New York, New York: 2nd Half of Day 2

We got off the double decker bus at the Central Park stop and decided to head to FAO Schwarz.   We figured with a two year old, we had to go to one of the world's most famous toy stores.  (Amazingly we got out of the store without purchasing anything!  We didn't want to have to pack it for the flight home.)  Jeff also wanted to see Tyler dance on the piano just like Tom Hanks did in the movie "BIG."  Luckily the line for the big piano was short.  Tyler loved, loved, loved dancing on it! 

Warning: Daddy took a whole lot of pictures!  These are just a few of them...

 

 

For only (total sarcasm here) $250,000 we could have taken this piano home.  Who buys these toys for their kids?

Next up was the famed Carousel in Central Park.  Tyler loves carousels. 

Tyler would occasionally yell "Giddy up horsey!" and "Yee-haw!"

Mommy got to ride too since Tyler is not old enough to ride by himself.

I love this one!

Clapping for the great ride. 

A walk on Daddy's shoulders through Central Park. 

Next up was the playground in Central Park and swings!

And slides!

We then walked Fifth Avenue to see the Christmas windows and St. Patrick's Cathedral.  We didn't have the stroller as the double decker bus didn't allow them (too big) so Tyler spent a lot of time on Daddy's shoulders.  I absolutely love this photo of the two of them.  Tyler was tuckered out. 

After a trip back to the apartment and we headed back to Times Square to catch the double decker bus again for the Night/Holiday Lights tour.  Tyler once again spotted "Elmo and Cookie."

I have not mastered night time photos on a moving vehicle yet with the fancy camera so this is really my only picture of the night.  I made attempts at several others, but unfortunately they didn't turn out so great.

My favorite part of this day (and possibly the trip) will have to wait for another post as I didn't have my camera ready.  Luckily, my dad did so I will have to get the pictures from him.  I know, I know...the suspense is killing you.  Totally kidding! 

3 More Months!

Three months from today is our official due date for Baby Boy Francis #2 and I can hardly contain my excitement.  While March 2012 sounds so far away, it is now only 3 more months.  Tonight I purchased the Big Brother/Little Brother shirts and the little one is so tiny.  It is hard to remember Tyler being so small...and by small I mean the 9lbs 2oz big boy. 

In other baby related news, I had my glucose screening yesterday and everything checked out great!  I do have to take an iron supplement as my iron is low...same happened with Tyler.  Tyler joined me at the doctor appointment yesterday but was not interested in talking to the doctor about the baby at all.  He only wanted to talk about ABCs and Buzz and Woody.  Surprise, surprise! :)

New York, New York: Day 2 Bus Tour

Day 2 of our New York City adventure included a double decker bus tour of the city.  It was a wonderful way to see the sights of the city as well as get a good bit of history we would not have from simply walking around. 

Tyler and Daddy on top of the bus.

The Fashion District with the iconic needle threading the button.

Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, and our awesome tour guide, Jose.

We returned to MSG later in the trip for the Mizzou game.

Empire State Building from a distance.

Empire State Building up close.

The observatory is on the 86th floor but the building goes to the 102nd floor.   Only 1,860 steps to the top if you don't want to take the elevator. 

The Flatiron Building - a skyscraper when built in 1902.

9/11 tiles memorial in the West Village

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, ceramic studios around the world joined together to offer a creative outlet to the people of our nation.

Thousands of tiles, reflecting patriotism, heroes, courage, unity, poetry, and other positive themes arrived in NYC, and more continue to arrive. The “artists” are represented worldwide and have been families, children, schools, churches, scouts, and senior groups. Each tile reflects the artists’ thoughts of sadness and hope in theface of this American tragedy and once again, shows that the American people will pull together in times of national disaster.

 - from www.tilesforamerica.com

Tyler and Grandpa enjoying the bus tour.

One World Trade Center rebuilding.

Famous intersection of Wall St. and Broadway.  We visited Wall Street on our last day in the city (not many pictures to show as it was raining and didn't want to break out the camera). 

