96 in DC... day 3

the last day we were in dc was by far the most exhausting!! we walked at least 10 miles that day.  we started off by heading to the zoo.  we hopped in the metro train and took it out there.  we weren't expecting much but it was actually a good size zoo!  we first went on the asian trail and then wandered aour way down through each of the other trails. first we saw these super cute pandas!! this giant one in the pics was hilarious laying on the ground with a branch on top of him eating away.

we stood there and watched him for a while.  then we saw otters, which we love! we liked them at the aquarium we saw a couple months ago... and these ones were so cute... they kept moving in a herd and all lifting their heads at the same time and running around.  love it!

we then walked around and saw all the different birds.  by far my favorite were the flamingos.  they were just so pretty and bright!!! and fascinating to watch.  they stand around on one leg and when they aren't looking or listening to something the rest the necks by laying their heads on their backs and their necks do this funny curl thing.  but i really loved them and daniel liked them too.  so bright.

we also saw this incredibly loud bird... can't remember what its called but it squawked so loudly! it was incredibly deafening.  we also saw a vulture. they are scary and its never a good thing to see these when out in the desert... means you are probably dead or almost... creepy.  we also liked the stork and the owls.

ok now really the most fascinating to watch were the gorillas.  they are big and kinda scary looking but do seem pretty human-like.  the biggest one was funny, he kept getting a snack and then sitting with his back to the concrete wall... just getting comfortable.  there were 4 others, one female, one young one and 2 other males.  just so neat to watch them.

there were also come orangutans ... we were excited as right as we got there one climbed up the tall tower and walked the ropes over our heads to the other side of the trail where there is another tower.  so cool how they move around.  there were two others just hanging out inside the tower feeding and cleaning eath other.

lastly we saw the lions... big loud scary animals.  daniel liked growling back at them.  we also saw a zebra.  so pretty.  my kind of horse.  

the whole zoo was on a downhill slope and we started at the top and sadly had to walk the entire length uphill to get back to the entrance and walk back to the metro.  wow i was exhausted!!!!! 

after the zoo we took a little break and ate lunch and sat down for a while.  we ate lunch by this really pretty lake/pond.  and couldn't help but take some pictures of little man dressed all cute with the leaves everywhere and the incredible fall scenery. 

  then we decided to walk around and see the rest of the monuments.  we walked to lincoln monument.  probably chris' favorites.  just really amazing man and all he did for this country.  

it also had the best view of the washington monument and the reflecting pool.  

we then walked over the the vietnam wall which was covered in flowers and papers from family members remembering their vetrans on nov. 11th the day before.  so many names its sad.  but a really neat memorial.  

we also saw the korean war memorial which i think is one of the neatest.  i just love the statues and all the faces reflecting on the wall next to it. plus the beautiful fall trees in the background!

we took another little break and had a snack... our feet were so tired and we still had a ways to go. we then headed over to the roosevelt monument which is this whole area and maze of his sayings and statues and water falls everywhere.  just so pretty in there.

the jefferson monument was our last stop... we walked all the way around the lake/river to get there.  i loved some of his words on the walls as well!  what amazing men have lead this country.  

we then walked back to our hotel and were so hopeful the baby would fall asleep on the way so we walked around forever!! we had even decided on where to go for dinner but ended up not being able to because daniel wouldn't fall asleep and was so tired.  so we grabbed mcdonalds.  awesome i know!  and walked back to the hotel.  we ate quickly, fed the baby and put him in bed.  i was just so glad i wouldn't have to walk anywhere for another 10 hours at least.  we got up early and headed back to camp lejeune.  chris had to muster (check in) at 3pm.  we made it in perfect time to drop us off and he went to the target parking lot and got checked off on the list.  it was an amazing trip and i'm so glad we took it now.  we may not have had such an easy time with daniel if he were older.  we probably won't do any big trips like this for a while since it is so expensive to just fly home for christmas every year, but it was awesome and perfect trip to check off our "must see someday" list.  

november 96 in DC... day 2

sunday november 11th we thought it would be cool to go to arlington cemetery.  i assumed it would be busy, but not unbearable.  we got up a little later than expected as the baby slept in pretty late (not complaining).  we got ready and walked to the federal triangle metro station.  bought our tickets... which was a hilarious process as we are a little slow... and finally got down to the track and figured out which side we needed to be on.  luckily our train came in 4 min... the ride was fun.  my first time on a subway.... daniel's too!! haha everyone on the train was smiling at daniel and i'm assuming he was smiling back since they kept doing it.  one lady had to stop and see what everyone was staring at when she left and she just stopped and smiled too.  its really fun having such a cute baby with crazy hair.

