City sidewalks, busy sidewalks...

You know how you can build something up in your mind, and then when it actually happens, it is a huge disappointment? Well this was not one of those times.  My sister's trip up here for the most part went along without a hitch!  Her flight was on time, she hopped in a cab at La Guardia like a pro, and as if by magic showed up in our lobby.  Seriously, it was like seeing an apparition.  It was the longest I had gone without seeing her, in perhaps, ever.  The girls missed her so much and like any good auntie, she did not show up empty handed.  They absolutely loved their new, red "Gingerbread" jammies and unicorn slippers, and I may have had a few little cold weather treats for her as well.

It's safe to say that we utilized every single second of her trip to our advantage.  In a way, I was treating it as an extension of my birthday celebration.  I even shoved her out the door that very first night; just a tired mom of two and a pregnant girl out on the town - thrilling!  First I took her straight to Lincoln Center and we ate sister-sister enchilada meals from Rosa Mexicano.  I know, I know, bring her all the way from Texas and serve her Mexican food, but it made it feel like old times, except I was the only one drinking a margarita.  She is a huge aficianado of restaurants with ambiance, so I knew she would not be disappointed.

Next, we headed downtown on the number 1 train and walked over to Rockefeller Center.  As we walked along the streets she noticed the vast difference between the Upper West Side and the area near Times Square.  This was more what she pictured New York to be.  Three hours in and she has already taken a plane, taxi, train and walked the NYC streets.  There is a certain energy as you move further downtown - streets are more crowded, people seem to be walking faster.

It was so much fun seeing the Christmas sights for the first time with her.  With two little ones, it is not exactly easy to have a nightlife!  On the way to Rockefeller Center you pass Radio City Music Hall on 50th Street.  There is a giant tree in front of the theater and this is where the Rockettes perform in the Christmas Spectacular show.  Apparently, everything we were doing was very "New York Christmas" and I was soaking it up.  A few blocks later and we were at the famous tree and ice skating rink.  The tree was gloriously tall and the streets were essentially bustling for all intents and purposes.  I think we were reenacting scenes from the song Silver Bells: "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style, in the air there's a feeling of Christmas."  There literally WAS a feeling in the air! Even the street vendors were blasting Christmas music on their radios and at Rockefeller there was spontaneous caroling going on.

As we took selfies and craned our necks to see the very top of the tree, we walked around to see what I will describe as the walk of angels.  Christmas angels line the paths headed to both the tree and the ice skating rink.  When the space began to feel overly congested, we headed over to witness the Christmas lights in front of Saks 5th Avenue.  I had no idea we would be surprised with a lights show on the building.  It was truly breathtaking, as Carol of the Bells is blasting through the speakers, you can just stand across the street and get a front row seat to the show.  Apparently, we were not actually that special, because I think it plays every 20 minutes this time of year, but it still made for a memorable and festive experience.

The next day, Meredith and I took Scarlett to an adorable little restaurant called Alice's Tea Cup.  It is self-described as a whimsical tea house, and children are given fairy wings and sprinkled with "fairy dust" upon arrival.  It was endearing watching Scarlett enchanted with the process, getting to drink water from a glass tea cup and order a purple frosted cupcake.  Of course, monitoring the tea cup was probably the main theme of the meal, but it was all worth it to see her eyes light up and little hands carefully cradle the tea cup.   The age of three is a wonderful time when you can begin to actually take a child somewhere without constantly worrying about having to use about one thousand napkins and bring special water cups and bibs with you in your purse. 

Later in the day, we decided to venture out to Central Park's Wollman Rink.  This experience, while photo-worthy was not quite as pleasant.  We took the whole gang along, and unbeknownst to me, Savannah was starting to get a bad cold on top of teething (getting her molars - no fun at all).   Mind you, she did have a tantrum worthy of any two-year-old in front of countless spectators at the rink - back-arching, sobbing, mindless running around - SO MUCH FUN - good thing there was absolutely nowhere to sit.

However, despite all of that, Scarlett had fun trying to ice skate with her Daddy and looked pretty cute doing it, too.  Savannah and Trey had to leave early, leaving Meredith and I with Scarlett and a half-empty double stroller.  On the way home, a random girl on the subway had the nerve to whisper a comment about "it's a free country" (regarding the stroller) and I quickly nipped that in the bud.  After the night we had had, I had a zero tolerance policy on sarcasm from strangers.  In restrospect, I can see what a fun time this rink might be with a group of adults and no toddlers, maybe even a non-sick baby during the day.  Alas, we try to do too much, but I have to applaud us for trying anyway!

The main event of the weekend had to be seeing the Nutcracker, which I consider a family tradition, with my sister.  Once a dancer, always a dancer, as we dreamed of our dance past lives...sigh.  The David H. Koch theater is truly a beautiful venue and you really can see the stage from every seat.  However, this did not help the fact that about fifteen minutes in, two extremely large boys (they looked about 18) sat down in front of us.  Isn't that always the case?  What in the world were they doing there???  We kept giggling about it because they looked like two high school football players, complete with North Face jackets, jeans, and buzz haircuts.  But to quote my subway heckler, it is a free country.  Maybe they like the ballet?  Maybe they were enriching their cultural lives?

Sadly, all good things must come to and end, and the exact afternoon Mere left, Trey also left on a business trip...and the girls started getting really sick.  Having sick children in a two-bedroom apartment is no joke.  Between keeping things sanitary, children occupied, medicated, entertained, I was ready to have a break.  Sickness gets in the way of everything, especially this time of year - parties, church services, activities we want to do.  However, our main focus had to be getting them well, and the extra cuddles don't hurt from my little sickies!  I just all hope we can stay well enough to get home for Christmas.  I will be ready for family time, central A/C, garbage disposals, driving, and a little southern hospitality so I can brave the Spring in NYC.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I haven't written in a while, but maybe that is a good thing.  I think we, as a family, are settling more into a routine.  We are now three months in the Upper West Side, five months in NYC.  We have our church, our gym, some new friends, and we are getting into a little bit of a rhythm.  And let's face it, that would be a really boring post!

We finally had to bite the bullet and sell our car, but before that, for one last hurrah, we headed out to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  I really knew absolutely nothing about that area, other than the obvious stereotypes suggested in the cheesy Smirnoff "Tea Partay" YouTube video: popped collars, MV (Martha's Vineyard), snobbiness perhaps? Thankfully, one of my friends from the DC area had a little guidance for me, as in a good town to stay as a family with kids called Hyannis.  We stayed in a Marriott - four people, one room - yay! The great thing about little kids is they think everything is amazing and they don't care about the number of stars a hotel or restaurant has - they are easily impressed.

