Just Another Day at the Zoo

Ray was very busy at work this holiday season. We all know busy is good but Turtle and I were still very happy when he said he could take the day after New Year's Day off and hang out. The weather was... well, it was awesome. I hesitate only b/c it's January and it's been 40 degrees on Monday and 80 degrees on Tuesday and generally nuts all 'winter.' It makes it hard to plan ahead and even harder for people to feel well. Most of our friends and people we know in town have had a touch (or more) of the funk since before Thanksgiving and the weather is the primary reason. Anyway, this day the weather was gorgeous and we decided outside was the place to be. The family headed to one of Mama and Turtle's favorite destinations- the fabulous Houston Zoo ( Link Here )

We pretty much always take the same route at the zoo- in the gate and start left. First stop is always Mercats, which Truitt has called "prairie dogs" ever since our Oklahoma trip. Immediately following mercats, we pass quickly by the cheetas and stop at giraffes. Truitt calls them "Raffs" and he has a toy one at home with a button on it's back. When you push the button, the giraffe's head goes down. Tru likes to put its head down in to his dinner plate and now always associates giraffes with eating. So, as soon as we see the ones at the zoo he will tell me "Mama, raffes eat."

I don't know exactly what brought this picture on, but it was the next one chronologically on the camera and i can't help but think his little scorned face is so cute. I can only imagine what trouble he was causing that he forced to stop and made him feel like his world was about to end. Ha!

From giraffes, we head to elephants. Elephants are one the animals that Truitt does not refer to by name, only by sound. When he sees an elephant, he makes a high pitched "aaaawwww" sounds and flails his arm up like a trunk. This day the elephants were way in the back of their pen and we could barely see them. We did notice the memorial to Mac for the 1st time. Mac was a baby elephant who passed away at the zoo this year. So sad. Story here

Clearly Truitt quickly got over whatever devastation had occurred and was just back to being his very cute self. He and Dada shared a laugh but never filled Mama in on the joke :)

The zoo is always a great place to go with friends, but even when we go solo we always see someone we know. This time we ran in to Truitt's first girlfriend (of many), Isabel, and her fabulous parents, Christine and Larry. Larry's father was in town visiting and they were out to enjoy the weather as well.

Isabel was being shy and extra shy when she saw the camera

While the dads chatted law junk, Truitt tried to abscond with the wagon

Past the elephants are the Okapis. For some strange reason, this was the 1st animal at the zoo whose name Truitt ever said and he also remembers what it is as soon as we walk up. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised because he remembers things like giraffes and monkeys as well, but I guess we have pictures of them at home and talk about other animals outside of the zoo. Okapis just never come up in out casual conversation.

Perhaps he likes the Okapi so much because it lives with a tortoise; when you're 2 it's just as much fun seeing the picture on the sign as it is seeing the real thing right behind you

Tru made a new friend at the Okapi pen, whose mother commented "Well, it's nice to see someone else who hasn't cut their boy's hair." LOL. They rambled on to each other in toddler-speak for quite some time. I always adore how they appear to understand each other.

In an unusual turn of events, Turtle actually wanted to walk with Mama and even hold my hand! Dada jumped behind the camera and captured this rarely seen Turtle behavior! He even stopped to give me a hug at the end!!

There are other sites we may see (lions and bears, for example) depending on time, but whenever time is short the monkeys are a big priority. The zoo has quite a few species and their habitat has a cool walkway and tree-house like viewing areas, perfect for a running toddler.

Truitt and Dada check out some monkeys, which Tru also refuses to call by name. Instead, he calls them "Ha-ha s."

I know it's cheesy and cliche, but it is amazing to watch a toddler absorb the world around him. We forget that what is mundane and everyday to us is new to them for quite a while. Even when they start to realize the everyday is everyday, they relish the routine and the knowledge of what comes next for them. It's pretty wonderful to be a part of!