The National Zoo has a lot of things for kids to touch; this was more photogenic than the panda poop a volunteer showed us.	The popcorn was one of Opal's favorite parts of the zoo. She learned to say "The birds will be happy!" when she spilled it.	The National Zoo has a child-sized gopher run, with tunnels they can crawl through and poke their heads out of. Opal loved it. Her little friend here is blank-eyed so that larger children can look out through its eyes and scan for hawks; I find it a distressing effect, but Opal was charmed.	Look, we saw real pandas too.
Opal's goal at conferences is to lure as many adults as possible into rolling on the floor with her. Here, she and Doug are taking a break.	It's a good thing Moose likes Opal, as Opal is about to bury her punchline by saying "Wheee!" and sliding down her back at an inopportune moment.	Jason and Henry in their matching plum pudding hats.	Yes, you can put an almost-3-year-old in a sling. And carry her, sleeping, around the mall. Especially if you are strong. Paul is regarding me warily because he is afraid the shutter click will wake her up.
The view from our hotel room window, at dawn. (The Wardman Park Marriot in Washington, D.C. -- that's the national cathedral, I'm pretty sure.)	Paul's colleagues desperately wanted a version of this, preferably one of the ones where she's armed with cotton candy, as his picture at work.	Opal and animals; the bear is Moose's bear Mofeen, the monkey was a kind donation from somebody who said he had two and he would only do obscene things with them. The socks are frogs.	I just liked the tree shadow. However, I have resisted cropping out the intrusive background of the White House and the national Christmas tree.
Opal wearing Mama's New Guinea hat.	Opal and friend at the daycare Christmas party. I believe they are comparing animal crackers.	Opal is awestruck as she opens a Christmas present from Victoria.	Opal at the Acuitus Christmas party -- bliss and chocolate.
Isn't this how everybody watches movies?	Lauren and Opal looking at pictures by Lauren of Opal.	Opal admiring one of the presents in the white elephant gift exchange at the Acuitus Christmas party.	Opal is passionately involved in eating a ripe pear.