The Zoo

So, today was Harley's first trip to the zoo. Not too exciting as he wasn't that interested in most of the animals, haha. Jared carried him around the whole zoo looking at all the animals. I think Jared was more excited than Harley. He kept disappearing every time I turned my back to go look at something new. I don't think I got that many pictures of Harley, lol. But he had fun. We went with my parents, my sister and her hubby and my brother and his girlfriend. It was really great because my parents took turns pushing the babyless stroller with everyone's crap in it. Plus, it has been about 3 years since we went to A zoo, (we went to the Milwaukee Zoo in 2006) and it's been about 10 years since we went to the Hogle Zoo. Which is why I was soooooo excited. I absolutely LOVE the zoo. I don't like that a lot of the animals need bigger habitats, but like everyone else, I try not to think about it too much. However, I talked to one of the keepers and she said that more animals than you would think can't go back into the wild because they've had injuries or other things wrong that prevent them from being able to survive on their own. So, I guess for some, it's better to be alive in a cage than dead. Although, not being able to talk to animals, we'll never know. Anyway, Harley very much enjoyed the zoo and so did Mommy and Daddy. I'd like to go again this summer, but it may not happen. It was a tad bit difficult going today. We were there for about 2 1/2 hours and I did walk the whole thing. I took a couple of rest stops, but was still exhausted when we got home. So, maybe if we go in the next month I can handle it...we'll see.
On Thursday was Mara's graduation at the Marriott Center. It was an interesting thing for me, never having been to a graduation before. Yes, I am serious. My oldest sister got her diploma but didn't walk, my other sister graduated a few years after her class, I got my GED a month after my class graduated and I have not been to my friends' graduations. I should have gone, but I didn't. Anyway, the principal gave his speech, as I'm assuming is customary, and it was a really good one. Of course, anyone who can quote Dr. Seuss and Alice in Wonderland (movie), is fine by me ;) It was a great quote from Alice in Wonderland. He talked about the scene where she is at a fork in the road and looks up at the Cheshire Cat and says, "Which way should I go?" the Cheshire Cat says, "Well, that all depends on where you're trying to get to." Alice says, "It doesn't really matter, I suppose." And the Cheshire Cat replies, "Then I guess it doesn't really matter which way you go, does it?" That is so true! If you don't know where you're going, then why does it matter how you get there? It was a cool thing to say at a graduation. I just wish I could remember the Dr. Seuss quote. Ah, well.
There was also a lady there from the Alpine School Board or something (I wasn't really paying attention) that gave a speech and she told a really amazing story. (Like I said, I wasn't really paying attention so I don't know what point she was making with this story. It's just really cool, lol) In the early 1960's a white man was driving down the road late at night in the pouring rain. He saw a black woman standing on the side of the road next to a truck, soaking wet and in obvious need of help. So he pulled over, gave her a ride to a safe place, called a tow truck and put her in a cab. (Pretty unheard of back then.) The woman thanked him profusely and got his name and address promising to thank him as soon as she could. The man thought nothing of this and went on his way. A few days later, a delivery man showed up with an enormous (back then) color tv. A note attached to the card read "I can't thank you enough for helping me a few nights ago. Because of you, I was able to get to my dying husband's bedside before he passed. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole." Tears came to my eyes when she finished telling her story. It was just so amazing. When you decide to help someone, you never know who you might end up helping or what affect you'll have on their life. It's just amazing when you apply that knowledge (which we do, we think about it all the time in our religion) to missionary work. Like the work Blake's been doing in the Phillipines, or that JD will be doing in Columbia. Just think of how many generations will be helped because they were baptized by a missionary. Or of how many of those individuals will decide to do their ancestors' work. The ripple in the pond just flows in every direction.
You know, it has just occurred to me how philosophical I can get at 1 in the blessed am. Although I believe every word I've said (rather written), I do tend to ramble the later it gets. Alright, I am going to bed...not really, I'm going to watch the Hulk with Jared for a while. :D I never learn.

