SEATTLE!!!

Well I am finally getting around to posting about our amazing trip to Seattle.  Things have been so busy since we got home and I am just now getting a chance to blog.  I'm sure this will take me several weeks to get everything posted, but here's to starting, right?!?!
First, a little background info about why we were all headed to Seattle!  We had a wonderful opportunity to participate in research that is being done about the duplication that we carry.  Simons VIP Foundation is funding a study on 16p11.2 duplications and deletions.  We were actually the second family to participate so I was really excited!  We went to Seattle for three days of tests and evaluations.  Gran and Gramp went with us too because they wanted to ask them questions about Mommy (since I carry this duplication) and also they were not sure at this point if either of them carried the duplication or not.  We were still awaiting those results!
We left beautiful 70 degree weather in Jackson, MS for cool, rainy 40 degree weather in Seattle!  You were so excited to be going on a trip with Gran and Gramp on an airplane!!!  I was a little lot worried about the long airplane ride, but you did great!  You watched Barney, climbed between me and Gran and ate lots of snacks.  Up until our Seattle trip you were doing great in big girl panties, but things went downhill during this trip and this is mostly mommy's fault.  I put panties on you to go to the airport and by the time we got there, got checked in and through security, you were wet!  Not such a great start with the big girl panties on the trip so I put a pull up on you before we even got on the plane.  And pull ups it was for the entire trip.  I was not up to potty training on this trip!!! We will pick that back up soon, I hope!  Here are a few pictures Mommy took on our way to Seattle!

We got to Seattle about 2:00 in the afternoon (Seattle time) and decided to walk to an outdoor mall that was close to our hotel.  We shopped for a while and then ate dinner at a restaurant at the mall.  These are just a few pics I took at the mall.  You had so much fun throwing money into the fountain!

 After dinner, we went back to the hotel because we were all so tired because of the time change.  I decided to let you swim for a little while because I was trying to keep you awake so that you wouldn't be up at the crack of dawn!!!  And you saw the pool as soon as we got to the hotel and wanted to swim so bad.  You tried to take your clothes off in the lobby!!! :)  Daddy put his swimsuit on to go with you and he said the water was freezing.  You didn't mind too much!  You just wanted to swim.  Of course Oso had to go with you swimming!!!

 Love that happy face!!!

You are still very much a water baby!!!

Day Two

You were up bright and early (4:45) Monday morning.  I knew you would be.  I don't know why I even tried to keep you up late.  Daddy took you down to breakfast with Gramp while I got ready.  Then we all went to breakfast again!!!   The hotel had a great breakfast!  There were waffles, eggs, sausage, bagels, cereal, fruit.  You ate a waffle that Daddy made you and then several oranges every morning!  Here you and Gran are playing a game on her I phone waiting on Sean to pick us up to take us to the University of Washington Child Development Clinic.

We got to the University and met everybody and then immediately got started with the testing.  This was a long day for everybody, especially Mommy!  I had to have the most tests and the most interviews.  I was not with you most of the day and this was really hard on you (and Mama!)  Not to mention you were so tired from traveling.  This probably wasn't the best day for either of us!  You got to go with Dr. Beau most of the day and Mama was with Dr. Ari.  We met for lunch and you were so tired that you fell asleep in my arms while you were eating.  This never happens!  You LOVE to eat!  I didn't get a lot of pictures from this day because I was in interviews all day, but these are a few I took before we got started!!!

Here you are looking at one of your blog books.  I brought them all for several reasons.  I thought the Simons VIP team would like to see you over the years, I thought I may need them to answer some questions about you, and you love to look at them so they are great to keep you occupied!!!

Here you are with Ms. Julia.  Julia helped Mama getting everything organized and ready for the trip.  We were so excited to meet her!

After lunch, Gran and Gramp took you back to the hotel for a nap, I stayed for more interviews, and Daddy walked all over the city trying to get you some medicine for an ear infection!  When I got back to the hotel, we all went to dinner. 

 Singing "Found a Peanut" with Gran at the restaurant!!!

 After dinner, we had to wait a little while on the shuttle to pick us up so we went outside.  It started raining and was freezing cold so we danced to stay warm!!!

Dancing in the streets of Seattle!!!

It was a long and exhausting day so I was so glad to get back to the room and go to sleep!  We all crashed for the night.

Day Three

We started the day off bright and early again!  This time at 5:00 am (7:00 am our time), you popped your head up!!!  We all went down for breakfast and waited for Sean to pick us up.  Today wasn't going to be as long or stressful (so I thought!!!)  We started off all together getting pictures taken of our face, feet and hands and getting weighed!!!  You were a trooper through all of this because you got to stay with me!!! 

After the pics, I had to head to the hospital for an MRI and you went with Gran and Gramp while they had their blood drawn.  Daddy went with me and waited while I was in the MRI.  They brought you over to the hospital to see if you would do an MRI after mine.  I thought since we are here, we might as well try.  All of this playing below went on in the waiting room while I was having my MRI!!!  Love these pictures of you and Dr. Ari and Jenn playing!!!

