Brandywine Zoo

We went to the Brandywine Zoo a few weeks ago for a Spring Outside event.   For those who've never been to the Brandywine Zoo, you're not missing much.  It's pretty much the teeniest zoo I've ever been to, but it's close (about 15 minutes away), so the convenience factor is nice.  Unfortunately, it was not quite as warm as was predicted, and we all spent the morning shivering and shaking our fists at the blasted sun for hiding behind the clouds.

 I think Leah misses having farm animals right next door.  She spent a lot of time gently petting the goats.  I think at one point she even planted a big smooch on the darkest one's face.

 This is how Isaac points things out-- with two hands.  He was excited about the Sandhill Crane pacing and calling in the pen.

 The same bird drew Leah's attention and as she was peering at it, it got right up in her face and loudly trilled at her.  She was a little freaked out.  

Our two little goobers boogeying down after lunch.

Ahhh, the silliness!

Before we went home, we stopped at the playground which is right next to the zoo.  They had lots of spinning devices there (which made me ill to watch), but Leah loved spinning around and around and around.  Every time she got out of these spinny things, she would just tumble right to the ground.  It was awesome.  :)

Be still, my heart...

How cute are these videos?

Despite all the bumping into, pushing over, ocassional smacking, and general rough-housing, Isaac just adores Leah.  Adores her.

Speaking of adoring,  how can you not just adore this little clip?  I love my coloring, Jesus-loves-me singing little girl, don't you?

First Birthday Eve

I never saw the musical, but when I was in high school choir, we sang the song Seasons of Love from Rent.  For the past month or so, the song has been running through my head.  Something about the combination of weaning Isaac and nearing his first birthday.  Anyway, it goes a little something like this:

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets

In midnights, in cups of coffee

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife

In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,

how do you measure, a year in the life?

How about love?  Measure in love...

For those of you who remember, I tend to struggle with my babies turning 1.  When Leah turned 1, I cried multiple times the entire day before her birthday.  I seem to have pulled myself together a wee bit this time around, as the only time I've shed some tears was at Christmas time when we bought Isaac's 12-month jammies.  That was my first reminder that the BIG ONE was coming up.  Though I'm excited about what's coming up in this next year of his life (especially now that I've witnessed it through Leah), I'm still bummed about having my little baby boy grow up.  What can I say, I like to feel needed.   

And now it's Isaac's First Birthday Eve, and I can't stop humming that song.  During Isaac's first year, I saw many midnights, drank lots of coffee, watched him grow inches, moved 1500 miles to a new home, laughed PLENTY (mostly watching him interact with his big sister) and listened to his adorable little giggle, and made it through some somewhat trying times (Spending his 2nd night post-birth in NICU? Severe acid reflux for 6 months?).  But mostly, there was love. 

Second babies to parents are like The Whos from Whoville to the Grinch.  They make your heart grow three sizes, when you didn't even realize there was more room for it to grow.  (I can't even imagine what third babies do!)

Love you, baby boy.  Happy First Birthday.