San Diego Zoo

On December 28 we went to the San Diego Zoo. Momma and DaDa love the zoo, especially the pandas. I was so excited for Jack's first zoo experience. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for the zoo! It was crowded, but not unbearably so. The sun was out but there was a nice breeze. The rest of the week had been a little dreary with some rain, but it was so beautiful that day.

We went around to many of our favorites animals. Neither Momma nor DaDa are fans of monkeys so we skipped those. Watch, Jack's favorite animals will be monkeys! At first I planned to put Jack in his stroller and take him out when we reached the animal exhibits, but it ended up being better to just carry him since the exhibits were so close together. 

Momma loves the giraffes, but it was hard getting Jack to notice them since they weren't fast movers.

Momma also loved the big cats. Again, they sat regally on their rocks staring at all the visitors. Jack didn't notice them at all. 

Jack did notice a lovely donkey that was walking to and fro in it's exhibit. Of course, in the whole zoo he smiles at the donkey! He also was quite taken with this little frog attached to the rocks by the pond. Sigh. I guess that's what we get for taking a 9 month old to the zoo. 

Jack also loved this spurt of water by the elephants. It was fun for the adults to be able to watch the elephants walking around while Jack laughed and kicked at the water fountain. I would certainly not mind having an elephant for a pet. They are extremely loyal. 

Our little family at the zoo. 

We sat on a bench in the shade for lunch. Jack was thirsty so Momma let him drink from her water bottle. It is convenient that he is growing up and learning to eat big people food and drink from cups. 

Little boogey at lunch. 

Everyone took turns carrying Jack around. His GrandPops loved carrying him. Jack even took a little nap while GrandPops carried him! 

We went on the sky tram so we could see the entire park. I used to love those things and ferris wheels, but with a baby it is so scary! I kept envisioning us falling from the sky! I imagine that would be the worst feeling ever- free falling, holding your baby, knowing there's nothing you can do to save him. On the return trip to the other side of the park Grammie and GrandPops took Jack in their car. I envisioned seeing Jack flying through the air having jumped from GrandPops' arms. While I know they would never ever let him go, it still ached my heart. I was thankful to be back on solid ground again.

Jack took a nice nap in the stroller while we waited in line for the pandas. Good timing, Jack! He woke up just as we were getting in the exhibit! Pandas are Momma's absolute favorite. 

Red pandas are like a mix of puppies and kittens. Puppies for the playfulness and kittens for the fluffiness. This guy was tuckered out though. 

Jack and I in front of the pandas. 

The first panda was curled up in his dish sleeping. It was so cute, his paw was over his muzzle as he slept. 

The second panda was awake and moving around. He ate some bamboo, then moseyed on over to the corner of his home, then did a somersault to some more bamboo. It was quite entertaining. I had never seen a panda so active in real life before. 

I just love pandas. I think it's interesting how their live in solitude. There was a Momma and baby panda at the zoo, but they're not in an exhibit yet. Bummer. But the last time DaDa and Momma were at the zoo there was a baby panda on exhibit. So it's ok. 

What a great day!

One of the many perks of my in-laws living so far away. We will hopefully visit this zoo a few more times during Jack's childhood. 

Jack with Grammie and GrandPops. 

Grammie bought Jack a book about baby pandas and this shirt! It has a cartoon panda on it and says "Pawsitively Precious". I love the shirt! Jack will get LOTS of use out of it. I think any siblings he may have will too!