Mixed emotions at the beach

That being said, Hyannis did not disappoint, every restaurant, beach, or shop we came across was adorable, almost like out of a movie set.  The town was manicured and historic, apparently where the Kennedy's vacationed.  I'm sure they stayed at the Marriott, too. ;) Our hotel was clean and newly remodeled, about ten minutes from the main drag and the public beach.  We kept explaining to Scarlett, our little Texan, that we were going to a cold beach and since we were there in the off season, it may as well have been a private beach.  We were the only crazy people out there in our rain boots running around in the sand.  I'm not sure Savannah quite gets the concept of a cold beach being fun, but we can work on that.  One of the most amazing places we visited was the Chatham lighthouse, which basically appeared to be the edge of the world.  Although it was windy and freezing, the sky and sea were the most brilliant blue color, in juxtaposition with the white lighthouse and white beaches.  The view was definitely worth the drive.

Since this was the first trip we had taken just the four of us, it had special significance for us.  I think that Trey and I wanted to prove to ourselves we could survive and plan the whole thing ourselves.  Minus some fleeting car sickness for Scarlett and a pack of wild turkeys parading down the freeway on the way back, it went pretty smoothly!  Just in time for Thanksgiving, I think these turkeys knew what laid ahead and were getting out of town...impending death.  We couldn't understand why our GPS wasn't showing any traffic and yet there was another delay getting back to the city.  Lo and behold, the cars were slowing down to check out these birds, which were giant by the way.

A few weeks later, it was my thirty-second birthday and then Thanksgiving was upon us.  We opted to stay in town for the holiday.  There is something really magical that children add to each holiday, including birthdays: the way their eyes light up when you have a birthday cake, help you open and pick out gifts, and want to be naturally generous to those around them.  Although the restaurant lost our reservation at our little family dinner, we still made the most of it, and it was a really great birthday.

32nd Birthday Celebration

I am not really a huge parade person, I'm not sure what it is, but maybe I don't see the point?  Does that make me a cynic? I hope not, but I have to say, once again, New York did not disappoint.  Although we opted out of the actual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we went to a "smaller" (HA!) event the night beforehand where you can see the balloons being inflated for the following day.  For the Texans out there, imagine the crowds of the Houston Rodeo, and actually a similar cattle driving-esque barricade system.  We did bring the double stroller, which was tough to navigate, but I am glad we did with the time it took to get to the actual floats.  Scarlett was asleep halfway through.  I have to say, the floats were really amazing up close, and enormous when they were lined up so close to the buildings, multiple stories high even on the ground.  They almost resembled giants that had been tied down, the way they were harnessed in huge nets.

I think the excitement of Thanksgiving Eve wore us out, so Trey and the girls enjoyed the parade on television from our comfy living room and I worked to not destroy our Thanksgiving meal!  Let's be honest, I come from a long line of women who can cook, so I felt a lot of pressure to get it right!  I think for my first go at it, it was a success - everything was edible, all the parts were there, we ate at a normal hour.  Scarlett even helped a LOT with the preparation of the food which was a sweet moment.  She really loves helping in the kitchen and I love her company.

We felt honored that we were also invited to a "friends"-giving after our dinner for dessert.  Now, getting an uncooked cobbler down ten blocks is a bit more complicated than one would think.  About one block in, I felt something dripping on me.  It was the dish I was CARRYING...GRRR.  Cornstarch might as well be GLUE because my black jeans suddenly looked acid-washed.  Trey got the duty the next nine blocks.  He did a much better job, but definitely got an arm workout on the way.

Then, the very next morning, Christmas began!  I definitely have the OCD (obsessive Christmas disorder) - Trey refused to let me decorate until the day after Thanksgiving.  He likes to keep his holidays compartmentalized, which probably is not very shocking.  So I leapt for joy when he agreed to go purchase my very first REAL tree (that I can remember...sorry Mom and Dad).  It is really incredible and the Christmas tree stands are the cutest things.  About every three blocks, the tree vendors are lined up, and you can go select the tree of your choice.  Because Trey had to accommodate my OCD, he had to go to a tree stand about ten blocks from us (and carry it home), but I was really appreciative!!!  I am a little worried about having to water the thing, as I don't have the best history keeping anything other than human beings alive.  I'm sure Trey will remind me to water it...

Our tree is on the second story

In other news, I had a wonderful visit from my old co-worker in NYC this week which really recharged my batteries, and tomorrow my SISTER is coming!!!!!!!!!  SO excited to see her.  This is the longest I've ever gone not seeing her!  WITHDRAWAL!  I can't wait to do Christmas-y things together.  Christmas is really wonderful here.  Did I mention I love Christmas? #itsthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear

I will have to teach her about the dangers of texting and walking, avoiding those "Sunday walkers", dogs that pee directly onto the sidewalk, NYC organization techniques such as stroller hanging, putting bedroom dressers in the living room, and our constant game of Tetris to not trip over things.  Good thing we are used to close quarters!  Excited to see that teeny weeny baby bump, too!

My two snuggle bunnies with our REAL tree :)

And P.S. We caught the mouse...

"This party is super fun"

It seems my girls have an infatuation with trick-or-treating.  Long before the holiday was upon us, they would walk around our apartment with their trick-or-treating bags (they call them purses - I know, real shocker) and "practice".  Scarlett would come to the gate blocking off our kitchen, and we would rehearse the right words to say.  She really is a creature of habit.  She likes to know what to expect.

If you watch any Disney, Jr. or Nick, Jr. you will recognize that every single program has a Halloween-themed show worked into the line-up. Even Curious George has a Halloween "movie", of course he and the man in the yellow hat go off to their country home.  Before living here, I never noticed the NYC references in Curious George.  I am positive the man in the yellow hat must have a significantly large inheritance with how little he works, and seems to be quite eccentric to have a pet monkey. 

Are these children's networks in a secret coalition with the costume and candy industries to promote a love of trick-or-treating? Quite possibly.  Either way, it helps us get in the spirit!  I was actually pretty nervous about disappointing them this Halloween, especially because we basically had no idea how to trick-or-treat in New York.  Did we go door to door in our building? No. Did we "drive" around? No. I figured a place like New York must have some sort of system worked out, so we started doing some research.

