Good: I found a doctor that is willing to accept me for how far along I am and our insurance is all set to go.
Bad: It's up on the Upper West Side
Ugly: Going to my appointment, trying to catch the C train and learning the entrance of the subway is closed due to the World Trade Center construction, hauling 2 kids and a double stroller up and down stairs and up a ramp that is underground that was at least a couple blocks long, arriving with barely enough time before they would cancel the appointment, drenched in sweat, then dealing with two naughty kids jumping on and off the scale, playing with the lights, throwing cars in the garbage and screaming because he can't get it back, another one screaming for the treat I told I would give her if she gave me privacy and me and the doctor yelling at each other because we can't hear each other. I'm embarrassed to go back next week.
Good: Tommy was put into Rachel's swim class which will allow me to watch (especially when the baby comes)
Bad: Tommy had a poopy diaper
Ugly: It leaked bad and the whole pool had to be evacuated and everyone's swim lessons cut short. Embarrassing day #2!
Good: Our house closes on Tuesday!
Bad: We're still taking care of inspection
Ugly: We did everything the inspector and buyer asked. One thing specifically was to clean the mold and put fans in the crawl space to take care of a moisture problem. $400 and a week of hard labor from Jake...done. There was a re-inspection and the inspector wasn't satisfied. Long story short, it became a "deal breaker" and we had to send in moisture specialists to take care of this thing that wasn't even a problem (according to what a couple of good contractor friends tell us as well as the home warranty company)...a couple thousand dollars more! Just frustrating!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Heat Wave!
Everybody's talking about the record breaking heat:
Yesterday we went to Central Park for our church stake Pioneer Day activity. I felt like a pioneer walking up the hill of the park 9 months pregnant in this crazy heat. We came home and took a family nap that afternoon.
Despite the rain this evening, Jake wanted to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and he and the kids took a nice Sunday stroll on the Brooklyn bridge while I cooked dinner.
I sure hope this week is a little cooler.
Tropical Dose of Humidity in New York
By AL BAKER
Published: July 24, 2010
In New York, the heat and humidity combined to give the metropolitan region an almost tropical feel.
“We certainly have the humidity of the tropics,” said John C. Murray, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y. “That is what our atmosphere is like right now.”
The temperature reached 97 degrees in Central Park on Saturday afternoon, tying the high for July 24 set in 1999, according to the weather service.
With the humidity factored in, the heat index was 102 degrees at its peak, the service said.
The torrid conditions on Saturday prompted the weather service to put a heat advisory into effect covering New York City through 6 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Murray said those kinds of advisories were a result of consecutive days of high heat and humidity.
Mr. Murray said the average temperature in Central Park this month, through Friday, wa
s 81.7 degrees, just over 5 degrees above normal.
I wish I could say we went to a tropical beach but we went to Coney Island again with some friends. We met this couple in our ward here 5 years ago and they're still here. We've now got kids the same age.
Rachel and Ella
Tommy and Liam
Yesterday we went to Central Park for our church stake Pioneer Day activity. I felt like a pioneer walking up the hill of the park 9 months pregnant in this crazy heat. We came home and took a family nap that afternoon.
Despite the rain this evening, Jake wanted to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and he and the kids took a nice Sunday stroll on the Brooklyn bridge while I cooked dinner.
I sure hope this week is a little cooler.Sunday, July 18, 2010
Settling in
We did it!!! It all fit! We're all settled...for the most part. Everything unpacked and put away, just a few more pictures to hang on the wall. The small space hasn't been too bad. The only time it gets tight is when everyone wants to be in the kitchen. It just doesn't work.
The kids love their new room and Rachel thinks her new bed is so fun. It's a big thing for Tommy because it's his first time in a big boy bed. The first night we found him on the floor. But we never heard any thumps or crying, so who knows. He's doing great now. He climbs up and closes his eyes even before we kiss him goodnight, and we never see or hear from him till morning. Of course for a while it was 5:30 am. It starts getting light here at 5! Problem solved though with some room darkening shades.
Jake's last day with no work we decided to go to Coney Island
It's about as dirty as Tommy is here. Trash everywhere and that's including the people. I felt more and more uncomfortable as the day wore on and I regret not doing another beach, cause we hear there lots of amazing beaches here. Good thing we've still got time.
The kids of course had a great time!
