Zoo

Brian and I took LT to the zoo again yesterday. I hadn't seen the monkey's yet with LT and so we decided to head to the primate exhibit. We were in it for about 1 1/2 hour and didn't even see everything! Wow, we had no idea. LT loved watching them swing from tree to tree!


LT watching the monkeys as they played in the trees. He also enjoyed watching two big white swans swim big circles in the moat around the monkey habitat.

Watching the gorillas.

More guerillas.


And of course, we had to push the stroller at the end!

Behind the scenes tour of the aquarium

A good family friend, Mike Dirks, works at the Denver Aquarium. After LT's fun adventures with Z at the aquarium last week, I e-mailed Mike to see if he had any coupons to the aquarium. He replied that he could not only get us in for free, he would give us a behind the scenes tour! Landon has no idea how lucky we are/were, but Brian and I learned a lot and I think LT had fun too.
Landon stretching his legs outside the aquarium while we waited for Mike.

Landon and dad in the control room. Mike is a marine biologist at the aquarium and is in charge of all the water purification systems, temperatures etc for both the salt and fresh water tanks.


Mike is showing us the different water exhibits from above. We are standing above a salt water tank. The aquarium allows scuba divers and so we were able to watch them from above.

Lan watching as one of the workers feeds the fish from above. Certain fish need private feeding sessions. It was interesting to watch her find the exact fish that needed extra food.

Landon listening intently to Mike.


We were able to go into a private room where different fish and sharks are bred, or kept separately for various reasons.


These were the baby sharks. You can see the white albino one!


After our private tour, we were able to enjoy the exhibits as regular visitors. The tiger came right up to us in the window!

LT checking out the big sharks.

And again, he enjoyed touching the sting rays!


Afterwards we had a picnic lunch outside and then went to play on the sea animals.

Stairs are mastered

Mostly... Last week, LT was going down the stairs holding onto the railing. I called Bri to see, but little did I know, he had taught LT these skills and was well aware of LT's ability going down. He's got his own style, but he's pretty stable going both up and down.

LT found some great low cost/free activities!

Yesterday Sofi, Z and LT played at the REI indoor playground. Landon especially liked the bear that was sleeping in the tunnel (the kid sure likes his tunnels).
It has been pretty hard to get these guys all in one picture, but this was taken very quickly before Z walked away and LT headed on all fours for the clothes section of REI.


LT speed cruising back towards the playground from the clothes racks (Steve used to hide under these racks when my mom took us shopping, I am having flashbacks...)

Today, Shawn and I took LT and Z to the Bellvue Park. Cost, $1 for adults, free for kids. They have a train for the kids to ride on, a creek to play in, and the best part is there is a petting zoo! Pigs come nibble at your fingers, goats wander around and cows moooooooo as you walk by. The boys had a blast.

This is a terrible picture because the boys are trying to get away from the piggy. It had just nibbled on both LT and Z's arms and later would get into my diaper bag and grab the camera.

Watching the goats munch on some hay.

LT checking out the ducks swimming in a little lake.

By far the best part was milking the cow. LT watched intently as this little girl milked the cow before trying it himself.

He learned the skills pretty quickly and was soon milking it himself.

I had to put this picture because LT has been making this fish face for the past few days.



After the petting zoo, we had a picnic in the park by the creek. Landon decided it was his turn to push Z around in the stroller today. He is kind enough to stop halfway through to give Z a hug (this is how LT hugs now, puts his cheek against whatever he is hugging).

zoo day with mom

Shawn and I took the boys to the zoo today.

LT put his feet up and just hung out looking at the animals. I don't have a picture, but Z cruised around pushing his stroller through the zoo.

Unfortunately, you can't take strollers into Bird World, so LT had to actually do a little work.

Then we had a little picnic.


Lan ate some brocolli, while Z fed himself a little applesauce.

Eating Lemons

I had heard that babies like lemons, but honestly didn't believe it. We gave LT his first lemon wedge and, despite the look on his face in some of these, he ate the whole wedge and then another!

Motivation and walking

Little LT isn't walking yet and we've chalked it up to a lack of motivation - he can get pretty much anywhere he wants to go by crawling (and of course we carry him a lot too). Or doctor even said it's not uncommon for babies that are very proficient crawlers to not show much interest in walking. And I'd say those are two things that are very true about LT - he's a proficient crawler (if fast means proficient anyway) and he has no interest in walking. Even when we pick him up and try and help him walk he will pull up his legs and try and sit down.

Lots of his little friends are walking, however. J-Faz and Seth of course (they're older) but also Z and Sofia. Below are a some pictures from a couple of weeks ago when Sofia came over to play.

First they are playing together happily with the trucks and ramps.

Then Sofia decides she's done and = politely waves goodbye to LT as she walks off and leaves him all alone. I wonder if this kind of thing will change the motivation equation for Mr. LT...

Climbing the couch

Brian and I took off all the covers on our couches and washed them, which left the pillows on the floor. Landon enjoyed climbing all over them and up onto the couch. Without the pillows, the couch was much shorter. When we put the couch back together, he was slightly confused, but determined to get back up there regardless of the new height.

