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Willow's 'Hug-me' play time, and The Parthenon Picnic


Willow gets ready to picnic near The Parthenon at Centennial Park in Nashville.
Wednesdays are the biggest and most fun days of the week (discounting weekends, of course).
We always go to Gymboree Play & Music at Green Hills in Nashville then we follow that up with a trip to a park, zoo, playground or museum.
Willow had a "Hug-me Party" at Gymbo's Place. She didn't want to settle for good, old Daddy's hugs; she wanted to share the love.
First she crawled/walked over to the teacher, Miss Rachel, and climbed up in her lap, demanding a hug. Then she tried out one of the parents. Then she tried out the shop's owner. She got hugs and some play time from all three.
But the best moment came when she ventured over to a visiting grandmother, little Hadley's "Mimi." (It was Hadley's first birthday, by the way)
Mimi scooped up Willow and danced with her through a few songs, helping her touch her nose, her mouth and her feet. Willow was in heaven.
Miss Mimi told me afterword that she's an elementary school teacher and kids have a way of sniffing her out. She can't avoid being swarmed by the little critters.
That might be true, but I know Willow can't get enough of any grandma or grandpa. Anywhere. Anytime. I think Willow knows they're the extra-friendly grown-ups, and they often come with goodies, or at least a nice smile and head bobble.
Willow has a way of sniffing them out.

 

The Parthenon Picnic

We headed over to Centennial Park after visiting Gymbo, and we settled down for a picnic under a tree. Willow shared my banana, yogurt and pimento cheese sandwich (and she outright stole my water).
We were a hit at the park.
Four amateur photographers snuck in behind us and snapped pictures during our picnic (they might have been professionals, but they didn't approach us after taking the pictures, so I assume they were amateurs). I suppose the image of a Daddy feeding his baby girl in front of The Parthenon was too much to pass up.
At the playground after lunch, two little boys played a peek-a-boo game with Willow as she tried out her walking legs on the small-kid gym.
Then Willow settled in for a walk while Daddy got in a few miles of walking.
Just one note here: I have utmost appreciation and admiration for anyone who stays fit by running, but if I'm keeping pace with you while pushing a loaded-down stroller, then you're probably not really running.

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