dogs

Ada has been curious about animals (all animals) ever since she realized there were other species roaming this land with us humans.

Now the key word there is 'curious'. She isn't attracted so much that she seeks out animals and tries to pet them while they are eating. In fact she NEVER tries to pet them. Not even if we have assurances from pet owners that their dogs LOVE kids, not if said pets are leashed up, and not even if those pets like the look of Ada's cuddly face so much that they want nothing more than to lick her to pieces.

Well maybe it is that last part that has made Ada a little hesitant when it comes to animals.

On the good side of this situation we don't have to worry about Ada trying to pet a snake and getting bitten, or chasing after a rabid bunny rabbit.

This is a good thing.

However, her hesitance to approach any living (non human) creature is pretty funny to watch. At first I thought she was scared. Heck, I was terrified of dogs when I was her age.

But that's not it.

Then I thought, well maybe she just isn't used to animals and isn't sure how to approach them. So we taught her to let them sniff her hand first and then to  pet the back, and that some dogs like it when you get your fingernails in there and scratch. She followed our instructions and gave us a look of 'yeah, I get it, don't you remember - I'm the observant one'.

So that wasn't it either.

Then this weekend while we were hanging out at floor hockey a nice woman walked up with two SUPER friendly dogs. She even said, "These dogs LOVE kids, they are super friendly".

Ada wasn't much of a believer in those statements.

But she also wasn't scared, nor indifferent. She was curious. And it almost felt like she really wanted to pet the dogs, but there was something holding her back.

So I prodded.

"Ada, honey, why don't you want to pet the dogs? They are friendly, they won't hurt you..."

No movement.

Then a look of wanting.

Then a statement. "If you hold their heads so that they can't lick me I'll pet them."

And there you have it. Ada isn't afraid of dogs (or other animals), she just really really really doesn't like getting licked head to toe just so she can give a belly rub. 

flying

The family recently took a trip to Maui. Partly to celebrate my birthday, partly to celebrate the end of my semester, but mostly to get away and attempt to relax and work on our tans. 

We were definitely successful in that last part.

Ada spent most of her days on Maui lapping up the luxury of one of the three pools at the hotel we were staying at. Elliot joined Ada for most of that time and I worked in some pool time, some laying out/reading time, and some walking time. 

It was great. 

But we were in Hawaii. Pool time we can do in San Diego, so we decided to get away from the hotel on a couple of occasions. On our last day we drove up one of the local volcanoes and hiked around on the trails. It was pretty awesome and Ada showed us just how grown up she is getting by knocking out the hikes with the speed and skill of parents (just with more stops to get the rocks out of her shoes). 

The volcano was cool. Really really cool.. but it isn't the adventure Ada asked me to write about. Nope. That event was the day before when we woke up early to catch the early departure for pairasailing!! 

When we showed Ada the pamphlet for parasailing she got very excited. She likes parachutes, and she likes boats, so the combo was heaven in her eyes. Still we were a little skeptical that she would actually have the guts to go once we got on the boat so we just bought her a ticket to ride on the boat knowing we could upgrade on board if she wanted to go up. 

The boat ride in itself was pretty cool. But when she saw Elliot go up in the parachute she could not contain her glee!! Ada had to be next! So we booked the upgrade, and Ada and I got suited up in our fancy straps/braces - Ada's was even PINK - and then shortly after Elliot landed, Ada and I were strapped in, sat down and then we were OFF!!! 

We took off so quick we didn't have time to even think about what was happening, evidenced by Ada's exclamation (full of pride) that "Mom! I didn't even have to close my eyes!!" 


So for the next 10-15 minutes Ada and I sailed high above the coast of Maui, taking in the beauty, talking about how grown up Ada was getting, and discussing what the heck we would do if the cord attaching the parachute to the boat was to break. (I assured her that I had a little experience sky diving and could probably do well enough to land us without too much damage). This was by far one of the cooler things I've done with Ada, and not just because we were doing something so cool as parasailing. Nope. It was because in that small moment of time we were totally alone. No work to distract, no toys to interfere, nothing. Just the two of us up there wondering about whatever came to mind and just sharing in our mutual respect for each other for being cool enough to try something like that. And then, at the end of the ride, they lowered our parachute down and dipped our toes in the water. Ada's squeal of joy and excitement summed up our ride. 

AWESOMENESS!!