Boston & New York!

Our first family trip was so much fun!!!!  Zoe did amazing on the plane (both going there and coming back).  Our late night flight was even later and we didn't board until past midnight.  This definitely worked out in our favor because once the plane took off and Zoe got all her airplane excitement out of the way (i.e. touching EVERYTHING on the plane from the puke bags to the seat belts) all she wanted to do was knock out.  She fell asleep on my lap and pretty much stayed that way about 90% of the way to Boston.  While I was soooo glad she was able to sleep, I certainly wasn't able to!  I think it was a mix between the late night coffee I had and me being afraid that if I did fall asleep, I might move or drop Zoe and wake her up.  So ... I just toughed it out and was more relieved that she was able to get some zzz's.
Before I go into our amazing trip, let me just say that the "Go Go Babyz" that the Donnelly family let us borrow really came in handy!  It was great being able to wheel Zoe around the airport in her car seat ... we checked in her umbrella stroller and gate-checked her car seat so it all worked out.  I knew traveling with a baby/toddler was crazy, but I really had no idea!  We had soooo much of her stuff!  Thank goodness she was so easy to travel with -- I can't imagine having to plan and lug around all that stuff with a crying toddler to deal with.  God really blessed us with such a trooper =).

Once we got settled into our lovely hotel (The W), it was time to hit the ground running!  We didn't really care that we didn't have any sleep -- we just wanted to explore Boston stat!  The main reason we went to Boston was to be a part of our friend Richmond's graduation from Harvard.  It's not everyday someone gets an MBA and a JD from Harvard, so we knew we had to be there for him on his special day (plus, it gave us a great reason to visit Boston and New York!).  It was me and Zoe's first time in Boston and Mike's second time -- he went there with Richmond when he first moved into the dorms and now they've come full circle =).  Our first stop was to meet up with Richmond and his family who was also here for his graduation.  He wanted to give everyone a tour of the campus and to also give us info on all the graduation events scheduled for the next day.

I have to say, just being on the Harvard campus made me feel instantly smarter and more accomplished =).  It truly is a beautiful campus and it was so cool to be in the same space as so many of their amazing and talented alumni (presidents, ceo's, world leaders, etc. etc.).  I was so happy Zoe was given the opportunity at such a young age to be exposed to such an amazing university.  Who knows -- maybe one day, God willing, she'll be a prestigious alumnae herself =).  I couldn't help but feel giddy just thinking about it!!!  Richmond's family was super nice and welcoming -- we all hit it off instantly.  Especially Zoe!  She was fast friends with the entire group!!!

After the group tour, we all went our separate ways to relax and get settled before dinner.  It's always fun exploring new places -- one of the things I love most about traveling. I enjoy just walking around and being a part of the city ... it was fun to be able to do that with Zoe as well.  Usually, Mike and I just walk around and eat/drink and do whatever comes our way when we're exploring a new place -- it's nice to know we can still do those things with a baby in tow.  Zoe seemed to also enjoy exploring -- she knew she was in a new place and was having fun just looking around and absorbing Boston.  Boston is a really cute place -- it's kind of like Chicago with all the great architecture, but there's a history to the place that's definitely palpable.  The town "feels" old, but in a cool way (especially to this history buff).

The graduations (both of them!) were a fun experience as well.  We enjoyed the speeches and just being a part of something so awesome.  We are beyond proud of Richmond and have no doubt that he will continue to blaze through life and achieve whatever it is he sets out to do.  I know it meant a lot to him to have Mike there as well and I'm so happy that they have such a wonderful friendship.  Friends like that don't come around everyday and they were having such a great time reminiscing of our time at CSUN together.

On our last day in Boston, we got to do a little more sightseeing before we jumped on the Amtrak to go to New York.  Mike and I were both amazed at how well Zoe acclimates to whatever environment she's put in -- whether it's early morning rushes to get out of the door to late nights, she does just fine!  She naps whenever she's tired and eats whenever she's hungry and didn't mind one bit that she was away from home and away from her usual routine.  We are so blessed to have such a great traveler!!!

The amtrak ride to New York went great as well ... thank goodness I convinced Mike to go for the Amtrak as opposed to a bus =).  Our ride was comfy and roomy and went by fairly quickly.  It had been three years since our last visit to New York and Mike and I were both excited to EAT =) ... and also to see our cousins Byron, JP, Christina and Camie =).  Since we were in NY, where people walk everywhere, we decided to lug all our stuff (2 luggage, a couple backpacks, a stroller, and Zoe in her car seat on the GogoBabyz) to our hotel on foot as opposed to hopping in a cab.  It was only a few blocks, right???  As we were walking to our hotel, I couldn't help but laugh at how we looked ... we were both trying to walk as fast as we could to get out of the humidity and into our hotel.  We were truly doing things the NY way -- and with a baby in tow, nonetheless! When in Rome, right?

