Playdate I

Here it is, the first of several posts about our epic trip to South Carolina last weekend! We were there in just five hours, of which Miles slept for about five minutes, preferring to spend his time gazing out the window looking at trucks or reading from the large stack of books we brought. We arrived Friday night and were put up very comfortably by Leah and Matthew.
What do you do in Columbia if you have a 20 month old? First stop: Riverbanks Zoo!!

As Miles would pronounce it, from right to left, are UhUhMamoo, eeeeeeeYAYA!! and Abeeeee!
He had missed his little friend!

The delight on his face here, however, are for another sight of his first favorite animal,

The Noble Goat.

This one is smiling. You see it, don't you?

These monkeys may well have been the favorite for their raucous howling. Video to follow.

Miles imitates the baboons expertly.

Abby pondering... the ineffable.

Miles looking aggressively at some lions. All this looking made us want to get a bit more involved, so in we stepped to the Lorikeet exhibit, thinking we'd have to bait and coax to tempt the birds to land on us, only to be immediately PELTED with birds! Here a bird clings to my hair a little closer to my eyes than I'd like, and Miles is appalled to learn that they are capable of nipping his curious fingers.

The panic subsided easily enough. Miles was so fascinated!

Family bird party.

Love the colors. Could do without the red eyes, though.

Taking a highly enjoyable trip on the merry-go-ground.

Boy did that thing SCOOT! We were flying!

Nothing like an array of huge exotic critters to astound kids.

This zoo is seriously awesome.

THISCLOSE to a giraffe!!

As there is only so much to accomplish before naptime, though, we had to make plans for zoo visit part two on Tuesday.

Bathtime is more fun with two.

Miles got live music performed nearly every night! He would nearly always jump on for a duet.
More adventures to follow!