Our Newest Addition :)

Okay, so everyone knows I wasn't pregnant, but we do have a new member of the Siebert clan here at our place. She's absolutely beautiful and friendly. She eats well, but has her days and nights mixed up ;). She loves to be held and to curl up in dark, cozy places. The kids all fight over being able to hold her or to be responsible for keeping her clean.

She's our newest pet: our sweet Corn Snake Zipporah

I know, I know...95% of you are saying we're NUTS and wondering why on earth we would ever choose to bring a snake into our home, but you don't know what you're missing if you don't own a corn snake!!

We first learned about these amazing reptiles when we went camping last week at MacGregor Point. We went to a reptile show on Thursday night and learned about corn snakes because the girl doing the show had 3 as pets that she brought along. She told us about how they were one of the easiest pets in the world to have because they only eat once a week and need very little else to live long and happy lives (around 20 years!). Our little sweetie is 2 years old.

When we got home we started researching corn snakes to find out all we could about how to care for them, how to choose a snake etc. We kept our eye on Kijiji and found an awesome deal on our little baby in Guelph Ontario. The family had to sell her because they are moving to Newfoundland in a few days. They were selling her along with her 50 gallon aquarium home, 2 caves, rocks, heat lamps and all we needed to house her for a great deal! We decided it was definitely worth the drive to Guelph. So on Tuesday this week we headed to Guelph to meet her, only telling the kids when we were about to leave.

She was even more beautiful in real life than in the picture we had seen in the ad. We are absolutely thrilled with her! Joel fed her Tuesday night ( a job I'm not real thrilled about at this time, but I'm sure I'll get used to it ). Yesterday she spent the day hiding in her cave and we weren't able to handle her. This morning we all got a chance to cuddle her and this evening we had another family snake time and played with her before the kids went to bed.

Seriously guys, she is the perfect pet! Until now we thought we could only own a Beta...who only needs to be fed once a week, doesn't have fur (which Joel and I are both allergic too), but now we have a pet we can hold, and play with, and watch. She's awesome!

I hope all you friends out there will give Zipporah a chance. I promise if you did you'd fall in love with her too! So here are the pictures, I saved them for the end so people wouldn't have to look at her if they didn't want to (that's one thing we're very strict on ...not FORCING anyone to look at her, or touch her etc).
Here's the family lovin Zipporah...isn't she gorgeous?!

Lryic and "Zippy" bonding on the couch this morning

I love the idea that my kids will grow up with a respect and admiration for these creatures that get such a bad rep. I'm not sure what all the church-goers that attend here are going to think of our new 'mascot' though ;)

And before you go thinking that I don't have the guts to touch her, here I am snuggling with my newest 'baby'. I'm amazed by the love I have for this little creature! Joel cut my head out of the picture, but it's me....really!

Mel