Cameron Park Zoo in Waco

I know I'm a little late in posting this, but we took Grace to the Cameron Park Zoo for her actual birthday! We drove up on Monday, the day before her birthday, and stayed in a really nice Hampton Inn (I highly recommend this hotel to anyone who needs to spend the night in Waco!).

Grace playing on the luggage carrier.

Grace and Daddy checking out the cool closet.

Once we checked into our hotel, we decided to drive around Waco a little bit before stopping and eating at George's, which by the way had great food. Jeff and I both had chicken fried steak and Grace picked her favorite grilled cheese and fries. After eating such an early dinner, we went back to the hotel and went swimming in their indoor pool and ate jelly beans.

Next, we were off to give Grace a bath and then it was bedtime or so we thought. :o) We decided that we wouldn't haul Grace's portable crib with us and that she could just sleep with us. Well, between all the excitement of sleeping in a new place, the thought of going to the zoo and Mommy and Daddy watching TV, Grace decided that she didn't want to go to sleep. Finally, around 9:00, Jeff and I decided to turn off the TV in hopes of Grace settling down and falling asleep. I think she finally fell asleep around 9:30/9:45. I knew this was going to make for a long day at the zoo.

The day of Grace's birthday(May 19th), we all woke up at 6:45AM, laid in bed and watched cartoons for a little bit and then started getting ready. Grace was a little grumpy and I wonder why? ;o) After we all got dressed, we headed down to eat breakfast and then we were off to the zoo around 9:15AM. Grace ended up falling asleep on the short ride over to the zoo. Jeff and I decided it was best for all of us that we let her sleep a little bit. So, we just drove around downtown Waco for a bit and then headed to the zoo to find a parking spot under a shade tree. Grace ended up sleeping about an hour before she woke up. Now, it was time for the zoo!

Here's how our trip to the zoo panned out.

Daddy and Grace looking at the turtles.

Still looking at the turtles.

Grace loves turtles. This was even one of her first words.

We saw...

Lions













and

Tigers

(okay...maybe one tiger, who was pacing back and forth)

and

Bears

Oh, my!

Jeff just couldn't resist from being in the picture with the bears! ;o)

We saw...
Elephants

Rhinos

and

Giraffes

We saw...

a butterfly garden

Hueco Indian houses

Teepees

Buffalo

and

"fossils"

We saw...

Reptiles and Amphibians

We saw...

Fish

and

lastly the

Birds

By this time Grace was so tired and ready for a nap. She didn't even want to eat lunch.

Grace slept all the way home.

We had such a WONDERFUL time and couldn't have asked for better weather!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, my little sweet pea!