At the Park with Owen

We went up to Baltimore to visit a friend a few weekends ago and took the kids to Patterson Park. It was an old favorite destination and I think Owen remembered his way around pretty quickly.

This was pretty much all I saw of him the whole time:

Shots of him, from behind, going full speed.

Baltimore Zoo - Maryland Nature and a Monsoon

The second loop of the zoo is Maryland nature.  It has a bog area, a wetlands exhibit, a cave with bats and spiders and snakes, turtles, a giant tree with a huge slide for the kids, and a farmlands area with a small petting zoo. 

It was a great way to end the trip and Owen, though content to bum a ride in the stroller for most of it, love the interactive sections - the bouncing walkways, the ducks, the chickens 

(he can make chicken noises now...after I made a fool of myself for approximately 7 minutes performing my best chicken impersonation).  

Here is one of the turtle exhibits.  I think Gina looks like an astronaut of the underground.  Anyway...I think the point is to get you up close and personal, eye level, with the turtles.  Not quite the thrill ride that I think they were going for.  Maybe if they moved the lions into this area...

What WAS thrilling is that Gina magically turned INTO a turtle.  Doesn't she look happy?  Alas...it was only temporary.

Just in case she switches again in the future - Owen got in some turtle wrangling practice.  It's similar to breaking a wild horse I hear.  Or bull riding.  He was a natural and even gave the beasty a kiss or two.

And finally - no, actually, this is a shot from the zoo here at home.  The alligators are ALWAYS escaping their enclosure.  I find this guy everywhere. 

It was a great trip - definitely worth repeating a few times a year.  The only snag was the gigantic thunderstorm (I'm talking lightening and monsoon rains for 1.5 hours straight) that left us all stranded in the women's bathroom.  So close to the gift shop but so far away.  

On the plus side it was entertaining to watch the teenage zoo employees scamper around 'trying' to stay dry in between tram drop offs.  And the hand dryer in the bathroom worked great on the stroller.  - See, there is always a bright side.

Baltimore Zoo - First stop, Africa!

The Zoo is broken up into three sections and once the tram drops you off the choices are: Polar Bears, African Adventure, or Maryland Nature.  We heard a rumor on the tram that the new baby elephant is only outside for a short period of the morning so we headed into Africa first.

We were greeted by vultures and an amazing display of dancing long-legged birds (sorry...I think I was distracting a 17-month old and didn't get their name).   A little walk down the boardwalk (perfect for corralling little people) brought us right up to these hulking dudes.

Lounging in the summer sun.  

Meanwhile, Gina had a stare down with an Ostrich.  Let's just say that she walked away while he was still unblinking.  Dominated!

The Zebras.

One of the coolest exhibits is the giraffe area.  At first we were locked on the elephants, about to pass the (seemingly) empty giraffe zone.  As we were charging down the hill we saw two staff members waiting by the boulders in the pen - one of them making a clicking noise.

Sure enough, we see the head of one gigantic giraffe appear over the hill at the far end.  It came lumbering slowly - but definitely on a mission for food.  

While the first giraffe was eating another caught wind and came on over to check out the grub.  Disappointed that it's turn hadn't come yet it wandered over to the observation area where we were standing...five feet away.  The zoo lets you pay to feed the giraffe a leafy branch - which we opted not to do - but also has a little zone for watching.  While you can't touch them it was still super close.  We watched both giraffes for quite awhile - they were just so cool.

And finally.  The elephants.  The male even trumpeted at some passing trucks.

And the baby was still out playing.  It came over to the closest area - about ten feet away - when it saw us watching.  Owen was super excited...maybe because all the women were talking in their super-high-pitched-squeaky-baby-voices.  Eh.

And wrapping up Africa, Gina rode the camel.  She's so brave.  

I was happy that all the animals (save the lions) were out and showed off for us (and there were so many others that just didn't make the blog cut).  Being from Africa (duh) I guess the heat didn't bother them as much as it does the humans.  

Tomorrow I'll wrap up the trip with the Maryland nature exhibit, Gina's startling transformation, and our dramatic exit.

The Baltimore Zoo

I was disappointed that we never got the chance to visit the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore while we lived so close.  We were preoccupied and Owen was perhaps a bit young to appreciate the animals.  But when my parents suggested the Zoo as a fun mid-way day trip I jumped at the chance.We had a great time.  

If you live close enough to drive and you have kids definitely consider it.  The zoo is the third oldest in the country but it is beautiful and modern.  There are quiet (ok...we did go on a weekday) trails winding through the forest and it seems like we were always turning the corner to find another amazing animal RIGHT THERE.   The first hour was filled with one of us exclaiming..."look at over there!"  

Owen was excited but I think the adults were the ones who had the most fun.

Here are a few shots of the day.  More will be posted during the week - my favorite is of the rhinos - so check back tomorrow.

I cropped my pasty legs out of this because, really, no one needs to see that.  Not even me.  The only party missing is Gina...who was taking the picture.  She'll appear later.  Trust me that you don't want to miss THOSE pictures.

