Riverbanks Zoo

This weekend we went to the Riverbanks Zoo, in Columbia, SC.  It's a super easy one hour drive south from our house, so this year we invested in season passes!  Ava fell asleep in the car on the way down, so when we got there it took her a moment to wake up and warm up - but when she did she was hysterical!  Dancing around the zoo, making lots of animal sounds and all & all, having a great time!!!  

Papa T and K came to meet us at the zoo and I think they had a nice time also.  Thankfully, we got there just after a rain storm passed, which meant it wasn't as hot as it could've been!  Our season passes give Ava an "activities pass".  She got to feed the goats, the giraffes (which she was a little scared of their big blue tongues!) and she got to ride the merry-go-round.  Unfortunately, the pony rides were closed, but next time!

After the zoo, Ava was knocked out.  After over a 2 hour nap, I attempted to wake her up, but she wanted no parts of it - but I wasn't mad.... I'll take that cuddly girl laying with me any day! 

As you can see I'm in the home stretch of this pregnancy and we are pumped!  So far,  I've gained 15 pounds - and it's all gone straight to my stomach and arms, be warned!  6 more weeks to go and the doctor wants me to pack on some pounds - initially they had asked me to gain between 25-35 pounds, but let's be honest.... not very possible.  I have an energetic 2+ year old and a full time job; being that busy and always on my feet doesn't allow for too much weight gain - but Jeff is doing his part to help me gain some more weight in these final weeks, encouraging brownies, mangos, granola and yogurt snacks, basically around the clock!  Although there is zero Italian in us - we might be carb-aholics in the next six weeks and eat pasta all the time, just to try and gain the weight needed!!!