We got settled into our quaint hotel room (The Element) and got ready to have dinner at 5 Napkin Burger with our cousins.  Our hotel room in NY was the exact opposite of our Boston room ... in Boston, we got upgraded to a handicap suite, so the room was super wide and spacious; in NY, we got a "regular" NY-style room which meant our luggage could barely fit around the bed and desk =).  However, for some odd reason, our room had a full kitchenette!  So we could literally cook up an Italian dinner, but we just didn't have room to eat it anywhere but on top of our bed.  Nonetheless, it felt like authentic NY, so we were totally fine with it =).  Zoe, too, seemed pleasantly surprised that we were in a new "home" again and was having a blast exploring and getting acclimated to our new space.

We did a lot of subway-ing and Zoe seemed to really enjoy the fast-paced lifestyle of NY. She was fascinated with all the people, sights and sounds and both Mike and I enjoyed seeing her having so much fun.  A friend of ours without kids questioned why we would even think of bringing Zoe with us on our trip ... he said there's no point in bringing her since she probably wouldn't even remember ever being in Boston or New York.  My answer to him was that once you have a kid, what makes you happy changes. Pre-baby, happiness would have been staying out at all hours, getting drunk and dancing the night away.  Post-baby, happiness is seeing your kid enjoy herself just by being in a new place ... happiness is seeing how much of a people person your kid is when you see her making friends with "snobby" New Yorkers on the subway.  Happiness is seeing the excitement of your child as she sees the lights of Times Square for the first time.  Sure, she may very well forget she ever stepped foot in Times Square ... but I never will.  I will always remember this trip as our first "real" family vacation -- the first of many, I'm sure.  I will never forget how proud I am to know that Zoe can handle herself anywhere she goes and with whomever she's with.  The best part about this vacation was seeing how happy Zoe was just to be able to spend all day and night with both me and Mike and to explore new places, people and things together -- just the three of us.  Not once did I ever think/say, "I wish we could go clubbing tonight...".  Parenthood changes you in many ways ... and I feel so blessed to have been able to have a deeper understanding of what happiness truly can be.  It's a clear indication that we're growing as people ... our hearts and minds are learning to appreciate new things.

What a blessing it is to be able to travel together as a family!  Our first family vacation was a huge success ... we had so much fun together (and ate TONS) and I'm so looking forward to many more family vacations over the years.  Zoe is an amazing travel buddy -- we didn't even feel like we were traveling with a 17-month-old.  Thank you God for such a little angel!  I know that with each trip, we'll get better and more efficient at what to pack, etc. etc.  But for our first time, I think we did pretty darn good =) ... goooooo us! Looking forward to Maui in a few weeks!! Wooohooooo!!

Excited for her first airplane ride!

So much stuff for such a small person

Dada putting the GoGoBabyz to work!

What do you mean I don't get my own seat =(

Mama! We just got on the plane and you already want me to go to sleep?!

First taxi ride! Leaving Logan Airport and heading to our hotel

The W Boston - our home away from home

Zoe and Dada at Harvard Square

Uncle Richie giving us a tour of Harvard

Beautiful Harvard buildings

Visualizing herself on this campus as a student one day ... 

Napping while waiting for the subway

Group dinner at Scollay Square Restaurant

Knocked out for the evening while Dada grabs a late night slice

Dada taunting poor sleepy Zoe

Excited to be at our first ever Harvard graduation!

Beyond proud of Richmond!

Uncle Richmond's second graduation ceremony at the Business School

Kisses for the graduate

Zoe and Dada in front of the Charles River

Daddy's girl

Playtime at the hotel

Dreaming of Harvard

Ready to hit the town for a day of exploring!

Quick playground time at Boston Commons

Hanging out at Boston Commons

Time for a Lobsta Roll!

And some delicious clam chowda

Quincy Market

Making sure her belly button is still there ... 

Excited for her first Amtrak Train ride 

Keeping busy on the 3.5 hour train ride to NYC

Ready to hit the NYC streets!

Calling the concierge ... 

Dinner with our NY cousins!

Dozed off just as we got to Times Square!

Zoe is completely oblivious to all the sights and
sounds of Times Square

Look who's finally awake!

Zoe was super amazed with all the lights!

Good thing she didn't sleep through this!

Time to explore NY!

First stop: Belated Anniversary lunch at Babbo

Zoe's a third wheel that's ALWAYS welcomed!

Getting the hang of the subway

World Trade Memorial

Pulling own tail around

Last time we were in NY, the  memorial wasn't done yet ...
glad we got to see the finished product!

Brooklyn Bound

Waiting to be seated at Pies N Thighs

Watching the UFC fight at Uncle Byron's loft in Williamsburg

One tired baby

Not too happy about our 7 am flight ... Zoe is NOT a
morning person (like her mama)