Shipping up to Boston.

For those of your who aren't familiar with the title of this post...let me enlighten you with this song by the Dropkick Murphys. Ring a bell? The Departed?

Anyway. We shipped up to Boston over a week ago for my niece, Caroline's 3rd birthday and christening. I was so excited to go visit them since it had been a year since we were last at their house in Boston.  I was also excited to head north and travel!  It felt like fall in Boston and the weather was perfect.  I think I'm still getting used to the warm Virginia fall weather.

It was Waverly's first flight and Nick was traveling for work in St. Louis, so I flew with her alone and met him there.  You may think I'm crazy, but I was so excited to travel with Waverly.  I had a game plan and was prepared for the airport and the flight.  My bag was stuffed with new books, favorite little toys, snacks, milk, a pacifier, and her blankie. She is not huge into the iPhone or iPad (which is by design) so I knew those weren't going to help us much.  The Richmond airport is so easy....1 terminal and fairly empty so we were at our gate with enough time to scarf down some dinner pre-flight.  Our flight was completely full, but I really lucked out with a super nice guy sitting next to me.  He played with Waverly, didn't mind when she kicked him in the arm, and even took it in stride when some yogurt smoothie went flying.  She was a good little traveler, but she wouldn't sit still for more than 3 mins.  She was climbing all over me, looking out the window, and playing peek-a-boo with the lady behind me.  Even though I was a disheveled mess by the end of it, we made it to Boston without any tears, screaming or pooping.  (I was crossing my fingers for 0 in flight diaper changes)  On the flight home Nick was with us, so she could climb all over both of us.  No major tears on the flight home either, but it was a 6am flight so she was super tired and couldn't get comfortable.  She also came down with a cold toward the end of our trip...yuck.

ready to go!

maybe this is where she got her cold germs??  i had to let her get some energy out!

get me on that thing already!

yay!

playing with the lady behind us.

Our long weekend in Boston was so great.  We had lots of quality time with our family.  Friday we took Waverly to the Wellesley library for story time and then I got to see Caroline's pre-school which was so cute!  It's a parent co-op preschool and looks exactly how you would imagine a preschool to look! Caroline showed me her cubby, the indoor sandbox and some of her artwork on the wall. Saturday we celebrated Caroline's birthday and went out to dinner and then on Sunday Caroline was christened.  I was asked to be her Godmother which made me feel very special!  Shannon made tons of delicious food on both days. Roast chicken, birthday cake, nectarine tart...all made from scratch and so good!  My parents, my Aunt Susie, and Shannon's family were there for both parties, so when I wasn't feeding or running after Waverly I had some good family visits!

Andy, Caroline, and Shannon

she LOVES balloons

Granddaddy and Waverly after Caroline's christening

Caroline and Waverly had a blast playing together...Waverly loves her big cousin. She wants to follow Caroline everywhere and do whatever she's doing.  It is so much fun to watch them play and they seem to get better and better at sharing and playing together as time goes on.  In fact after watching Caroline run around, Waverly decided it was time to walk!  She has been taking steps for about a month, but not actually walking.  She started walking in Boston!  We were all really excited.

breakfast time

On Sunday night we managed to go into the city and see our close friends Natalie and Trace.  They recently bought a condo and moved to South Boston.  We last saw them at our friend's wedding in May at the Greenbrier Resort in WV when we shared a hotel room together and partied late into the night...yikes. We always have so much fun together and wish that we lived closer! During our visit they took us on a stroll along the water in their neighborhood which was so nice.  They have a water view from their place and have a great city home.  I loved getting into the city and have a tinge of jealously for their urban lifestyle.  They grilled dinner for us and Waverly toddled around their house and got into everything.  As the "I'm tired" whining began, we left and I felt like it was too short of a visit without enough wine and time to chat.  Such is life with kids.

Natalie & Trace's backyard...well, across the street.

a beach in the city!

We may not be a train ride or drive away anymore, but at least we have a 1 hr direct flight!  Till next time Boston...love from Richmond!

2012...so far.

Sorry for the lapse in blogging!  2012 has started out with a few more bumps in the road than expected...and my late night hours that I usually spend blogging have been spent sleeping!

New Years was spent in Philly at our friends Greg and Jenn's house.  Lots of fun getting together with old friends and ringing in 2012!  We ventured into the city on New Year's Day for the famous Mummer's Parade. Mummer's is a Philly tradition where men (now a few woman) join in their neighborhood club and dress as clowns.  Some have dances and floats, others just dress up, drink a lot and enjoy the new year.  They parade through the city as spectators join in the festivities and cheer them on.

The following week I took the rest of my vacation days to relax and do some things around our house.  That week I found out my Nana passed away.  The next week was pretty rough...I had to travel to Boston for my company's annual meeting and figure out my travel to Rochester, NY for her funeral. Meanwhile Nick was still headed out west for our planned Colorado ski trip in Copper Mountain with friends

Luckily I got to squeeze in a visit with my niece before my company meeting in Boston...lots of playing with toys and  pushing her in her wagon, princess car and anything else that moves. She says a bunch of words now, but "Leslie" is a little tough still.

Boston meeting was fine...busy, but my company rented out a Fenway Park club level which was pretty cool and Fenway has put in a skating rink on the field so a bunch of company employees enjoyed the ice skating.