Tyler decided to take a nap on the tour.

The Staten Island Ferry. 

We revisited this an planned on taking the ferry across but the fog the following day deterred us from the trip.

The underneath view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Jeff took this photo...thought the sign was funny and laughed about it for several blocks.

The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.  We came back to Rockefeller later in the trip too. 

We got off the bus tour at Central Park and made the second half of the day more geared toward Tyler.  I will save those pics for another post.  Can you tell we had a great trip?



New York, New York: Day 1

We just returned from a trip to the Big Apple...New York City!  It was a blast and yes, we took a two-year old to the big city.  Tyler was such a good traveler and I am not just saying that.  He really surprised me.  He adapted to whatever we were doing and napped on double decker buses, in his stroller while walking around the city and during meals.  He really didn't get fussy at ALL.  I probably got more crabby at times than Tyler did.  I will have to break up our trip into multiple posts because I took over 300 photos!  I took 3 cameras - the big (fancy) one, the little point and shoot and a video camera (I really didn't use much, but it is small and was easy to put in the big camera bag).  I don't know that Tyler will remember the trip but we will have the photos to prove he was there.  This trip all started when Kyle let us know that Mizzou was playing a basketball game at Madison Square Garden.  Kyle and Maggie ended up not going on the trip, but we DID have four generations on the trip including 10 of us: Grandma and PoPo (my mom and dad), GG and Grandpa (my mom's parents); Tom and Julie (my mom's uncle and wife); Nancy (mom's aunt) and the three of us (4 if you count the baby bump).  It was a full crew!  Unfortunately, 300+ photos and I don't have a photo of the whole group - can you believe it?

Tyler was excited to fly in an airplane and while this was his third airplane trip, it was the first trip since he has actually been aware of what an airplane is...and the first time we had to pay for the little man to have his own seat.  Ugh!  Actually, it was nice for him to have his own seat so he didn't have to sit on my lap (growing smaller due to the baby bump taking up more and more room). 

Upon arriving at the airport, Tyler immediately found a perfect table for him and asked for his "colors and paper."  He LOVES to color and does it as often as possible.

Still lines up his crayons and is very focused.

On the plane with Daddy...so excited!

He loved watching the luggage carts and other planes outside the window.  "Cool!"

He read everything from the 737 safety manual to the Sky Mall catalog.  Once we got in the air the DVD player with Toy Story 3 and the iPad kept him occupied. 

Once in the city, we ventured down to Times Square. 

Family photo in front of the New Years Eve ball (it is up there - hard to see though). 

This was Jeff's first trip to NYC and this was pretty much his expression the entire time while in Times Square. 

Tyler's expression was not too different. :)

We did spot Elmo and Pooh in Times Square too!

Pooh got a little nervous as Tyler was grabbing at his tip bag.  :) 

The "old folks" (aka everyone except the three of us and Great-Grandpa) went to see a show on Broadway.  Unfortunately, you have to be 4 or older in order to see a show on Broadway.  :(

Finally, it was back to the apartment and a bed time story with Daddy.   Tyler loves the book "The Gorilla Did It."  Can you tell by how beat up the book is?  I am not sure if he is plotting how to blame things on his baby brother in years to come...:) 

Next up...Day 2

Final Mizzou Big 12 Football Games

I was not happy about Mizzou's move out of the Big 12 Conference into the SEC, but will learn to deal with it.  It could result in some fun vacations to watch the Tigers play in the years to come. We took Tyler to the last two Big 12 games of the season at Mizzou.  I think he went to a total of 4 games this year and is such a trooper.   He has the M-I-Z...Z-O-U cheer down pat and knows the fight song.  Jeff is often jealous of his Mizzou wardrobe as he has a lot of gear.   It is just so much more fun to buy in his size that it is either of ours. :)

Tyler watching football and Grandpa watching Tyler. :)

He didn't exactly get a nap during the game, but did get a bit of chill time in...texting. 

Back to watching the game with Grandpa. 

Now we are ready for basketball and the Tigers are looking promising to start the season!