Tired

It seems I'm using that word a lot lately, haha.
Yesterday I had to go to the hospital to get my Glucose test and blood drawn for my Rhogam shot. That was tons of fun. I was so tired I almost fell asleep while I was reading in the waiting area, or lack thereof since they're remodeling. Then we ran down and got Harley's shots. He had to get 5, the poor little guy. But we let him run around a bit and he went to sleep at 8:30 and didn't get up till this morning. It was wonderful. But I didn't go to sleep until about 1 anyway. I know, it's dumb. But, eh.
Anyway, I went today to get the actual Rhogam shot. I don't think they should be allowed to give shots in the butt/hip area, lol. It's uncomfortable. After that, we went to my brother's girlfriend's graduation today. It was long. We went with my mom and Zach, but we also had my preteen niece and my little nephew with us. So both babies. They were actually really good, but my little monster was loud, lol. It was fun. After that we went to Mara's house for a little graduation party. Her mom was so nice. She kept calling my mom either Sister Forciea or Mrs. Forciea, lol. It was funny.

Ponderings

I was looking on Facebook today, and I decided to look at the pictures on an old friend's page. I haven't spoken to her in years and she found me on Facebook. Anyway, I looked at her pictures and felt a little bit sad. Although I wouldn't give up my husband or my son (and my unborn son) for anything in the world, a part of me wonders what I would be like if I had stayed in Virginia. What my life would be turning out like. Would I have gone to college right after high school and be living in a dorm somewhere with new people or in an apartment with a bunch of friends? Or would I be like a lot of my friends and travel all over the world going to wild parties? It's just weird to look at my old friends, and some of my cousins, facebook pictures and see them traveling to New Zealand, Japan and France or graduating college with impressive degrees. Part of me longs to be like that. Longs to travel, to see the world with no responsibilities.
On the other hand, none of them know what it's like to see your child for the first time and know that you created that. None of them know what it's like to see your baby smile at you for the first time, or to see him take his first step and then figure out how to walk. None of them know what it's like to have a hard day and come home to this little person whose face just lights up at the very sight of you. I know what it's like to want nothing more than to just watch my baby boy sleep or play with his toys. Most of them also don't know how amazing it is to have a husband who loves and cares for you no matter what happens. Someone who loves the fact that you have full on conversations with yourself. Someone who will go out in public with you even if you look like a hippie. Having a baby, having a family, is so much more important and fulfilling than traveling the world or wasting my time with things that aren't going to matter a few years down the road. I am so grateful that I met Jared and that he wanted to marry me. I am so grateful that, despite all my mistakes, he still saw a good person in me and helped me to see it, too. I am so grateful that we had our son and that he is a happy, healthy little boy with a supersize personality. I am so grateful for our new little boy and can't wait to see what he is like. I love my husband, my son and my unborn baby. I wouldn't want my life any other way.

Yesterday

So, yesterday we got up at 7 and went out to breakfast with my brother, his girlfriend Mara and my Grandma. It was Mara's birthday as well, her 18th. We went to Ihop and Harley got to have eggs and pancakes and a little ice cream. Then we ran around all day getting things done. We went to Kiddie Kandids and Monica took some pictures of Harley and they are soooo adorable! He is the cutest baby!
After that we went home and I started making the birthday cake. Jared picked up Monica and she came over and helped me cut up fruit and wrangle the kids. We got all the kids to help clean up the house and get the dishes done. It was a great birthday. We had chicken, steak, 2 fruit salads, a bunch of chips, pasta salad from my grandma. Pudding salad, brats, deviled eggs and toffee torte from my parents. Along with Krispy Kreme donuts that came from someone in my family, but I'm not sure who :D It was a lot of fun having everyone here. Talking and laughing and just having fun. Harley fell asleep for a little bit before cake and ice cream, but luckily he woke up on his own just in time. He loved all his presents and has been playing with them ever since. He had a really great first birthday.
Thanks to everyone who came and helped! I really appreciate it!