We found an event online at the Lincoln Center for little ones that started at 11 am.  I figured we couldn't go wrong with so early in the day.  I also thought there was no way we would be the only adults dressed up...OOPS!  There we are, waiting to get on the subway, and we were getting plenty of stares!  Things do start late around here, but I thought we might see a few costumes.  Nope!  This is New York City, right?  Haven't you ever seen two grown adults dressed up like Beauty and the Beast at 10 in the morning waiting for the subway?  How about walking down Broadway? When we got there, it was a little better, but definitely not what I expected.  In a ratio of about 20:1, adults not dressed up versus adults dressed up, most parents were in the standard New York, all black, sunglasses routine.  What was I wearing? A BRIGHT YELLOW DRESS and a CROWN.  So New York, right?

BRIGHT YELLOW DRESS

You know that part in Legally Blonde where Reese Witherspoon is wearing the bunny costume?

Better yet, you can watch it. (See above)...THAT'S HOW IT WAS.

At the very least the fellow kids in attendance appreciated our costumes???  Not to mention, my girls loved seeing their mommy wear a "princess dress".  They sport these things daily; me not so much.  They didn't skip a beat.  Scarlett can literally wear four different dresses in a period of thirty minutes.  She could go toe-to-toe with any professional Broadway performer, changing costumes behind the scenes.  You know those rip-away wind pants?  That is is sort of what these princess dresses are like.  On, off; on, off.  All. Day. Long.

We did leave the scene with some candy for the girls and got a good feel for what the costumes were about this year.  There were a lot of Star Wars characters, head to toe body suits (I believe they are called 2nd skin), TMNT, and Elsa's.  I basically got caught up on my pop culture, which as a stay at home mom is not really my forte anymore. Not to mention, getting to walk around Lincoln Center and get some pictures was pretty cool.  I got a little nostalgic to watch Center Stage.

SUCH a good movie.

After resting for a while at home, embracing the sweat pant look, we changed back into our BATB attire and hit the streets.  We had heard through the grapevine that there are particular blocks in the Upper West Side that have trick-or-treating in the buildings.  We decided to try the area nearest to us (obviously) around 5 o' clock.  I am so glad that we went early, because the streets were already teeming with people.  Just as we had been told, the doormen of the buildings closest to Central Park were handing out candy to the children in the lobbies!  It was such a simple concept, but really worked with young children.  They loved it.  Mommy and Daddy were very relieved the promised candy actually existed!  It was all they could do not to run from building to building collecting the goods.  I would say Halloween was a success - they had fun, and got a little candy on the side. :)

I will leave you with a Halloween poem (because after this, it's ALL CHRISTMAS):

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are leaves in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care!"

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "We are ready for some fun!"

Then OOOhh OOOhh went the wind

And out went the lights

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

*Courtesy of www.lyricsmode.com

This is probably one of my favorite Halloween memories/poems from my childhood.  I think we have may have learned this poem originally in a music class in elementary school?  Regardless, imagine my surprise when the book version of the poem arrived on my doorstep thanks to my sister, also including games and workbooks for her little nieces.  We are finally reaching the point where both of my girls can sit and listen to a story together - at least a short one like this! I can't wait to spoil my own nephew.  

A couple of (well actually November 2nd, haha) days after Halloween, Scarlett, Savannah, and I were ready to get in the Christmas spirit and blasted an amazing iTunes radio station "Christmas Classics" and had a dance party.  Yes, the Christmas season has begun and I cannot wait to see what New York has in store (and in stores).  I mean I can probably window shop on 5th Avenue, right?  Maybe they charge for that too...details, details.  

Three blind mice...SEE HOW I RUN!!!

Okay, so it's no secret I have a tiny little problem with bees, as in, I run franticly from them in public places - which sometimes can translate into phobias about cockroaches, flies, and other Texas-sized pests.  One thing I had yet to deal with, is New York rodents.  I had laughed with everyone else at "Pizza Rat":

However, I thought my warm, safe, little apartment was free of such things.  Once again, NYC had quite another thing planned.  Not one, but TWO overzealous mice showed their little beady eyed faces as they SCURRIED across the baseboards of our home within a couple days.  I immediately panicked at the sight and in a complete confirmation of gender roles, insisted my husband catch the mouse (with his bare hands preferably, minus needing a Rabies shot).  I quickly realized this may not be the actual way people catch and kill pests, but I was certainly WIDE AWAKE at 10 PM.  How can such a tiny thing cause such chaos?  I am now fully aware I know nothing about catching mice.

We now have nightly discussions about possible holes in the wall, mouse bait, DIY mouse traps, and military grade tupperware container purchases.  Fall in New York, while pleasant and beautiful, comes with its own set of tricky problems for green New Yorkers.  Case in point, awaking around 4 in the morning the other night to a strange noise resembling rocks being thrown at my window.  I tried to ignore it, as really, at this point, middle of the night oddities do not really surprise me, but it sounded very close by.

Turns out, the RADIATORS had kicked on unbeknownst to us, and so we began the nighttime shuffle to remove books, curtains, baby monitors, and nearby strollers from our various radiators.  The water began to fill up through the pipes at a rapid pace (hence the loud clunking - HOME ALONE style), and we ran around turning off valves for safety.  Also, because they were turned on earlier than we expected we spent the next day buying out the local Lowe's stores' stock of pipe protectors.  Those little hands can be very curious about heat!  Missing Texas's central A/C and heat at the moment.

On a positive note, fall in NYC presents some new fun memories.  I took Scarlett to see a movie at our local theatre and while the prices were astronomically high (twenty bucks a ticket! FOR A THREE YEAR OLD - PHEW!) the experience did not disappoint.  You can reserve a seat, the chairs recline, and we could cuddle the whole movie - super fun with my little three year old.  She loved it so much she asked Trey to take her back the next day...oops!  Mommy fail?  I didn't think to check if the movie was 3D for goodness sake and (not too shockingly) Scarlett refused to wear the glasses - but she didn't seem to mind!  Popcorn and chocolate can be very convincing and a good distraction.

Collecting apples

We also ventured out one Saturday to an apple orchard in upstate New York for an afternoon of apple picking, live music, pumpkin patches, and cider doughnuts.  I've had a lot of fried food in my life, but these doughnuts were both addictive and awesome.  I was really happy that the trip actually turned out to be fun!  A lot of times with toddlers in tow, it can be more about creating a special moment, and less about actually having a good time.  It is exciting to think they might be getting to an age where we can do more for longer and everyone stays happy!

They absolutely loved searching for the apples, not caring whether they were on the ground or from the tree.  Also, watching them explore the many pumpkins they had to offer was really magical, as they touch every single pumpkin and want to walk the entire patch.  The drive there and back was also really different from Texas, seeing the leaves starting to change in the bright, clear sunshine.  I don't think I'll ever forget that day with the girls and seeing their eyes light up with each new activity, me feeling relaxed and content.