One thing I've loved about living in New York is all the fresh fruit readily available at the street corner stands and all the Greenmarkets.
Playing in the apartment...
Reading books to her brother
Tommy's favorite spot.
Don't be too fooled though. It's true my kids can get along really well, but the sibling rivalry has been at an all time high as well.
This past week with Jake at work, the kids and I have spent our days park hopping. We went to at least 4 different parks, all within walking distance of our apartment.
All the parks here have some sort of water/splash area, which is good because it's been extremely hot, but it's bad because they all have sand as well.
We also started both kids in swimming lessons at the swimming pool just at the bottom of our building. They're both loving it and Tommy has really impressed me. That kid's a born swimmer!
We had a big day yesterday. We started off at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. It was free admission for some Target event and we wanted to take advantage of it. It was a mad house, which we expected, but the kids had a blast.
I loved watching this little New York scene...Rachel picking out some fruit handing it to the girl and asking how much money. The girl would say, "two dollars" and Rachel would reach in to her pocket and hand the girl some "money."
The "water area" just outside the museum
We tried to do some dance event at the Lincoln Center but the sun was too brutal. Instead we did the target crafts. The lady in charge thought Rachel's focus was unbelievable. This girl just loves crafts!
We met up with some old Charlotte friends that live here as well now and we went to dinner at a place called Stardust Diner in Times Square. Not the greatest food (especially for the price) but a way FUN atmosphere. The waiters and waitresses sing live! The kids loved it. Rachel got to put in a couple words to a Little Mermaid song and Tommy got to dance with our waitress.
So it's been really good so far. We're anxious to get to know more people. I felt like the only mom amidst all the nannies at the parks. This week we'll do the ward playgroup and get together with some friends. One thing that has me a little worried...what will we do in the winter?
The kids love their new room and Rachel thinks her new bed is so fun. It's a big thing for Tommy because it's his first time in a big boy bed. The first night we found him on the floor. But we never heard any thumps or crying, so who knows. He's doing great now. He climbs up and closes his eyes even before we kiss him goodnight, and we never see or hear from him till morning. Of course for a while it was 5:30 am. It starts getting light here at 5! Problem solved though with some room darkening shades.
Jake's last day with no work we decided to go to Coney Island
It's about as dirty as Tommy is here. Trash everywhere and that's including the people. I felt more and more uncomfortable as the day wore on and I regret not doing another beach, cause we hear there lots of amazing beaches here. Good thing we've still got time.
The kids of course had a great time!
One thing I've loved about living in New York is all the fresh fruit readily available at the street corner stands and all the Greenmarkets. 
Playing in the apartment...
Reading books to her brother
Tommy's favorite spot.
Don't be too fooled though. It's true my kids can get along really well, but the sibling rivalry has been at an all time high as well.
This past week with Jake at work, the kids and I have spent our days park hopping. We went to at least 4 different parks, all within walking distance of our apartment.
All the parks here have some sort of water/splash area, which is good because it's been extremely hot, but it's bad because they all have sand as well. 
We also started both kids in swimming lessons at the swimming pool just at the bottom of our building. They're both loving it and Tommy has really impressed me. That kid's a born swimmer!
We had a big day yesterday. We started off at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. It was free admission for some Target event and we wanted to take advantage of it. It was a mad house, which we expected, but the kids had a blast.
I loved watching this little New York scene...Rachel picking out some fruit handing it to the girl and asking how much money. The girl would say, "two dollars" and Rachel would reach in to her pocket and hand the girl some "money."
The "water area" just outside the museum
We tried to do some dance event at the Lincoln Center but the sun was too brutal. Instead we did the target crafts. The lady in charge thought Rachel's focus was unbelievable. This girl just loves crafts!
We met up with some old Charlotte friends that live here as well now and we went to dinner at a place called Stardust Diner in Times Square. Not the greatest food (especially for the price) but a way FUN atmosphere. The waiters and waitresses sing live! The kids loved it. Rachel got to put in a couple words to a Little Mermaid song and Tommy got to dance with our waitress.
So it's been really good so far. We're anxious to get to know more people. I felt like the only mom amidst all the nannies at the parks. This week we'll do the ward playgroup and get together with some friends. One thing that has me a little worried...what will we do in the winter?
Friday, July 9, 2010
The East Coast...
...is a long post, I mean coast. Are you ready for this?
