Peeks from the Week

We had a busy, busy week and I'm, for once, not being lazy about posting on a summer Friday.

On Monday we got to have a 33-week ultrasound to check on the cyst that I have. It's fine. The tech was sort of odd and very hard to understand so we have some questions for the doctor when we see her next week but otherwise all is well. Baby is definitely a boy (thank goodness because now I can't imagine having a girl). And he is average size for this stage in the pregnancy. 70% percentile. He is facing head down (yay!) and face to my back so we didn't get any good pictures but we saw him and that's what counts.

After the ultrasound we had a tour of the maternity ward even though we had already visited that place a few weeks ago. The nurse was very nice and it seems like a perfectly fine hospital to deliver. I hope we can get a private room after the birth but it's pretty pricey and they only have 5 available so I've made my peace with potentially sharing. The only downside is Dan can't spend the night if I don't get a private room and I don't want to spend my first night alone with the baby in a shared room. We'll see.

Tuesday night I got busy writing my shower thank you notes and Dan and I worked together to finish all the baby laundry. Oh man, I didn't think folding laundry could get any more fun but baby clothes are just the best!! I feel pretty set for clothes at least for the first 9 months.

The baby's room is SO close to being finished and after this weekend it might be ready for the blog reveal!!

Last night Dan and I went up to Yankee Stadium after work to watch the NYC Football Club game against Minnesota. Last year we decided that rather than get birthday presents we would do adventures instead. Dan had a whole choose-your-own-adventure birthday last year and this year he just picked a few fun things to do. One was the soccer game.

We had a blast. It wasn't crowded and it wasn't hot. We enjoyed the game. NYC won and we got home speedy quick. It was a good night with my birthday buddy.

And now it's FRIDAY and a birthday/holiday weekend. Both Dan and I get four-day weekend and we have a full day planned tomorrow to celebrate his special day. Check back next week for a full recap.

Summer Bucket List

The first day of summer was last week. But here in NY, school just got out for summer break yesterday so, in my opinion, that's when summer really starts (even though I'm not a teacher nor do I have a school aged kid). I kind of love that school gets out so late here because it helps me feel like summer extends farther into "fall" than in other parts of the country.

Even though this summer will be a little different with the fast approaching arrival of the baby at the beginning of August, I still wanted to have a little list of fun things we plan to do, whether before or (ambitiously) after the baby come.

Not gonna lie, it's kind of a cheater list since several items on this list are already scheduled within the next two weeks. BUT, it's the effort that counts and I'm trying to be realistic about what's possible with this bump and then babe.

A few things about this list,

1) I've been craving shaved ice since last summer when we trekked to kingdom come trying to find that stuff in the city. We ended up with shaved ice cream which is NOT the same and NOT what I wanted. I just don't understand why in a city with cuisine from all over the world, no one has thought to bring that beautiful Hawaiian shaved ice into the city? There seem to be places on Long Island and the Jersey Shore but I want it down the block!!  Now that Mandy is here and she has a car, I'm hoping I can finally get that shaved ice fix and I hope it's everything I've ever dreamed of

2) I want a hotdog. BADLY. But I'm trying to be good and avoid deli and mystery meat until after the baby arrives. I expect a Nathan's famous is one of the first things I'll request in the hospital. The hard part will be resisting one when we go to a Cyclones game at Coney Island next weekend.

3) This year's beach day will have to be just beach no water as I do not have a maternity swim suit and I do not intend to buy one.

Cheers to the best time of the year!!!

Summer Bucket Lists from Years Past
2016 we didn't do one :o(
2015
2014

Weekending it

I'm really LOVING having Mandy so close-by to us now. We haven't lived close to each other since we moved from home off to college so it's like a whole new chapter for both of us!! Plus Dan and Mandy get along great so that helps too!

