Sunday at the Bronx Zoo

***Warning:  There are lots of pictures ahead!***

The logistics:

• 40 degree temperature forecast
• 10 am arrival at opening
• 20 minute car ride (subway ride is about an hour)
• 13 dollars in highway tolls round trip (Metro fare is about $ 4.50 per person round trip)
• 16 dollar adult admission (Free for members)
• 12 dollar child admission (Getting out moneys worth on the membership)
• 13 dollar parking (Free with membership)
• 20 dollar lunch with 10% membership discount (burger, hot dog, fries, coke, juice)
• 3 dollar Bug Carousel ride (Free with membership)
• 2 pm departure (closing time is 4.30pm)
• 0 minutes napping (a post in the works on this)

The forecast looked good all week so the Bronx Zoo was the plan for the weekend.

The hourly forecast for the day as we pulled into the zoo.

Despite "warm" and sunny predictions, the morning was cloudy and cold.  We almost ditched the plan while walking to the car in the garage, but we decide to toughen up and check things out.  We've been wanting to take Freddie to see the "big" animals that aren't at the Central Park Zoo, so we kept our chin up and zipped up our coats.

Cloudy morning entering the zoo

The zoo is "sprawling" relative to the Central Park Zoo.  It covers a lot of land, and the exhibits are spread out which allows for lots of trees around.  I imagine this helps spread the crowds out when things are busy during warmer months.

Bison

There's still a lot of snow on the ground but it was warm enough that the animals were out an about.

Freddie got to see the "seals" (aka Sea Lions).  He talks about seals A LOT.  I think the exhibit at Central Park has made an impression on him.

Calling out "Feed me, now"

It was feeding time and these guys obviously know when to expect their meals because they were barking and watching the direction from which the zoo keepers brought their fish.

"Hi, Turtle.  Kiss."

"Did you see the crocodiles behind me?!?"

Many of the exhibits are in small buildings:  monkeys, reptiles, birds, "Madagascar," so we were able to get out of the cold.

Not many people so wandering and checking out all of the animals was easy.

Lunchtime is always a hit.  French fries and ketchup, of course.  And there is something so fascinating about juice boxes that Freddie doesn't even ask for a sip of soda.  There is a large outdoor seating area near the cafe as well as another close by that would be perfect for enjoying a picnic lunch.

In case you're keeping kosher, there's the "Kosher Cafe" vending machine.

 

I'm curious and would love to see someone get a knish, but I don't think I'll be feeding it money any time soon.

Sunshine after lunch

Blue sky

We planned on heading home after lunch but the sun made an appearance and a big difference in the temperature.  So we headed in the direction of the car, but took the scenic route.

Following the peacock

 Lots of peacocks around and Freddie loves them.

"Bye, Peacock"

 We were able to see the tigers.  Freddie talks about tigers a lot too.

He's big on roaring.

"Roooarrrr"

And the bears were out.

The carousel got the biggest smiles of the day.  Freddie chose a lady bug to ride and asked that I step back and not hold on to him.  Very surprising since he's generally pretty cautious when it comes to heights and being "elevated."

Thankfully the rides are covered under our zoo membership because I see many visits in the future.

Freddie's been a little timid about digging into the snow without his mittens.  I don't blame him, but this means he gets pretty upset when he wipes out and lands in some snow.  Charlie demonstrated some bare handed snowball throwing and they build a little snowman to help get over that.

Great day with my family.  I hope the temperatures begin to creep up and the snow stays away because we have lots more to see.

Duck Pond

Part Deux Update

At 21 weeks 2 days:

Blood pressure:  100/60
Fundal height: 21
Weight gain: +6 for the month, + 10 overall, YIKES!

Everything looks good.  Normal.  That's all.  Nice, right?

And about that weight gain, the gain for the month (actually five weeks) is a little more than a pound a week.  Not too bad but I am eating A LOT and a lot of junk.  I'm a couple pounds ahead of where I was with Freddie at this time.  I'm not worried about 10 pounds in 21 weeks, but I do like to make sure I'm staying healthy...taking another bite of lasagna for breakfast as I type.

Next appointment:  March 15th, 8.15 am, Glucose screening.

February 14th

• Snuggles
• Kisses
• Tram ride
• Zoo date
• Snacks and seal watching
• Walk in Central Park
• Breakfast on heart shaped plates
• Monkey straw 
• Monkey magnet
• Brooklyn Blackout
• Sweet notes
• 50 degrees 
• Sunshine
• Steak dinner

Love

My Valentines. 

Best part of the morning 

was Freddie wrangling us all 

into a pile 

in bed 

so he could smother us with kisses.

Love.

Naming Part Deux

Tonight when asked what he wanted to call the baby Freddie thought for a minute and then responded "Thumper" and of course "Bambi" soon followed. 

That may be all we have come late June because neither Charlie or I have any ideas.  I am thinking it's going to take seeing this guy before we come up with something.

Notes from the Potty

Taking aim

Distracted by the television...NOT good!

