105: Happy Birthday Little Baby Giraffe

I didn't jump on the April the Giraffe bandwagon until I woke up this morning and found out she was in labor. Then I thought I was hooked and watched, along with a million of my closest friends, until the baby took the first tumbling steps then the first confident steps, Now all I want to do is watch that adorable, giant baby alllll dayyyyy lonnnngggg. 
I was so moved, I wanted to support the Animal Adventure Park in today's Donations by the Dozen. Since they are not a nonprofit, I had to do that from my personal credit card  instead of as a part of the Grace Initiative (legalities). So for Donations by the Dozen, I found for you instead, the World Giraffe Foundation. "In less than 20 years, there’s been an 80 percent decline in the wild giraffe population. It’s as if people have forgotten this species exists." (http://www.worldgiraffefoundation.org) 
Sponsoring Animal Adventure Park's giraffe care or The World Giraffe Foundation can help sustain these beautiful creatures, and I am thankful for anything that helps them. Now for a few giraffe facts:

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT THE GIRAFFE?
1. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. Their legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet.
2. They can run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances, or cruise at 10 mph over longer distances.
3. A giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel to reach the ground for a drink of water.
4. Giraffes only need to drink once every few days. Most of their water comes from all the plants they eat.
5. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young falls more than 5 feet to the ground at birth.
6. Giraffes learn to stand just 30 minutes after birth and can run with their mothers just 10 hours after birth.
7. A giraffe’s spots are much like human fingerprints. No two individual giraffes have exactly the same pattern.
8. A giraffe's feet are the size of a dinner plate—approximately 12 inches across. Females use their hooves as weapons to protect their young. They are strong enough to kill a lion, the giraffe's only predator aside from humans.
9. Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. Male giraffes use their horns to sometimes fight with other males.
10. Giraffes, like cows, are a ruminant, which means they have more than one stomach to help them digest their food. In fact, they have 4 stomachs!
11. The age of a giraffe can be calculated from its spots. The darker the spots, the older the giraffe.(http://www.worldgiraffefoundation.org/about-giraffes.html)

I don't know yet whether it is a boy or a girl (hence the attache image), but I do know a naming contest is imminent. I also wanted to give a shoutout to Toys-R-Us® for the awesome giraffe cam as well as the big switch after the baby was born to Babies-R-Us® giraffe cam. It was so adorable, and I absolutely agree white was better than purple for the logo, by the way.

Happy giraffe watching if you are watching, and don't forget June 21st is giraffe day.

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Thanks and cheers to charity