 So after my MRI, I came out to get you.   I didn't think it was that bad so I thought just maybe with me by your side, you would do it.  So we got you ready.  I promised you a trip to ride the carousel that afternoon if you would lay still.  We both put on our headphones.  We showed you the big tunnel you were going to go in and watch Clifford.  You would nod your head and say you were ready, but then when we would lay you down to put your head in the helmet, you would let us have it!!!  So Mama went in the little bitty tunnel with you!!!  This was an experience to say the least!  I sang at the top of my lungs trying to sing over the noise and trying to keep you calm and still.  You weren't scared with me in their with you, but you WOULD NOT STAY STILL!!!  I feel so sorry for Dr. Ari, Sean and the MRI tech having to listen to the Peanut Song, the Wheels on the Bus, the Itsy Bitsy Spider and many, many more!!!  They were all laughing so hard when we came out!  They said that was definitely a first - an adult getting in the MRI with a child!!!  They gave us an "A+" for effort!!!  They said that hopefully they got one picture of your brain that they could use!!!  After the MRI we headed to the carousel as promised!!!!

After your promised carouse rides, we went to the infamous Pike Place Market.  This was a hike up hill!  Look at this nice set of stairs we got to climb!  You had it made on your Daddy's shoulders!  Gran and I struggled!!!

But the view once we got up the stairs was worth it!  GORGEOUS!  And of course it was a photo opp!

We finally made it to Pike Place and had a picture on the famous "Golden Pig" which you weren't too enthused about!!!

We saw this clown making balloon hats as we were going in and you had to have one!!!

Pike Place Market was just like I expected!  We did get to see the guys throwing fish and yelling prices.  You also got to see this little fish that scared you just a little bit.  The guy behind the counter would make it move in the ice and you were not too sure about it!  Of course, Daddy, Mama, Gran and Gramp thought it was hilarious!!!

After Pike Place, we rode the monorail to the Space Needle for dinner!

Dinner at the Space Needle was definitely not the best dinner we had while in Seattle, but the view was amazing!

After dinner we were all so tired especially Daddy and Gramp, but Gran and I made them go up to the outside deck to look around.  We took a few pictures and left. 

 I guess you and Daddy were too enamored with the view to look at the camera!!!

And just look how happy your Gramp is to be on top of the Space Needle!!!  He was so worried that we were going to miss our ride back to the hotel!  He had us running down the streets of Seattle after a bus!!!

Day Four!

Day Four began with all smiles!!!  Gran and Gramp left earlier this morning so it was just you and Mama and Daddy today!!!

This was the cute little children's area in the Child Development Clinic where we waited each day! 

 This day was just a day of goodbyes and thank you's to the Simon's VIP team.  And oh yeah, the blood draw!  You were a TROOPER for the blood draw!  They had to stick you three times and you never cried!  You sat so still and we could not have asked for anything more!  Sean and Jenn were so impressed and Mama was so proud of you!!! 
Saying goodbye to everybody!!!

After we said goodbye, we went to the Seattle Zoo!  You were so excited to see the monkeys!  And guess what we saw as soon as we got out of the van, MONKEYS!!!!

Our first stop once inside the zoo was for lunch!  We were all so hungry.  And then after lunch, you enjoyed some cotton candy!!!

We saw penguins, lions, tigers, bears, otters, giraffes, hippos, deer, birds, monkeys, and so many more animals!  But I do believe you liked the cotton candy and the carousel best!!!

At each animal exhibit, there were statues of the animal and you loved these statues as much as seeing the real animal!!!

Inside this little hole were baby otters sleeping.  You could have stood there all day and watched them.  You LOVED them! In the exhibit right next to them were two huge black bears that were jumping in and out of the water and you didn't care a thing about them, you just wanted to watch the baby otters!!!

Another exciting thing for all of us at the zoo were the birds.  We went in the bird sanctuary.  There was a nice little note on the door before we went in to stay quiet and not disturb the birds.  Well you proceeded to grab one by the tail and it was shrieking and you were yelling with excitement.  Everybody was hysterically laughing and I was thinking "oh my goodness, we are about to get kicked out of the zoo."  You would not let go of that bird's tail and feathers were flying everywhere!!!  This picture was taken right before you grabbed it!

Another highlight at the zoo was this 50 year old monkey.  She just wanted to stay covered up with the burlap so it took you forever to finally spot her.  I think you just thought it was a big blob, but she moved her head and opened her eyes and you got so excited!  You did not want to leave!  I took this picture right when you realized there was a monkey under that burlap!!!

The zoo wore you out!  Not to mention, we had had a long three days!!!  You took an hour nap in my lap while we were there!!!

After your nap, you were all smiles and ready to see more of the zoo!!!

After the zoo, we went to the outdoor mall by the hotel again.  We walked around and let you play on a little playground there.  While we were walking, you decided to throw Dotty down as hard as you could on the ground.  Well Dotty didn't survive!  She broke into many, many little pieces and YOU LOST IT!!!  Your sweet Daddy went to the drug store and bought some super glue and put Dotty back together again!

We were beyond exhausted by this point.  I think we were all about to have a major MELTDOWN especially your Mama!  We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and then went back to the hotel and crashed until our ride arrived at 10:30 to take us to the airport!!!  We had a red eye flight back home to Brandon!!!

This was a wonderful trip and we learned a lot!  I will be writing about all of that in another post!  I'm still trying to process everything and follow up with all of the suggestions that we were given!  We love you so much baby girl and are so thankful to be your parents!!!