On a more practical note, I've invested in some extra "help" if you will, and no I'm not referring to a nanny or babysitter: a doorstop and mommy hooks.  Now before you laugh, let's think about this.  The doorstop is almost like having another person with me to hold doors for the stroller, fits in a purse, and never rolls their eyes at you (ahem, New York strangers).  The "mommy hook" can essentially be a third arm, hanging from the stroller, so you can amazingly enough use both hands on the "wheel" and tote a CVS bag.  This is progress, folks.

I am becoming quite wary of the looming winter months, and thinking there may be more truth to that SAD (seasonal affective disorder) than I thought!  I guess the trick around here is just being super prepared for the worst, which I am now seeing as normal?  One thing at a time.  First must rid house of mice.  While I admire Cinderella's tagline, "Have Courage, and Be Kind," while dealing with New Yorkers; let's face it, I really don't want these things sharing my food, no offense, Cinderella.  So I may summon my inner farmer's wife and show these mice who's boss.  Maybe I have a little New Yorker in me after all.

Oh, and P.S. I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!  Can't wait for my man cub. That is all.

Agoraphobia and Activewear

Agoraphobia: An abnormal fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas, sometimes accompanied by anxiety attacks. (Source: dictionary.com)

New York: crowds - CHECK; public places - CHECK. ME: anxiety attack - CHECK.

What is this city doing to me where literally just going to the grocery store with the girls makes me feel so anxious I have to leave the store? Now I thought this was a normal reaction, until my mom witnessed it happening.  Part of the problem is the uncertainty of it all:  the crowds (regular crowded versus fire marshall crowded), will I find what I am looking for, do they have normal brands in the stores, how long will the checkout line be.

Second factor? Will my girls behave in the store? Have they had to miss nap time because the walk took longer than I expected from point A to B? I think I start to panic and clam up when I think about all the possibilities.  Some days what I wouldn't do to stroll around leisurely in the H-E-B off San Felipe with the girls in the "car" cart and our biggest problem is if the blue car cart is already taken.  Those days of wide aisles and free samples are long gone.

Finishing up grocery shopping with Scarlett bird

With my mom here, I was able to find ways to deal with some of the issues, anticipate some of the factors, but it is still hard, even solo sans children.  Being such a control freak, the unknown is super stressful for me.  Some people may think, seriously? Grocery shopping? How hard can it be? Lets talk about real problems!  But trust me - it is crazy!  Just carrying them home can be a injury-causing chore - try carrying awkward bags about nine blocks, and they leave impressions in your hands.  But I guess I should go ahead and break down and buy yet another rolling contraption to try and stuff into my coat closet.  A lot of people here own rolling hand carts for their groceries.  If I get one, that will put my inventory at: two double strollers, one single stroller, a wagon, a dolly, and the grocery cart.  Does that sound excessive to you?  Everything is so hard! I often think to myself, "I'm not cut out for this!" I refuse to be a wimp.

Let's talk about some of the advantages, or at least pros and cons.  My building has a smaller laundry room in comparison to other buildings, and yet, I can run THREE washing machines at once!  Oh happy day!  For two tiny little girls, Scarlett and Savannah produce a ton of dirty clothes.  All of our laundry is done in less than two hours with multiple machines running.  You've never really lived until you run three machines at the same time.  WOW! My life is so interesting.

In all seriousness, the talent in this city is truly remarkable.  Our church is the perfect example.  At the Redeemer, there are parts of the service that are purely instrumental, and they have hosted everything from oboe to Opera singers.  It is such a blessing to experience this each week.  Another less expected, gift-filled place is the subway.  I had heard about the subway performers before coming to New York, but seeing them first hand makes you stop everything and pay attention.  We can be riding along per usual and suddenly be serenaded by an Ed Sheeran song, followed by a Michael Jackson impersonator at the next stop.

So much of New York is absolutely charming.  With the fall weather upon us, I am beginning to get excited for the changing of the seasons.  And yes, like any basic girl I have enjoyed my fair share of Pumpkin Spice lattes in the past few weeks.  I can literally hear Trey groaning in my head.  And yes, you must get the whipped cream!  With charm comes old, as in our building, for example, which was built in 1900, and has beautiful tall windows with plenty of light and crown molding.  On the other hand, it is therefore SO DUSTY, all the time.  I swear between that and the air pollution I am developing allergies.  Didn't I leave Houston to escape ragweed and pollen? I think Trey has mopped (and I have helped ;) ) at least 20 times in three weeks.  Finally our bare feet are not turning black anymore.

Reading in bed

Another dream has been realized as I took Scarlett to the New York Public Library.  For such a modern city, New York still seems to run on cards - library cards, laundry cards, subway cards. I had been wanting to do this since we moved into the Upper West Side, hoping to make reading fun.  Might as well TRY! :)  Located on Amsterdam, the children's section is right on the ground floor.    I am so thrilled at Scarlett's response to the library.  She wants to participate picking out her books and then looks forward to reading them when we get home.  Her favorites are the Olivia series right now - what can I say, my kids must have something with pigs? Peppa, anyone?  In that vein, there is a Peppa Pig live show coming to the Beacon Theater nearby our house in April, so stay tuned for that! Another cool thing about New York? Broadway shows everywhere!

Other things I managed to accomplish during my mom's stay? Scarlett's first dentist visit (awful), Savannah's 18 month checkup with shots, and my new mom's Bible study (with childcare) at Redeemer.  I am doing what I can to make this huge city seem smaller and I am at least beginning to know a span of 5 by 5 blocks.

Unfortunately, this city never sleeps, so as soon as I master one skill, another obstacle rears its head.  Impending circumstance? WINTER.  It's one thing to live in a cold climate and drive everywhere, it's quite another to think about turning into a popsicle on the playground, or as Scarlett would say Olaf.  I am a Texan - I don't know much about down jackets, rain versus snow boots, weatherproof stroller gear?  Did I also mention I hate being cold?

Now that my mom has left, I have taken off the training wheels and will continue putting myself out there, if not for me, than for my girls, who deserve to have the best experience this city has to offer.  They will not see me be weak, but strong! I will put on my armor (active wear)...
ACTIVEWEAR
(PLEASE watch this video if you have not already...)
...and head out into whatever weather, people, stroller pushing I have to encounter.

Love grows best in little houses

"But you know, love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate,

Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.

Love grows best, in houses just like this." 