we arrived at arlington cemetery pretty quickly and once we got to the entrance gate we were surprised to see a giant line... like giant.  so we got in line... not knowing what was going on.  eventually we realized we were in line to ride the bus... or trolley or whatever to go to the ceremony at the amphitheater... we waited for a long time and then finally made it on a bus only to be told we weren't allowed to move for a while because president obama was on his way... what? crazy.  and sure enough 20 min later his motorcade came driving through right in front of us.  a whole 20 car motorcade :)

finally we were on our way in and once we made it to the amphitheater it was full and they were no longer letting people in because obama was there.... it was funny... chris was excited to thing we would be going to a ceremony that obama was in attendance and then we couldn't go because obama was there.. haha! it was awesome.  sadly because of the ceremony they weren't letting you in to see any of the other cool monuments like Kennedy's or tomb of the unknown etc.  we could walk around just not to those till after the ceremony at 1pm... it was 11 so we decided not to stay.  we took a few pictures because it was BEAUTIFUL there with all the tombstones and trees with changing leaves... we snapped a few shots and left.

we took the subway back to national mall and headed to the holocaust museum.  we weren't allowed to take any pics so i don't have any :)  but it was an interesting experience.  not sad to the point of crying, but sobering.  there was so much information to read and pictures to see, we read through as much as we could. i didn't realize how early the torturing had started and all the crazy things they were doing to make people's lives miserable.  i love world war II history and have read lots of books and seen a bunch of movies on the subject, so it wasn't overly shocking to read and see the things in the museum, but so informative and sad.  at the beginning they give you an identification card (boy or girl) and as you go through the museum you check on different pages and see what happened to your person.  my girl was put in a work camp and even marched in the 4 month death march, but she lived.  amazing someone could live through all that.  chris' was a rebel and fought back with the polish as much as he could and carried stuff in sewers and such and even fought with guns later and he still lived.  i left feeling grateful that we live in this country were we are free to practice religion we want... i love being a member ofThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I would be so sad if we lived in a place where we weren't allowed to live as we chose.  

after we left we had to get drinks and sit and eat our lunches... we were starved!!! we sat by the carousel and watched the cute kids riding around.  after lunch we decided to walk up to the capitol building and look at it... take some pics :) 

we then walked towards our hotel and decided to stop at ford's theater where president lincoln was shot and killed... and we also saw the house where he actually died.  we didn't go in either since we had the stroller and sleeping baby, but we walked by it... i also wanted to show chris the gum trees... i had been to DC when i was 18 (10 years ago!!) on a church history tour and i remember the trees covered in gum outside ford's theater... and they were gone this time! not the trees but the gum... and you can see where they have scrapped it off and then put iron gates around the trees to stop you from putting gum on it... a little sad cause they were cool but they did look a little gross covered in chewed gum.

we walked over to the hard rock cafe for dinner and it was so loud with music and people yelling for birthdays and amazingly my baby stayed asleep though most of dinner... and even when he woke up he was very good to just hang out in his stroller... we are so spoiled with this one!!  after dinner we headed back to the hotel and called it a night... another good day in dc!  

  

november 96 in DC... day 1

every national holiday we get longer liberty in the military.. and since we are on a marine base we get 96's... 96 hours of liberty.  for this one (veterans day weekend) we decided to go to washington, dc. one of the biggest reasons we chose camp lejeune as our first choice for duty was so we could travel the east coast as we haven't had much opportunity.  so we got a great hotel (hotel harrington) which is like a 3 block walk to the national mall, suggested by my sister in law meesha (thanks!)  and we hit the road.  it took us 6 hours to get there and hit it perfectly when all the traffic was leaving town so ours wasn't too slow.  daniel was great the whole drive and ate and slept with out much fuss at all.  that night we ate dinner at qudoba as it was the first thing chris saw while walking to our hotel... and he has been dying to go once we get back to reno next summer. so he was thrilled to find one here! haha

we had a good night that first night.  daniel slept pretty well and we woke up early the next morning, got ready and headed out the door.  we arrived at the national mall at 9 am... and the smithsonians don't open till 10... woops.  we walked around and took pictures of daniel and the washington monument, and of capitol hill and then walked up and around the washington monument.

we finally walked back to the american history smithsonian and there was a national coast guard choir out front, and a man came out in top hat and coat to welcome us to the museum, and then the choir sang the national anthem.  i got a little choked up.  who wouldn't?!  

once inside we realized that since we are in the off season a lot of the exhibits were closed as they change some out every year.  which was ok.. there was still a lot to see.  my favorite room was the presidents exhibit.  the presidents wives dresses and even the info about each president was interesting.  i didn't realize how many had died in office.  

we also went in the transportation exhibit that was full of cars and trains... we took a few pics of trains for my grandpa... who is obsessed and has a true love of trains.

we also saw an original sun stone from the original nauvoo temple that was burned down, and a piece of the berlin wall (which i have actually seen in berlin)  and one of harry potter's robes!!! i know right??!! very cool!  haha 

we left around lunch time and walked out to the grassy area and had lunch.  i brought snacks with us so we just found a bench and rested our feet for a minute and ate... and people watched.  which is half the fun of going on vacations.  i always love people watching with chris because he likes to tell me peoples life stories... at least what he thinks their stories are.  its very entertaining.  

after lunch break we walked down to the air and space museum... chris and i both love the space program and have read books on the subject and have both watch several space program movies including apollo 13 which we have watched several times (i'm obsessed... plus it has kevin bacon in it).  first thing you walk in and there are capsules and ships all over the place.  air planes hanging from the ceiling.  very cool!  whats not cool are the crazy people running around and constantly running you over.  i hate being short and trampled. 

