Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Wheels on the Bus

So I had my appointment at the hospital this morning and usually I walk because it's not that far away. But I left a little bit later than planned and was worried about making it in time (and being a sweaty, smelly mess), so decided to catch the bus.

The bus was already at the corner picking up passengers when I got to the appropriate block, so I had to run a little in order to catch it (no small feat when lugging around a bowling ball!). The doors had already begun to close after the last passenger, but then opened up again as I got closer and when I stepped aboard the driver said with a smile, "don't worry, we won't leave you behind mama!"

Then he asked me my stop and when I said 77th / Lenox Hill (which is directly in front of the hospital) his eyes got big and he asked, "do I need to haul ass??" It was pretty funny. Some New Yorkers can be grouchy, but there are so many friendly, caring people in this city too!




In other news, it was a great mail day! Baby C was the lucky recipient of not one but TWO lovely, heartfelt letters (both of which made his mama cry). 


Monday, October 27, 2014

38 Weeks

Tick tock, tick tock!


Just in time for Halloween, Baby C is the size of a pumpkin!


Tomorrow morning I head in to the hospital for a belated 36 week scan, just another sonogram to see if they can get a better idea of exactly how much Baby C weighs. Then I have my regular weekly doctor appointment on Thursday to check how things are progressing. Two friends who were also pregnant and due around my due date both gave birth this weekend, so little punk's squad of bi-coastal friends is growing already.

We viewed a ton of apartments this weekend and all but one were pretty lame. Like tiny, dark, parents-would-start-to-cry-when-they-came-to-visit-us-and-saw-where-their-grandson-was-living type lame. Will continue the search and remain hopeful something amazing will drop into our laps, but also thinking it might be best to stick it out in our current place for a while longer at this point. The weather has recently taken a turn for the (slightly) chillier and I couldn't be more ecstatic. I might look a little ridiculous strolling around in a sundress in 60 degree weather, but after months of constantly feeling overheated and sweaty, my gosh it feels fantastic.

This is my last full week commuting in to the office, then I start working from home next week. Definitely looking forward to not cramming myself onto the subway each morning. My immediate fam flies in on the 8th and I am so looking forward to them being here. Cross your fingers, press your thumbs, do whatever you do to encourage a lucky break - sure would be fun if they were here for the actual birth!

I've received so many of sweet texts, emails and notes just to check in and see how I'm feeling (incredibly large, but still in awe of this whole experience, to answer the question), so again I want to thank you all for the tremendous amount of support over the past year. The outpouring of love has been overwhelming and it's nearly impossible to articulate how much I appreciate it. We have such wonderful people in our lives and feel so loved.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Saurday at the Met


Another visit to the Met and this time a pop up to the rooftop garden before it closes for the season (usually end of October or whenever weather dictates). For the past few months there's been a two-way mirror installation that you can walk in and around and see the city skyline reflected behind you. So up we went!


Perfect weather for it!



Family portraits courtesy of Hedge Two-Way Mirror Walkabout by Dan Graham with Günther Vogt.


And baby makes three!

 

Picasso, piqueso.


Hope you have a nice weekend!


Monday, October 20, 2014

37 Weeks



Just three more weeks to go! 
Baby C is about the size of a winter melon...anybody know what that is?


Hospital tour? Check!  Hate to say it, but the Beyonce suite really wasn't all that impressive. I was expecting a tad bit of glitter, at the very least. Not even any pleather. Lame. But the rest of the tour was very interesting and left us feeling much more prepared, at least for finding our way to Labor & Delivery at go-time. There was one awful woman who rolled up in a black car service, brought along an assistant to take notes on her behalf and kept interrupting to ask questions that sure made it seem like she's really not all that keen on having a kid. Exhibit A: when the nurse leading the orientation was explaining that they encourage skin-to-skin contact so they try to place the baby on the mother's chest as soon as possible after he or she is born, the woman wrinkled her nose and inquired if this was mandatory. The nurse hesitated, a bit confused, but politely answered that no, they're not going to force you to do anything, though holding your baby is certainly encouraged. That poor little rich bebeh. Maybe the assistant will provide the skin-to-skin time.

After having dinner with the Spero's last night, we finally picked up our stroller from their apartment - not only did they kindly donate this massive piece of equipment to our cause, they've been graciously storing it for us the past few months since their hall closet kicks our hall closet's bum. So that's now sitting in our foyer (ahem, very narrow apartment doorway) all ready for baby to hop on into the bassinet and cruise home from the hospital. Yes, we are considering walking home from the hospital, though it of course depends on weather and how I'm feeling and a million other factors. At this point, walking a few blocks sure sounds easier than attempting to speedily install a car-seat into the back of a cab with a brand new infant on our hands. But we shall see!

Super model documentary hour: behind the scenes of the silhouette photo shoot. 


And a sneak peek of what's to come later this week...

 

Monday, October 13, 2014

36 Weeks


One month to go and Baby C is the size of a honeydew melon!


