We loved SeaWorld so much (and our passes gave us a second day free) so we went back today to see the dolphin show, play in the climbing area, and even hit the splash park at the end of the day. Grace had as much fun today as on our first trip, and the dolphin show was amazing with trained birds, a diving show, etc.
One of her favorite parts, and her parents' least favorite, was the playground. The whole 3 story complex is a series of tunnels, rope ladders, tire swings, etc. that are designed for children and small, agile adults. Think McDonald's playground on steroids... I was able to duck walk through most of the tunnels, but poor Mark was climbing on bare knees most of the time. I may feel like I fell off the thing when I wake up tomorrow...Perhaps I will have to start working out to keep up with Grace...Then again, maybe I'll buy a really big camera and just stand around as the chief photographer...:-)
At one point today, Grace wandered ahead of us, and the way that the sun was shining when she turned around, we could tell that she couldn't see us. Since we had been struggling to keep her near us, we stayed back a minute, watched her, and waited. She ran to the left, stopped and looked around, then ran right, stopped and looked around before she saw us behind her. She started laughing and said, "I couldn't find Mommy and Daddy." We hugged her and talked about staying close to us, but I doubt that she will remember for very long. She did stay closer for the rest of the day.
Grace is so friendly, confident, and out-going that we worry that she may not really be bonding with us like she should. Is any adult fine with her? Would she walk away with a stranger and never think twice? Does she recognize "family" as a list of names, or does she understand that we are her only caretakers and protectors? Is her friendliness an outgrowth of her orphanage upbringing where being charming got her more attention, or is she just a social butterfly? "Bonding" is such an abstract concept...
At the end of the day, Grace hit the splash park for a few minutes right before the park closed. We will have to go to a splash park again soon. She layed on the ground, jumped around, and squealed the whole time.
Back at the hotel, we swam in the pool again. Grace is so brave. She jumps in from the side and swims to us, opens her eyes under the water, splashes, and even will swim about 8 feet between Mommy and Daddy. Maybe she thinks she is a dolphin...
One of her favorite parts, and her parents' least favorite, was the playground. The whole 3 story complex is a series of tunnels, rope ladders, tire swings, etc. that are designed for children and small, agile adults. Think McDonald's playground on steroids... I was able to duck walk through most of the tunnels, but poor Mark was climbing on bare knees most of the time. I may feel like I fell off the thing when I wake up tomorrow...Perhaps I will have to start working out to keep up with Grace...Then again, maybe I'll buy a really big camera and just stand around as the chief photographer...:-)
At one point today, Grace wandered ahead of us, and the way that the sun was shining when she turned around, we could tell that she couldn't see us. Since we had been struggling to keep her near us, we stayed back a minute, watched her, and waited. She ran to the left, stopped and looked around, then ran right, stopped and looked around before she saw us behind her. She started laughing and said, "I couldn't find Mommy and Daddy." We hugged her and talked about staying close to us, but I doubt that she will remember for very long. She did stay closer for the rest of the day.
Grace is so friendly, confident, and out-going that we worry that she may not really be bonding with us like she should. Is any adult fine with her? Would she walk away with a stranger and never think twice? Does she recognize "family" as a list of names, or does she understand that we are her only caretakers and protectors? Is her friendliness an outgrowth of her orphanage upbringing where being charming got her more attention, or is she just a social butterfly? "Bonding" is such an abstract concept...
At the end of the day, Grace hit the splash park for a few minutes right before the park closed. We will have to go to a splash park again soon. She layed on the ground, jumped around, and squealed the whole time.
Back at the hotel, we swam in the pool again. Grace is so brave. She jumps in from the side and swims to us, opens her eyes under the water, splashes, and even will swim about 8 feet between Mommy and Daddy. Maybe she thinks she is a dolphin...
This is only part of the playground area...
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