i was very excited to see things from various gemini missions, and apollo missions including gene kranz white vest he wore during the apollo 13 crisis... like in the movie! so cool.  chris' favorite exhibit was the one about the planets... by that time i was tired and there was just way too much to read in that one and a little over my head... so i sat down.  we laughed later that night when talking about our favorite things of the day and he mentioned this exhibit and i said it was my least favorite and his favorite.. haha go figure.

we also got tickets to see an imax 3d movie in the museum... it was very cool.  it was about some cook space stuff but was narrated be leonardo dicaprio!!! hahaha chris was in heaven. he seriously loves things like that. anything imax and 3d.  daniel liked it for the most part except when the loud spaceship launched and we later flew into some black hole... both times he burst into very sad little tears, but quickly calmed down.  

after a quick trip to the museum store and a few little items, we walked back towards our hotel by way of walking by the white house.  chris was shocked it was just in the middle of everything.  and it seemed much smaller than he thought it was going to be.  haha.  we took a few pics and headed on towards the hotel.

for dinner we just ate at the restaurant at the hotel... the food was fine but it took forever to get our food which was tough as at that time daniel was ready to get in the room (as was i!)  we quickly fed him and gave him a quick bath and put him to bed.  he had taken good naps all day, but was definitely ready for bed.  it was a great day.  the weather was perfect, slightly cold but nice for walking around everywhere and we saw lots of really neat things!!

9 months...

9 months!!! last time in a single digit month!  little man is growing and happy.  his stats this month

height: 28.5 (50th%... down from 78% at 6months)

weight: 18.12 (doc said 25th% but when i looked it up it was more like 10% which makes more sense... 6 month was 6th%... jump to 25% thats not right)

head: 18 (50th%)

our doctors visit today was frustrating for so many reasons!  but mostly the doc ( one i have never seen before) was all concerned that daniel wasn't crawling.  she wants to have a therapist come to my house and work with him... what?? thats weird.... he doesn't crawl or pull himself up to stand on furniture or walk around it and she freaked like he was sooooo slow.  it seemed a little hasty to get a therapist.  lots of babies take their time to crawl!! and he is just happy and content to play on his back or sit in one place... grrr...

anyway.  here are some things he is doing:

- smiles at everyone and everyone smiles at him and his crazy hair (which is starting to fall a little more every week)

- sits up really well by himself with nothing supporting him.

- loves peek a boo....

- talks/ babbles all the time, especially when he is alone in his crib after sleeping... he will stay there and talk for nearly 30 min every morning

- eats food well and likes to eat.

- is now using just a bottle... and likes to have fun with it.... ex:

- he learned this is what happens when you shake the bottle while its full...

- he is really sleeping through the night... about 12 hrs.  only occasionally wakes up crying for pacifier or diaper change.

- still only 2 teeth with possibly 4 coming in right now.

- laughs at the funniest things

- ready to be in the big bath, keeps pulling up out of the baby bath... time to move on.

- he likes to roll right up to furniture and then climb in it... or bang on it... scratch it... 

- he also likes to just sit still... haha

- he plays really well by himself and is just a happy happy baby

- he loves the camera... any time i pull it out to take his picture he perks right up and smiles and laughs... 

- he has the prettiest and sweetest face!

he gets a good work out every day just flapping his arms and legs...

- he has started laughing at himself... 

has started saying no.... when i'm trying to feed him.  its hilarious.

- finally figured out how to bounce in his bouncer...

ahh we just love this little guy and are so happy with him!  he's getting so big!!

  

first halloween...

we actually had a pretty fun halloween this year...  first the saturday before halloween we went to a couples party.  our friends in the ward hosted it at their home.  there were treats and lots of chatting and a game... and a costume contest.  we dressed at "prisoners of love" ha!  i found these cheap jail costumes at the store and some handcuffs and then i made a cardboard heart that hung from them... and we walked around for most of the party handcuffed together... it was awkward and hilarious.  we didn't win any prizes, but it was still really fun!  my friend dressed up as Brave which is perfect since she has beautiful red curly hair (so jealous!)

on wednesday i dressed daniel up in his skeleton cotsume and took some pics... he's just so dang cute and loves the camera. every time i pull it out he's gets so excited and just smiles and laughs the whole time...

when chris got home from work we headed over to the park in our neighborhood where the HOA was putting on this block party.... there was free food, bounce houses,  hey rides, and a parade around the neighborhood.  it was really cute and fun for the short time we were there.

the boys waiting in line for food

his face is too funny in this one

but i look cuter in this one

then we went back to our house to watch the parade of kids in costume come by and then we passed out candy.  in our neighborhood everyone just sits in the driveways and passes it out... they also have friends over and make a whole party out of it... next year we will do it right... it was so cold sitting out side!!

our neighbors across the street having a party

it was a fun night and no we did not take daniel around to get candy... we just kept a few pieces of our own. we actually had a ton since our neighbor told us we get flooded with kids... but there weren't too many so we passed out 3 at a time candy cause i didn't not want so much left over and i didn't want to sit outside forever! haha happy halloween!!