Up until now, I've been able to avoid the oh-so-common mirror selfie belly pic, but forgot to take any snaps this weekend so this was all I was able to snag before work this morning. Kind of shocked I even remembered to take it, since pregnancy brain has been in FULL effect. It seems totally random what I can and can't remember. I will easily remember to check the carton to see if we need more coffee creamer so I can buy it at the grocery store, but then completely forget to purchase the actual coffee DVC specifically told me we were out of. Belly is starting to drop and baby feels much lower in my pelvis than he did before. Still lots of movement, though I can tell he's starting to get a little more squished in there.

Took my first prenatal yoga class on Saturday with a friend who is due just 3 days before me (and giving birth in the same hospital - we might be new-parent-neighbors!). We were by far the most pregnant ladies in the class, but better late than never! The class was really difficult (can't remember the last time I even went to regular yoga), but it certainly felt good to stretch in ways I didn't think I could anymore and my lower back felt great the rest of the weekend.

Our hospital tour is tomorrow evening and I'm really looking forward to it. Apparently it's two hours long... not sure what else goes on besides a walk-through of the maternity ward, but there's no way that takes a full two hours so there must be something additional? Guess we'll find out. I'll try to snap pics of the Beyonce suite!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Made in New York

I'm not a Jeter or Yankees fan by any means, but loving this commercial. 
The black and white skyline shots combined with Sinatra belting it out absolutely kills.



Now back to your regularly scheduled programming:

Plus a 1987 flashback bonus:

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Breakfast 'Round the World

Fun article in The New York Times today that had DVC and I giggling over our own breakfast....
Photos of kids and their breakfasts from around the world: Rise and Shine.

 

It was difficult to guess where some of them were from!

But this one I got immediately:


How did you do??

On weekends, my favorite breakfast looks like this:
 

Bauernfrühstück!!
"Farmer breakfast" is a Saturday morning staple in the Stephenson household.

My other favorite is a good ol' German brotzeit. On special occasions, DVC wakes up suuuuper early and lays out an epic brozeit spread with different breads and cheeses and sliced meats and nutella. It's awesome.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Surprise!


My incredibly generous coworkers threw a surprise baby shower for me at the office today!  It was so very sweet, of course I turned bright red when I realized what was going on and then immediately started crying.

 


They served cake and doritos, two of my favorite things. :)



I cannot get over those tiny boots!  NOW we're ready for winter!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Laurie Came to Visit!

 

Laurie came for a quick weekend visit at the beginning of September, which was super fun because we hadn't seen her since announcing the pregnancy at Easter. It was boiling hot while she was here, so other than going out for brunch and a fancy dinner, we spent most of our time just hanging around the apartment talking and telling stories. It was nice just to spend time together. The morning before she left, Soph took us to a new spot in Central Park that we'd never stumbled upon before!



The Conservatory Garden runs right along Fifth Avenue starting just a few blocks north of our apartment, with formidable wrought-iron gates guarding the entrance. The Vanderbilt Gates, after a local family who used to live on this spot, doesn't that just sound rich and snobby and intimidating?


The gardens are quite large, covering about 6 acres, and separated into French, English and Italian landscapes. It's an incredibly peaceful spot, as it's a bit further north than the heavily visited East Meadow of Central Park.


There are tons of hidden benches and cozy reading nooks to discover.  
I felt like Mary Lennox peering into a new secret garden each corner we turned.
(There's even a statue of Frances Hodgson Burnett.)

 

And just north of the gardens is a tiny lake I didn't know existed!  The absolutely adorable Harlem Meer is nestled into the north eastern corner of Central Park, with narrow walking paths along all edges and fisherman dotting the shorelines.  I couldn't believe it when I saw people fishing!  Pops, found your new favorite spot in NYC.


Thanks for coming to visit, Laurie!



Monday, October 6, 2014

35 Weeks


Baby C is the size of a large coconut this week!


And his mom is starting to feel like the size of a small house.

 

Rolling over now requires a three-point-turn, as my cousin Linzy so eloquently put it at my baby shower (though at the time I didn't quiiiite understand what she was talking about yet).  DVC put the new dresser together like a champ, so our happy little nursery corner has really come together.  Washed all of Baby C's clothes now that there's somewhere to put them, so everything he owns is fluffed and folded and ready for his arrival!  Loving that we went with gray and white, it feels clean and fresh and cheerful. And isn't that goat hamper hilarious?? 


Still commuting to work every day, though hoofing it up and down the subway stairs gets a little more difficult each week. People kindly jump up to give me their seat whenever I board the train, which is so very nice.


This was in the cab on the way to my doctor appointment last week. Park Avenue is beyond.
It's fun visiting the doc on such a fancy street. Our pediatrician is on Park Ave too!


Appointment went well, stats all look good, heartbeat super strong, baby wiggly enough 
to make the doctor say "hold still little one!" while trying to locate the heartbeat.
 My dream of a tap dancer may just come true yet!