Pool Party

These days, those two words send a shudder down my spine...

After our eating and drinking spree in New York, I came back focused to get back into a healthy eating and exercising routine - the goal? Our family Vegas trip at the end of June. A good 30 days to tone up and back off from the wine, cheese and all of those delicious carbs in order to get that bikini worthy bod I've been striving for since having little man {striving for or dreaming of...same thing, right?}.

Imagine my sheer horror when my father-in-law sends out an all-family email last week inviting us to a "pool party" this upcoming weekend. A pool party?! Wait a second...that is only seven short days away {well, now it's only four days}. How am I supposed to get bikini ready by Sunday? I don't have enough willpower to fast or complete a cleanse, so I guess I need to get on the eating healthy bandwagon and make sure I work out every day until the fateful Sunday "pool party."

Wish me luck...

Since We've Been Back...

Since we've been back home from our trip, little man has been growing and learning like crazy! I can't believe how different he is every day - his development is on overdrive these days and it's so fun to watch him grow right in front of our eyes.He's sitting up {30 seconds to a minute on his own}, using a sippy cup and has been grabbing the spoons from us to "feed" himself.

Doctor's appointment: fever & swollen eye from ear medication
{Check out the red marks from his helmet - looks a little rough just after taking it off!}

Sitting up - what a big boy!
The Grandmas worked really hard on this while we were gone.

He's always trying to pull his socks off...and shoes?! Don't get me started on shoes.

Sippy cup! We introduced this on Tuesday and he had it down by Wednesday

Grabbing the spoon from us: evidently he can do it better

Cruz has been such an amazing baby - Nick and I are the luckiest parents that he has blessed us by being a calm, low-maintenance {at least as far as babies are concerned}, happy and {for the most part} healthy baby boy.

My Baby Boy: Twenty-Eight Weeks Old

It's hard to believe little man is 28 weeks old...or better yet 6 1/2 months! Happy 28, baby boy!

Just had to share our pictures from this shoot...he is becoming quite the character and is now wiping the chalk off the board before we can get a good shot! {We had just taken our bath, so I decided a naked baby shoot was in order.}

Yep...I'm 28 weeks

Hmmm. Wonder what happens if I do this...

I am so funny!

Looks good, mom!

Trip Away From Little Man: What Was He Up To?

While we were gone, little man had an adventure of his own. Grandma Dianne and Papa Ron watched him for the first few days and Cruzer spent some quality time down on the farm. He had his first tractor ride, visited his cousin Sophie for her preschool graduation & his cousin Kayden at St. Pat's, went to a baseball game, learned how to sit up on his own....you name it, this boy did it!

Over the weekend, Grandma Carol took over and wore this little guy out with walks around the neighborhood and lots and lots of play time!

We have the best family for helping out and were so happy for all of the pics we were sent while we were gone....here is a quick recap of Cruzer's week of fun without mom & dad:

Chilling with Papa Ron in Emerson

All smiles for Grandma Dianne

Playing with Cousin DeLaney's toys!

Harassing Ollie the Yorkie

School play with cousin Kayden

Hanging with Uncle Josh

His first tractor ride with Papa Ron

Playing with our farm dog, Toby

A baseball game with Grandma Dianne, Auntie Tessa and the kiddos

Bath time with Grandma Carol

Sending birthday wishes to his mommy, not just once....

....but twice!!

Sucking on his pacifier for Grandma Carol
(he NEVER takes one for us!)

What fun!

Trip Away From Little Man: New York City (Part #2)

Sunday brought the day the hubby was the most excited for. Besides it being my 31st birthday, it was also the day we planned to go to the afternoon Yankees vs. Reds game at Yankee Stadium. We slept in, got our coffees and made our trek {via the subway} to the Bronx.

It was a gorgeous day and we had great seats. While I was excited for the game, I think I was more excited about the stadium food. Nachos, pretzels, peanuts, beer, hot dogs...what is a girl to eat when there are so many great choices?!

Enjoying a Dunkin Donuts coffee on the way to the game

First thing we see getting off the subway

After the game we picked up some gifts for the Yankee fans of the family {the Lynch kiddos} and then hit up a bar directly across from the stadium. It was packed and exactly the kind of bar I enjoy - somewhat of a dive with a lot of semi-drunk people after a day of baseball watching.

An ice cold Corona after the Yankees loss

The hubby and I - celebrating the big three-one

Later, we hopped back onto the subway and headed down to the Whiskey Bar at the W for a couple more drinks before deciding we needed to figure out dinner. We made reservations at the Waldorf's steakhouse, Bull & Bear, and then went back to our room to get ready. 

Dinner was just ok {I guess if we want a great steak we stick to the Midwest} but we had a good time checking out the old men with their young girls.  Plus, I couldn't have had better company.

Following many glasses of wine and a day spent out in the sun, we were tired and headed back to the room where we splurged on room service ice cream. 

