Oh Inauguration!

The Animalia, she was, as per usual, excellent on the flights both to and from Washington, DC. Changing flights in Dallas, we even got the ultimate compliment-- "We didn't even know there was a baby on the flight!" "Thank you, thank you," I said, as if it were all my doing. I guess my baby, seasoned traveler that she is, just loves to fly. Thank the lord.

We got there in the middle of the night and once we got to the Nina's brand-spanking-new apartment, The Animalia spotted the air mattress and threw herself upon it. She was exhausted.

We woke up the next morning, and the Animalia, not getting nearly enough sleep, wailed like I was stabbing her with a hot poker. She wailed as I put on her many layers of clothing. She wailed when I put on her very-necessary-for-several-hours-in-20-degree-cold snowsuit. She screamed when I put on her warm cozy boots. It was a tight fit getting her in the sling, both of us layered, but we made it.

Then we waited in line. And the Animalia fell asleep. She was asleep through the wait, she was asleep through most of it. She was even asleep when the crowd cheered as President Obama took the oath of office. She was asleep. But the baby, she was there, something that we'll tell her when she's older and she reads about it in school. She was there.

Later, we ended up at Mr. Henry's for mmmmm papas! She ate turkey vegetable soup with gusto, my poor tired baby. Then we went to the Nina's old place, full of people, and the poor tired baby let the very energetic Peanut boss her around. "¡No en el piso! ¡Es sucio!" The Peanut told her as she slumped exhaustedly on the floor. She did, however, briefly energize when The Peanut brought a box, probably from the trash, and ordered her "Tiralo." And Animalia did. And she was happy.