Stroller Safari at the Zoo today

This morning we went to the Zoo for our last summer session Stroller Safari class.  Today's class was titled  "Ani-moves".   The first part of the class includes hands on animal demo's.  In the above video you can hear the teacher, Miss Lucy say "anyone who touches the turtle should use had sanitizer" before we go out to the Zoo for our walkabout.

Audrey was more interested in chasing "Lucky' the bunny than listening to the rest of the classroom discussion.  She has only been walking for 16 days so I think that contributes to her impatience in listening in class.  At least I hope.

"Lucky" was lucky this table stopped Miss A.

Apparently Audrey seemed to be having so much fun chasing "Lucky" it drew other classmates away from class like this little girl.

One relaxed bunny. 

The class is called Stroller Safari and everyone but us did bring their stroller.  Audrey weighs so little that ever since the 1st class I have opted for carrying her.  You really can't see a lot in the stroller and i think it is a hassle to get her out and put her in so much. 

Watching the kids play in the Children's Zoo.  Audrey is not crazy about walking on the play yard chips.   

But she did like this cool sound stick I bought for her today.

On our way out we stopped at the Giraffe exhibit.  This volunteer was holding a mock giraffe tongue, actual size and color.  I did not know until today that giraffe tongue's are purple and the coloring is part of their sunscreen attributes necessary as the eat most of the day.  On average they eat 75 lbs of food a day.  Oh this volunteer's name ... Audrey.  Unbelievable how often I hear that name now.  Since bringing A home we have learned it is the 10th most common girl name in our city. 

Water Girl, Miss Independent and the Mall

Due to the excessive heat still going on in Cincinnati  Miss A and I went to the Museum Center Wednesday afternoon.  Not an original idea by any means.  The place was packed.

I think she is still too young to fully appreciate the Water Works area but she certainly likes it a lot.  And does not mind getting wet but she is not about to wear one of their rainproof aprons like the yellow one on the floor.  BTW someone else left it on the floor.

We also visited the toddler area.

Thursday morning we went to her Musikgarten Class and it was clear that Miss A is bored with the baby class and needs to move on. 

Thursday afternoon waking from her nap.  Not a great picture but I think it is funny that she is cautious not to jump too close to the rail any more after hitting her chin.  This cautious girl seems to learn quickly how not to get hurt. Audrey can put on her own shoes!

So after the nap we headed to the mall.  This is a picture of Audrey at the food court.  I have an issue with my ipod which I want to check out before the warranty expires.  I love my ipod for so many reasons but basically because it is my contact with news/ etc and even more so since becoming a mother.   

The highlight of this trip to the mall for Audrey was the family bathroom.  Particularly the kid height sink.

The darn delay on my camera did not catch how much she loved washing her own hands.

But it was great.  Unfortunately she had walked so much and was exhausted but not wanting to be carried she crashed into a tantrum of frustration like neither of us has experienced and we had to head home immediately. 

So from this picture you can see she is wearing different clothes because Friday morning we headed back to the mall.  Yes, this mama is determined to get the sound issue corrected on her ipod.  Which I did without spending a dime thank you very much.

And Miss A got to wash her hands at the little kid sink so it was all good.

Plus she had her first lunch at the food court.  That would be tomato, meat, apple, veggie sticks and juice from Subway.  And I made it back home in time for my noon conference call with our accountant which was quite the roller coaster.

Pilgrim Chapel nursery, babyproofing continues and Clifton Library story time and history

This past Sunday Audrey went to our church's nursery for the first time.  Since we have such a small church she was also the only kid and so got Nancy P 's undivided attention.

Monday we finally had the plexiglass panels installed on our deck.  Not that we have or will leave Audrey unattended on the deck but still just feels safer. 

And looks a lot better than we imagined.  Although probably won't look that great over time and we anticipate it is in place for the next 3-4 years.

As is our Tuesday routine we went to Clifton Library for story time.  however instead of Mr. Eric today it was a puppet show with Children's librarians from the main downtown branch.

Although we arrived early we stood in the back because now that she walks I'm never sure how good her attention span is going to be.

But she liked the 5 shows and was reasonably attentive.  One thing she is and seems to be her nature is outgoing,

 A picture from Clifton library website of Mr Eric reading a book.

And below is a picture of the exterior of their building also from their website.

This library opened in 1954 and had been a barber and beauty shop.  The storefront was added in 1962.

 This is a picture of the Boss Cox house, called "Parkview Manor" which is about 4-5 blocks from the current Clifton library and where they will move when enough funds are raised.  One of our neighbors, Bill M, asked the previous owner to donate this house to the Cincinnati Public Library.   It is almost 4 times larger than Clifton library's current building and has 16 parking spaces too.  It also has some rich history.

