Metro to the Natural History Museum

Since we have a pirate baby who is just so curious about the world, I don't think I can handle spending a whole day at home with her alone.  She is close to walking, so she wants us to hold her while she walks around the house.  This is fun for about 10 minutes.  After the first hour, you start to black out from exhaustion, saying to her, "Will you please just let me carry you around for a little bit?!"  I didn't think she could handle being in the car all day for the sixth day in a row (even if we go do cool stuff).  So, on the final day of my vacation, I pack up the car and take us around the corner to the metro.

With me, I had the stroller, two baby carriers, and a ton of snacks.  I used it all.  She was just in the car seat (which she hates) so she already didn't want to be in the stroller when we got to the metro garage.  SNACK.  When we get to the platform, I took her out of the stroller and held her for awhile.  She loved to see the trains go by.  And, she loved to look around the metro platform.  My ears popped on the train, and there were a couple of points where she started to freak out and wanted to nurse.  I think that she could have felt the pressure on her ears as we descended under the city, too.

Archives/Penn Quarter was the closest stop to the museums on the Green/Yellow line, and I didn't want to have to deal with switching trains.  I was thinking the National Aquarium would have been nice, but it was a little far for us.  The obvious choices from Archives were the National Art Gallery, Newseum, or animals.  I picked animals.  We got off the metro and walked a few blocks to the Natural History Museum.  I had her in the Bjorn carrier at this point.

When we got there, I figured we should probably eat lunch first.  That would make for a happier baby.  I pick a $6 cheeseburger, thinking that would not make for an  expensive trip.  Added fries, because Lily likes fries.  And, I can just keep handing her fries and she stops fussing.  SNACK.  Had to pick up a cupcake.  Of course, I was on vacation.  Grabbed a banana for Lily later.  Almost $19 later and we have lunch.  I did bring our own water.  I forgot that I wanted coffee.  That's another $3.50!!  For just drip coffee.  After lunch, we walked around for a little bit.  Lily was sleepy at this point.  So, we just cruised around, not looking at anything specific.  Anything new to expose her to is cool.  She likes looking at new things, new places, and new people.


Eventually, she just got so tired that she needed to be out of the stroller.  She wanted to nurse.  She wanted to nap.  I didn't really have a nap plan.  But, I whipped out the ring sling and nursed her while slowly making a way towards the door.  She totally fell asleep fast, and she even let me put her up on my chest, which I haven't been able to do in a long time.  I made a pit stop at the National Gallery of Art Garden Cafe to pick up more coffee.  They even have wine, beer, and sangria!  Very cool.  I figured that if I could just get coffee and sit somewhere that we'd be good for a couple of hours.

Alas, that didn't work as I planned, as a crying baby woke up Lily while we were line.  I couldn't just BOOB-here-mouth-sleep her, so she fully woke up.  And, she was super excited to be in a new place.  But, we did eat a SNACK and practice walking while looking at the fountain at the center of the garden for awhile.  She really liked to watch the people there.  She was trying to get me to walk somewhere--to this bird or these kids--but it was too far away from all of our stuff.  Eventually, I scooped her up and we trekked back home.