A garden full of flowers: Disneyland and DC

So, last month Jason had to go on a business trip to Washington DC. He has known about this trip for months, and before I even knew I was pregnant I decided I would go with him. After I found out I was pregnant, I was a little more hesitant to go, especially since I was soo sick. Luckily, I started feeling better a week or two before the trip. I decided that taking Wesley on that long plane ride would add too much stress, and so my mom graciously volunteered to watch him for nine days. I was soooooooo scared and sad to have to leave him for that long. I knew he was in good hands, and I wasn't worried about that. I was more worried about how he would handle the separation. He is super, super clingy and doesn't like me to leave his sight. Jason left a few days earlier, so my mom had to come by to take me to the airport. That morning was really hard. Wesley knew something was different when he saw my mom so early in the morning. He normally loves her, but that morning he didn't want anything to do with her, and was clinging to me for dear life. It was so sad seeing him like that. I tried to talk to him on the way to the airport, but when the time came for me to leave, he started screaming. It was sooooo hard. I dont know how military families do it. I had been talking to him about the trip for a while, and I know he understood that the time finally came for mommy to leave. I know this sounds so dramatic for those that dont have kids, but believe me, it is HARD leaving your child! Anyways, I made it safe and sound to DC, but I had to find the correct bus that connects to the subway station that Jason was going to meet me at. I can't even find my way around my home town, so, yes, I got lost, and got off on the wrong exit on the bus. Luckily Jason is amazing, and found me. I was just a few subway stops from where I was supposed to be. That first day was hard because every time I tried to talk to Wesley he would scream just from hearing my voice. My mom tried to show him pictures, and that made him sad too. He would try to kiss the pictures of Jason and me. I didn't know how he would last 9 days. After that first day, he did great. I did better than I thought I would too. On the weekend we walked around the monuments, and saw some of the Smithsonians. It was hard since we didn't have a car and had to take the subway everywhere. We did soooooo much walking, and literally after two days of walking miles and miles, I couldn't walk anymore. My legs hurt worse than they ever have, and on Sunday we just stayed in the hotel all day because it hurt so bad to walk. I have wimpy legs, what can I say :-) Jason had to work during the week so it was up to me to entertain myself during the day. There were a few days that I just stayed in the hotel. It was nice and relaxing not having to worry about getting Wesley dressed and changed, and fed, and entertained. I forgot what it was like to not have a kid! I also went to the Zoo one day, and I took a tour around DC another day. It was super fun. It was called the DC ducks. It is a car that is also a boat. It literally drives right into the water from the street, and we were able to ride down the Potomac River. It was a lot of fun. Jason and I walked around the little town we were staying at during the evening, and that was a lot of fun too. We had the opportunity to eat at so many really nice and fancy restaurants, but unfortunately I still had "morning" sickness at night, and so we didn't go out as much as planned. We still managed to go out on the nights I was feeling ok. I didn't take too many pictures. I didn't take my nice camera, and the little camera I brought wasn't working. Luckily it just needed new batteries, but I missed taking pictures of all the monuments. I was so sad. Oh well, I still got a few nice ones. It was a nice trip, and now I can say I have been east of Utah :-) It was nice to come home too, and to hug my sweet little guy. When he saw me, he got the biggest smile, and just walked up to me. I picked him up, and he just put his head on my shoulder, and embraced me. It was super sweet. I am so thankful to my mom, and Jason's mom, and Alex, and all my family for all the hard work they did, and all the love they showed to Wesley while we were away. We couldn't have done it without them!

one of the cute streets behind our hotel

playing in the leaves

going down into the subway

the pretty walkway in the zoo

more zoo gorgeousness

I took more pictures of the pretty trees at the zoo than I did of the animals!

Our tour car/boat

view of the Washington monument on the river

on the DC duck

So, I also had to opportunity to take Wesley to Disneyland for the first time. My good friend Sandra called me at 8:30pm Friday night and asked if we wanted to go to Disneyland the next morning because she had extra tickets. Unfortunately, Jason had a prior commitment that he needed to do Saturday morning, so I took the little guy by myself. We had a fun time with my friend and her family. We didn't go on too many rides because it was crowded, and Wesley would not do well in a long line. We did go on a handful of little kid rides, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki room. I never realized how scary a lot of the rides at Disneyland actually are until I took my 19 month old on them, lol. He did good, and never cried. If he got scared he just grabbed my shirt and buried his head in my chest. Once again, I didn't get very many pictures. It was hard that Jason wasn't there, and I had my hands full with Wesley so I didn't take out my camera too much. My friend was a big help with him when he got fussy, and I super appreciate that. I can't wait to take him again when he is a little older!