First stop-
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
where the Wright brothers made the first flight
the first four points they landed
and then to nearby Kill Devil Hills to do the sand dunes. Rachel has a Dora book about sand dunes and had to have sunglasses just like her.
Virginia Beach
where we stayed one night and enjoyed a quick morning on the beach
Williamsburg, Virginia
Probably would have been 100 times better if it weren't for the 100 degree weather with 100% humidity!
New York!
this is the park just outside our apartment
enjoying Battery Park
Boston, Massachusettes
to visit the Miles
These two were crazy giddy together, playing games, telling jokes and using their imaginations. It was fun to watch but they were really noisy...just ask Tommy
Lexington and Concord
I can't think of a more appropriate way to spend July 3
Walden Pond
The neighborhood parade was a little disappointing with just a bunch of noisy fire engines (and no candy)...but Tommy still loved it.
The Boston Fireworks. Every year Rachel has been really scared of them. She was determined to like them this year, and she did...for the most part...
Newport, Rhode Island
a fun day trip where we ate, saw some amazing mansions, played at the beach and hiked the cliff walk. A definite do-again...we loved this place!
And goodbye to our one and only car we've had for the past 7 years! Jake had a harder time leaving this than he did our house. He bought it with his hard working lawn mowing money he made and saved as a teenager. It's been good to us and been on many road trips...Southern Utah, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and now all the way up the east coast.
But, as fate would have it, the Miles were in need of a car (due to a recent wreck) and they are purchasing it. We are happy that we don't have to deal with any more NYC parking or the headache of trying to sell it and that it's going into good hands.
back to New York City
Jake got us tickets to go see the Broadway Mar Poppins for my Mother's Day gift. It was a much anticipated event. Rachel had a great time, she was fascinated that she could "fly" and she really got into "Step in Time." After the show she says, "I'm having fun in New York!"
and here's us enjoying a bike ride along the Hudson River
We're really liking Battery Park City as we learn more about the free activities and things to do. We're just about settled into our apartment, and things are going to settle down for us as well. Jake starts work on Monday. It's sure been great to play with him these past couple of weeks. It will be nice to get back into a routine again...at least for the next 6 weeks :).
First stop-
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
where the Wright brothers made the first flight
the first four points they landed
and then to nearby Kill Devil Hills to do the sand dunes. Rachel has a Dora book about sand dunes and had to have sunglasses just like her.
Virginia Beachwhere we stayed one night and enjoyed a quick morning on the beach
Williamsburg, VirginiaProbably would have been 100 times better if it weren't for the 100 degree weather with 100% humidity!
New York!this is the park just outside our apartment
enjoying Battery Park
Boston, Massachusettesto visit the Miles
These two were crazy giddy together, playing games, telling jokes and using their imaginations. It was fun to watch but they were really noisy...just ask Tommy
Lexington and ConcordI can't think of a more appropriate way to spend July 3
Walden Pond
The neighborhood parade was a little disappointing with just a bunch of noisy fire engines (and no candy)...but Tommy still loved it.
The Boston Fireworks. Every year Rachel has been really scared of them. She was determined to like them this year, and she did...for the most part...Newport, Rhode Island
a fun day trip where we ate, saw some amazing mansions, played at the beach and hiked the cliff walk. A definite do-again...we loved this place!
And goodbye to our one and only car we've had for the past 7 years! Jake had a harder time leaving this than he did our house. He bought it with his hard working lawn mowing money he made and saved as a teenager. It's been good to us and been on many road trips...Southern Utah, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, and now all the way up the east coast.But, as fate would have it, the Miles were in need of a car (due to a recent wreck) and they are purchasing it. We are happy that we don't have to deal with any more NYC parking or the headache of trying to sell it and that it's going into good hands.
back to New York CityJake got us tickets to go see the Broadway Mar Poppins for my Mother's Day gift. It was a much anticipated event. Rachel had a great time, she was fascinated that she could "fly" and she really got into "Step in Time." After the show she says, "I'm having fun in New York!"
and here's us enjoying a bike ride along the Hudson River
We're really liking Battery Park City as we learn more about the free activities and things to do. We're just about settled into our apartment, and things are going to settle down for us as well. Jake starts work on Monday. It's sure been great to play with him these past couple of weeks. It will be nice to get back into a routine again...at least for the next 6 weeks :).
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