Geek-ification

Yesterday we took Chad to the Durham Life and Science Museum to see the animals and dinosaurs.  (As if he won't already be growing up in an overly science-y household.)  It was hot, but he was a trooper with his little water bottle during the outside exhibits.
We started off with the Farmyard exhibits.  No, wait, that's a lie.  We actually started off with the cafe, because I had done a 12.5 mile run in the morning, and in my excitement to go see the science I thought that guacamole and crackers would be a substantial pre-museum "lunch", and it wasn't until we got there that I was woozy and hungry.  And in my defense, Andy decided he was hungry then too.  So we dined on museum food.  And Chad ate some little bits of chicken there!  His doc gave him the OK to eat meats, but I've been hesitant to make him a carnivore, because he's been so happy as a vegetarian.  Then we broke down at the museum, and he helped me eat some grilled chicken bits.  (He liked it.)
Anyway, after everyone was properly nourished, we went to the Farmyard.

 Max, the cow

A white duck

In the Farmyard, we also saw goats, sheep, a donkey, pigs and a rabbit.  The rabbit was sleeping/possibly dead.  The pigs scared Chad when one rushed in front of us.  He liked the goats, but got bored by the sheep.
After the Farm, we went to the butterfly house.  We couldn't get a butterfly to land on us, but Chad scoped them out for a bit.

And then onto the Dinosaur Trail!

 There's only one dinosaur that you're allowed to touch and climb on.  Chad slapped him right on the nose.  We're working on being nicer to animals.

 First dinosaur ride!  You'd think he would be more enthusiastic about this.

 The dino was bigger than Chad

 Assisted standing!

This is a relative of the brontosaurus.  They lived to be 100 years old.

This guy was friendly.  And he only ate vegetation, so he would have made a good pet.

T rex's cousin.  Not a friendly guy.

We stopped by the bears, wolves and lemurs, but the bears were sleeping, and the wolves were too far away for Chad to get a good look.  He liked the lemurs, but we don't have any good pictures of them.
Then it was back inside to see the bugs and reptiles.  I was dismayed by how much Chad liked the bugs.  He'd better not bring home a pet tarantula when he's older.

 That brown thing is some sort of leaf bug.

Just gross.

He fell asleep before we got to the alligators, so I guess we'll just have to plan a trip to Sanibel so he can see them in their native environment.
While he was sleeping we went to the gems and technology exhibits.  Not much fun for babies.  He woke up in time to play with the bones though.

Someday, your femur will be that big, Chad!

At the end of the day we went to the Gentle Zone, which is a hands-on exhibit for babies and toddlers.  At first we were the only family there and Chad had his choice of toys.  (Oddly enough, out of all the cool museum toys he was the most interested in a book.)  After awhile, some 2-year-olds came in and Chad got a little shy.

Checking himself out in one of the funhouse mirrors.