For Meredith's 1st birthday we took a family trip to the Zoo.
Oooh . . . would it be hot? Would it be stinky? Would it be hairy? We didn't know . . .
The first thing we noticed as we walked in, was thousand of tiny red ants all over the place. Of course we picked up Meredith and the stroller trying to make sure that they could not get to her - in fear that she would be bitten. Well, thankfully the zoo had signs up telling us about the ants. It turns out that they are Crazy Caribbean Ants. They are very active (like on speed), they are red, but they are completely harmless. On we go...
The elephants were a big hit. There were two visible when we got to their habitat. One of them was eating and the other was throwing mud on itself. They made Meredith happy.
After the elephants we stopped at the bat habitat. They had just gotten fed and all I can really say is "YIKES". They are this interesting mix of creepy and cool. Oh, man. I would not want to run into one on a dark night.
This guy was just toooooo cute. Was he sad? Tired? Was he just looking at the weird people on the other side and wondering what we were doing. We will never know.
After this dude we got to see a very docile gorilla. He was even cuter. He sat down and looked cool and calm. But he was sitting where he could keep an eye on both display areas and he would look from side to side - keeping an eye all of us. Personally I think that he would have been ready to strike at any danger. Amazing.
Strolling through the Zoo with Daddy was lots of fun. Whenever, she had a chance to run or stroll around the zoo she took it. The different floor textures, the different sites kept her going all day.
One thing I realized, which I don't think I have ever really noticed before is how many UGLY animals there are. We saw some ugly birds - many ugly birds. Then there was this enormous toad, bigger then my head, with warts and yucky looking skin. And from everything I read the uglier they were the better it was for them during mating season. Go figure.
Brushing the goats was a very good and different experience, but man was it stiky.
Our family trip to the ZOO was a great success. It was not too hot. It did not rain. Mostly, it did not stink. Meredith was involved and interested all day. By two O'clock she was done and fell asleep in her stroller in the middle of the ZOO - which is unusual for Meredith. We got to see some great animals and be together. TWO THUMBS UP!
