WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD CONTINUES! =0)
We got up early on our second morning in St. Louis and headed to the zoo. They have one of the best zoos I have ever been to, and the best part is that admission is FREE! I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting that area. Holden had already been to the zoo last summer when he was only 4 months old! This time around was a lot more fun. I just loved watching his reactions to everything. It was all so new and exciting to him! It was a HOT day, but we got there around 9:30 and left around 1:30 when Holden fell asleep in his stroller, so we missed the big crowds and the bad heat of the day. A plus to going early was that most of the animals were very active!
From top left to bottom right: Checking out the hippo plaque with Mommy; this is a new tradition we've started since we have the same pose from when he was 4 months, so excited about the fish, enjoying the elephant exhibit, petting guinea pigs with Daddy in the Children's Zoo (it cracked me up that he would just use one finger to tap them!), my little froggy, peeking at the UGLY naked mole rats in their tunnel, checking out the 3 month old baby jaguar in from up in the Children's Zoo tree house (she was sooo cute and little!), "bugging out" with Daddy, and testing his height in animal (when he was straight he was close to a koala bear!) =o)
We got up early on our second morning in St. Louis and headed to the zoo. They have one of the best zoos I have ever been to, and the best part is that admission is FREE! I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting that area. Holden had already been to the zoo last summer when he was only 4 months old! This time around was a lot more fun. I just loved watching his reactions to everything. It was all so new and exciting to him! It was a HOT day, but we got there around 9:30 and left around 1:30 when Holden fell asleep in his stroller, so we missed the big crowds and the bad heat of the day. A plus to going early was that most of the animals were very active!
From top left to bottom right: Checking out the hippo plaque with Mommy; this is a new tradition we've started since we have the same pose from when he was 4 months, so excited about the fish, enjoying the elephant exhibit, petting guinea pigs with Daddy in the Children's Zoo (it cracked me up that he would just use one finger to tap them!), my little froggy, peeking at the UGLY naked mole rats in their tunnel, checking out the 3 month old baby jaguar in from up in the Children's Zoo tree house (she was sooo cute and little!), "bugging out" with Daddy, and testing his height in animal (when he was straight he was close to a koala bear!) =o)
Left to right: in the awesome (but FREEZING!) penguin exhibit with Mommy, petting a (fake!) penguin, first experience with a petting zoo; he was timid around the goats as far as petting them but had no problem telling them "NO!," a close-up chimpanzee encounter, happy boy giving Mommy a high five at lunch (I know I am biased but isn't he the cutest thing ever?!), Mom and baby giraffe, livin' the good life in the stroller with a lemonade and fries, a mom and baby orangutan (I love how she is covering her face! They act so much like humans!), and a shot of Holden as we left the zoo, completely worn out and with nice rosy cheeks from the heat...there is nothing so precious as a sleeping baby!
After a nice long nap for all three of us, we checked out the hotel pool. It was really nice and very warm so Holden thoroughly enjoyed it! They provided noodles and kick boards for the kids too, a nice touch. Then Holden had a bath (I couldn't resist the above middle shot; guess he's gotten some sun! Nice white butt!), and we headed over to the arch which was within walking distance. We didn't even attempt to take him up in it at this age, but he did touch it and run around the base of it. He kept looking up, up, up at it with this awed look on his face. He also liked looking at the riverfront down below, but I refused to walk down all those steps with him....because it would have meant walking back up all of them again! No way! On our walk back, we stopped to admire one of the fountains in the center of the city. I love the shot of him and Jay with the arch in the background. There was a brick walkway all around the fountain and Holden thought that was cooler than the actual fountain.
At the end of the day, we decided to head to TGI Friday's for dinner. On our way, we passed a carriage ride and asked the driver if we could pet her horse. She was really nice and introduced us to "Pete," the horse. Holden promptly stuck one finger up poor Pete's nostril, which we didn't get on camera since it happened so fast. Fortunately Pete is very laid-back! I don't think Holden liked the big rush of hot air that the horse snuffled out at him, because he was pretty timid after that! =o) The driver actually convinced us to take a ride and was kind enough to lower the usual 30 min. ride to 15 min. since we were on "toddler time!" While Holden looks serious in all the pictures, he thoroughly enjoyed the ride. At every stop he'd yell, "Go, Go Go!" and slap his legs, imitating the lady with the reins. He liked looking all around at the city. After our ride we headed in to Friday's. Holden got a chocolate milkshake and really liked it. Then it was gone. That was the end of our happy dinner. Let's just say we will not be dining out with him anytime soon!!!!! He threw a major toddler tantrum because he wanted out of his high chair. Kicking, screaming, and yelling "NOOOOO!" We were SO embarrassed! So Jay and I took turns eating and walking him outside. He is lucky he is cute is all I have to say. The second he got outside he was happy as could be. I got some cute pics of him in this red bleacher seat out front, and admiring his reflection (he talked to it!) in the window. He is such a turd sometimes!
The rest of our trip postings to continue tomorrow.....I must get to bed! =o)
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