An interesting thing

Richie and I were in the park late Saturday afternoon. Overhead, we suddenly heard a Chinook Helicopter. Which was followed by another and then three more! Then there were two single propeller Helicopters that looked like what I have seen for the Marine One Helicopters. Looking at google maps, I realized it was Obama flying back to D.C. after his commencement address at West Point.

Back at the Zoo (and more, or less)

I'm still trying to figure out how he can take up so much of the bed?!


Richie has become completely fascinated by this gift from his cousin Beth:


Richie's first time playing Doctor!


Rushing to see his first patient...


His first physical exam...


We match so well!



We went back to the zoo last weekend and had another really good experience. We did not see the entire zoo like last time, but spent more time with animals that we know Richie likes.

We did not see (or maybe notice) the turtles on our first visit.


Thank goodness for strong glass...Don't eat my baby! He's not one of your Cheetos!


Notice what Richie is doing with his mouth. If you don't get it, watch the movies below and it will make sense. (He came up with this on his own!)


Kinda bald, kinda harry, kinda big....Just Like Daddy!



Spent lots of time with the fishies!



You need to see this...


And this


To understand this...


We were lucky enough to see this. I had no idea ML was taking a movie until I turned to her afterward and said, "We should have taken a movie of that!" To which she smiled and said, "I did." God I Love her!



I must have MORE FISH!

The wait is over!

He's so gosh-darn cute!

Huh.

Well, Richie has been doing something that's really cute: he's imitating animals! I thought I had a movie of it, but I don't. I'll have to make one and post it.

Animal impressions to which you can look forward are: Fish, Dog, Elephant, Horse, Cat and Cow. He won't always do all of them at once and the cat and cow often sound a lot alike, but I think it's super-cute!

I have one more week of night-shift...Hooray!

Going to the Zoo

Mommy and Daddy have been working VERY hard trying to figure out where we are going to move. That's right. Unfortunately, our landlord has decided to sell the house we're renting. A few weeks ago, we had our pick of places to live and we were zeroing in, but, week before last the new graduates descended on Baltimore and took all of the rentals. Now Mommy and Daddy are struggling trying to find a place that is nice enough for a little Richie. (In part, that means no lead paint falling onto the floor!) But Daddy took the day off on Monday and we all went to the Baltimore Zoo! Today, Daddy and I played outside in the rain after work until I was absolutely soaked. But it was a REALLY fun adventure!

Here are my brown-brown eyes. (They finally picked a color...Daddy's!)


First, we saw the Prairie dogs!


Then there were some birds!


I pointed at this bird and yelled, "Daddy!"



(Not really. He has not said Daddy, yet.)





A few zebra's hanging out...


in the same area as the Rhino's!


The ostriches were on their own.


These antelope where hanging out with...


these birds, which made a strange noise.



This giraffe is a bit bigger than the singing toy giraffe at home




Another bird and a few Dik-Diks


Even a little penguin pond



I would have been more surprised at their size if I had not had "Lunch with the Elephants" in the city the week before



We're penguins


Now I'm a Ferocious Lion. ROAR!


Lion cub with mommy-lion


Yikes! A real lion!


Primates...well, there were more but this was the only good picture


I Love fish! I've never seen so many before in one place!


And a turtle!


Polar Bear!


That's one big turtle


Nesting at the zoo




Now I'm a turtle


Moo.

Up The Stairs

Richie started really climbing the stairs, but he used to stop at the fourth step. This is the second time he's gone all the way to the top! The first time was to wake up a Daddy. (Yes, that's Daddy breathing in the background. My sniffles were clogging me up.) Notice that he climbs the steps this time with a blue block in his left hand! I also love how he tests the steps to make sure their sturdy before climbing up to it.

Little update

Just a quick/little update: Richie has started to walk much faster, especially when he sees his daddy (which has not been that frequent, lately). He's also starting to climb much better! He can actually climb out of the bathtub now. There are two more teeth that have joined the Toothasaurus party, which also means he's sleeping very poorly. And he's eating more table food, but not too much milk and he have yet to really alter the formula intake. Although, we're really not that worried. The most interesting new development is that he has started following commands! So, you can give his something to throw in the trash, tell him to do it, and he will. He also knows the difference between the trash and the recycle bin! He understands when you tell him, "No" and he has started shaking his head no for a while know, but we really don't think he knows what he's saying even though he does it in response to a question. Any question.

Are you hungry?
(Shakes his head, No.)
(Put a piece of food near his mouth and it opens wide! Sometimes while he's still shaking his head, No.)

Do you want a kiss?
(Shakes his head, No. Then puts his head against your lips.)

What can you do?