Our Vacation Top 5: May 25 thru May 27

Another week has gone by! I know this summer is just going to fly with as fast as April and May have gone. This week was a week of firsts for little miss. Here are my favorite moments from this week.

1. We went on our first vacation together to St. Louis. We were meeting one of my best friends and her boyfriend there since it is about a 5 hour drive for each of us - they live in Nashville. Clarissa hadn't met Sawyer yet and was so excited about it. Clarissa and Larry had come up for Christmas fully expecting there to be a bitty baby to play with, but they had to head back home December 26th - just two days before Sawyer made her appearance into the world. What could be better than two of my favorite girls meeting for the first time?

Double Smooches for Clarissa and Larry

2. I know there's no possible way for a 5 month old to remember any of the things that we do with her, but I'm so thankful we got to do so many fun firsts with her this weekend! A first for both of us was going up into the St. Louis Arch! I had a difficult time in the elevator pods though. I think once you have a baby, your instinct is to not put them into any type of danger, or any situation where something could go wrong. My brain kept going all "Final Destination" falling elevator scenes on me, but we made it. Safe and sound!

3. We couldn't go to St. Louis without seeing Jon's favorite team play so we packed up and headed to a baseball game! It was 99 degrees in St. Louis on Saturday with absolutely no breeze. Sawyer was a trooper through it all! Once the sun finally hid behind the stands, we were able to sit as comfortably as possible in our seats and Sawyer streaked in the 8th inning! That will only be acceptable for so much longer. :)

4. I was most excited to go to the zoo. I'm not a huge animal person (except for dogs) but I like to look at them. From behind high walls, nets, and cages. Sawyer slept through a lot of the zoo. I know she'll be more interested next summer since she cracks up everytime Ellie walks near her. The hippos and elephants were the fan-favorites of the day. But who wants to see pictures of animals? Not me! So here are some great shots from the day!

Love our little family

Sweaty but happy baby (of course!)

Smooches from Dad make me feel better!

5. As we were driving home from our mini-vacation with the best friends we could ask for, I sat in the back and talked to and stared at my baby girl. She had been drooling an awful lot while we were gone and Clarissa said numerous times "You must be gettin' a toofer!" Having just felt her mouth the day before, I didn't think there would be anything there, but felt again anyways. Sure enough - her first tooth had sprung through! Our baby girl is growing up too fast! It's a catch-22 isn't it? Wanting to raise a healthy, happy baby into a healthy and happy grown up, but at the same time wanting them to stay little forever? We are truly blessed.

*****

To Auntie Clarissa & Unky Larry,

Thank you for going on my first vacation with me! I loved every minute. You both are so funny and make me smile soooo much. And as far as cool goes, I think you're the hippo's roar, the cat's pajamas, the bee's knees! I'm so glad I got to finally meet you. I get a lot of smooches every day, but yours rank right up there as some of the best. Thank you for singing to me too! "Call Me Maybe" is one of my favorites! Unky Larry, thank you for taking such good care of my Auntie. I know it makes my mommy feel a lot better knowing that Auntie Clarissa is happy! Keep it up! Oh, and I hope I get to dance to "Single Ladies" at your wedding very soon. (No pressure, but I'll be able to dance in a year.) Auntie Clarissa, I wanted to thank you for being such a good friend to my mommy. She always talks about you and has a big smile on her face when she does. Which makes me laugh! I wish you lived closer so we could all laugh together more. Please come visit us soon!

Love you beary much!
Sawyer