Thowback Thursday (Eli Edition): Giraffes at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

And, here's Eli's edition. :)

3 months before he was born

9 months old

23 months old

Thowback Thursday (Theo Edition): Eggs at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

We got in another visit to the Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo last time we were in Indiana, and I thought it was time for this photo strip, showing how quickly my little man has grown! We love this zoo!

Theo age 1

Theo age 2

Theo age 3, Eli age 7 months

Theo age 4, Eli almost 2.
 

Indiana Area Zoos

After last week's post, I knew I wanted to write a little something about the other zoos we visited this summer (and post photos).

I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I am just drawn to zoos like a magnet.  Especially now with the kids.  While in Indiana this spring, awaiting our new housing situation, we visited:  the Fort Wayne Zoo (twice), the Indianapolis Zoo, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Quick Facts:

Fort Wayne Zoo
Hours:  Daily, 9am-5pm
Admission Cost:  Adult:  $13.50, Child (2-14) $8.50, 1 and under free
Parking:  Free and abundant
Rides:  Sky Safari, Train Ride, River Ride, Carousel Ride:  all $2.00; Pony Rides:  $5
Extra Info:  Bring Quarters for duck food, $1 to feed the giraffe, $1 to feed the goats; Get a ride pass to save a little bit on the rides

Best zoo around.  Seriously.  Recent changes to the safari take away a little of the magic from childhood, but it is still a beautiful zoo.  Feeding the giraffes is a new thing to excite little ones. 

Zoo on the first day of Spring!

 Zoo toward the end of spring!

Indianapolis Zoo
Hours:  Mon-Thurs, 9-5pm; Fri-Sun, 9-7pm
Admission Cost:  Adult:  $16.95, Child:  $11.95(free if your awesome in-laws have a membership you can get in with)
Parking:  $6.00
Rides: feed a giraffe, carousel, train, and roller coaster all cost $2.50.  $5.00 for the 4D theater (or get a ride pass to save a little)
Extra Info:  Get your tickets online and save a few dollars a person.

Dolphin show is unique, not found in many zoos.  Touch tank in Oceans exhibit lets kids get up close and personal.

Lincoln Park Zoo
Hours:  Varies throughout the year, about 7am-6pm
Admission Cost:  FREE
Parking:  located at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive; anything over 30 minutes is $20 in the off-season, and $20-35 in the summer months
Rides:  Carousel tickets are $2.75, train tickets are $2.50
Extra Info:   Look into a membership to save on parking if you live close but not close enough

You can also stop at the free conservatory on your way in.  For being right in the middle of the city, this seemed to be a huge park.

 Eli's first time on a carousel!

The (Smithsonian) National Zoo(logical) Park with young children (a Pre-schooler and a Baby)

After getting rained out the last few days, we headed into the city today to visit the National Zoo.  While I have been to this zoo a couple times before, taking both boys, by myself, while parking in a completely different lot and having the new elephant facilities and carousel open, I felt like I was here for the first time.  A lot has changed in the last few years.  Everything seemed new, and the day worked out pretty perfectly for a mama and boys outing.

Today, I decided to go ahead and buy a membership.  For a free zoo.

Sounds a little crazy, but when you realize that "free" in a lot of cities means paying an arm and a leg for parking, it makes sense to look into a membership.  For my level of membership (premier), I get:  free parking, discount on stroller rentals (in case I forget mine/don't have room for it), two carousel ride tickets ($6 value), 2 free drink and discount food (at least $8 value), and discounts at the stores.  I figure as long as I go three times in the next year, I'll break even for sure (since I'm driving in and not taking the metro).  And hopefully we will go more times.  It also has a reciprocal membership with the Fort Wayne Zoo, so I should get free/discounted membership there.  (Will update which once I know.)

