Goodbye Chester, We Love You So Much

Yesterday, on February 18th, Amanda's beloved dog Chester passed away. Although he'd been taking on some rather endearing geriatric traits lately (a slower gait, trouble climbing onto the couch, etc), the end was much too fast.



Chester was hands down the best dog I ever knew.



He was loyal and trusting and gentle, he always wanted to be close to everybody. And I mean really close. Like under-your-feet-constantly close.



I know a lot of people think their pets are their perfect match, but Chester was destined to be Amanda's dog. He chose her himself, not the other way around.



When Amanda was working in the desert on The Hulk, this dog kept circling around but it took him awhile to get the courage to get near people - probably because he had recently been shot.



When he finally did come in, he came to Amanda's side and then never left it again.



Chester was the first one who knew about Veronica.



He knew before even Amanda knew.



He kept nuzzling Amanda in the belly, staying even closer to her than usual (which is saying a lot; as I mentioned, that big dog could stick to you like velcro). So when she discovered she was growing little V, it all made sense.



And although there was a little adjustment period, I don't think a dog has ever loved a little baby more than Chester loved Veronica.



From the day she came home, he was patient and gentle with her.



Always nearby to keep her safe, and to keep her warm.



Veronica tweaked his ears and pushed his tummy and pulled his hair, but Chester always stayed calm and his name was one of the first she learned.



They were good buddies, because Chester was family. Chester was her brother.



Understandably, little V is hurting over Chester's loss, too.



I wish this was a lesson she never had to learn, but I guess that's the way of the world. Amanda says she has been crying since it happened, saying "Chester come back".



I hope her heart feels better soon.



I hope everyone's hearts feel better soon. Chester took up a lot of space in those hearts; that void is cavernous.



A world without Chester is a little colder. A little less snuggly.



He was the consummate gentleman, a listener of woes. He was an emotional litmus, and always reacted the right way.



Chester was docile enough to be playful, and let you do obnoxious things like put baby shoes on him...



Or dress him up like a reindeer...



Humiliating. But he'd always take one for the team that way.



I'm glad that after what certainly seems like a hard beginning in life, that Chester ended up in a family where he was so loved, so taken care of, so comfortable.



The room at Team Gore HQ will seem woefully off balance without Chester holding down the center, but I know to my core that he got into puppy heaven quicker than almost any other puppy ever. (Except maybe one of those dogs that dial 911, but that's it.)



So goodbye, Chester. You were sweet and patient and loving and loyal, and we were lucky to have you and will miss you so much.

Good boy. You're a good boy.
Drea

Disneyland with Her Homegirls

There's actually a couple different events to put up in this post, but I LOVE the pictures of V and her buddies at Disneyland because they're all precious like collectible dolls. (But don't collect them, though, because ew.) Veronica's already been to Disneyland like 50 times or something ridiculous, so she is a master at selecting rides.



Look at them big pimpin' in that Dumbo! (No, we don't tell her what big pimpin' means...)



Staring into the dark depths of her future. Nah, it's just a tunnel!



With Mary Poppins! Veevs effing LOVES Lady Pop, she watches it all the time. And it's weird enough that a 2 year old can watch a movie all the way through, but her affinity to old school musicals generally makes it worth it.



Let those blocks be a clear indicator just how gigantor the Disneyland tree is. Yowza.



Now the pics get nice and random. Here's Veronica with her first Happy Meal, which activates her American citizenship. (I don't know if you knew that. Truth.)



This is how Ama dressed her for the Hollywood Christmas Parade. She looks thrilled. aha. AHAHAHAHAAHA.



Veronica loves to help her Dadops with morning chores. For real.



I'm pretty sure that a) this was her christmas list and b) she got every effing thing she put on that list.



Here's V with her old lady and her buddy Nico.



She taught herself how to swing!



It's so much more like flying this way!
Drea

San Diego Zoo

If you're wondering if Veronica has been to more places and done more cool things by age two than you have in your whole life - you're right. She has. Sorry, sucker.



This is her, befriending a big ape. So sweet, that girl.



This is her, befriending the photo of a lion cub on a vending machine. So confused, that girl. (She chose this photo location, for the record.)



Here she is, possibly thinking she's in a cage. Again: confused. But soooooo cute. (Which is what really matters.) Now: more video!



Cute! And confused!



All good outings should end like this, I think.

Now, in a similarly themed but separate trip to the wild animal park...



Veronica asks to have her picture taken in front of an ATM. (Fine, it was probably the gorilla that enticed her but oh my god my money is not going on her being an art director. Which is okay because she needs to concentrates on pageants, anyway.)



Maybe her pageant talent could be animal wrangling?



I loooooove this picture. And so I end on it.
Drea

Huntington Gardens Members Day

I need to do some catch up posts with pictures of V before the mom brigade (i.e. Elaine and Gidget) start sending me death threats. Settle down, women!

These pics (and video!) are from Veronica's fun time at the Huntington Gardens.



Look at that saucy little thing! As V's Ama knows, I'm partial to a Scottish tartan, and this is a nice approximation. (To be honest, I prefer mine on a pirate Highlander, but whatever.)



This was her first snowman cookie. ALLEGEDLY.



And this was her first sugar rush from a snowman cookie.



Once they wrangled her down, they made her sit on Santa. Eh. Could be worse. Now: moving picture of Veronica being chased around a tree by Auntie!



Giggles and giggles!
Drea

DJ Lance Rock & Other Funtimes

The highlight of Veronica's year (and the rest of Team Gore, I'm sure) was the live Yo Gabba Gabba show... and because Veronica has charmed Dreas of all shapes and sizes, she even got to go backstage.



That's right, that's DJ LANCE ROCK, y'all. In the flesh! Carrying around our girl!



Veronica, of course, was nonplussed. Ain't no thang to her, she's been rocking those shades for months.



Something she can get excited about? Avocado sushi. Girl after my own heart. Also bringing on the total Amanda-style manic grins (and she does this a lot, she is one happy little beast)...



Friends & forts...



Dorky glasses & big eyebrows...



And being turned into a bunny at Alabama's awesome birthday party!



She's also capable of more pensive looks, which is fitting considering her ever growing vocabulary (and her even newer ability to process and respond to in-depth questions). Here she is pondering the meaning of life and the origin of species while staring out a train window (she hearts trains big time).



And here she is questioning gender roles and the continued existence of the glass ceiling while enjoying a lollipop. Oh, and she gets a new one of these sweaters every year as they are our favorite (and hers).



Fear not, all of that conjecture and philosophizing doesn't slow down her social skills! V loves an outing and being around the big kids, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade was a perfect place for that.



Um, this hat kills me and needs no funny-funny caption. SO EFFING CUTE.



Independence, big words, alone time, cognitive & rational thought... whatever. At the end of the day, she's still our favorite baby. COME ON! Look at this girl! Sigh 4-evah.

Drea