Hey friends,
With Monday off and being sick on Tuesday (oh yeah, I didn’t mention that we all managed to get some level of cold during our travels?), this is becoming quite the short week, which is tough since there is a lot of work to do. And believe-you-me, there is nothing I like better than to be busy at work!
Sadly it’s already been a week since we touched tough in the Big Apple and our visit was far too brief. Sigh. Same for Boston and bestie time.
Here is a quick general recap of what we did:
Thursday (NYC):
- Eataly – Mario Batali’s awesome indoor Italian market. Loved.
- Empire State Building (but didn’t go to top because of crazy rain/fog)
- Rockefeller Plaza
- Dean & Deluca for a snack
- Times Square (and some shopping for colored jeans since my jeans were soaked)
- Attempt at dinner at Italian place in theater district (cut short by screaming baby)
- Dinner success at chain cheap-o pizzeria (Little Italy) where I had a phenomenal spinach pizza – so greasy, so good
- 10p bedtime for all 3 of us
Friday (NYC):
- Met up with old Stanford friends (that now live in NY) and their two wee ones in Central Park
- Central Park Zoo
- Lunch at a fabulous café (salads made to order, perfection)
- Challenging subway ride down to financial district
- Froyo (subpar IMO)
- Ground Zero / Freedom Tower
- French restaurant for apps and vino (aka the location where I was massively pooped on and had to throw away my sweater)
- Cab ride back up to Midtown
- Random shopping
- Magnolia bakery –> slice of coconut cake the size of my head for dinner, eaten in Rockefeller plaza
- Early night in hotel – by the way, we stayed at Cassa Hotel in Midtown and loved it. The location was perfect and the staff was incredible!
Saturday (NYC/Boston):
- Met up with my friend Kurt and his (expecting!!!) wife Jess who were also on vacay from Chicago
- Had a scrumptious breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien with Kurt, Jess, and two of their friends
- Strolled to Penn Station for our 1p train to Boston
- Made stop at DD and scored a free iced latte
- Arrived in Boston at South Station and headed to bestie’s (new) house!
- Met Tate – Andrea and Ilya’s perfect baby boy!!!
- Grilled out and chatted to our heart’s delight
Sunday (Boston):
- Bestie and I hit up Bikram (first time since finding out I was pregnant and felt oh so good)
- Another visit to Dunkin Donuts (don’t judge)
- Chipotle for lunch with the boys and babies
- ….and froyo for a desert at Yeh! Hey it was right next door!
- Champy purchase pitstop
- Mini-dinner party with two additional friends that live in Boston
Monday (Boston / plane ride back to SFO):
- Pajama photo shoot
- Blueberry pancakes made by the bestie
- Long walk with the boys and babies
- Relaxing and watching SYTYCD (just like old times)
- Airport – a looooong time waiting for our flight…oye
I loved getting to experience my bestie as a mom. Seeing her with her little tater tot made my heart soar. I only wish we lived closer so we could have every weekend be like last.
The trip was far too short, but was such fun and hopefully has prepped us for longer, bigger adventures with bean in the future.
Did you go anywhere for Memorial Day Weekend??? I should make this an annual thing
I want to LIVE at Eataly. Baby S is getting SO BIG!
Oh me too! Loved it!
Yes bean is growing like a weed!
My goodness, you did everything!!! And with a baby! Score! I have that Target dress too, but in the other colors.
It’s such a comfy dress. And cheap too!
AHhh hooow awesome is Eataly??? Right!?
It was amazing! I could have eaten my way through all areas, all day long!
You did a whole lot. And with a baby! I am so impressed.
And now I miss NYC.
I wish we had more time..NYC is fab!
It was an awesome weekend having you all here! I especially loved the Bean-Tater pajama party.
I totally wish we could do that every weekend. And I’m already counting down to our trip to CA – just 4 weeks and 3 days away!
So cannot wait for round 2
Sigh. I still haven’t been to either one of those places.
I just went to STL for the weekend. Not to sight-see, just to catch up with friends and fam. It was fab.
I can’t believe we were in Boston at the exact same time and missed each other! So glad you had a wonderful time!
Totally bummed we missed each other. We could have at least got an Sbux at the airport
Next time!
You got a lot done in such a short trip!! Impressive!
Wow – you covered a lot of ground! I’ve never been to NYC or Boston (drove through Boston once, but it doesn’t count). I’d love to make the trip up there some time.
Loved your post on tips for traveling with a baby! It came at the perfect time as in less than a week Cameryn will be taking her first plane ride and I’m so nervous about it! I hope she doesn’t cry the whole time!
Anyways, what did you do with Sawyer while you guys took a cab? We aren’t planning on bringing our car seat as my mom has one, but wont have one when we are shuttled to the airport (only like a five minute ride). Did you guys use a car seat, hold him or put him in a carrier? I’m just curious as I try to figure out this whole traveling with a baby thing!
You’ll definitely need a carseat K! We brought ours with since we also brought our snap-n-go stroller which it fits into. We did NOT bring the carseat base since our carseat can be strapped directly into a car with the shoulder strap. This worked great for the few cab rides we took. It is free to gate check your carseat, so I’d recommend it, or have your Mom pick you up with the carseat in the car already.
You’ll do great, babies are pretty resilient
We aren’t planning on bringing a car seat because we’re using my Mom’s car and my sister is letting us use her old car seat since my niece is too big for it now. It is just one less thing to bring, but since we typically park at The Parking Spot and shuttle it a few miles to the airport, I was curious if you guys used a carseat in the cab. I had done research online to see what people do when they don’t bring a car seat in cab rides or shuttles and read people sometimes just hold their baby, which I found hard to believe and wasn’t comfortable with. We decided to just park at the airport to make sure Cameryn would always be in a car seat.
I’m so jealous you guys went to NYC! I have always wanted to go, but haven’t even been! Hope you having a great weekend!
I live in NYC and have never been to Eataly! Crazy right?
That is a travesty Jocelyn!
Waw – super impressed with how much you guys did on this trip with the bean. So next stop Europe then?? I wonder if all the travel lessons from your posts can be scaled up for 12 – 15 hour flights.. hmm….
Now you’ve got me all inspired to plan our first vacay with the babe. Love the pictures of bean with tater tot… so adorable!!
Thinking Europe or S America next. This was a practice flight
I’m glad you had such a good time. Seeing your friends as parents is a pretty amazing thing, and I can imagine it would only be more amazing when you’re a parent yourself.
You just look so happy in all your pictures Shanna, I’m so happy for you.
Thanks Leah — what a sweet comment