Doug Stone, "Little Houses"

Leave it to a country song to say it best.  I think I can finally agree with what this is saying.  We have MOVED IN!  We officially reside in the Upper West Side.  Now, it is not quite as magical as I was thinking, but it is definitely more us.  Restaurants have high chairs, there is a Starbucks one block away, I see moms with strollers.  This isn't to say cool people don't live here also, but I can appreciate a little ease for once.  We finally have our house back and we feel relaxed which is really something in this new city.  

Outside of our new place

After a trip to Houston for a friend's wedding, a visit with family, and a LOT of Mexican food, we felt ready to take on move 2.0.  A move is one of those things in life that just seems to be never ending - are you ever really prepared?  Have you organized enough and will they forget to pack some of your things?  The answer is no, so eventually you just have to begin!  My mother-in-law was kind enough to bear yet another excruciating flight with little Savannah back to New York.  This kid has the worst timing as far as getting sick, bless her heart, but at least I wasn't alone!  

In New York, there are a number of obstacles (as usual) to overcome while moving in.  Case in point: street cleaning.  Twice a week they clean the streets, and they have to be clear.  And oh yes, we RANDOMLY picked a day to move in during the street cleaning in front of our apartment, and the exact hours in fact!  Luckily, the movers and my landlord were much less paranoid about this than I was, but all I could think about was a giant tow truck hauling all of our much awaited stuff away!  

Second issue? Getting our furniture and boxes through no less than four doors.  It actually takes three particularly stubborn keys to get into our apartment - so much for modern technology.  This all seems very charming until you are holding a squirmy, loud, one-year-old on your hip, fussing at your three year old to stay put and not get on the elevator by herself or push the button for fun, whilst struggling to figure out whether I turn the key right or left.  Fun stuff!  

The movers did a great job, and even offered a full "unpack", but similar to the last move, this basically means, here is your stuff,  in a pile, on the floor.  Good luck!  I can't blame them really - 100 plus boxes and furniture, plus a 30 box delivery a few days later - just glad I wasn't buried in the pile!  Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Trey's mom the day after move-in and although we worked like crazy people on move-in day, we had DAYS of work left to do, now with the two little ones underfoot.  

Now most people have the luxury of slowly deciding where things go, taking your time, seeing the ebb and flow of the house.  Not I!  I get my husband's assistance for a few short days, then back to work!  I must not squander it!  The drilling into the walls got so loud and continuous at one point, our neighbor very politely came by to check on things, making sure we weren't drilling into her apartment.  OOPS!  At least this is New York!  They are used to a little noise.  We are not comfortable yet being in such close proximity to our neighbors, especially with the "thump-thumping" of the little feet running up and down the hallways (my kids don't pitter-patter).  So far, no complaints, but we shall see.  I am also on the clock concerning my curious toddlers.  All the Goodwill boxes and tools laying around are much more interesting than their actual toys!  Wire hangers and nails really make for safe playthings.

So happy with their toys!

I managed to check out the laundry "situation" which reminded me of being in a dorm again.  Obtain your washer/dryer card, put money on it, $4.00 and two hours later, your clothes are washed.  I managed to forget something I needed quite a few times: credit card, laundry card, laundry detergent so up and down the stairs I went.  I felt like a fraud!  I tried to look cool anyway around the residents of thirty plus years.  They can't tell right?  I'm just dripping sweat and putting my card in backwards. 

I am looking forward to this first normal week and what it has in store for us.  I will continue to get us settled, but it should be much easier in our new habitat, making this house a home.  Scarlett starts ballet classes (tear) and (gasp) I might actually go workout with kids in tow.  Yes, I think love will grow best in a place like this, little house.

Empire State of Mind

What does it mean to have an Empire State of mind? Sounds pretty cheesy to me.  That is, until I really started to look into it.  The phrase has a historical reference going back to George Washington calling the state of New York the "Seat of an Empire" pointing out its superior geographic battle advantages.  So how, do you ask, did this stick around and make it into Alicia Keys lyrics? (Empire State of Mind)

I guess one could compare it to Texas pride, something I am more familiar with: Lone Star state, Remember the Alamo, Don't Mess with Texas.  I never noticed the similarities until I started researching what it is that New Yorkers are so obsessed with: THEMSELVES and THEIR CITY.  Does this sound familiar? Once I started to reflect, there really are striking resemblances between New Yorkers and Texans (GASP)!

Both have pride in their history, the diversity offered, the food, their independence, their resilience...both have lots of songs written about them.  Maybe I have more in common with these New Yorkers than I thought.  As I was reading this blog about the New York mentality: Fresh NYC, one phrase stuck out to me: "You cannot be a wuss and live here." This is so true.

See, New Yorkers take the things that are hard (to outsiders) and see the beauty in them.  Now that I have been here over a month, I see that, for example, all modes of transportation are annoying in their own right, whether it be the subway, driving, taking a cab or walking.  You can either embrace it, or fight against it.

This week, I chose to grasp the walking by the metaphorical horns and go for it.  We ended up walking miles and miles, but it felt great!  I remember my first week here and being completely overwhelmed by the walking, especially with the extra burden of the double stroller.  This time, I felt myself relaxing and feeling more confident, taking it slower.  I was able to enjoy the experience and sights around me without being stressed out by the logistics.

For one, I started to appreciate the many different types of people in New York.  It is people-watching on a whole new level.  As a southern girl, my first instinct was to be wary and assume everyone is trying to mug me, but as I am unwinding, I am noticing how friendly everyone is.  With the wonderful August weather in New York, the typically all-business population is in a great mood, and so am I.  I graciously accept do-gooders opening the door for me and my stroller, and occasionally SMILE at people.  Who am I becoming???

It is strange to have to be in direct proximity to people every time you go somewhere.  Imagine, if you had to walk next to all the people you see in their cars on the way to work, or the gym, or to lunch.  Would you see them differently? Maybe, maybe not.  It definitely makes it more interesting.

Now this Empire State of Mind does have its advantages.  There is a multitude of impressive buildings, parks, things to do, sights to see.  The streets are busy and buzzing day and night.  Just this week we visited High Line Park: The High Line.  This is an old railroad line that has been transformed into a living, breathing park, winding through the skyscrapers and apartment buildings in Chelsea and the Meatpacking district.  Seeing the city from this angle was surreal.

Looking at the Empire State Building from the High Line

One thing that has been particularly difficult these past two weeks, is the absence of my husband, traveling for work.  I am normally a champ when it comes to this, but of course I was used to family helping me in Houston with the girls, especially in this kind of situation.  This poses the question, do New Yorker's call their mommas?  How tough is too tough?

