The Botanical Gardens

I was surprised to see that the botanical gardens weren't just plants. They had a really fun children's area with slides, caves, tree houses, boats, bridges, and all sorts of fun hands on activities. One that the girls loved was a little replica of how the panama canal works. They loved playing in the water and making the boat go in and out. We didn't get to spend much time in the children's area because several schools were there on field trips so the girls were getting lost and trampled a lot. But we'll definitely be back.

All throughout the gardens, there were different types of huts the kids could play in. I wish I would've gotten some pictures. I hardly got my camera out. Pictured below is a hedge maze. Someday I'd love to be in one I can't see out of, but it was a lot of fun for the toddlers.

All around the hedge maze was this fun little fountain. The girls got a kick out of it. There was one arc that was lower than the rest, so if you didn't watch it, you'd get hit in the face. I wonder if they did that on purpose just for a laugh?

Mikey mostly enjoyed the fine dining.
Part of the Japanese Gardens. It was much more beautiful than this picture lets on.

Mikey Can Walk This Earth

First, it started with his dinosaur he got from Grandma and Grandpa for his first birthday. He loves it and uses it all the time.

Next came some help from Daddy and Allie. But mostly Allie, I'm sure. They loved walking around like this. (I'm not so sure Mikey did. Allie tends to drag him around more. She seems so eager to get him walking.)
Next, he decided to finally take the big leap. Trevor and I had been trying to get him to take his first steps for weeks and he refused. If he saw us get a few feet apart and "assume the position," he'd automatically get jelly legs and flop to the ground. There was no way we were going to make him and he meant it. One day at our friend Alpha's house on May 4th, I was sitting on the floor and he had pulled himself up on an end table. I wasn't paying any attention to him, but suddenly he started walking towards me. I tried to show Trevor, but Mikey would get so excited that he'd stiffen up his whole body and fall over. It was a few days before Trev got to see.

This was Mikey today. One month and two days after first steps. He loves to practice. Loves it. He loves going back and forth between Trevor and I. He doesn't love going between the couch and I as much, but he'll do it anyway.