Dinner at Bull & Bear at the Waldorf

My hot man...drinking his whiskey

Monday morning was spent packing up our many new clothes and trying {unsuccessfully} to keep our luggage under the weight limit. We headed to Hale & Hearty Soups {another one of my favs}for breakfast/lunch and then headed to the airport.

This trip was a great getaway and just what the hubby and I needed to reconnect. As much as we missed our little guy, it was so good for us to have some time just the two of us.

My last picture from the trip - the Waldorf Astoria,
directly across from our hotel
{makes me think of "Coming to America"}

Trip Away From Little Man: New York City (Part #1)

We arrived in NYC on Friday geared up for three nights of fun in the city. Both the hubby and I were excited to be there together for the first time since both of us have had our own version of NYC from past trips with other people, as well as the three months I lived there after college. His past trips included lots of baseball and many hours spent in sports bars drinking and watching baseball. Mine? Lots of walking, shopping and many pictures. Our compromise? A little bit of both.

The Empire State Building never gets old

We had both decided early on that we needed to do some shopping the first day because neither of us were happy with our wardrobe {fine by me!}, plus the hubby told me that I could match what he spends, plus add another $600 as my birthday present {um, yes please!}.  After we checked into the W on Lexington, we headed for a quick lunch at Rockefeller and then hit up some 5th Avenue shops. A must for me in NYC is H&M - I believe we are the only city in the US without one of these stores AND you cannot shop online. I love H&M clothes - they are cheap and great pieces to layer.

Lunch at Rockefeller Center Cafe

After shopping, we put ourselves together and headed on the subway to Canal Street. It's always a good time to see all the action and hear the constant "Gucci," "Prada," "Chanel" under the breaths of the locals trying to sell their knock-offs. Back in the day, I used to get excited about checking out these knock-offs. Any more? Not so much.

Then we turned North onto Mulberry Street, deep into the heart of Little Italy - one of my favorite places in the city. We walked the streets, checked out some shops and worked on figuring out the best spot for dinner...finally settling on Angelo's. It was excellent. A little wine, bread, pasta and people watching never hurts a girl.

Dinner in Little Italy - a bottle of vino & carbs. Nothing better.

Angelo's in Little Italy

The longest escalator EVER into the subway

On Saturday morning, we got up relatively early {early for us on vacation, that is} and headed south to Ground Zero since Nick had never seen the area. I tell you know matter how many times I see it, I still get the chills. Then we hit up Century 21 for some bargains on semi-designer clothes {I refer to it as a TJ Maxx on crack}. I got some dresses and shoes..what every girl needs and the hubby found a great blazer.

After some shopping, we found a little pizza shop for some New York-style pizza and then we walked and walked through the villages, until we settled on a little Italian bistro for lunch {the pizza was just an app, y'all!}. After lunch we walked to a designers market in the Village where I found some great jewelry for myself and my mama. We had stumbled across the exact same market last year and loaded up on tons of unique jewelry, so I had to make sure to swing by again {probably one of my favorite places to shop in the City}. I got a couple necklaces, earrings, and bracelets and found two necklaces for my mom for a belated Mother's Day present.

Finally, after a bit more walking, we ran smack into a dance parade that had closed off a major street. It was such a sight to see all of these different types of people doing these different styles of dance...yet another thing I love about the City, you never know what you're going to see.

In our hotel - waiting for the elevator

New York-style pizza...

...nothing better!

Salad and Neopoliton-style pizza

Dance parade!!

Dance parade: exercise addition

We wanted to catch a show on this trip and decided on Avenue Q because we had heard good reviews from family and read great reviews online. We went to New World Theater just off Broadway and settled into our seats. Unfortunately, we didn't find it as funny or entertaining and ended up leaving at intermission. We jumped in a cab and headed up to the Hudson Hotel for a few drinks and then decided it wasn't our scene {are we really getting that old?!?} and figured a late night meal was in order since we hadn't gotten dinner. We went to Dos Caminos Mexican restaurant and proceeded to feed our faces. 

New World Theater

"Create" artwork inside

We are such posers

Dinner at Dos Caminos

The hubby taking the two shots he ordered all by himself
{the Tequila definitely wasn't screaming my name!}

Trip Away From Little Man: Atlantic City

Last week, the hubby and I took our first real trip away from our little guy. The first leg of the trip was to Atlantic City...and a work trip for the two of us {with a little fun sprinkled in}.  I had meetings for a couple days, while Nick took advantage of the locale and hit up the Borgata poker room to school some East Coasters.

After my meetings, dinners and cocktail parties, we were able to spend some time checking out the AC casinos and Boardwalk. We enjoyed spending some time together, but quickly realized the AC is not for us....we were more excited about the second leg of our trip: New York City...

Cab ride back to Harrah's Resort from Borgata

The famous Trump Taj Mahal

On the Boardwalk