It seemed like a Good Idea (and It was)

If taking a four-mile hike with a 2-year-old doesn't seem like a terrific idea, you're right, because it's not a good idea. It's a good practice, for all of us.

So, that's what we did this weekend. We ventured into the wilderness of Jefferson National Forest and hiked the Cascades Trail, near Pembroke, Virginia. It's two miles to the falls, and two miles back. The Lower Trail was more difficult, but it provided good views of Little Stony Creek, despite being narrow at points and very rocky. The pregnant one managed well, and she's rather heroic for it.

M did well, too. Just look at him, all happy to be on a walk outside.

And he was happy, too, to be on my shoulders. He was the lookout, since I was busy carrying him, so he knew to say "Papa! Bear!" or "Papa! Deer!" if he saw either of those. In the case of an elephant he knew to say "What?!"

So on we walked, looking at nice flowers and learning about a spiderweb, since we've been reading The Very Busy Spider a lot lately.

Finally, the falls!

And lunch, though the falls were more interesting.

And a trip to feel the cold water spraying us.

Lissa and Baby made it, too!

The trip back started with a climb up many steps, but it was all downhill afterward. It was a welcome relief, and not too difficult to walk the two miles back. As you can tell, we all survived.

And we might do it again...someday.

Muggle Born

This delightful shirt was given to me by my friends Melissa and Josh in celebration of our viewing of the very LAST Harry Potter film, together, as we have viewed so many important films in the past few years. I am so proud of my little Hufflepuff and we're awaiting his Hogwarts letter with great anticipation :-)

Here we are about to leave for the film!


Melissa, Josh, Jon and I were joined later that evening by our friend, Ann, and the geek-out lasted late, late into the night. It's a bittersweet time for hardcore fans. I'm fighting the urge right now to buy more tickets! We will never forget you, Harry!

Maryland Safari

Okay, get ready. This is a long one.

We left Rochester on Wednesday, feeling refreshed and satisfied, though sorry to leave. I love that city so much. Anyway, we realized we had few pictures of Miles with Morai and Grandpa Jim, so we snapped a couple while we were on our way out.

They're a photogenic bunch :-)


Miles knew a long road trip was commencing. He tried to look like a garden gnome, hoping we wouldn't spot him...

Didn't work.

However, he got to do some driveway steering, and that seemed to mollify him. (BTW, that is NOT me in early labor, there. I'm just... sore)

We couldn't wait a day: the very next morning after we arrived, Thursday, we went to the Baltimore Zoo to use our zoo pass. This zoo is so underrated! It's beautiful and has some really creative exhibits that let you get really close to animals, without feeling like they're cramped and restricted. Go if you can!

Yee haw!!

There's nothing like a penful of goats that can be freely touched. This toddler's dream just came true :-)



A whole pile of goats!! Just for me!!

Also, after climbing the inside of this tree and seeing the animals within... we get to slide down it? WHAT???

We totally sprang for some giraffe food.

I mean, look at that face!

The elephants were on parade. They have a baby African elephant and an excellent exhibit! You get REALLY close!

REALLY.

I just liked this bird. He looks pert.

After a long wait, the polar bear finally took a cooling dip. See my son's face in the reflection?

See it now? Entranced!!

I took this partly for the bear bootie, but partly for the PAWS. BUSINESS PAWS.

Miles is ecstatic when we'd linger by one of these fans. Sweet end to a really solid morning at the Maryland Zoo.

Our trip to the D.C. zoo on Saturday was hard to photograph. For starters, it was HOT. Also, it was CRAWLING with people, and it was hard to get close to the animals due to the park's design and the crowds. That does not mean that we didn't have an absolutely brilliant time. It just didn't end up being too photographable.

Aerial view of Asian elephant:

The great thing about the crowds, though, meant there were a lot of kids for Miles to frolic with during lunch:


We saw a lot of exotic animals that we weren't able to see in Baltimore: a gorgeous male lion, a tiger, gorillas, a panda, and orangutans. But Miles' clear favorite was

The meercat.

You can witness his delight below, if you want.


Naptime was a bit late after our epic D.C. trip. We all had some recovery to do.

Ooh, look, I don't look so huge under these conditions! I assure you, however... I AM huge. :-)

We're so grateful for the adventures this trip has afforded!

Summer Treats in Rochester

We are having one of the more delightfully mellow trips to Rochester that I can remember. We've been able to stay close to the city thanks to so much of my family coming to ME this time!
The result is, we've been able to take in the zoo, a family reunion (not pictured) and... well, first things first.
The Seneca Park Zoo is always a good time.

Miles wants to know what we're looking at here.
The sea lions, because of the viewing experience, were probably his favorite animal sighting of the day.

I can feel my blood pressure drop when I watch these guys swim around. They seem so deeply happy with their lives.

Miles was pretty enthusiastic about them.

We didn't mind the air conditioning in here, either.

Agape at the apes...

This orangutan's got an impressive chest, eh? He thinks so anyway.


Today we hopped up to Charlotte Beach. I don't really know why I didn't spend more time here growing up. I might have been *once* before. We just didn't do the North Side for some reason, but I loved it!

Miles was highly suspicious of sand as a sensory experience. This is how we got him into the water: him clinging to our legs, feet on our feet.

He got over it only gradually. Eventually he was convinced that the sand would not harm him.

Taking it in... this is pretty wild.

The water's allowed to go in my shorts??

I got to use my maternity suit. Woot.

Here's my beach boy!


Thanks for the swimming trunks, Benzendes!


Charlotte is a great bet for kids, despite a few shortcomings as a beach :-) Among the attractions is the antique carousel!

Organ still works!

Miles got to ride a cat, to his extreme delight. Note the fish in the mouth of his mount.

I like this next one because it looks like the lion is lunging at him.


Rochester, what else do you have up your sleeve? Wish I had time to find out!


He was enjoying himself, I promise!

We're all sleeping well on these active days. It really feels like summer, now!