Animal Adventures

Annika and I have had some good outings lately. Last week, we went with some friends to the Birch Aquarium. Monday we ventured to the Wild Animal Park, and today we played at Lake Poway where we watched, fed, and chased the ducks and geese. (Follow the links for more pictures)

Annika knows enough words that she is able to talk about most of our experiences. She is starting to be able to narrate, in a very simple way, events from the recent past. She has this cute way of getting our attention (Hi? Hi?), so this is what our conversations are like during or after a fun adventure:
Hi? Hi?
Hi, Annika.
Fish!
Yes, we saw the fish today.
Water. Water.
Yes, the fish were in the water.
Swim!
Yes, they were swimming.

She is persistent about getting our full attention before she speaks, so If I don't respond to her right away or am talking to someone else, it's:
Hi? Hi? Hi? HI? HI? HI? HI HI HI HI HI HI HI??

Today at the lake, Annika suddenly connected the ducks swimming in the water with this silly book she has where a duck falls in the mud, gets dirty, and takes a bath. So she went, "Hi? Hi? Bath!"

I was also impressed today when she spotted a pair of ducks sleeping--impressed that she could tell that's what they were doing. (Her word for sleep is hilarious too--"hep" while holding her nose--adapted from the sign for sleep.)

As much as Annika loves all of these outings, she's equally thrilled when we go for a walk in our neighborhood and see a dog, cat, or bird. Everything is an adventure!