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Wow! What a difference a year makes - check out the comparison photos below! Last year I was big, fat and pregnant squeezed into a maternity swimsuit on the sweltering hot beach. Uncomfortable and anxious, I was definitely ready to meet our little munchkin! And look at us exactly a year later - a happy family of three touring a museum (trying to hold on to a wiggle worm)!

Memorial Day 2008

Memorial Day 2009

We spent Memorial Day 2009 at the NC Museum of Life & Science in Durham with friends Trey, Sabrina and Carter. I was amazed at the quality and quantity of things to see and do there - all within 15 minutes of our apartment! Children under three are admitted free, and we had a BOGO coupon for the adult admission, giving us a few hours of educational fun for a mere $12.50.

We wanted to beat the oncoming rain, so we started outdoors with the live animal exhibitions. Neither the bears nor the foxes were cooperating, thus making it almost impossible for the adults to get a glimpse, let alone a squirmy 11-month old. Claire enjoyed the farm animals much more, getting an up-close view of the sheep, a goat and a cow.

Hanging out with Daddy by the Bear Yard

Up close and personal with Mr. Cow

Next up was the Magic Wings Butterfly House - apparently one of the largest butterfly houses in the world (so says the website). Claire loved the constant motion of the birds and butterflies moving about. She especially enjoyed any chance to touch the trees & flowers, wanting very badly to be free from our arms or the stroller to crawl around as she pleased.

Smelling the flowers in the Butterfly House

One of Claire’s favorite areas of the museum was Loblolly Park, where she could create music with drums and bells. This was oh-so-much fun for our little one who loves banging objects to make noise! I truly think she could have played here for over an hour, had we not been ready to get indoors and out of the humidity!

Making music with mommy - fun!

We actually skipped most of the indoor exhibitions, thinking Claire was a bit too young to appreciate  most of them.  Opting instead to spend the rest of our time in the Play to Learn Area, mainly the “Gentle Zone”. It was filled with mirrors, textures, sounds, soft balls and blocks, sensory toys, and classic early learning games, as well as safe, low climbing structures. A perfect place for the little munchkin to finally do what she had been wanting to all day long - explore! I couldn’t help but wish that we could have a place just like this in our apartment.

Playing in the “Gentle Zone”

We all thoroughly enjoyed exploring the museum and are considering purchasing a membership. Like always, there are plenty of more pictures in the May 2009 photo gallery.