Ronnie has no shortage of family in the area, and while there we were able to spend time with his cousin, Jennifer, who has a four month old that we finally got to meet, along with a toddler. Ronnie's dad and his girlfriend were also there. Ronnie's Aunt Sandra had to work, so we didn't get a chance to see her. Uncle Dave wasn't there, but we stopped by to see him on our way home.
Anyhow, Mellie had the best time. For the most part, we sat on some picnic tables towards the back near the band, and let Mellie wonder around freely (with supervision). I had such a great time watching her wander about, approaching some people, while steering clear of others. She's so charming, anyone who saw her couldn't help but smile. I was surprised by how far she felt comfortable wandering, but when she got too far, I approached her without getting too close to allow her some independence. On several occasions, she approached the edge of the concrete and then looked up for someone to hold her hand. If I was there, she would take my hand and tentatively step off the concrete. If no one was there, she would just wonder off in another direction. This is something I have noticed when taking her on walks in the neighborhood. She will reach for my hand anytime there is a "break" in the concrete, whether it is a crack or just the end of one square and the beginning of another. I think it's because there are frequently elevation changes involved (as there were at the Kolache Festival) and she is less confident with elevation changes.
I wish we could have let her get up on the moonwalks. There were several of them, and I think she would have enjoyed it, although I don't think she has the skills to stand and jump in them. Unfortunately, there were too many big kids playing, and I was worried she would get hurt.
I did take the opportunity to take her into the petting zoo. This petting zoo had rabbits, a chicken, geese, goats, two fawns, a llama, a pig, a donkey/mule and a wallaby. For the most part, Mellie was not interested in the animals. Every once in a while, she would reach out and give a goat a pat. Soon after we entered, the donkey/mule came over to see us. He was particularly interested in Mellie. I was cautious, but allowed him to approach her. Initially, I thought that he was investigating the new girl and whether she had any feed (you could buy feed for the animals for $2 - we didn't). I figured as soon as he realized we didn't have any, he would leave. But, he didn't seem to care at all that Mellie didn't have any feed. He was so interested in her and he got so close to her I was worried he would knock her over, but he didn't. I picked her up so she could give the llama a pat (which also didn't interest her). When I put her down, the donkey had wondered over again to the point that I was again worried he was planning on knocking her over. He didn't. I rewarded him with a head scratch after noticing earlier he was scratching his cheek on a chair.
At least one (if not both) of the fawns were pretty skittish. It was difficult to tell them apart, so I couldn't really tell if it was one or both. I never saw both acting skittish at once. By this point, we were near the entrance/exit, and I was planning on leaving the petting zoo soon. Several of the goats had gathered nearby and I was watching Mellie closely as I could tell there were some social issues going on among them. Meanwhile, I wasn't paying attention to the fawn who was freaking out about something. He got himself between me and the fence, and Mellie was right in front of him. I didn't move for fear of freaking the fawn out any more, but I was worried for Mellie because I could tell the fawn was weighing options for getting past her. Keep in mind, this all happened in an instant. The next thing I knew, the fawn made it's decision and went sailing over Mellie's shoulder. Amazing. I immediately scooped Mellie up (I'm not sure she even noticed that he jumped over her because she had her back to him).
I made my way to the exit and was trying to figure out how to get past the goat that were sitting/standing at the exit gate. Remember earlier when I was concerned about the posturing of the goats? Well, I had reason to be concerned, and as I was trying to figure out my exit strategy, two of them started locking horns and ramming each other. Remember, these are petting zoo goats. They aren't very big, and they aren't really into it (or maybe they're too fat to do much more), but I still don't want to interfere. Then, a third goat gets involved and one of the first two wonders off. There are another two or three watching this all go down. Meanwhile, I noticed a wallaby in a fenced off section, so I take Mellie over to give it a pat through the fence while the goats handle their "issues." When we were done, the goats had wondered away from the gate and we managed to make our exit.
After the petting zoo, I was worried Mellie was a little flushed, so I took her into the KC (Knights of Columbus) Hall so she could cool down in the A/C. I also gave her a pouch of food she could eat. Tangentially, we have made the mistake of encouraging Mellie to eat finger foods and dependently use utensils at home, and she has gotten to where she will not let me and/or Ronnie spoon feed her. She doesn't have a problem with it at Ms. Betty's, but god forbid one of us try it. Anyhow, they have these little pouches with like straw openings, and she can suck the food out herself, thus allowing her to be independent as she prefers. They are a godsend.... However, they are a little pricey at around a buck a pouch.... Anyhow, back to he KC Hall and the A/C. Unfortunately, they had already put up all of the chairs that had been out earlier when I went to the Kolache Making Demonstration. Mellie is in a stage where she likes climbing up on chairs, so that would have kept her occupied. But instead, it was a big, open, empty hall. With a door that swings open when pushed. Mellie, being the most brilliant toddler that has ever walked the earth, quickly realized it had a door she could open. So, she kept opening the door and going outside, back in the heat. Thus undermining my efforts to cool her off. After about six attempts, I gave up and we went walking back to Daddy.
At some point after this, Mellie went wondering off, and Ronnie went to go get her when she wandered too far. Somehow, they wound up on the dance floor, and my husband (who has only danced with me on our wedding day and at our wedding reception two weeks later) took Mellie for a swing around the dancefloor. Note how Mellie looks like she is going slide down at any moment.
Notice Ronnie's wardrobe -- khaki shorts, white polo, baseball hat and tennis shoes. During her wanderings, it was always amusing to watch her when she realized she had wandered back to us, her face would light up and she was laugh and run over to us, throwing her arms up to be picked up. During one wandering, I saw a man wearing khaki shorts, white polo, baseball hat and tennis shoes who was NOT Ronnie, standing with a bunch of people we didn't know. As I saw what was coming, I jumped up and rushed over to catch her before it happened, but I didn't make it. She walked right up to him, threw her little arms up to him and grabbed his shorts, tugging them and letting "Daddy" know she wanted him to pick her up. I managed to get to her just after, picking Mellie up and showing her that he was not her Daddy. I then explained to the gentleman that she had thought he was her Daddy, gesturing to Ronnie and they realized they were dressed similarly. Laughs were had all around.
These are the moments I treasure.
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