4th of July: zoo & 'cue

We made it back to the zoo! Madeline's interest in the animals was hit-and-miss -- for example, in this picture we're facing the giraffe enclosure and Madeline seems to be looking down.

She rarely fails, however, to be interested in chewing on my hat's strap.

The zoo trip ended up being pretty epic. We paused for a late lunch halfway through and still just made it out before closing. On the way to lunch, Madeline fell asleep in my arms. While we ate, Madeline napped in her stroller. She was pretty confused when she woke up.

She seemed gradually to get her bearings.

Some highlights of today's trip included unusually frisky red pandas, the new river otter which woke from a nap under a log as we watched, and a giant snapping turtle in the wetlands pond.

At home, Madeline unquestionably appreciated her animal companions as she laughed hysterically at cheetah friend (animated by Neal and Summer).

Then it was time for a cookout! We set up the chairs on the ramshackle front porch and the grill on the walkway. Very tasty burgers were cooked and consumed in true American spirit. Chairs were swapped and Madeline was passed around as I manned the grill. All was well.

We'd thought about trying to make the India Point Park band-and-fireworks show, but after her zoo nap Madeline got steadily sleepier without succumbing to any more nap attempts. So by 7:30 -- when the band was set to start -- she made it clear that she was quite ready for bed. And when the 9:15 display was in bloom Madeline was asleep inside; the rest of us spent a moment watching from the street as the fireworks' flashes just barely cleared the tops of the neighborhood trees.

Nice

Madeline had another happy day.

Again, she really wanted to crawl.

She worked so hard she had to take a rest.

And then she worked some more. But she's still not quite there.

This afternoon Anna and Neal returned. Madeline thought Anna was pretty interesting.

And they got to bond a bit.

Then we were going to take a walk but outside began to look ominous. Then the internet said the very light rain would be over soon so go ahead and take your walk! Then the rain started falling a little harder and the internet said oh never mind, actually it's going to rain until tonight. Then outside looked significantly clearer and the internet just gave up trying to be right and we got fed up and took our walk. When we returned Madeline -- who hadn't napped much -- was ready for bed, and I grilled some delicious dinner in the light rain. It was nice.

Fun-filled Saturday

After subjecting Madeline (and ourselves) to a full(ish) day of daycare yesterday, it was imperative that today be fun-filled. Madeline got into the spirit early ...

... though she did pause for a time to consider the state of Providence's water supply.

Around farmers market time, Madeline seemed sleepy but wouldn't nap, so we loaded her up and went on our way. Every day she's a little more observant and a little more expressive, even when she's sleepy.

Madeline slept for most of the walk and the market, but she woke up when we couldn't help but get her an adorable new hat, which presents either a whale pattern or a patchwork-plaid pattern depending on which side's out. She, still looking sleepy, sported the whale-pattern side as we waited in line at the incomparable Hewtin's Dogs Mobile for lunch.

The Dogs Mobile was especially necessary because at lunch there yesterday with colleagues* I observed others order barbecue chicken sandwiches that appeared near perfection, thanks both to the Dogs Mobile's chef and to Pat's Pastured, the farming operation whose chickens went into the sandwiches and which also provides Summer and me almost all of the meat we cook. So, anyway, today Summer and I each ordered one of these sandwiches. We waited ...

... and when we got them, we picked a shady spot in Lippitt Park and savored their sandwichy goodness. They were so tasty that even Madeline seemed to perk up, though she didn't get any!

In our little shady spot, Madeline would squat (with my assistance) and pull up handfuls of grass then stand and admire her little green treasures. And when her hat fell off, she had something just as exciting to pick up -- and then to chew.

As we continued to lounge in the shade, Heiða and Alexander found us and joined in our leisure for a bit. But soon enough we all had to go home.

Home was pretty hot, so Madeline ditched her dress and cavorted in only a diaper. This made her happy.

Perhaps Madeline's unclothed condition also contributed to a later development -- the almost-crawl. She seemed exceptionally determined this afternoon to finally figure out crawling. So she grunted and pushed up her chest and stuck her butt in the air and moved her legs, accomplishing little other than frustrating herself -- though she clearly appreciated our positive feedback, too, going from squeals to smiles as we praised her efforts -- because she couldn't coordinate her movements. Eventually, she did coordinate her movements(!) and got her chest and belly and butt all off the ground, ready to move -- except that she's just not quite strong enough to sustain the position yet. So instead of crawling she face-planted and wailed.

She's not giving up, though, and frankly her intense enthusiasm for developing motor skills induces as much terror as pride in us. Baby gates, here we come!

* The Dogs Mobile parks near my work on weekdays and near the farmers market on weekends. I am lucky.

Daycare, smiles, pool

Madeline's first full(ish) day of daycare was apparently a fussy one. She's had her fussy days with me, too, so we'll see how things go next week.

She might have fussed for much of the day, but when we picked her up around 3:30 she was all smiles. Back at home the smiles continued.

And they were joined by giggles at Summer's tickles and raspberries.


Madeline seemed a little toasty and we deemed ourselves all deserving of a treat, so we inaugurated the kiddie pool we'd set in the sun on Wednesday.

Madeline mostly liked it but maybe got a little cold by the end. And she never really splashed, but instead sat and felt the water like it was a blanket.

She was happy still for a while longer when we went in but returned to fussing for the remainder of the evening and fought sleep, too. Now all's well and there's a long weekend ahead of us. Phew.