All morining daddy daycare

LT and I are on our own this morning while Kari does her first triathlon in almost 2 years. Last night LT helped his mom get ready by checking out her bike for her (at right).

It's funny to think about how apprehensive I was the first few times I had to go it alone with LT for any long stretch of time. Looking back at all day daddy daycare in February (+ parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7) and the next chapter in daddy daycare (+ parts 2, 3 & 4 ) I can see that, while I tried to put a humorous spin on it, I was pretty nervous about being left in charge of our little guy.

Times change and I guess both LT and I have grown a lot in the last few months. Though this picture (below) may look like I put LT in jail, we were actually playing happily out on the front balcony earlier this morning.



We headed over to the little park near the new 'plex to check out the playground. I think it's intended more for older kids but LT had a great time regardless. He even met a 2 year old girl who he thought was very intriguing.

We left the park and got home just in time for the first nap of the day (8:45 as mom had predicted). He had a little milk, went right to sleep and napped for over an hour and a half. I tried to post this blog while he was sleeping but got distracted by instant messaging with a friend and co-worker who is currently living and working in Estonia. So currently LT is pulling the books off of the bookshelf in my office while I finish writing (one of his favorite activities). Mom will be home soon and LT and I can proudly report that we had a very successful morning.

First babysitter!

Brian and I have been lucky that we have family in town who love watching LT and would do it for us at the drop of a hat. We rarely call anyone, although we should do it more often. However, we have both been thinking that it would be a good idea for LT to get used to someone other than family, for the occasional time when we need a sitter. The other day, one of my former students, Katie, and her twin Jack sent me an e-mail letting me know that they are taking their Babysitting certification course tomorrow and would love to babysit. I taught Jack for two years, Katie for one and absolutely adore the two of them and their family. With LT's first birthday party on Sunday and my first triathlon of the season tomorrow, I felt it would be nice to have an extra set of hands today to watch LT while I got a few things done around the house. It was wonderful! LT had the time of his life playing with two new friends and I was able to get lots done in a short amount of time.
LT has started getting separation anxiety occasionally when I leave. Today, I don't even think he blinked an eye when I went outside or upstairs. He was too busy.
I remember taking the Red Cross course when I was 12 and how exited I was to be able to babysit. Katie has that same excitement, which makes it really easy for me to leave Landon with her. LT did need a diapie change and Katie politely said, "I haven't taken the course, I will learn that tomorrow."

LT enjoyed feeding not only his dogs, but Jack as well.

He showed them how to cook in his little kitchen.

Last swim lesson (this session at least)

I am really enjoying our close proximity to Berkley Park. Mostly for running purposes, however, Landon and I are able to walk to the playground and to swim lessons each day now! If Bowen and Hailie were dog park people, the dog park at Berkley would be nice and close, but given that Bo was kicked out of that dog park awhile back, we aren't able to enjoy it. Landon and I signed up for 2 weeks of lessons at the rec center. Today was the last lesson. I have to admit, the lessons are pretty poor (they mostly consist of the teacher telling us to just get in and hold our baby in the water, wow, what a novel idea!) Moms just gab away and babies float. However, LT learned some great skills in his winter class and he has been practicing them intently. He can hold the wall by himself, climb out of the pool by himself and is even starting to try and blow bubbles (which usually causes a small choke on water, but he doesn't seem to mind a bit).




















Lan took a pretty short morning nap, which gave us plenty of time to walk to the park, enjoy the playground and still make it to the lessons on time. He even wore his sunglasses the entire swim lesson and most of the walk home. I like to think that he finally understands the purpose of the silly things mom puts on his face, but I have a feeling it was the distraction of holding his kangaroo in the stroller and the fish in the water.

He seems to enjoy the playground, although he is still a bit small to do most of the things. Watching older kids seems to be a favorite activity these days. He is definitely trying to imitate what they do, which is very cute to watch.
I am not sure if we will sign up for another session of lessons, but given the cost (3$/class) and the time (right in between nap times), I might not be able to resist. After all, if we were to go and free swim, it would cost 6$ per time and interfere with nap time. I think we may just end up back in the lessons.

Aquarium

Shawn and I took LT and Z to the aquarium today. It was LT's first time (z's second). He seemed to enjoy looking at the fishies, especially the sharks!

Anticipating the adventures to come, just not sure what they will be...

Z had to bring his mini-cooper of course!

Lan was excited to get out of his stroller and crawled right between all the big kids to get a front row view of the sharks.



He looks so old putting his hands in the water to pet the sting rays with
all the big kids!

For being a children's place, they don't have the best set up for strollers. I carried the boys and Shawn carried the strollers down a large set of stairs.

The aquarium has this great play area behind it (sort of like eggs and bacon at the mall, but not nearly as crowded!) The boys loved this tunnel through corral and going into a sharks mouth.


Z brought the mini cooper through the tunnel at full speed.

Lan was having so much fun I couldn't get a clear picture, he was moving too fast!
LT climbed right into the sharks mouth.


Afterwards we went to Brothers Bar for some yummy fries and cheeseburgers! The boys loved it!