Trekking Through The Tetons

Okay, not the REAL Tetons, but the new Teton Trek exhibit at the Memphis Zoo. I don't take my camera EVERY time to we go to the zoo anymore, because we go a lot, but we've been waiting and waiting for the new Yellowstone-themed exhibit since we moved back to the city. It opened this weekend. Only members can see it this week, and the peons can see it starting next weekend. We went with our friends Heather and Steve and their daughter Laney, enjoyed absolutely perfect weather, grizzly cubs swimming and a seal show. Eventually, there will be more animals in the TT area--for now, three bear cubs and 5 gray wolves, as well as some heron-type birds. There's a fountain in front, designed to appear like the geyser Old Faithful. I already foresee very wet children running happily through it during the hot Memphis summers! There's a huge log lodge, and a waterfall in the bear exhibit that visitors can walk over to peer down at the cubbies. Lovely. We're now looking forward to the Chickasaw Bluffs (a raised wooden boardwalk through 17 acres of old growth forest in Overton Park, where the zoo is located) and Zambezi River (for hippos) in the next couple of years. Bring it on, Memphis Zoo!

My Little Fireball!

On October 2, Amelia turned 2! My very last baby is officially a toddler, and I am officially...thrilled. I know, I know, they grow up too fast. That is entirely correct. There are absolutely lots of things I will miss about Amelia's babyhood and having babies in general. But when I really look at the big picture, I am quite okay with where we are with our family. Every day at this age is just a window into what Amelia's sweet little mind is taking in, and she can TELL me about it. I LOVE that. She's telling stories, using complete sentences, naming her emotions. She wants to do what her big sisters do, but she still snuzzles into the crook of my neck when I rock her to sleep. Amelia is determined to wear "those pretty boots" and not the boring old sneakers. Things send her into hysterical belly laughter, and we're reaping the benefits of her humor as well. She told the dog today "Quincy, you a dog. You say woof-woof. I do not say woof-woof. I say "time for juice!" She can tell on her sisters: "Molly did that to me. I said 'no-no Molly' cause I don't like that. She made me so mad." She likes to sit on the potty, mostly to name all the Dora characters on the potty seat, to wipe repeatedly, and to flush and giggle. So far, no actual deposits in the potty, but I have learned with the first two, this will come when she feels like it and not a day sooner. These are wonderful days, and I embrace each one!

Now for the sappier part. Here are a few of the million things I will miss from my Amelia's first two years:


1) Baby smell. Fortunately, with my job and my friends' kids, I can sort of recreate this. But my own baby's smell was unique and perfect, and darn it, you can't bottle that.
2) Onesies. Those are the greatest baby inventions ever. She's far too interested in other things to sit around waiting for the snapping process on a onesie now. It's a battle I am less inclined to fight, especially with independent potty use on the horizon.
3) Nursing. I posted about this a little less than 2 years ago, when Amelia was tiny. Go back and read it. Amelia stopped cold turkey one day around age 1, telling me "Nah!" and holding out her hand in a talk-to-the-hand sort of way. Broke my heart.
4) Containment. The ability to keep one's child in an exersaucer/swing/sling/carrier/crib/carseat is an under-rated luxury. No stopping that kid now.
5) Toe sucking. I adore that phase, with the feet in the mouth. Nice clean feet.
6) Amelia's hot body. When she fell asleep on someone, she would heat up like a fireball. With her red hair, this became a fitting nickname for her.
7) Other people holding her. While she's still pretty friendly and okay to go to others, the tiny Amelia would be happy to curl her hot little self up on anyone who was willing. And many were willing. People are still willing, but she's more choosy. Frankly, this makes my job harder.
8) Maternity Leave. It was never long enough, but boy was it awesome. Just me and the kid, hanging out, wearing PJs and getting to know each other.
9) Movies with the infant. Amelia could and would sleep through movies, as long as she could be nursed on demand as needed.
10) Teeny tiny baby feet. Enough said.

Here's hoping for not-so-terrible two's, because right now, I wouldn't trade this Moment In Time for anything on Earth. Amelia, I love you, my baby girl!

