One year ago today...

It was exactly one year ago today that John and I received the BEST NEWS EVER! After 5 years, we found out that I was pregnant. I can't believe it's been a year...Logan is such a blessing. :)

Leaving AZ on V-day!

Saturday the 14th (Valentine's Day) we left Arizona.  And for the record, yes, it was warming up to 70 degrees in AZ and cooling back down to 25 degrees in IL...just in time for our return - lovely how things work out, isn't it?

It was one year ago today that I had my 2nd IVF procedure 'transfer'...the one that worked and brought us our miracle-baby, Logan.  So while some people take this day to celebrate their love for their significant other, we felt extra special to celebrate this day with our son...he just brings such joy to our lives and it still feels so surreal that he is here - we just waited so long, but now it just feels so right.

Here are some pics on our trip home.  He was awake during take-off, fell asleep immediately after and woke up right after the landing....slept the whole time and received more compliments from passengers nearby.  What a sweetie!  I only pray that he continues to be this excellent on flights in years to come.  ;)

All dressed in red & ready for to get back home...

It most certainly was a great day for flying.  ;)

Grandma Battermann bought Logan his red shirt & Valentine's Day bib...

On the plane, checking out his toys above...

Logan's ready for takeoff!

Exiting the plane runway....

Back in Chicago...at Baggage Claim.  Then end of our 1st family vacation!  We can't wait for more!

Sedona

Alas, on Friday, we went to Sedona.  We hear that if we hadn't been there, we should take the two and a half hour journey.  It was really beautiful.  On the drive there, we had a very pretty drive (unlike anything you'd see in IL with the plain, flat land and all...) of mountains surrounding us.  We thought the drive was nice...but then we saw the pretty red mountains/rocks and color really does add spice to a mountain-top!  The drive back was nice...but now those mountains just weren't the same (but again - still better than the landscaping of Chicago).  :)

On the way to Sedona, we also heard that we should stop at a Hilton Hotel's restaurant called "A Different Pointe of View" and we did.  It is a hotel on top of a mountain and has a really beautiful view of Phoenix.

Then we finished our journey to Sedona.  It had snowed a few days prior (4 inches) so we gave it until our last day to melt..and it did.  It was about 10 degrees cooler in Sedona...a chilly 52 degrees...so we all bundled up a bit and stopped at a few 'site pull-off areas' to walk around a bit and stare at the pretty mountains.  Here are a few pics:

Our family pic in front of Bell Mountain.

I tickled him then pulled back - but then the sun got in his eyes...ah well.

Cute little smile.  :)

BYE SEDONA!  :)

Hanging by the Pool

Wednesday was 60, but a little cloudy.  John, Logan and I hung by the pool.  This day, Logan just slept in his carseat/stroller.

Thursday was a little warmer and much sunnier.  Logan was sleeping....then he woke up and we took a dip in the pool (the pool was heated, by the by).  We also dunked under the water....he did really well - didn't cry at all...or even whimper.  Because it wasn't the warmest, we only stayed in the pool for about 5 minutes....then quickly wrapped him in several towels and dressed him back up in his cozy clothes.

What a good little swimmer...

Dressed and flying high with John...

Then here he is standing against my legs...his legs are super strong!

Aw, look at that lip...

The Museum

Tuesday, we went to the Phoenix Museum of Natural History.  Logan was sleeping when we arrived.  I quickly learned that museums are kinda boring (sorry for any history buffs out there).......unless you have a baby to pose by fossils and such.  So I made an executive decision and woke Logan up...then the museum became fun (and he remained quiet and attentive)....willing to pose for anything.  :)  What a good baby...and what a silly mother he has!

A picture before we took him out....notice how boring the picture is...

Haha...they had one really interesting exhibit...all about Poop!

Logan sitting on a fossil... (the pictures are cuter this way, aren't they?)

Logan in a dinosaur foot print...

Mommy & Me Dinosaur...with Logan & I

Logan touching his first fossil...ooh, interesting...

Logan walking out of a cave...

Logan and I by a large face statue-dude...

Oh, no!  Logan's in jail...

Logan is just chillin on the wagon...

This was fun and cool...who is that on the bottom of the tv screen??

Here we are 'behind the scenes' of his first tv appearance...

And our family picture on 'tv'...

Then we panned for gold....and got 5 gold flecks! ooh, la la!!!

John and Logan by the Mars Rover...

And by a huge dinosaur...

It looks like the dino-mouth behind him is going to eat them!

Phoenix Zoo

Last Monday while in Phoenix, we decided to go to the zoo.  But, oh man, was it chilly.  It was high 50's.  We got our tickets and the lady said 'oh you braved the weather to come out'.  Yeah well we wanted to do something and laying by the pool was out of the question and we found out that in Phoenix many things are closed on Mondays.  It is weird since pretty much everything in Chicago is almost always open.  Since it was chilly we didn't take Logan out of the stroller to pose for pictures.

The animals were cold too - cuz they didn't do much.  Some highlights of our trip to the zoo:

There are trails that aren't paved that go into different parts of the zoo - so that was pretty cool.  The zoo's in Chicago are laid out so symmetrically - Phoenix offered a bit 'off roading'.

Two water muskrats played tug-of-war with a dead squirrel.  Another visitor told one of the zoo keepers about it so they could remove it.  Could you imagine if it was a busy day and kids saw that!?!?!  John, on the other hand thought it was cool and took a video - I will spare you.

A lion was basking in the sun...on his back...with his legs open....he was definitely a 'he'. Eeewww!

Their petting zoo was neat - we didn't pet anything, but we got a cow to say 'Mooo' on video - so that was good fun.

And the biggest highlight of our trip was John & Logan vs. Tom the Turkey in a foot race.  It was close, but Tom the Turkey won.  (Video is Below)

The Giraffe probably provided the most entertainment - eating.

Logan's first picture with a cactus.

John & Logan enjoying a nice view...

Haha...this is hilarious.  So we were coming down one of the trails and this 'statue' was around a corner of a half-wall.  John at first didn't know it was fake and he was so startled by it.  So here is the picture of John & Logan with the statue that scared John.

Logan & I admiring each other....by the flamingoes.

Logan on  Bear Watch.  ( There was a bear in the background, but he moved right as I took the picture.)

Just a cute picture.

Logan and Tom the Turkey (before the race)

And the race video you've all been dying to see....