This past weekend, we jetted up to D.C. for our final trip of the summer. Whitley had a great time, and continually amazes me by being so inquisitive and well-behaved. We arrived Friday afternoon and met Dana, a family friend, at the EPA building where she works. She accompanied us to the Holocaust museum (a powerful, emotional experience), and then showed us a very nice place to eat dinner. During our tour of the Holocaust memorial museum, Whitley was, for the only time that weekend, slightly disruptive. She didn't cry or anything, but gestured to get out of her stroller. She'd been seated for several hours, considering the long car ride, so I scooped her up. She proceeded to clutch my ears and plant big, wet, open-mouthed kisses all over my face while babbling, "AaaaaYaaaaYaaaYaaaa." I was so touched by her affection, and yet embarrassed about disturbing the very somber crowd examining the exhibits. Fortunately, most of the visitors smiled to see the alarmed woman with the baby latched to her chin, trying to yank off her mother's earlobes.
On Saturday, we got up and visited the WWII memorial, where we met up with Dana once again, and then the four of us toured the Natural History museum. Whitley absolutely LOVED it. She examined everything! I'm not kidding when I say that she looked at every bone in that T-Rex's body. She also loved the taxidermied mammals, carrying on quite a conversation with the Red Kangaroo. I will never again consider Whitley too young for a museum; she so enjoys checking things out! Later that afternoon, Tom's cousin Elyssa, her husband Chris, and their daughter Avery, met up with us at a Jim Henson exhibit. It was fun to see them, introduce the babies, and look at Henson's creative doodles and puppets up close. Photography was not allowed, and it was such a shame, because Whitley adored the muppets, giggling away at Burt and Ernie. (She's never even seen Sesame Street, by the way; it must simply be intrinsic in kids.) Then, after a drenching trek in a sudden, summer shower, we all enjoyed margaritas, chips and salsa together at a Mexican restaurant Dana, Elyssa and Chris all suggested. It was excellent! All in all, the trip was very quick, and a bit tiring, but such a great opportunity to tour D.C. and see some good friends. :) 
Daddy and Whitley escape the pachyderm. Gosh, that joke just gets better and better. :)
Whitley and Dana check out the animals of Africa.
Whitley and I stand by the "Philippines," where my grandfather served in WWII. 
Taking a much-needed break with Elyssa, Chris and Avery.
Ok, so I had to put this picture in here. Tom and I were a bit bemused by our room, as "The Hotel Rouge" takes its name seriously. (Yea, that's our king bed with a red vinyl headboard and African print pillow! Jealous?) I wanted to get a picture of it before we trashed the place with all our stuff, so I tossed Whitley up there for a little photo-shoot. She had my sunglasses, 'cause I'd caught her mid-purse-dig, and this was the result. Sometimes she scares me with her modeling ideas.
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