the first trip to see the fishies

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While we were in Monterey for the weekend, little Baby M got her first look at all of the fish and creatures at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Her daycare classroom has a fish that she really likes, so we figured overwhelming her with all sorts of marine life was a surefire WIN of an idea!
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Indian summer was definitely present in Monterey for the weekend… and if you didn’t know already, mid-September/early October are always the best times to visit the Northern California coasts. Summer usually means lots of fog and chills, except for a few hours where the fog burns off, but somehow a few weeks of warm temperatures always make up for it. Anyhow, it was a gorgeous day, and you could see Santa Cruz all the way at across the bay.
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It turns out we were right about the aquarium… Baby M loved it! She chased the fish with her hands and kept looking at the tanks, and back at us, seeming to say, “Hey you guys! Are you seeing this! This is awesome!” That’s the part of the discovery that makes the crowds and craziness all worth it!
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I let Baby M enjoy my favorite part of the Aquarium… the tide tank where the water washes over you and the glass. Growing up, groups of kids would always gather here and try to avoid the splashes of the tide outside on our annual trips. I don’t think Mr. M understood the appeal that we kids had with it year after year… but it’s still really special for me just recalling those memories.
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We only stayed for a couple of hours (the Outer Bay tank is closed until next summer), but Baby M definitely enjoyed her trip. I’m sure as her awareness of the world grows, she’ll keep discovering new things on each and every subsequent trip we make!
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