I Heart New York

Ella and I just returned from a week-long trip to New York City.  Chris and I lived there for 5 years before moving to Chicago almost 2 years ago and in many ways, it is still home to me.  I love our new life in Chicago (really, truly, amazingly), but New York is still my point of reference.  I love the city, the parks, the walking, the energy, the opportunities, the attitude, the food, the familiarity--such a big part of my heart is still tied up in these things.  But mostly I love and miss my dear, dear friends there.  With no family in the area and after the oppressive loneliness of my first year in the city, our friends filled a huge void.  They especially knew how much we wanted a baby, and I loved, really loved, sharing Ella with them.

This trip was Ella's first visit to New York and she LOVED it!  We walked all over the city and she'd try to stand up in her stroller with both arms high over head (think roller coaster position).  When she saw something interesting, she'd whip her head around and hang out the side of her stroller to watch the kid/dog/whatever pass by.  She smiled at everyone and made lots of friends.  At one point on the subway she had 6 or 7 people staring at her, smiling at her, and talking about her.  My serious Ella has suddenly become very social and silly.  It was such a kick to watch a 10 month old baby grasp the excitement of that city.

Here are some of the highlights:

My old Young Women presidency in the Inwood 1st Ward--such a fun reunion at Popover Cafe (these women helped me survive Friday night youth group activities for almost 4 years--I just love them)

       Cupcakes at yummy Magnolia Bakery

A major highlight was visiting The Computer School where I taught for 3 years.  I loved it there and some of my best friends in the city were made at that job.  I forgot to take picture of our visits together, but here is a picture from a previous trip when we all went to dinner (that night was cold, but for this trip it was in the upper 80's most of the week)

Dinner at the Shake Shack with one of my old young women.  Even though I am not their Young Women president any more, I still feel like I need to interrogate them and dispense advice when we're together.  They are good sports about it.

Japanese garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

An elated Ella at Central Park--notice that she is almost always carrying something when she is walking. She likes to gather as many toys, blankets, or stuffed animals to carry as she walks around.  It cracks us up.  No toys at the park so she had to resort to my camera case and sticks.  

Finally, the main reason for the trip was that 2 of my best friends (and college roommates) Shima and Kami had both just returned from living in Malawi.  We decided we needed a girls trip and so met up in New York (where we were lucky enough to all live for 3 years at the same time after college).  We stayed with Kami's mom (our hero--more on that in an upcoming post) and we spent hours talking, walking, and eating lots of yummy food.  I joked that it was like having 2 full-time nannies to help with Ella.  Hanging out with these girls is like getting a re-charge.  Life is good.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge--perhaps my favorite thing to do in New York

I learned all my New York biases from this girl

Kami had been talking about Di Fara's Pizza for years.  It did not disappoint and was worth schlepping way out into Brooklyn.

Brunch at Norma's--whoever thought of creme brulee waffles is a genius

Ella was a rockstar on this trip

Final day at Columbus Circle

I know Ella, I heart New York too!