For this "new" New Yorker, I did bring out the big guns.  I called my mom.  There is an ongoing, grueling mental struggle while raising small children.  A feeling of being alone, but never alone.  Sometimes the togetherness can be a lot to handle, as they depend on you for their happiness, schedule, food, well, everything.  The resilience of children to new situations is truly astounding, and I have to admit I am envious of their zeal for life. I wouldn't change being with them for the world, but it sure was nice to have my momma take care of me too for a change!

At Riverside Park with Kippy

With her help, we ventured to the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the Upper Westside Farmers Market, Zabar's (a gourmet grocery store in the UWS), and even New Jersey (we had to have our Chick-Fil-A fix, people).  It was what I needed to keep going!  We ate fresh pasta, researched radiator covers, went to church, shopped for winter coats in August, and took turns chasing after the newly speedy Savannah.  The ease of family can often help us have the confidence to continue doing more than what we thought ourselves capable of and remind us of our strengths.

Next week we will head to Houston to see the rest of our family, recharge our batteries, and then when we get back, move in to our new apartment!  We will officially be Upper West Siders!  Pre-war apartment, here we come: window units, radiators, creaky wood floors, and beautiful molding, we will take it all.  I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way, long days, and crazy tales, but we are ready to be in our home for the next three years.

#uwswannabe

So by now, we've gotten into somewhat of a routine, most of which involves mini-trips to the UWS during the week.  (#uwswannabe) This normally involves the double elevator car situation followed by a hunt for non-sketchy street parking, AKA: parking my husband would approve of.  This is not exactly easy to do.  Hurdles involve multiple bus stops, sidewalk curbs painted yellow, fire hydrants, work vehicles, one-way streets, proximity to stop signs and traffic lights - all no parking zones.  It reminds me of my Austin days at UT (I thought I was past this!)  The parking jockeying, parallel parking: there are no nice wide parking spots in a freshly cemented parking lot to speak of.  Oh, and did I mention the scaffolding?  I don't think I actually said this word out loud (or knew what it meant to be honest) ever, until moving here.  For those of us who need a little vocabulary help, these are structures that have been built outside of the buildings for construction crews that might be cleaning or repairing the outside of the building.  To normal people, this means metal bars that can be destructive to car doors and obstacle courses for stroller users.  They remind me of those limbo poles from the middle school dances.

Once I finally arrive to the UWS as a pretend resident, the girls and I have been seeking out the various free activities around the area.  I've been relying on some of the nice, organized people of the .org and .gov websites. (I believe these people to be the super overachiever types that are bettering our communities and children of tomorrow - so glad they exist - remember I'm a joiner!) They have to have people come to their events, right?  Anyway, this week we tried out a free concert, where we were met by the rulers of the town.

Watching the free concert at Riverside Park

Not sure if any of you out there are watching the new Bravo show, "Odd Mom Out," which airs Mondays at 10/9c, but they recently had an episode about nannies.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's basically a comedy about parenting in the Upper East Side.  As you can imagine, I can totally relate to some of the plot lines in one way or another.  We decided to go to a free concert in Riverside Park at one of the piers and the nannies came out in droves!  They know where all of the free, enriching activities are and bring their little ones along.  They often seem more comfortable with their kids than I do with mine out in public.  They know all of the best playgrounds, get there early, and stay late (wear orange?).  Am I talking about nannies, or tailgating?  They are here to stay, and I think I need a guidebook to know how to interact with them.  They seem to have their own schedules, social circles, and are they judging me as I struggle to fold down my cheap stroller?  They are giving me a complex!

We also ventured out to Columbus Circle (via a successful subway ride, mind you - yay) to the H&M - very fancy.  This is my NYC version of Target kids' clothing - wash and dry, then throw away if need be.  The Shops at Columbus Circle sit right at the bottom of the UWS, by Central Park, and present some recognizable places like Williams Sonoma (hello civilization).  I find it is always better to have one stop in mind with kids and if that goes well, call it a day!  Don't be greedy!  We needed more "play" clothes with these amazing playgrounds involving water, sand, fountains, sometimes mini-rivers.

Later in the week, we even found a new playground the perfect size for toddlers, called Mariners' Playground (thanks to some new friends in the know).  As a Houston girl, I am totally foreign to the vast varieties of playgrounds which present a Goldilocks and the Three Bears scenario - too big, too small, just right.  One thing I have learned about NYC is that unfortunately the only way to figure things out is by trial and error, oh, and by following the advice of others and absorbing it like a sponge.  I swear sometimes if the ladies would let me turn on a recording device or take notes, I would.  Then follow said advice to the letter.  Trust me, if they are taking the time to tell you something - LISTEN.  Scarlett is obsessed with the playgrounds with water fountains, and Savannah, thinking she's a big girl now, is starting to walk around a little bit and play with the older kids. (Anxiety levels going up...)

At Mariners' playground playing in the water

Our weekend was mainly taken up with apartment hunting - we saw FOUR!  Three were disappointing, but one has potential, so WE SHALL SEE!  We may become UWS residents after all!  I have narrowed down my requirements considerably to simply enough space as not to kill each other and an elevator, and maybe no black mold visible upon first sight? 

Part of the dinosaur exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History

In the middle of all this, my enthusiastic husband got me to agree to the American Museum of Natural History with the girls and it actually went well! I'm not a big sight-seer to his resounding disappointment but sometimes he can drag me along and I actually like it!  For example, when I log-in to Netflix when he is traveling, his shows of choice are something along the lines of history shows about spies (i.e., TURN, on AMC).  We targeted the dinosaur exhibit (remember ONE THING) and the girls LOVED it.  Even little Savannah (Peppa Pig enthusiast) noticed the dinosaurs! RAWR!

After that we did make it into the what I will call "taxidermy" section, or to others the Mammal Halls.  Maybe I've lived in Texas too long.  Deer mounts, anyone?  These animals were so creepy!  So real!  I have to say this may have been more successful than the zoo.  Why do you say would dead animals be better than live ones for little girls?  Well, they are still and easily spotted (you can't miss 'em), they are close up and behind glass, we are in the air conditioning, there is no way they can spring to life and bite my child.  This may be the ideal way to do animals with toddlers! 

the monkeys checking out the monkeys ;)

Here's hoping and praying that we find an apartment next week!

Buck up, buttercup!

