Sea World

While we were in California, M got to take his first trip to Sea World. We actually went twice, thanks to free media passes again. M really liked all the aquariums and especially seemed to like watching the whales swim around.

Playing in the polar bear cave:

We only watched one show, Pets Rule, because I knew M wouldn’t be able to sit still through multiple performances. In fact, we didn’t even make it all the way through Pets Rule because M got restless. But he loved the first half of it. At the beginning a bunch of cats and dogs are running all over the stage doing tricks at the same time and M was beaming so big and applauding while yelling, “Lizzy Lizzy!” He loved it. He also made friends with a baby girl about his age sitting behind us. He held her hand off and on throughout the first fifteen minutes of the show.

Another highlight of the day was petting the sting rays. M thought it was the coolest thing to get to pet them. Heck, he was thrilled just to splash around in the sting ray tank and would have slid right in there if we would have let him. The rays are so cool though because they come right up to you and enjoy being pet (unlike the dolphins who always swim juuuuuuuust out of reach when you try to pet them).

I have a confession to make. I never ever thought I would be this kind of parent… but I got a leash for M Bug and he used it for part of the day. I used to see parents with their kid on a leash, ahem excuse me HARNESS, and I would think that either the parents were probably kind of lazy or the kid was probably kind of out of control. I thought harnesses leashes were rather ridiculous. What a prime example of how humbling parenthood can be. Fast forward to now, and I finally get it.

You see, M Bug is a spirited little fellow and fiercely independent and when I let him get out of the stroller, he just runs away. He refuses to hold my hand and he is not good at staying close. It’s not that he’s trying to be naughty, he just loves to explore more than anything, and does not understand the concept that it is unsafe to wander off. He is usually fine in the stroller, but I feel bad strapping him in there ALLLLL day long. That wouldn’t be fun for him at all, and it was supposed to be a fun day. Hence, the leash. M bug could walk along happy as a clam, and we could let him be without having to redirect him/chase him down and tackle him every two seconds. Win-win.

We didn’t see the Shamu show, but we did go to the Shamu underwater viewing. There was only one whale in the tank, and you can kind of see him in the background of both pictures (ten points if you can find him):


I have another confession to make (who knew that a post about Sea World of all things could be so revealing, right?)… I am completely and totally terrified of Orca’s. My family teases me about it, but they are my worst nightmare. Literally. I know that is so random, but all of my worst recurring bad dreams star Shamu and have for years and years now.

I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because one time we were at the Shamu show and we saw Shamu attack a trainer. But though it was really scary to witness the attack as a helpless spectator, it doesn’t seem like a strong enough incident to be THAT scarring. Hmmm I just don’t know. Shamu…shudder… moving right along.

We ended the day at the little play portion of the park where we let M ride a few rides and then get soaking wet in the splash pad.


It was a real fun day with Aunt Chelsey!

Second Trip to Sea World:


I didn’t take as many pictures the second trip since we had been so recently, but we did do a few fun things we didn’t get to do the first time (like trade of watching M so we could ride a bunch of rides). Also, on our second trip, the polar bear kept coming right up to the glass. M got so excited when he would walk right up to him. It’s always neat when you get to see the animals REALLY up close.

We pet the rays again. Of course. And rode Mantis (the new roller coaster) about a dozen times each since there wasn’t any line at all. It was a nice day to go to the park, it was totally empty!

We got a little bit wet on Atlantis and totally soaked on Shipwreck Rapids. By the end of the day M Bug had had about all the fun he could handle! He was pooped! He slept a good chunk of the way home.

I have so many pictures of my sisters and I standing by this same starfish when we were little. In some of them Chelsey is about the same age M is now. I’ll have to see if I can scrounge one up to make a scrapbook page. I love taking M all the places I loved going when I was a little girl.