Yesterday was Prom for Mountain View, where my brother goes. I helped his girlfriend and two of her friends get ready with hair and make-up. Thank heavens, Monica was able to come and help me out otherwise I never would have been able to do what they wanted me to. It took us 3 hours to do everything! But they looked amazing! My brother's gf looked absolutely gorgeous. Everyone's going to get sick of me saying it, but she really looked great. It was a lot of fun.
After we got done at my parent's, we finally made it to the birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa B's. Monica made me try this chicken salad from that Becca bought at Costco and I LOVED it! I ate about 4 or 5 rolls stuffed with it. I stuffed myself too much, lol. But it was so yummy I couldn't help it. Monica picked up a random cup off the counter, smelled it, and realized Becca had made strawberry lemonade and it was already gone. But, being the awesome person she is, Becca made more for Monica, lol. It really was good. I especially liked that it had chunky bits of strawberry in it...yummy.
Then after dinner, Monica reminded me that she wanted me to dye her hair...so we did blonde hair dye. With Monica's dark hair, it turned out dark brown and really pretty. I liked it a lot, but still not sure if James did, lol. All women know you can't get perfect results from a $3 box, but you can get pretty dang good results. It's fun to dye your hair at home...me, addicted? No way!

Tired

Yesterday we got a lot done. Not as much as I'd hoped, but good enough. We didn't get to bed until about 1:30 or 2 and then got up today at 7.
Well, I got up at 7, Jared didn't get up until 7:30. I got in the shower and Jared brought Harley in. The little stinker didn't wake up until it was pretty much time to get out. I wish I could sleep like that! He would open his eyes, look up at me, and then fall right back asleep. Turkey. We got all dressed and ready and headed up to Sandy for Claudia's funeral. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. Everyone was in the room for the viewing and there were really no tears. Everyone was talking and laughing and just happy that Claudia is in a better place "twirling her dress." It was really nice. During the actual funeral services, I was out in the foyer with Harley, he was very restless (more on that in a minute). Almost everyone who spoke of her had funny stories to tell or happy memories. It didn't really feel like a funeral, more like a walk down memory lane. It was a very interesting experience.
Like I said before, Harley and I were in the foyer for the services along with Logan and Riley, as well as Stacey and Tyler (they came out the last 15 minutes or so). It was so sweet, every time Harley dropped his binky or my sunglasses (which I bravely let him chew on), Riley would pick up the binky and very gently put it back in Harley's mouth. It was just so cute! I wish I had gotten a picture. Riley was also kind enough to share his puppy with Harley, which Harley enjoyed very much. As soon as Stacey and Tyler came out, the little boys just took off. Man, is that little Tyler fast! He just booked it down the hall and stopped every little while to look at Harley as if to say, "Dude! What is taking you so long!?" lol. Harley just looked like, "Meh, whatever. I'm coming." My little stoner baby. Haha. Tyler and Riley are so adorable. There are some pretty dang cute babies in this family. Of course, mine's cutest. ; )
I had already fallen asleep in the car on the way, but when we actually got home, I slept for another 2 hours! I was soooooo tired! I don't know what I'm going to do when this baby gets here. I'll have to recover from a second c-section in 15 months, plus have a toddler and a newborn while my husband works and starts school again. Oy! I don't know how people do it. By the way, the name we've finally chosen for our second little monster is Hayden. No fix on the middle names yet, still working on those. But Hayden is set. Harley and Hayden Hopper. lol.
Ok, there is screaming in the other room where my baby is...

More...

Last night Harley slipped in the tub and hit his chin on the edge and we ended up having to take him to the hospital to get three stitches. It was an hour long process because we had to wait half an hour for the numbing stuff to work. Plus he screamed bloody murder at being held down, which just broke my heart. But right after he passed out and slept peacefully. Now I'm just trying to keep him from pulling the bandaid off.