Last week was a series of high highs and low lows.  I guess it is to be expected in a time of transition.  I feel like I am constantly giving myself pep talks and metaphorical slaps across the face to pull it together.  Since I'm a bad news first kind of gal, we will talk about the hard part.  What's that expression? "Buck up, buttercup."  This New York City place is making me feel like I'm kind of a wuss.

After the stroller debacle last week, I was convinced my new tandem stroller, the Joovy Caboose, possessed magical powers.  With this new tool, I could conquer this concrete jungle - no problem.  Now, I can't discount some of the benefits: narrower, smaller, technically fits two children.  Perhaps I was too confident.  I decided I would try the subway solo with both girls in tow.  Then Life basically said, "I'll see your bet, and raise you one." I proceeded to go the wrong direction, despite my best efforts to know my way beforehand, and got off at a non-handicap stop; translation: non-stroller stop.

As I broke into a sweat, I tried my best Southern charm to ask an obliging stranger for directions back the other way.  It is unfortunately not that useful when there is also a language barrier.  The subway can make you feel like you suddenly cannot read correctly or that it is written in code.  Eventually we found our way to discover it had started to rain at our stop.  SERIOUSLY??? Silly me, I forgot to check the weather and all of our umbrellas are in storage or in the car.  In Houston, I would have just turned the car around, headed home, and called it a day - but we were STUCK!  I fought back the tears of frustration (cue metaphorical slap) and we finished our errand.

The Joovy seconds as climbing equipment at home :)

For the journey home, we piled in a cab.  Mental monologue: SCREW THE SUBWAY.  Twenty painstaking minutes with a tired one-year-old trying to careen out of the vehicle later, we arrived home.  Once again, my poor mom received the brunt of it, and explained that I need to preface these outbursts with a disclosure that no one has been injured or has gone to the hospital.  I apologized for that, but continued on my rant.  Leave it to a mom to pinpoint what had really been hard, the fact that I felt unsafe.  The subway and taxis with little ones can be truly petrifying.  You feel very vulnerable, and this is magnified when you feel your children may be in danger.  Thankfully, a good night's sleep, some good advice, scripture, and a glass of wine can renew any perspective.  I had a fun weekend to look forward to in DC with old friends!  ROAD TRIP!!!!

I have to say, after the plane flight to NYC, I was a little bit tentative to embark on another trip.  Couldn't I just sit at home and be content?  Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment - who knows.  Either way, the DC journey was a success!  Maybe it was the car seats, maybe it was the portable DVD player not requiring headphones (another Peppa Pig marathon!), maybe it was the familiarity of driving, but the girls did great.

Now, we had been warned about the driving in New York, which we had experienced somewhat, but we were not prepared for the Lincoln Tunnel.  Who designs only two ways off the island?  It took us 45 minutes to circle our block just to decide we would take another route - the George Washington Bridge to access the New Jersey turnpike.  Unfortunately there is no way to explain to your phone or GPS to take us the "back road" way, so we were trapped with everyone else.  Luckily, NYPD traffic cops are an amazing diversion to watch while sitting in line.  Talk about some bada**es.  We would cheer every time they would not let another car cut in line!  If we weren't so scared of them we would have rolled down the window for a high five or fist bump.

I still find the NYC geography a little confusing, but basically you have to leave the city via New Jersey, AKA the turnpike.  Distance-wise in Texas, this should have been a three hour trip, hello 80 MPH on I-10.  Here, things are vastly different.  There are at least $60 in tolls round-trip, less when we figure out a toll tag, but STILL.  Texas could teach New York and New Jersey a few things about highways.  Generally in Texas, a toll road means smooth, wide roads with LESS traffic, without potholes, but what do I know?

Upon arrival, we were BEYOND EXCITED to discover our friends had an adorable little playground exactly 50 steps from their front door, toys, and a bunk bed for the girls.  Don't worry, Savannah was in the Pack 'n Play.  Not only were we staying with a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, but they had this amazing set up!  We were stunned with the good fortune.  Cat and Insung (our friends) should definitely own a bed and breakfast in their old age!  We would come!  We always say Insung won the wife jackpot.  Cat - stop making everyone look bad! ;)

Our main reason for the DC trip was to attend Baby Kerwin's shower, but we selfishly felt like our batteries had been recharged seeing our "family" from our old stomping grounds.  It was very reassuring to know they were a simple (ha) 5 1/2 hour drive away.  TOTALLY WORTH IT.  The shower with the littles was a success - no one ate any markers, there were dinosaurs to play with, and we got to catch up with friends we had missed for 5 years.  The journey home was uneventful (grateful sigh) minus some traffic, and the only evidence of destruction was the Starbucks scone crumbs all over the backseat.

In the wise words of my mother, the key for me in NYC is to "not to try to do too much."  We will see about that...I have a habit of taking on a lot! ;) The apartment search continues this week, and we are starting to make some friends.  This buttercup is toughening up!

The Mommy Sorority

Becoming a mom is more life-changing than anyone can imagine.  It changes you, the way you view life, your priorities, the way you spend your time and money.  It also changes something else: YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE FRIENDS.  Holding a five minute conversation without someone requiring something is staggering, and if you do, you probably need to worry that something is going down (eating play dough, coloring on the walls, eating your makeup, eating something...)  This is why I was so excited to set up a play date with some of the other women that had moved up here to NYC with my husband's company.

I am truly a fan of organized friendships (however lame that may sound).  I am a joiner: drill team, sorority, Junior League.  You name it, I tend to love finding friends, and have found some of my best friends through organizations.  If there was a mommy sorority in the Upper West Side, or even Houston, I would have joined.  Can someone please set this up?  

So you can imagine, as I headed to my first day of "rush" to meet these ladies, I wanted my little girls to be on their best behavior.  Things were going great, we hopped in a cab, headed up to the UWS, got to the playground where we were meeting, found the ladies, looked up, and...my potty-trained oldest got too excited and went pee right there up next to the slide!  Bless her heart!

I think she was just as excited to be out and about as I was!  So our first playground activity was rinsing and drying her shorts in the public bathroom's hand dryer.  Stupid me, didn't bring a change of clothes for her because we had never had an accident before.  The ladies could not have been more gracious, even offering clothes to borrow for my three year old.  The funny thing about this?  I actually took her up on it.  I guess we are going to start bribing to go potty before and after with M&M's.  I better find that pediatric dentist ASAP.  To further the great impression we were making, my littlest promptly had a meltdown exactly one hour into our new friendships.  I'm sure they can't wait to hang out with us again!  

