We’re going to the zoo zoo zoo
Actually we already went but that’s the only zoo song I know.
Yesterday we went to the zoo and hung out with Jenna (and family), Erin (and family) and Judy (and family) and despite the ROBUST humidity, it was pretty great.
1. Jenna is honestly the most gorgeous pregnant woman I’ve ever seen. She has the proverbial glow, to be sure, but she’s also just one good looking woman and pregnancy becomes her. She brought along her equally gorgeous mother-in-law and dashing young, Nicholas, who sorta reminds me of a more out-going Noah at that age (although it would be hard to be LESS out-going than Noah at that age). He’s so cute with his little Pooh Bear eyes!! We also very happily passed Madison’s toddler bed on to him — FINALLY! I was afraid we wouldn’t get it to her before Parker’s arrival!
2. If you read Erin you know that she’s passionate about adoption reform but when you see her in person you can see that her heart is truly full for the issues around it. When she talks about the Queen Bee, it’s with such respect and unconditional love and absolute humility. I really admire her commitment to her ideals AND to her daughter AND to her daughter’s first mom. I’m only sorry that I didn’t get to hear the full “how I met my husband” story and plus I had some questions about her Rent Head days that I didn’t get to ask. Rats. Fortunately I may get to see her again this winter if the inlaws get the condo in Florida again! So ha! I’ll get to ask about that any way. ALSO - the Sailor is a babe. In case you were wondering.
3. Finally, Judy is — if you can believe it — FUNNIER in person, which is really saying something! She’s the kind of person I’d want to go to the Academy Awards with ‘cuz I know she’d sit with me and make snide comments about everyone’s clothes and we’d snicker and snort and eventually be laughing so hard that the Academy would kick us to the curb but it’d be worth it! Plus I love handsome Nate and his husky little voice.
We rounded out a truly delightful day by ending up at Jessica’s for a (rained out) BBQ where we got to meet Nate’s parents. (Yes, two Nates in one day! Nate, if you’ll recall, is Jessica’s intended.) Anyway, as worn out as we all were it was a very happy thing to find out that Nate’s parents are those easy-going, easy-to-talk-to kind of people who make you feel like family the minute you walk in the door. Nate comes from a very close family and they’ve taken Jessica in as a daughter-in-law even though there is no in-law there yet and it looks like they’ve taken us in, too.
Madison, wired on zoo visit still despite a nap, spent the time swiping huge mugs of ginger ale and body slamming both Noah and Jessica. When we got home she sat at the kitchen table swinging her legs and eating some grapes and she said, “Next time I’m going to slow down on Noah. And on Jessica, too. I wored [weared] myself out!”
September 9th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I have to admit I’m a little bit jealous! It sounds like a great day.
September 9th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I love your summary; it’s perfect, as was our time together! Just sorry it had to end.
But hey! Soon COSI (which, yeah, I know gives you a headache, but it will get us down to COL!!) will have a BOB THE BUILDER exhibit and Nate is ALL ABOUT construction and Bob the Builder and we have a membership to a museum that has reciprocal with COSI soooo . . . . maybe sometime in Oct.?? I’d stalk, I mean visit, you much sooner if you closer (so much that you’d get a restraining order that I’d ignore), but you were smart to think of that and not live close to me pre-meeting me. You have some wild foreshadowing, I’ll tell ya that!
It was truly great!
Say HELLO! to your family for me and Nate.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
This made me smile. I’m about to go take a (MUCH NEEDED) nap because yesterday was so full for our family as well (including a trip the wrong way on 270 when we left; guh). Your comments make me smile. Especially when not-so-couth people feel the need to point out the fact that I’m “HUGE.” Pfft. Bite me.
Your (wondrous!) husband was telling us on the way back out to the Jeep that Noah was similar to Nick in fashion when he was that age. It was a calming conversation for me. I feel bad that Nick gets VERY overwhelmed with situations right now and just wants to “shut down” by laying on the ground. It’s nice to be reminded that there ARE parents that understand.
I continued to love Madison more and more.
By the way, I thought you said the “humidity had left.” It’s all YOUR fault. You jinxed us!
That said, I’ve GOT to go take a nap. My GOODNESS.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Oh Jenna, don’t feel bad. Nicholas is a very typical toddler. Truly.
In fact, I sometimes still feel like laying down when I get overwhelmed.
Actually I sometimes still do. Just not when I’ll get dirt on me. (I’m not kidding. Just ask my co-workers)
September 9th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
awww, jealous. i love meeting blog friends i like online in real life!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
That all sounds wonderful, but it was Madison’s comment at the end that made me have to comment. She is too cute (and so clever - I don’t think my Liam ever figured out that ’slowing down’ on people would be a good idea sometimes (I don’t think he ever admitted to getting ‘wored’ out at that age either, although he occasionally does now).
September 11th, 2007 at 10:40 am
You guys clearly had a blast - what fun! I always think it’s neat when folks who know each other online hook up in real life - or maybe in this case I think some of you all knew each other IRL before? Either way, it sounds like you all had a blast!! Loved seeing the pix on Judy’s site, too.