Goodbye Florida Hello Arizona

Greg, Nora, and I are settling into Scottsdale AZ. Greg is working at ASU, and I am hanging out with Nora until I start some part time work also at ASU. Here are some pics from before, during, and after our big trek out west.


Nora with the Whitfield Grandparents (Granny D and Grandpa) after a celebratory/goodbye dinner at Roys in Steinhatchee












Nora wants to help drive. Mom, Nora and I drove 2000 miles from Florida to Arizona. We spent one night in Beaumont, TX and one night in Fort Stockton, TX. We also stopped in San Antonio (to see the Alamo) and in El Paso. We spent most of the drive in Texas, but it was so beautiful and so desolate, I just wanted to stay there!!









One of our first things to do in AZ once we got here was go to the Phoenix Zoo. My favorite part was the baby orangatan that is almost the same age as Nora. Nora's favorite part was climbing on the rope like a monkey.










So far my three favorite things about living here are: (1) the Phoenix Zoo is right by where we live and we've been twice in one week; (2) Trader Joes (thanks Vanessa) and all the other great stores and restaurants by our house; (3) the beautiful scenery and sunsets.

My three least favorite things are: (1) the constant sensation that you're baking in an oven; (2) missing my family and friends, and (3) no big pine trees!

Nora is almost 9-months old and she is getting very big and very mobile. She can't officially crawl, but she is very good and getting up on her hands and knees and then going backwards, or else army-man scooting wherever she needs to go. She also sits cross-legged and bounces on her bottom to move, which is funny. She loves to stand and try to walk, but has no balance yet!