These streets will make you feel brand new

The view from our apartment


After months of anticipation we are finally here. The cross country plane ride with a baby turned out pretty well. We sat by a bunch of teenagers who at times were louder and more annoying than Conner. After a great taxi ride from our friend Manjit, who invited us over to his house in Queens for some Indian tea, we checked in and unloaded our life and settled in.

This morning consisted of our first grocery shopping trip, which I thought was very successful and I am happy that the store is so close. We met a nice man in the elevator who told us that he had a 3 week old baby and they like to order their diapers on Diapers.com . Apparently it is same day deliver here in the city. I think I'll be taking advantage of that. Also, they have grocery delivery as well, all of this online ordering will be new for me. I'm not a big online shopper, but apparently will become one.

Conner seems to be taking it all in. He gets 'ooh's' and 'aah's' on the street. He's a pretty big hit in the little baby carrier that we have.

We plan on hitting one of our favorite Cuban places on Saturday and strolling in the park this weekend....

Admit it, you're jealous.

18 Months have come and gone...

In 5 days these two are coming home. To some the last year and a half has gone by quickly. Most comments I get from people are "They are coming home already?" or "That went by so fast!" Not so much for me...and I feel pretty safe saying it didn't go by quickly for either of my sisters.

Right now they are enjoying themselves by snorkeling in The Great Barrier Reef..lucky ducks!

When they say that not only are the missionaries blessed but the families of the missionaries as well...I can now say that I know that is true. Nothing miraculous, but when you look back at the last 18 months, there is no denying it.

I remember the day they left. I cried a lot. I'm pretty sure I'll cry just as much when I see them get off that place. We can't wait. Please let the next few days go by fast.

Stroller Suggestions

What good is a blog if you can't ask questions to others? So here I am asking for your advice. I'm looking for a good lightweight stroller to take to New York. I've done some research but I think that the opinion of other mom's is better than any review I will read. Here are a few things that I'm looking for.

Lightweight and compact for easy travel and set up.

Storage

Large Canopy

5 point harness (Since Conner is still little and can't sit up yet)

Parent Tray (Not as important as the others since you can buy stroller accessories)

If there are other things that I need to look for let me know!

So give me your opinion please! Tell me what to buy or what not to buy!

Thanks!

Empire State of Mind

And we're off!

Off to the Big Apple, NY, The City that never sleeps, The City so Nice, they Named it Twice.....New York!

Jon was accepted into a rotation for 8 weeks in New York. We leave in August and get back in October. We can't wait!

My Green Thumb

Last summer I got all pumped about having a yard to plant flowers in. I was overly ambitious and went a little crazy. A few weeks later I was barfing on a regular basis because we were having Conner, and I became a hermit for the majority of the summer. Alas, the yard did not make it. Basically everything I planted died...it really was sad.

So this year I made a goal to go a little more simple and make sure to give the yard some love. Jon has done most of the clean up from the winter. With crazy weeds and the amount of flower beds my parents have, it has been quite the task for him. It's a good thing he likes yard work. As for me, I just make sure it looks pretty. And last week Beth volunteered to help me remove these hideous dead bushes.



I told her that I was going to brag on my blog about how hard it was and how we did it together, but who am I kidding...everyone is going to know it was all her. She's way stronger than I am.

I'm happy to take credit for the pretty things. I hope they stay alive this summer, my goal was to have a pretty decent yard for my mom when she gets home!





This tree is almost pretty enough to hide the barbed wire in the back.





P.S Parents....in case your forgot, your grandson gets cuter by the day.

To Mom and Dad in Adelaide: We're All Smiles

Here's a few photos and some videos to keep you missing this little guy. He was staring at your picture the other day, I'm preparing him to meet you in just a few months!!

Motherhood and Me

On our way home from church on Sunday Jon asked me if I felt any different this Mother's Day....it being my first official Mother's Day, and I said no. Then I wondered why I didn't feel any different this Mother's Day, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Up until now, Mother's Day was a day to celebrate my incredible Mother. And after 24 years it was also a day to celebrate my wonderful Mother-in-law. Two women who've shaped and will continue to influence my own mothering. To add myself to the list of people to be celebrated on that day felt...weird. I don't know, and haven't experienced enough mothering to be celebrated, right? Through my pondering this week, I decided I was wrong. I've only been a Mother for 2 months (2 months today to be exact!) and I haven't been through the terrible two's, potty training, puberty, teenagers, or dating, but you don't have to know it all to celebrate what you do know. This is what I know.

I know that I couldn't be the Mother that I am without the husband that I have. He inspires, encourages, supports, and loves me. And he happily comes home and takes Conner and tries to keep him happy during his fussy time.

I know that I never thought I would get so excited about a smile. Conner's little smile melts my heart, and was the best present I got for Mother's Day.

I know I love how aware Conner is that I am his Mother. At only 2 months old he's a momma's boy....I couldn't be more thrilled.

I know that there are days that I'm overwhelmed and feel a little crazed by the new job of mothering that I took on, but I'm surprised by how much I love it. Contrary to a few posts ago when I wasn't happy about being a new mom, I've gotten into a really good groove and feel more confident.

And I know that the reason I didn't feel any different this Mother's Day is because my whole life up to this point I've been molded and sculpted by life experiences to take on this new job. I've realized that what has happened is I've finally fit into the role I was meant to play, and because it feels so natural I never realized how much I've changed and grown. I didn't feel any different because I'm exactly what I've always wanted to be.

A Mother.

And I've never been so grateful for that realization...a present to myself this very first Mother's Day.