body worlds 3

last night we went to the body worlds 3 exhibit at the az science center. it is $16/person if you go after 5pm and it's going to be open 24 hours a day this last weekend (www.azscience.org). if you pay with a chase credit card, you get $3 off (learned that after my mom bought 5 tickets and jason went to buy just one more, bummer). anyway... you weren't allowed to take cameras in; i was hoping to get some pictures, but i understand. this exhibit was neat. i thought i'd get grossed out, but it almost doesn't seem real. they use real bodies, but the plastenation process makes them look more like plastic. so to me, it was much less "gross" than cadavers or anything of that nature. it was fascinating to see what we look like inside, to see how big our organs are relative to each other, to see what different cancers and tumors look like and most of all, how absolutely AMAZING our bodies are. WOW! it was great. my two favorite things were: 1. seeing a uterus (wow, to think it goes from the size of the one on display, about 2-3", to be able to hold an 8lb baby) & 2. the fetus exhibit. this one got me teary-eyed. they showed babies from about 5 weeks to 33 weeks. at about 21 weeks, they start looking like little babies, so it was fascinating, but the 8 week stage was unbelievable. the amount of detail on those tiny little unborn children. in fetal position, they are less than an inch long, but you can see fingers, toes, a nose, little eyes, everything. that is how big clara was the first time we saw her on an ultrasound and as the dr. pushed on my belly, she kicked her tiny little leg up. in all the wonder, i had to ask myself, how can people say they aren't alive? i will argue until i die that from conception, a little life, a little miracle has begun. after that exhibit, we played around a bit. here is my friend that came with us, nylene (also the one who painted clara's room while i was at work, sewed her bedding and was the head honcho of organizing my shower... let's just say she's rad). she lifted 1/4 her body weight and i did 1/6... but i still think it was harder for me. :)wow, 5 months old and clara can already stick her tongue out at the camera and say "plppppt"

clara has, up until this point, pretty much enjoyed the car... well, she screamed all the way home from phoenix. so when we got home, i hurried and fed her. when she is all fed and overly tired, she gets WAY hyper and giggly. so, i just had to take some pictures of her. the only problem with this is it makes it harder to put such a sweet baby to sleep. :)