We Have a New Hiker in the Family

We took Abigail on her first real hike. The weather was a great teaser of spring and we had the day off. Abigail has been on some small trails and had an okay time, but today she got to really experience some great hiking.  I found a trail that was not quite an hour away and it had everything:  cool views, bouldering, waterfalls, streams.  Abigail, who delighted in the fact that we began to call her our little Billie Goat as she hopped, sprinted, and skipped around the trail for 2 hours, is such a joyful kid.  It was amazing to spend all day with her and we know she loved having both parents all to herself.  She is an incredible person!

Sunday Snapshot(s) Kiddie Hiking

He ran or walked for most of 2 hours!

It was the most beautiful fall day today!

Cuties

Great Wall Day

Best. Day. Ever.
We could not be more proud of our little climber.
Blue sky.  Mild weather.  Tenacious four year old.  (Throngs of Chinese people on holiday.) One of the 7 wonders of the world.

The last time Larry and I climbed the great wall, we got to the 10th station up in the time we had (there are 13 possible from this location).  It was also 12 degrees and very few other people were there.  But doing it this time for Abigail, our goal was the 4th station up because she is 4 years old.

She did almost the whole climb up without any help or being carried.  (There was a really crowded spot where it would have been dangerous for her to climb with all the pushing people and she was carried through that part and one very steep part where the distances between the stones were a few feet.)

 At the 4th station up, there was a souvenir stop.  We told her she could look around.  She was immediately drawn to a small statue replica of a section of the wall.  I don't know what it is made from, but it weighs a ton and is not plastic-y crap so we told her that she could have it.  Then we bought her a popsicle and climbed back down.

While we waited for other members of the group to finish, we browsed around the parking area with all of the baubles and trinket stands. Larry really wanted to buy Abigail an "I climbed the great wall" tshirt, but all she wanted was a rubber snake toy for a dollar.  The snake has since been named "Stanley" by Abigail and her new BFF Caroline, a 13 year old daughter of another adopting family.  Caroline has been super sweet to Abigail. On the long bus ride back to the hotel, we heard both of them laughing, and Abigail squealing the whole time, something about Stanley trying to eat all of their Pocky and going into time out for 50 years.  I know Abigail has LOVED her new Big Friend.


Okay, time for everyone's favorite part of the blog:

The arrow shows how high Abigail
climbed in about 50 minutes of time.

Part way up with Baba

What a beautiful day.
This kid melts my heart!

My parents would freak out to know
she is this far away from us.
Look at her go!!!

This was when Larry yelled
"Abigail!  Do not lean over any further"
as he grabbed for the back of her shorts!

Looking for Huns

On the bus, Abigail declared that she wanted
to sit by herself and have quiet time.

A pic of jade horses Abigail took at the jade factory

Abigail's First Hike

In South Carolina, we lived less than a mile from Palmetto Islands County Park (a 700+ acre park through wooded spaces, marshes, and open playing fields), and we have missed having a place like that since our move to Virginia.  Today, however, we explored a great little place a few miles from home.  Our out-and-back hike probably totaled only 2 miles, but it was a fun hike and Abigail became very excited about climbing on rocks and exploring. I love to watch my kid move:  she is so powerful and graceful.  I can't get enough of watching her.  (She was also excited about the picnic she packed and she picked out a great spot to eat, but was too excited for food at that point so she ended up eating it in the car on the way home instead.)

This section was her favorite part of the hike

Tell her aunts and uncles:  Abigail is
getting ready for her first hike up Old Rag!!

Kid at play