We started off with some super friendly prairie dogs.  They were little charmers and certainly not afraid to show off for the camera.  We all watched this little one roll around to cool off in his dusty lounge for quite a bit before deciding to head to the larger game.

This is one of my favorites.  We didn't actually get to see the lions - who were indoors when we passed - but Owen probably thought this was good enough.

Cute mom.  On the tram to the 'actual' animal part.  We want the baby elephant!

There were some incredibly scenic areas.  So peaceful with the slight breeze  - it was easy to forget that we were in downtown Baltimore.

Tomorrow I'll post up the African Trek portion of our trip.  Rhinos and Giraffes(!!) and Elephants, oh my!

Moving On

We are all moved.  I mopped the kitchen floor one last time and we turned in the keys to our Baltimore habitation.  

It wasn't too sad.  I had said my goodbyes and, honestly, was a bit too tired to feel much other than relief that it was over.   (And a sense of extreme gratitude to the angelic individuals that helped us out.  We wouldn't have made it without them.)

Now to unpack and find my life.  I'm sure I put it in a box somewhere...

Later I have some pictures Gina and I took on a final walk around the area.  A few of our favorite spots.  AND some pictures of our new home...for all the family out there wondering.  It's superb.

Charm City

Oh, leaving.  

While I'm excited to start fresh somewhere it is so sad to have to say goodbye to Baltimore and our sweet little city spot.  I'll miss the awesome food that's only steps away.  The walks to parks, taking a different route each time.  All the dog walkers who are so kind and stop to let Owen admire their puppies.  Access to the fish and bubbles at the aquarium.  School (yikes...did I already say that!)  Close friends.  Awesome neighbors.  City life.

Owen was so tiny when we moved in.  It was almost exactly a year ago.  He was just 4.5 months when we first moved in.  I was worried about moving here, pretty sure that we'd get mugged.  But it's been wonderful - the perfect city experience and such a great place for Owen to experience all those amazing milestones.  Sitting up, first teeth, first food, walking, falling, first words, first birthday.  It has been a packed year.

We found a beautiful little place, just perfect for our little family, out in the shady suburbs.   It's the exact opposite of where we are now, quiet, semi-secluded, full of nature, suburban.  A great place for this next stage.  We'll be steps away from a swimming pool and a great playground with plenty of baby swings and very little competition for them!   We'll take walks through the forest and by the lake watching squirrels,  instead of down the city sidewalks counting trucks.  

And through it all God remains ever faithful.  This past year has exceeded any and all of our expectations.  I'm sure the next one will too.  So, as always, I expect the unexpected where God is involved and am never disappointed.

Hopefully I can throw together a little tribute week to Baltimore this week.

Check back for some of our favorite spots and memories.

Baltimore Spring

Patterson Park walk to work.  

Fishy, Fishy

Ever since we visited the Baltimore Aquarium when I was a child it has been a certain fascination for me.  I think everyone has those larger than life memories of places that amazed them when they were young.  It had probably been 15 or 20 years since I'd been but that didn't stop me from recommending it to friends as an awesome aquarium.  I remembered the blue columns of bubbles and the spiraling ramp that led you down through the coral reefs to the shark level.  

Given my small obsession - it's a little sad that it took us so long to visit once we moved to Baltimore.  I mean, we live about a mile away.  We can walk there.

To be fair - it is super expensive.  Taking the whole group of us gets close to $100.  

When Jon's dad,  Molly and little William came out in March we took advantage of their visit to buy a family membership.  It was like opening the floodgates.  I've taken Owen at least 4 times in the past month.  

But it's just such an awesome place to take a little toddler.  Some visits we've spent most of our time weaving in and out of the bubble tubes.  Or just visited the jellyfish.  Or took our time checking out the tiny shield shrimp.  It's perfect for short trips, exercise, and short attention spans.  

You can't tell - but these are GIANT fish.  They could probably eat Owen.

The jelly fish are awesome.  Did you know that jelly fish have no brain?

The bubble columns.  Yes.  Maybe the best part.

The only thing we have left to see is the dolphin show.  Gina, Owen, and I walked down yesterday just to see it but we got there after it was sold out.  But we managed to score some awesome spots at one of the underwater viewing stations and had a superb view of the underside of the show.  Which is still very cool. The dolphins are so big and it was amazing to see them propel themselves out of the water.  

If you're planning a visit to Baltimore - definitely include the aquarium.  But call us first so we can go too.  Although we might be there anyway.

Spicy Week: Exotic Destinations

Baltimore Maryland:  a short photo essay.

This is the view from school.  Facing south you can see the harbor, Butcher's Hill, Fells Point and a tiny bit of Canton. And you can almost see our house.  Most of the following pictures are taken around these neighborhood.

The Pagoda in Patterson Park is very art deco-ish and has great view of the city.

The local street art is pretty good.

The crab knocker is so appropriate.

The city is filled with old treasures like this.

Yay for bowling!

Pottery Mosaic WITH mirrors - yes!

Hope you enjoyed your tour!  Come visit for real - it's even better in person!