• I'm calling it:  Freddie is POTTY TRAINED.  
• Ok, so I think officially potty trained means there is no involvement from anyone else, which certainly is not the case here, but ALL pee and poop go into the potty.  I usually let 2 hours go by before telling him it is time to potty.  He is telling me more and more that he needs to potty.  The other day I decided to not say anything and he initiated using the potty five times and had two wet accidents.  Not bad considering one of the accidents was while we were visiting friends and he was awfully busy to stop and pay close attention to his bladder.  I'm still going to tell him when it's time if he doesn't do so first, but I am going to work on doing it less.  I don't want accidents to be the norm but I do want him to feel the need to use the potty.  By the way, he produces something every time he sits down.  There are no wasted visits.
• He has been dry every morning since I started keeping track, except this morning when Charlie convinced him to go back to sleep when he got up at 6.00am.  By 7.00 am his diaper was wet.  Wonder if he had to potty at is first wake up.  That's 2.5 weeks of dry morning diapers.  I know he's not ready for the potty hall of fame just yet, but I am shocked by this.  He's been asking for undies at night but I want to hold off on this for another few weeks.
• No accidents during nap since the first two over a month ago.
• He did have an accident while we were in NOLA, but it was after the boy sucked down 19 of the 20 ounces of my soda.  Other than that, he used the potty all the time and everywhere.
• He is *very* interested in public restrooms.  The variety in the trashcans, soap dispensers, and faucets is fascinating and can keep us in the bathroom for quite some time.
• He can get his undies off all by himself.  Back on is another story, but he insists on trying for quite some time.  He also needs some help with pants.
• He is climbing onto the toilet without the assistance of a stool, although his preferred potty is the one in the living room (see above!) because he can "pee dada."  Shaking my head.  This potty also allows for television viewing when longer visits are necessary.  Shaking my head.  I am ready to start phasing out the little potties but I suppose I need to get a bigger stool for the toilet to allow peeing like dada.  I have a feeling the other male in our household would not be opposed to installing a television in the bathroom.  Still shaking my head.  
• Pottying has allowed increased adjective use.  Are you shaking your head yet? The kid comes up with big, little, small, round, long.

And yes, there was lots of yummy food...

Beer was not for the pregnant lady!

You ain't finding this in any NY deli

So, it's not a NY bagel, but I don't care.  The coffee was Community!

You may be able to get Ethiopian food, Vietnamese food, French cuisine all within walking distance of each other in NYC, but THIS is what I call good eatin' and you cannot get it anywhere but home.

Lovin' NOLA

After a glorious warm and sunny southern winter day, the rain and cold moved in to NOLA during our visit.  

It didn't stop the fun, though.  The aquarium was empty and we were able to run around.

 

Thankfully Papi was on duty and making sure Freddie did everything.

2 sets of legs climbing in

checking out the white alligator

We spent a very cold day at the zoo.  A zoo keeper asked where we were from because certainly no locals would be out in 30 degree temperatures at the zoo.  Hey, 30 is warm in NYC, but 30 felt a whole lot colder in NOLA for some reason.

Ian helping Freddie pronounce "peacock"

Lunch, warming up

Cousins and Papi

The orangutans huddled up in a box trying to stay warm

Riding the train around the zoo, the highlight for the boys

An we got in some time at an indoor bounce house.

Ian and Freddie with good long naps in the very near future

A great week.  It's never enough though.

Definitely boy

Yep, that's his penis right there...

His profile...

 And a little closer...

Not too many great shots since he was face down, and awfully wiggly, but it amazes me to see him there.

Brothers!

Freddie is getting a little brother.  Part Deux is a BOY! 

At 20 weeks, 1 day he measured 20 weeks, 3 days.  He weighed in at 14 oz. 

All measurements were within the normal range so the technician did not see any flags to be concerned for down syndrome or spina bifida.  There was no evidence of a cleft palate, club feet, or water on the brain.  Brain measurements were perfect.  He has two kidneys that appear to be filling appropriately and the bladder seems to be functioning.  The four chambers of the heart were visible as it pumped away.  The umbilical cord connection was fine.  I was able to count five fingers on each hand as he held both hands over his face.  "Leave me alone" he was saying as she poked at my belly trying to get him to shift.  He was face down, head down.

Charlie missed the ultrasound to stay home with Freddie who decided to sleep in this morning after having some trouble with sleep last night due to cutting those back molars.  We were both disappointed for him to miss it, but that's just part of parenting, right?

I have a few images but can't get the scanner working, but hopefully they'll be up later.  In the mean time I need to start thinking about names.  We had some girl names picked out from last time around, but we're both at a loss for what to name a little brother.

20 weeks

Half way through!

Have I mentioned how I'm just plain tired?  I mean I could sleep every afternoon through the night beginning about 3.00pm which coincides with about the time Freddie *wakes* from his nap.  Sigh.

I'm white and pasty too, but that doesn't have much to do with pregnancy. 

Only about 12 hours remain in the poll on the right, so vote on PD's sex.  I'll be posting late morning after the anatomy scan!