what my life would be like without them. That afternoon when we weren't napping we were enjoying more horses. My cousin Derek's little girls came up to visit and just loved being with baby Lily. Not going to lie, this picture made me a little nervous, but Feddy did have a good hold on her.


Our last day was Sunday and we headed to church. My parents go to the church that I grew up in and it was so fun to see Lily in my old stomping grounds.


That evening we all got to have a family BBQ and Chase, Derek, Beth, Jessi, Tom and Jayne all came over. It was such a wonderful time to reconnect and get all caught up.




Lily was somewhat overwhelmed, but was such a good sport.

Later that night Lily got some snuggles from GranFran while showing everybody what she learned over the week from Grandma Feddy.

"Lily, how big are you?"


"SOOOOO BIG!"