Day out with Thomas

Avery has recently developed a new love for Thomas the Tank Engine. I am by no means someone who thinks that children should play with only gender-specific toys, but I have babysat boys who were Thomas fanatics, so it's a sort of funny to have my little girl, decked out in her bracelets, get so excited about Thomas, Percy, Harold and the whole gang. Because of this love for the big blue train, we took Avery to Bryson City to see him in person....

Big mistake! This was an unpleasant experience for all parties involved.
Problem numero uno: Avery may have been a little too young to really understand what was going on. I assumed as much, but I just could not wait to see her little face when Thomas actually came driving through, right in front of her.

Problem number two: Avery is extremely independent. She does not like to be held and if you are holding her, you will hear a constant repetition of the word "walk." I have no problem with Avery walking around, but this was not the best solution at this particular place, which was crawling with people. Not to mention that she doesn't want you to hold her hand either. This carried over to the actual train ride. Avery did NOT want to sit, but wanted to walk. This wouldn't have been such a problem either if she was content to walk in one confined place, but she wants to walk everywhere which is not so doable on a moving train.

Problem three: the heat. Before we got there, it had poured the rain but fortunately stopped when we arrived. This helped to bring the temperature down but once it started to clear out, the humidity was just about unbearable. Avery, like her mommy, is a little on the heat-sensitive side so she was very hot, which was evident by the bright red cheeks and sweaty head.

And lastly and probably at the forefront of the problems was number 4: teething. The Poots has been cutting an influx of teeth over the last few weeks, which makes for a very irritable child.

Looking back at the experience it's a little humorous, but definitely was not at the time. I don't regret taking her, though, because all new experiences are trial and error when it comes to a toddler!


She liked the goats...


The train tables didn't hurt either....


A small gleam of excitement in her eye when Thomas approached....







Check out the tear...