Ryan's First Zoo Adventure

Sunday the 11th Oct, (Queens Birthday Long Weekend) we took Ryan to the Adelaide Zoo for the first time. I think I can say he loved it. We had been wanting to take him for a little while as he is very aware of everything now. The weather looked like it was going to be good so made a last minute decision to take him. Mum and Dad, Nan & Pop to Ryan came with us so it was lovely day out. Left home about 10:00am and pulled back into the drive way around 5:00pm.

Mmmm.....where did we start? Well we were making our way down to see the Gorilla's that are on loan to the zoo until September, but got sidetracked along the way. Ryan has a fascination for birds so we looked at a lot of these on our way down to the Gorilla's. Macaws, Flamingo's, Eclectus and many more. Michael and I hadn't been to the zoo in about 3 years when we took his Mum who was then over from Tasmania.

We saw the Gorilla's and the Chimps and were about to head into the Kids petting area, but thought about lunch first. To me this was just as memorable as the day. I got Ryan a highchair so he could sit at grown up level and he loved it. He is such a show off. I had just finished giving him two jars of gel earlier, so gave him the jar, lid and spoon to play with. What a clever little boy, he was putting on and taking the lid of the jar.

Next minute the spoon starts going in the jar and then into his mouth. He was trying to feed himself. Not something he had shown any interest in up until now. I was so happy. Over and over again he put the spoon into the jar and then back into his mouth, ok, so there was nothing on the spoon but the idea was there. It kept him amused too.

It was obvious with so much to look at that Ryan wasn't going to fall asleep in his pram. He usually has a morning nap around 11:00am. After lunch we headed back to the petting zoo, where they had baby deer running around. They were very cheeky, even getting into the bottom of prams. Ryan loved it, and although we didn't buy any food for them we managed to pick up a bit of chaff from the ground and put it in Ryan's hand in the hope a deer would come over. Ryans was more interested in putting it into his mouth than feeding it.

We went through the tropical enclosure and saw lots more different birds, which Ryan loved, and Mummy loved too, especially the Rainbow Lorikeets. We made our way back to the Pelicans' in time to see them feed, via the Little Penguins, the Zebras', American Buffalo and the Pygmy Hippos' Victoria and Albert.

We saw the Pelicans feed, which always keeps me happy too, as along with the Rainbow Lorikeet, are my fave bird. We let Ryan out for a run/crawl around on the lawned area near the rotunda for him to stretch his legs and for mum and I to go and get a drink. It was getting so cold, and even rain looked threatening, but it did hold.

The lions roar in the distance attracted to their cages like a magnetic. The lion was in full voice and one of the lioness' joined him. Not something I had heard before, and even Mum had commented on it, all the times she had been to the zoo she had never heard them either. So I felt lucky. It was getting colder, we were all starting to feel it. One thing we hadn't seen was the seals, so headed off in that direction via the Tassie Devils, and Echinida's and the newer Monkey enclosures with which they have tried to replicate what it would be like in the wild. Expect I guess the monkeys wouldn't have toys hanging from the trees now would they?

Ryan was still wide awake, although at times it looked like he might just give in, but he didn't. He didn't fall asleep until we were pulling into the street. He nearly made it til tea time. I didn't want to wake him so let him sleep fully clothed until we woke 2 hours later. I changed him and gave him a bottle and he went straight back to sleep again.

With all the screams, squeal, finger pointing and look, look's going on I think Ryan had a good day. I think we all had a good day.