This is a picture of George "Boss" Cox (1853-1916).  Basically he controlled Cincinnati politics for more than 25 years.  He hired Samuel Hannaford to build this Renaissance Revival style home after Hannaford completed City Hall and Music Hall downtown.    the foundation and exterior walls are made from Indiana limestone.  Apparently the house has some unusual shaped rooms, circular and triangle, as well as many secret passages.  It has been on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1973.

Cox lived here until his death at the age of 63 and his wife lived there another 22 years. 

Hiking in French Park, Sweet Moon Baby book signing at the Blue Manatee and Somewhere Between - a documentary film

This past Thursday was a beautiful low humidity day so we decided to test the hiking backpack some friends recently gave us.  We were hoping Audrey would like this mode of transportation as we are planning a trip to a state park in Virginia later this fall.

She was mildly accepting.  "Help Me Mary" visited Friday and gave me an idea of something to try involving a little "magical thinking" which may work.  As Mary put it Audrey is a little young to use this technique but she is also so bright it just might work and certainly worth a try.

We also bought a new holder for the DVD player in the car.  Not only is it better positioned for viewing, A can't kick it and I can ride in the passenger seat when all 3 of us go somewhere.

Saturday we skipped Kids First Gymnastics class again.   This time to attend a book signing for Sweet Moon Baby An Adoption Tale at the Blue Manatee.

A picture of the author, Karen Henry Clark, her daughter Maggie and us taken by the author's husband.  Maggie was adopted in 1996 from Guangdong Province.  Her parents wait was 18 months long.

I recently read about and saw the trailer for this documentary which I hopes comes to Cincinnati.  It is titled Somewhere Between.   This documentary follows 4 U.S. teenagers adopted from China and their coming of age search for identity. The trailer lists these facts at the beginning of the film:

China's "One Child Policy" was implemented in 1979.

           Since 1989 150,000 children from China have been adopted around the world.

           80,000 live in the U.S.  In all 50 states.

Random summer stuff

Because she is learning capital letters from the floor mat in the kitchen we bought magnetic letters, capital and small, for the refrigerator last weekend.

We participated in Oakwood's Relay for Life (cancer fundraiser) last Friday and Saturday.  Our friend Melissa is currently going through breast cancer treatment.  Our team name "Team Melissa... How the Breast was Won".

I love this serious pose.  To me she looks a lot older.

As if the Relay was not enough I took her to the pool after her nap Saturday.  Audrey feel asleep on the walk home.

Miss A with alligator sculpture at the Zoo.

First train ride at the Zoo.

Walking

After dinner tonight we wet into the bedroom to work on walking between John and I.  Audrey took her first 2 independent steps when Help Me Mary was here last which was May 26.  Then last Saturday she took several steps at the Relay for Life event we participated in this weekend.  After she had been proficiently walking between us for quite a while and needed a break I got my camera to record.  So by the time I started filming she was pretty tired and sweaty too.  She also seems pleased with herself too!
 

Bloomington for the 4th and Care Package for Yifeng SWI

Friday after lunch we drove to Bloomington to celebrate the 4th at the farm with my family.  John and I were once again encouraged by "just how great a traveler" A was .... until bedtime.  Audrey thoroughly charmed my parents at dinner and afterwards but oh my going to sleep involved A LOT of crying.  Fortunately, this was a non-issue the next night either due to being extremely tired or the portable bed being made more comfortable or better communication between A and myself or some combo of all.

But Saturday while we were trying to get Audrey to nap we took a drive to Brown County State Park to see what it was like.  We were both impressed.  Really cool pool in the lodge.  Not as good as the one at Banff Springs but geographically much more convenient.

Baba and Audrey in the Nature Center at BCSP. 

Audrey knows how to sign, say and correctly use the word "please".  Which is why I handed over my camera and let her take a lot of pictures like this one

I have no pictures from the family party at the farm because I basically helped Audrey steer her Radio Flyer cart around the A frame,  fed her and then we had to leave early as she was crashing.   It was fun to see family and especially nice to see Ted's in-law's Joy and Max who gave Audrey a very special ring that belonged to their daughter Melissa.  We are keeping this in a safe with Audrey's important documents for a special future date.

When we got home from Bloomington I saw I received an email from Ann of Red Thread China.  Ann's email  said my translated  letter, silk album with 35 pictures of Audrey and a cake will be delivered next week to Audrey's orphanage, Yifeng SWI.  Ann was sweet enough to attach pictures of what she is sending including the translated letter.

My letter basically explained who we were, how Audrey is developing, attaching and adjusting and thanking them for their delicate care of her in the first 10 months of her life.  I also explained we would love to know anything about her caregivers or time at Yifeng that they would like to share and gave them ways to send information.  I hope but certainly do not expect to hear anything.