On Friday Mandy came into Brooklyn to meet me after I got off of work early for Summer Friday. We sorted all the baby clothes from the shower, clipped the tags, washed everything with the special baby detergent, folded everything, and filled up the dresser in the baby's room. It was a huge task on my list and it went so quickly with her help. Dan had a church event after work so Mandy and I had a girls night with dinner out.

Mandy slept over on Friday night and then Saturday morning she and Dan used their muscles to move furniture in the living room. Dan and I decided that the TV stand that we had, although we loved it, was just not baby safe and although we are a ways away from needing to baby-proof everything, we wanted to get this out of the way now. We moved the sideboard over to put the TV on top so now it is FAR out of reach. Mandy and I sorted everything in the sideboard and consolidated all the breakables into the two cabinets with the doors (which we intend to lock). Then we cleared some space in the middle for baby safe toys. I'm really happy with the end result and now we have a open spot for a kids table or just extra space.

After that big task was done we headed back to New Jersey with Mandy to indulge in the luxuries of suburban shopping!!!

Hobby Lobby!!!

Cheesecake Factory!!! I loved this place and I hadn't been to one in at least a decade. Menu was the same!!!

And a mall with a huge Barnes and Noble and a Target across the street...all within 10 minutes of her apartment. We got a lot of stuff off of our need-to-do/get list and then spent the rest of the night relaxing and watching Moana.

Sunday morning we did a bit more shopping at a different mall, also less than 10 minutes from her place, as well as a Home Goods. Dan let me go a little crazy but it felt really good to cross some things off of our list.

Then we all headed back to Brooklyn. When the traffic is good it takes only 30 minutes which is perfect! All three of us then took a long walk to get bubble tea and Mandy helped us haul our groceries home too! We tag-teamed and made pancakes for dinner before sending Mandy on her way home.

It felt like a vacation weekend for me since I'm not used to seeing Mandy when she isn't here for just a quick trip so it was great fun! Her apartment is absolutely darling and so homey and comfortable. I know it's a little safe haven for her and I'm so grateful we found it. We aren't planning on spending every weekend with Mandy but in this beginning phase before the baby arrives it's really fun to do some exploring. Summer is both of our FAVORITE time of year so it makes it even better.

Baby Shower

This past Saturday my mom and sisters hosted a really lovely baby shower for me and baby boy. It was somewhat complicated planning process since we are all spread across the country but Mandy's move to the East Coast made a perfect occasion to all come together to celebrate.

We held the shower at a local hotel and we were super glad we booked this room since about an hour before the shower the skies opened up and it was a torrential downpour for a good bit of time - literally a shower. Had we planned a picnic (which we considered), it would have been a disaster. Huge blessing. Since my mom and sisters and I had gotten all dressed-up, my dad and Dan did all of the loading and unloading of food and decorations (our heroes!!) and used Mandy's car for transportation. They got drenched.

Fortunately, everything arrived dry and ready to be set-up.

Since the shower was from 2-4 pm, we decided to keep the food simple and did a themed "pregnancy cravings" menu with some of mine and baby's favorites. We got Chipotle chips and salsa and guacamole, homemade fruit kabobs, and we ordered mini pies from my friend's pie business. It was a delicious feast.

Everyone filled-out little baby predictions cards as they arrived and Jessy planned a few fun games. We played the game where everyone gets a clothespin and you aren't allowed to say the word "baby," if you do, the other person gets your pin. The person at the end with the most pins wins!

I was so blessed to have so many people from my various circles come to celebrate. There were friends from our old church and friends from our new church too! My mom's cousin who lives in the city came all the way out and Dan's cousins also made the journey, as well as well as my two local friends from graduate school.

Jessy and my mom put up a clothes line of baby items at the beginning of the party and slowly took one item down at a time. It was a test to see who was most observant to even notice the clothes line let alone know what items were on it. The person with the most correct won.

After mingling and eating we opened presents!

This was awkward for me since I really hate being the center of attention but it was great fun to open all the gifts and see all the cute baby outfits people got. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of people and have nearly everything we need for the baby!!

