I heart New York

Tim had to go to New York City for two weeks on a business trip and very last minute I decided to join him for a week of it! (Thanks, Kari!) So I packed my bags and off I went to a city I have always wanted to visit.

I was really nervous to travel with Natalie, especially on the plane, but fortunately, she was a dream to and from NY. So my trip started out well with a well-behaved baby and it didn't end there. I also sat next to a famous person on my flight from Dallas to NY! For those of you who don't know, I graduated in Broadcast Journalism from BYU so sitting next to this man...

John Quinones - ABC News

was my dream come true. And talk about major networking! Too bad I am doing nothing with my major right now. =o) Anyways, he was an extremely nice man and it was so fun to sit next to him and have his undivided attention for several hours!

During the week, since Tim had to work, Natalie and I got to venture out on our own everyday and do some shopping in Times square together...

Hershey's

M&M'S World





There were walls and walls of M&M'S in the store! Yummy!


Times Square

We stayed at the Marriott hotel right in Times Square!



It is so bright in Times Square that you can sit and read a book at night!

During the evenings and during the weekend Tim and I tried to take in as much of the NYC experience as much as possible. There is so much that I loved about the city. I loved walking around the crowded narrow streets, taking the subway and taxis, being surrounded by really tall buildings everywhere, and eating delicious NY pizza! Tim made sure that we never ate at any chain restaurants. We only ate at authentic, unique restaurants from New York. Such good restaurants let me tell ya! So, Tim and I did a lot of sightseeing in the fun city and got to visit some pretty well-known sites!

The David Letterman Show


Trump Towers



GE Building/Rockefeller Building

Rockefeller Center





30 Rock!

NBC Store





Radio City Music Hall

New York Subway (Metro Transit Authority or MTA)



Ground Zero


View of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park.

Wall Street

New York Stock Exchange



George Washington...

...inaugurated as our first president right here!


Empire State Building

Grand Central Station

New York City is a very unique city. It was so fun to experience the city life and eat food unique to the city. It was a much needed break from reality a little bit and hopefully we can go back without any kiddos and see some broadway shows and eat at fancier restaurants. Either way, it was a memorable trip! TAXI!

My Happy Dance

Last night Natalie slept through the night! Can you believe it?! She slept from 10-6:30! YAY!!!! And this is how I feel this morning and what I want to do ALL day long...



Anybody want to come over and join me?? I'm doing my happy dance!

Happy Grandparent's Day!

I miss you.

Dear Marisa,

I know this past month has been hard for you. So much changed so fast. I don't blame you for feeling ignored or frustrated as Mommy and Daddy's attention has suddenly focused intensely on your new little sister.

But despite the recent chaos, I want you to know that I still love you with all my heart. And nothing will ever replace the special bond that we have. There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank my Father above for sending me such a precious gift. A gift of having a beautiful little girl, and a gift of personally knowing a beautiful mother-daughter relationship. I love you more than you will ever know or ever understand, baby. But I do hope that you at least know that, I LOVE YOU.

Lately, this new change has been hard for me as well. I hate having to tell you, "No, I can't", or "I'm busy, wait", when you ask me to play with you, read to you, help you, etc. What I really hate the most is having to tell you no when you ask me to hold you. It absolutely breaks my heart when you come to me with your big brown eyes full of tears asking me "Mommy, hold you?" and I can't. It hurts so bad, Marisa. I want to baby, I really do. And it nearly kills me when you stand there or walk away after with even more intense tears and with such an abandoned look on your face when I can't hold you in my arms. There is nothing more excrutiating than that for me.

I'm so sorry for ignoring you.

I'm even more sorry that I have not been patient with you lately. I'm sorry that I get mad easily and extremely sorry that I have been taking out my high-stress and major lack of sleep on you. It's not fair to you.

But I do miss you. I miss us.

I miss the many precious moments of us cuddling, your arm around my neck, our foreheads touching, and falling asleep together every night for months, especially while Daddy was in busy season.
I also miss naptime together and falling asleep with your little hand wrapped around one of my fingers.
I miss watching tv together. Especially, Dancing with the Stars. =o) You are such a good little dancer.
I miss dancing together.
I miss taking walks together. Finding baby frogs, leaves, and lots of rocks!
I miss reading books to you. Even if it was over and over again.
I miss teaching you new things and watching you excitedly taking it all in.
I miss being able to drop whatever I am doing and play with you for as long and as hard as you want to.
I miss playing with you and making you laugh until you have a hard time breathing. So funny...
And I miss laughing together. Just the two of us.

I miss just the two of us...

But I promise Marisa over time everything will get better and get back to how things were. And guess what? We can now add Natalie to our little circle and continue the fun with even more smiles and laughter. Fun, huh!

Thank you for being a wonderful and helpful big sister. You really are so great and sweet to Natalie and such a trooper for Mommy and Daddy as we try to figure out baby Natalie. Your giggles, funny facial expressions, funny sayings, and your ball of energy is what fuels my energy and keeps me going as a Mommy. Thank you for being such an amazing daughter.

I love you big girl.

And I miss you.

-Mommy