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| So, you wanna hear how Momma let this happen? |
Today, we decided to go to the zoo… without the stroller. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but several moms have told me lately about their toddlers love to run around at the zoo, and I thought it sounded like a good idea for this beautiful Friday. We really haven't done much this week since A) I've been feeling fatigued and lightheaded - little brother's doing - and B) our friends/partners-in-all-mischief have been out of town on vacation. So, its Friday, Benjamin woke up early, it was in the low-80's … let's try this "running around the zoo" thing!
And actually, it turned out to be a great time! It wasn't very crowded, the weather was beautiful, and after a heart-to-heart in the car about being obedient and holding mommy's hand, Benjamin did great!
I wish I had some pictures, but since I was by myself … wait, strike that. Since it was just me, the toddler, the baby belly, the drinks, the snacks, the sunscreen, the sunhat, the emergency pack of Epi-pens and Benadryl, and the cell phone … I decided against trying to juggle the camera as well.
But anyway, Benjamin did great. He was excited to see each new animal, would ask, "Up? Up? See? See?" whenever he couldn't see over the railings, and when he was ready to move on, would offer a big wave and a hearty, "Bye-bye [fill in animal's name]" Anytime an animal was sleeping - or, let's face it, just lying down with their eyes closed in an effort to ignore all the obnoxious onlookers - he would wave and say "Night night!" His favorite animals were the tigers and the monkeys, both of which he could have watched for hours.
Little Man also did really well on knowing the names of animals he's familiar with (cow, bear, bird) and trying to pronounce the names of animals he didn't. And whenever he didn't know or couldn't pronounce the name of the animal he question, he just called it a bear!
Benjamin's Guide to Zoo Animals:
Peggy = Penguin
Tot-tee = Peacock
Yeah-poh = Leopard
Yai-yo = Lion
EE-goo = Eagle
But my two favorite moments were these…
Benjamin was so excited to see the penguins; he ran so bravely right up to the glass where you can watch them swimming. Unfortunately, as soon as he got there, one of the penguins jumped into the water right in front of his face. He didn't realize the glass was there at first and got terribly freaked out, letting out this howl of horror and running back to me with arms and legs shaking and eyes as big as saucers. Pitiful, yet hilarious!
When looking at the Miniature Mediterranean Donkey, I mistakenly called it a goat. And really, give me a break here, I always get those two confused, and what mother has time - what with all the juggling previously mentioned - to pay attention to every informational sign at the zoo? And really, does Benjamin care whether it's a donkey or a goat? I think not. But the 90-year-old grandmother with a walker who was standing next to us, turned around and literally snorted! I mean, out right scoffed at my ignorance and remarked to the zoo employee who was accompanying her, "That girl just called it a goat!" (italics don't adequately communicate the disdain in her voice). Well, I couldn't quite believe my eyes and ears, but not to be outdone, I spoke up and asked the zoo staffer, "Well, what it is then?" And i'm glad to tell you that I was set straight - that it was, in fact, a Miniature Mediterranean Donkey named Tinkerbell (or something like that - it was cutesy little name that started with a T) and her daughter, some-other-cute-not-donkey-sounding-name, was in the enclosure with her.
So the moral of that one is that I guess I have a long way to go before I can be a homeschool mom, like perhaps knowing the difference between goats and donkeys. Pitiful, yet hilarious.
And so, after ending on a high note with the monkeys, we headed out to the car. Benjamin had been walking the whole time and being so good. Then, literally ten steps from the car, he took a major tumble and scraped his knee. Cue the monster tears and sobbing "Knee! Boo-boo!" At which point I realized that, though my emergency kit is stocked for any kind of allergic emergency, I have nary a band-aid anywhere. Looks like Momma needs to up her preparedness factor.
Thus the picture that started out this rambling story of a post.
Have a great weekend, yall!