After gifts people guessed how big my bump was by cutting off pieces of ribbon and then sizing it up around my belly. It was a fun and funny game and every single person overestimated my belly size except for two people got it exactly right!!

All the winners of the games got to take home one of Mandy's handmade wreathes.

I'm so grateful to my mom and sisters for hosting such a lovely afternoon and spoiling the baby and me all weekend.
 

And, of course, grateful to Dan's family for loving on us as well. We missed them but felt their presence.

Weekending it

My oh my, we had a whirlwind weekend.

This past Thursday Mandy arrived in New Jersey to settled into her new apartment and new life!!!! Dan took the day off of work to help her and my parents unload the moving truck and start assembling furniture. When Dan and I went with Mandy in April to find a place to rent we liked the place we picked but the unit she actually got is even better because it was fully renovated. Her one bedroom apartment in New Jersey is probably the same size as our two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn - and we don't have a brand new kitchen nor do we pay that cheap of rent. Oh, the perks of suburban living.

Thursday night Dan and my mom drove back to Brooklyn (only a quick 30 minute drive through Staten Island!!!) and my mom and I had a nice mother-daughter dinner date at Gino's.

Friday morning Dan went to work and I my mom and I grabbed bagels and drove back over to New Jersey to check-out Mandy's place. By the time we arrived my older sister Jessy had landed from L.A. and we had a little reunion at Mandy's apartment. We all worked to get some things unpacked, Jessy and Mandy bonded with the baby by refusing to keep their hands off my belly, and then got pizza for lunch before all piling in Mandy's car and going to my place in Brooklyn. I know it sounds like a lot of back and forth (which it was) but HOLY COW is it nice to have access to a car and it is so AWESOME to only be 30 minutes from Mandy instead of half the country away.

That night we got all gussied up and met Dan and my mom's cousins at Peter Luger's Steakhouse for a dinner celebration for my Dad's 70th birthday. He's been wanting to go back ever since we went a couple of years ago.

The steak was awesome and the baby loved all that meat protein. Dan and I eat pretty simply so have a real piece of meat was a treat (don't worry, Mandy and I shared a "well done" steak)!!

All six of us slept at our apartment on Friday night and got up the next day to prepare for the baby shower that afternoon! I'll share a separate post about the shower but it was a fun family event. Since Mandy was moving out here and my parents were helping her drive across country and get settled, we decided to just cram as much family celebration in the same weekend - Mandy's move, my dad's birthday, and my baby shower. It actually worked out really well since my older sister was able to fly out and join us for all of it.

After the baby shower hoopla we enjoyed an Indian food feast for dinner and one last night together before Jessy flew home Sunday morning. Dan and I went to church and then met up with Mandy and my parents in New Jersey for the afternoon. We helped do a few more things around the apartment and then explored the area.

There is an adorable waterfront area that was just so cute and happy. Dan took this nice photo of the four of us by the water. You guys, I don't look pregnant in this photo AT ALL. It's weird.

We enjoyed dinner together and then they drove us back to Brooklyn for before our final goodbyes. It was a great weekend and although we did a lot and there were a lot of people and stressful logistics, everyone was happy and in good moods which made for even better memories.

Tower One

Random post today. I took this photo last March (2016) when the sky was gorgeous at sunset.

I decided after I took that photo that I would attempt to take photos from that same spot for lots of different sunsets. Over a year later I never caught anything remotely as beautiful. But, I got a whole bunch of other nice shots. 

Weird fact, in New York, this building is commonly called Tower One or One World Trade. Tourists and people from other parts of the country always refer to it as "Freedom Tower." No one really calls it that here.

I love the one below because only one side of the Tower is reflecting the blue sky from the south. The north was gray.

 

These next two were taken exactly one day apart. The first one was taken before the snow storm in January and the second one was mid snow storm. 

And then the slow return of Spring

 

This photo below was taken last Friday. Look how much the trees have grown in the last year! I might have to change my photo spot before the leaves fully cover the tower.