Tips (for taking a three-year-old and a less-than-one-year-old):

• If you don't have a membership: park and ride, take the metro in (get off at Cleveland Park and walk downhill) and save on parking.  Rent your stroller there.
• Print the Map at home before you go (saves you $2).
• Realize that the zoo is quite hilly.  If you are pushing 75+ lbs of baby in a stroller, expect a workout.  Depending on where you park, you may want to plan your route to go uphill first, and downhill for the end of your trip.  Be SURE to go downhill on the American Trail (new in 2012). 
• Many buildings are not stroller friendly, so don't try to see everything.  OR, pack a carrier so you can lug around your heavy baby and still hold your crazy pre-schooler's hand when you park your stroller in a stroller parking area.
• The carousel is $3 per person.  For all riders, even parents and infants.  You must ride with kids less than 42 inches (I think, there was a sign that Theo was a few inches short of).  For me, this meant paying $9 to sit on the chariot holding a sleeping baby and a three-year-old.  But, it was worth it.  I LOVE carousels, and so does Theo.  I was so glad (though surprised) that he picked the chariot to sit on as I wasn't sure how I'd balance them both otherwise.
• A playground by the Prairie Dogs and one by the Kids' Farm can provide another distraction for one energetic child while another one needs a break/feeding. 
• Just bring food with you.  So much easier and cheaper than buying food there.  Don't forget sippy cups full of water.
• There IS a family bathroom by the elephant trail.  This is the most helpful tip of all.  It was the only one I happened to notice all day, though there may be others.  It was large enough that I could push my double stroller in, and we could all easily tend to bathroom needs.  Much better than cramming into a small stall holding the baby and trying to keep the three year old from opening the door the whole time.
• There are plenty of misters throughout in the summer.  There is also a very neat tidal pool (splash/fountain area) by the sea lions.  This was great today while it was super hot.  Consider dressing them in something that may get wet.  I was able to feed the baby while the older one played in here today, and we were lucky to be in this area at just about the hottest point of the day. 

Playing in the tidal pool.

A few more tips...

Give your three year old his own camera to take photos.  Makes for a cute photo op.

And apparently, keep your little one away from the aggressive cranes.

Next time we go, I'm going to plan to see more of the feedings and demonstrations.  Today, I was just focused on getting us there and back in one piece, without sunburn or dehydration.  

August was a fun month!

Theo got to revisit some of our favorite places this month, as we started looking toward another busy fall semester.  With the hurricane and earthquake added on, he had quite a few learning experiences this month!!

http://www.woodsidefarmcreamery.com/  (DIRT Sundae!)

http://www.brandywinezoo.org/ (The tiger is back!)

The Pool! (sorry, no pics)

Kilby Cream (I love the glass milk jugs!)

http://www.milburnorchards.com/(Grape picking!)

And daddy's birthday!  (The last one where Theo has young parents!)

Baby Trip

Once we completed teacher day 72 post-student (ok, maybe only 6 days past the student's last days-still way too many), we loaded up the car and headed home to meet some babies (and a lot of canines as well).  Theodore did a great job with pretty much all of them.  Here are some shots.
First Cousin M:  He loved her!  He did a great job loving on her, giving her her binky, and holding her hand.

 Pepper!

 My turn!

Dot!

Us meeting Ady June 2011.

Kari meeting Theodore Feb. 2010.

Us meeting Liam June 2011.

Ashley meeting Theodore, June 2011.

We also had a blast at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, as well as the Huntington splash park!

Zoo Time

So a couple weekends ago we decided it was time to take Theodore to his first zoo! It was a little dreary that morning, but I really wanted to go and we figured that would cut down on the crowds as well. We found that there is a little zoo in Wilmington called Brandywine Zoo, and with an admission price of $4 we couldn't resist! This nice little zoo was just the right size for Theodore, and runs alongside a beautiful river in Wilmington State Park. The zoo has been open since 1905, and the park has a very charming early 1900s feel. The zoo itself had some very nice exhibits, including a blue and yellow macaw (my favorite), lots of felines (an ocelot, bobcat, and clouded leopard to name a few), and a house full of monkeys. The Siberian tiger exhibit was being remodeled, so we'll have to head back up soon when they reopen it!



The next weekend we traveled to the second closest zoo to us, the Plumpton Park Zoo. This is a much newer zoo, which basically seems like it was a rescue for many unwanted animals that turned into a petting zoo, and then into an actual zoo. It was closed down for a while last year, but the new owners seem to really be making some improvements. Theodore really liked being able to feed the animals here (some deer, donkeys, sheep and goats). I was terrified of him feeding the donkeys, but he just giggled and loved it. My favorite here was the giraffe, those things always amaze me.


Now we can't wait to go home in June and go to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo with cousin Maci! I seriously believe this is one of the best zoos in the country, and I am so excited to take Theo there!