Backyard Birthday Bash

Amelia turns 2 on October 2 (stay tuned for sappy Mom nostalgia entry on that day), but next weekend had some scheduling conflicts for the b-day party, so this afternoon, we celebrated the Big Numero Dos. I rented a moonbounce (big hit) for the backyard, which was miraculously dry after flood-like rains for days preceding. We set up playdough on the deck, covered the kitchen table with butcher paper for coloring, had a bubble blower and a tent. Amelia got a playhouse from us for her b-day, and that was out for the kids as well. The weather was truly magnificent, breezy and sunny. The grown-ups took turns guarding the big bouncey (and a few even got in!) and just chatting, while the kids wandered from activity to activity. Amelia was hesitant at first about the bouncey, but she caught on quickly and eventually hopped in and out like she owned the thing. After guests left, Amelia enjoyed a fabulous bath where she tried out many Dora-themed bath toys she received.

Bom-Bom Turns 101!

We--children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren--gathered at Bom-Bom's nursing home for her 101st birthday! The greats (Molly, Rebecca, Amelia and Maggie) turned swimming noodles into light sabers, and everyone posed for pictures with the Queen of the McKees,who cracked us all up by waving for every shot. She opened presents, and everyone enjoyed cake and ice cream. Rebecca made an owl card for her (see below) and Amelia put Bom-Bom's new socks on and trotted around in them. Can't wait for 102...!

My Big Backyard

The Memphis Botanic Gardens are a lovely respite from city life & hold lots of happy memories for our family. Peter and I had our engagement pictures taken there, and our wedding reception was held in one of the banquet halls. The girls love to feed the greedy koi fish and run through the flowers and among the trees. We'd never really considered getting a membership, though, because there was nothing specifically for kids. That has changed with the opening of My Big Backyard. Local artists were commissioned to build themed playhouses (the biggest is a two-part gigantic treehouse/"birdhouse" connected by a swinging bridge), there's a wading creek and a rain storm simulation (sprinklers), musical instruments made out wood and recycled items, swings, slides, and gardens planted in/on furniture (bed frames planted with flowers instead of a bedspread, plants springing out of a clawfoot tub). The kids had a blast, Papa came along, and, on our way out, we bought a family membership!

Funnel Cakes & Ferris Wheels & FUN!

One of my best childhood memories is of the Mid-South Fair. In late September, the carnies would roll into town and set up shop by our year-round amusement park called Libertyland. The 4H kids would bring their show animals and we city kids would marvel at the huge-and-stinky cows and pigs, ooh and aah over the rabbits and guinea pigs, cheer at the armadillo races. We'd wait in long lines, watch teenagers in spandex making questionable relationship decisions, and eat sweet, greasy food for hours. We'd listen to heavy metal bands on the Himalaya, spinning around so fast our heads ached, then wait forever for the Gravitron or the Scrambler. In my teen years, my parents even let me go without them--in fact, one of my first dates with Peter was to the fair. We saw the Temptations in concert and had our first picture together.

The Mid-South fair still exists, but this year is its first year out of the city, down in Mississippi. In its stead, for the city kids, is the Delta Fair at the Agricenter. No livestock. Fewer unaccompanied minors (supposedly). More family-friendly. There are pros and cons to this new plan, but for my kids, this is where their memories will be. So we loaded them up, forked over their inheritance to get in and get hand stamps for unlimited rides, and spent Labor Day evening at the Delta Fair!







Since our trip to Hershey Park earlier this year, the older girls have been waiting for a chance to display their fearlessness when it comes to thrill rides. They will ride anything. Rebecca got a little pouty when she was too small for the upside down rides, but we had a blast. Amelia rode the merry-go-round. Then Peter and I took turns riding with Molly & Becca, while Amelia happily took in the sights and smells and inhaled not one but TWO corndogs and sucked the life out of two lemons from the fresh-squeezed lemonade (you know, the kind they make by adding sugar and shaking it). She wailed as her dried-out lemons fell on the ground ("mimi's yemon! ooohh! poor yemon! i want it!"), but by then she was exhausted and she soon fell asleep. The sun set, the lights came on, and Molly and Rebecca and I rode the ferris wheel, for the spectacular view of the fair lights from above. Fireworks closed out the night, and we slept well (after thorough bathing, of course!). I can still smell those funnel cakes....