Lots of Firsts....

This past weekend was full of firsts for Miss Winnie...lets start with the first plane ride. She did amazing on every plane but I was a bit worried in the beginning. Our flight out of Raleigh was off to a bad start when we sat on the tarmack for awhile as the pilots tried to fix a "computer" problem. Winnie started to fuss and my first thoughts were "take me back to the terminal, I can stay at home this weekend!" As the plane headed back to the terminal to "fix" the problem, the computers started working all of a sudden and the pilot informed us that we were going to be taking off soon. Now, of the advice of mom's I knew I had to either feed Winnie or have her suck on a pacifier during take-off and landing, so I quieted her down quickly with some grub! I must admit, she ate a LOT during our trip there (direct flight) as I didn't want to wake the passengers around us.

About 5 hours later, Winnie had her second "first" as we landed in Phoenix, Arizona. Still strange to Tom & I that her second state to visit was Arizona!! Its a state that we both have wanted to visit for years, how fun that we could all experience it together!

Have I mentioned why we were in Arizona? Tom's childhood friend, Dave, was getting married and Tom was a groomsmen in the wedding. On Friday we went to the rehearsal at a "Dude Ranch" where the wedding would be...the neat thing is that John Wayne had stayed there when he filmed movies in the area a long time ago. After the rehearsal lunch we headed downtown to Arizona University. We have always enjoyed visiting college campuses, and have to admit we were surprised it wasn't more serene (like its brochures). That evening we had an authentic "Mexico City" style mexican dinner, so yummy!

Arizona University entrance...

On Saturday we booked it to the Desert Museum as we only had a few hours till the afternoon wedding. This museum was Winnie's first one and she slept through the entire thing! Tom & I laughed so hard on Friday & Saturday when we saw our first field of cactus (saguaro)...it really is a sight to see! We couldn't believe that the grow on a mountain like trees and are some interesting shapes.

An odd one at Arizona Univ in front of Old Main...

Our drive up to the desert museum...
Some interesting facts on saguaro (cactus) that we learned...

1. they can live to be 200 years old (the little ones are about 10 years old)

2. they are made up of 90% water

3. during the rainy season their creases are spread apart and during the summer they are squeezed together like a sponge

4. woodpeckers make holes in them for a nest and the saguaro creates a "boot" which protects it from the hole

5. after the woodpecker leaves another bird will move into the "boot"

6. when it dies it leaves behinds the ribs (looks like wood)

7. the state regulates the buy/sell of them

8. before land is cleared for a home/building/road its advertised so people can come take the plants for their own homes

Does this look fuzzy to you?... Its not...

After all that sight-seeing, we high-tailed it back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a wedding. David & Sara looked so happy!! This was Winnie's first wedding and she loved dancing the night away (just like her mom).

On Sunday we started our trek back home...Winnie couldn't wait to sleep in her own bed again. During the trip she really started to like her pacifier and cuddling with her lovie. Here she is relaxing in the Atlanta airport waiting for our last flight home.