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!

Splendid Birthday to Miles!

We have a two year old! Though, it's felt like we've had a two-year-old for quite some time now (The tantrums have ARRIVED). Nevertheless, Miles officially turned two on Friday and we've stretched out his birthday celebration over the whole weekend, beginning with a candle in his cake at breakfast in Lancaster, then continuing with this Saturday family party yesterday:

Here he is playing with his beloved 'rain, a gift from great-grandma Dorothy.

And here is the CAKE! Brought to you by Grandpa Jim and Morai.

He was WAY more excited about the cars than about the cake.

But he obliged us by blowing out his candle...

And consuming a bit of cake, when we could distract him from Elmo and Ernie.

Time for Grandpa Jim and Morai's Big Gift! What is it??

It's a BOX! Just what every toddler wants!


Haha! I got a cave, a spaceship,

and a costume!

No, wait... the real gift is finally assembled! It's a TRIKE!!!

The pedaling is happening, but not to a degree that he can effect forward motion. We'll get there!

In the meantime, there's a nifty handle. This will improve the quality of some of our walks!

Two and ready for anything! Go get 'em, baby!