Sororities often get a bad rap, but the camaraderie is irreplaceable.  And I can tell you, it is often during the hard times that people bond.  This can even apply within your immediate family.  On Wednesday, I thought I would venture out and find the "local" (ha) Nordstrom in White Plains, NY.  Normally, Nordstrom is just the ticket to feeling just a bit happier, call me shallow if you want.  However, maybe the day of the anniversary preview sale was not a good choice.  I should have read the writing on the wall, or door frame that hit my poor Scarlett's leg as we tried to get the car.  To access our vehicle, we have to go through not one, two, but THREE narrow doors with the double stroller, ride an elevator, and navigate a tightly packed garage including tippy motorcycles.  And yes, loading two toddlers into carseats, collapsing a double stroller, loading it and exiting a microscopic garage takes a little bit of time.  I'm glad the parking attendants were able to witness aliens landing.  

Once we got there, I was lost on so many levels (parking levels, mall levels, food court levels...)!  I should have known better, since I don't think I've ever gone solo with the girls to Nordstrom at the Houston Galleria, but I guess I was overconfident.  Let's just say, I left only buying a couple of those "mall" pretzels because I was starving.  My poor husband got the brunt of it when he got home that day as I informed him in a demon-esque voice that "We need another stroller and I am ordering it right now from Amazon." He looked kind of scared and nodded in agreement: cue Joovy Caboose.  Reviews at a later date once we receive.

As always, a good night's sleep and taking it out my poor mom (for nothing) - sorry Mom, cures anything and we were excited for the weekend: the Central Park Zoo and two open houses in the UWS.  The zoo was great, and the subway ride less stressful (maybe I can do this public transit thing after all), but you can tell that it is a smaller zoo.  It is in the middle of a city, but it's mainly birds and sea lions, minus some huge Grizzly bears.  Our girls are still a little young to notice the animals (or care) but it was a great one hour activity with toddlers.  

Sunday was great, going to church at The Redeemer followed by two open houses.  Both apartments were close to what we are looking for, but not quite right.  One had a "second" bedroom that would not fit more than one twin bed, and the "closet" was about one foot wide akin to a linen closet.  I know ours is out there!  We can't wait to see what this week's adventures bring.  

"Welcome to Earth" (or NYC)

We have officially made it through the first week.  We survived the plane flight, move-in, second move-in after the delivery of a giant pile of things I have no memory of requiring during temporary living (oops), the Fourth of July, and a trip to Jersey.  PHEW.  I think in some ways we had to look at it as a mini-vacation in order to push through.

You have two options when you get a professional moving company's delivery - leave everything in the boxes, and they will come back at a later date for them, OR leave it all in a pile in your living room.  Which one would you opt for?  We went for the pile, thinking, oh sure, we will get through it all, it can't be that much.  Well, it was much.  These New York closets, while impressively wide, are not very deep.  You would have to be a six-inch wide person for your clothes to fit properly in them.  Another option? Be an 8 foot tall person to access clothes on a 9-foot shelf.  Therefore, the little girls' clothes on tiny pink hangers fit great!  Trey's suits? Not so much.  And so the closet battles begin.  Side note: the pink kitchen made its NYC debut!

Another problem I seem to have with figuring out a new dwelling?  Location of cabinet doors that give me head injuries.  I have approximately two small goose eggs on my head.  The second happened when working to find places for groceries in a kitchen without a pantry.  I was going along strong, organizing and finally feeling a little normal with healthy food to eat at home, then WHAP.  Right to the skull.  My optimism for life without a pantry was quickly diminished after the assault. ;)

By the end of the week, we were getting more comfortable riding the subway, however, I have a new found respect for those in wheelchairs.  Whether it is having to use a service entrance, find a ramp, find an elevator, or wait for enough space to hop on the train, a double stroller presents some of the same issues.  There are a range of looks you receive from other people when using a double stroller - annoyance, disbelief, eye rolling (why in the world would anyone have kids??), and the occasional nod of encouragement.  Did everyone forget that they too were babies at one point???  Maybe it will be better in the more residential parts of the city.  Maybe I'm just self-conscious about being in the way.  Either way, the girls were real troopers on our little adventures.  What an amazing first weekend (the Fourth of July) to experience NYC.

Like everyone else, I remember sitting in class my senior year of high school when 9/11 happened.  Never did I imagine in my 30's I would be taking my babies to go visit its monument.  I am glad I will be able to show them these pictures and help them remember its significance.  I am not really into history (that's probably an understatement), but when you really see a place in person it raises the gravity of its meaning.  What they have built at Ground Zero is truly haunting and will hopefully move generations of Americans.

Next stop?  The Statue of Liberty.  I had never seen her in person, and again, we were on a mission to feel American that day (#merica), so why not?  What better to do on the 4th than see Lady Liberty in person?  There is a beautiful little area called Battery Park City Parks right by the Hudson River where you can look out and see the Statue of Liberty from various viewing points.  We thought adding in a boat ride to Ellis Island might be a little ambitious so we opted for a distant view.  The park sits alongside a high end shopping center called Brookfield Place where we could go have "free looks" akin to "free smells" at the merchandise.  Window shopping costs nothing right?  DVF and Ferragamo will have to wait.  Not sure I would want applesauce packets or ketchup smeared on those garments anyway.  I'll stick to Tar-jay for a while longer.

That night, we were able to view FOUR different fireworks shows, two in New Jersey, two in NYC from our apartment.  It was a regular battle between the states.  When you have littles, 4th of July ends early and involves the television screening of Independence Day - hence, "welcome to Earth".  The show still wasn't DC on the Fourth, but it was pretty darn impressive!  This made up for the ambulances around 2 am, blaring for about 30 minutes.  It's going to take a while to get used to the 5am sunshine until 9 at night and the city noises in the middle.  New meaning to the city that doesn't sleep - just didn't realize it was self-inflicted.  But it's all part of the experience, right?

We did finally venture out in our car once it arrived and went over to New Jersey on the George Washington Bridge in search of our beloved Chick-Fil-A.  I have to say, it felt pretty good to just sit and drive for a while. When we got there, the girls were excited for the food, but missed the playground (tear).  NJ also presents better grocery prices, but you have to tack on that $14 toll on the way back!  Sheesh!  Good thing we had some cash (or Trey had some cash).  I have to get better about having cash in this city!

To sum up, we survived our first day yesterday with Trey at work as well.  I worked out (at 5:30am - a new one for me), the girls and I had a picnic, and joined some online moms' groups (meetup.com).  I think we can do this!  My nervousness about leaving alone with the babies is getting less.  Not sure that will ever go away but I am trying!  Meeting new friends today - things are looking up. :)