I was home for a day...a busy day...then off to Rochester to meet up with family for the funeral.  While Nick wasn't getting any snow in Colorado for the ski trip, Rochester was getting a half a foot just in time for my arrival.  Frigid temps, strong winds and snow welcomed us to upstate NY...seemed like Nana wanted to say, "remember Rochester winters??".  Luckily I came prepared with boots, extra socks, leggings, tights and many, many layers.  NYC winter winds have taught me not to mess around with the cold.  The weekend was exactly what my Nana would've wanted...all her 7 children and their families, plus extended family and friends came together for a beautiful visitation, Catholic mass at her long time church, a blustery burial next to my Grandpa, and a celebratory dinner at their Country Club where they were lifetime members.  It was great to see all my aunts, uncles, and cousins and remember my Nana.

Nick and I are both finally home.  We are hunkering down for the next month and ready for a cold Northeast winter.  Hope everyone else is staying warm!

Recently...

So I need to play a little catch up….

This spring and early summer we have just been hanging out in NYC enduring the April and May showers that made it seem like warm weather and summertime would never arrive.  Even since the warm weather hit, it’s still pretty mild, but I’m not complaining since our AC situation isn’t ideal. 

Summer sunset in the city...

summer in the city

-we went to Richmond for Easter…squeezed in a visit with Tina and Joey on the way down and had a great warm VA spring weekend relaxing with my parents.  Nick also played his first round of golf for 2011 J

Cole and I hanging out on my parents lawn in Richmond...he loves the grass!

Gupta family on Easter Sunday

my parents on Easter Sunday :)    see cole in the background...

-went down to DC for my friend from college, Allison and her fiancé, Jared’s engagement party.  Very fun to see all my college girlfriends, plus we stayed with Tracy and Joe and got to hang out with them and their cute little dog Charlie and saw our crazy guy friends as well…it was good to be back in Arlington for a bit.



Kappa Delta sisters from VT...been friends since 2001 :)

Side note…these VA trips make me kind of homesick.  Coming to NYC was not only a career move for me and Nick, but it was a “we’re not sure where we want to live and settle down” move.  So we came to a big city to have fun and figure it all out.  Missing VA, having space, and being near friends and family hit us like a ton of bricks this spring…going back is really nice, but makes me a bit sad at the same time.

-My girlfriend from college, Natalie, came to NYC for her friend's bachelorette party and came up early for a bonus night with me!  We had great night out in the city...drinks on the balcony, Italian dinner, crepes, (i've been dying to try this one crepe stand!!) seeing a band at a bar on Bleecker street and a rooftop club....we crammed a lot in that Thursday night!

yummy nutella and banana crepe!

da club....rooftop at the Gansevort Hotel

-went to Boston for a work related weekend and had a great time at the Sam Adams brewery having a clam and lobster bake and went to the Red Sox – Cubs game.  We also got to see our friends Trace and Natalie who we always have too much fun with and little Caroline, Andy and Shannon.  Nick hadn’t seen C since Christmas, so it was a fun visit.

Cubs game at Fenway...they haven't played each other since 1918!

Green Monsta.

Aunt, Niece, Uncle.

-Memorial Day Weekend was very exciting!  Andy, Shannon and Caroline came for a big visit to NYC.  J  It was Caroline first trip and she did great!  She is such a low key, easy baby so she just snoozed in her stroller seat while we ate at great restaurants and got in some quality time.  She was awake for the ground zero tour and the fun visits to Bryant Park and FAO Swartz….where she loooved all the soft stuff animals.

mommy and C




hanging out in a west village park

C whisking through the subway!  she's a pro.

The Smiths at Ground Zero

in our apartment...getting C & C acquainted

Memorial Day Empire State Building!

Daddy and Caroline in Bryant Park

the Muppet department in FAO - coincidentally, Nick was wearing his Muppet Band tshirt, haha.

Shopping :)

she fits right in...like a doll!

Little Smith Update

I've had two visits with my niece, little miss Caroline in March!  She is soooo adorable....I know all babies are adorable and I'm obviously biased, but she is one cute babe!

She has a big personality, loves to talk with lots of babble, shrieks, and giggles.  She loves to play and be "flown" through the air and the last time I saw her she was really into gumming on her toys too.

While she's snuggly, she also loves to move...kicking and grabbing at things...such a squirmy worm!  I think we can all tell she's going to be one talkative little girl we'll all be chasing around!  here's a few pics.

love from the city!

loves to laugh

Caroline about to go on a walk with Nana and I...ignore how tired I look in this pic and just stare at the cute baby!

oh soooo cute!

I was in Boston for work and squeezed in some time with Caroline....love!

Balancing Act

Life is a balancing act...that much I have learned in the past 2 months. I don't even have kids and I feel overwhelmed sometimes...I can't even imagine how to balance that. Some people look like they can do it all...spend time with friends, cook, take time to be creative, work out, excel at their career. All I can say is do these people sleep??

I'm not a type A, never have been...never will, but I'm type A about certain parts of my life and that includes my job, a clean house, and good relationships. Honestly right now I am finding it pretty hard to get caught up with work and learn a new job while making sure to prioritize family and friends. Not to mention hobbies...what's "exercise" again? I know it's about making your priorities but sometimes everything seems important. I am trying to carve out time to catch up with family and girlfriends...pay attention to my husband in our free time while still being a good employee. Now I understand why there is so much talk about the pressure of being "superwomen"....it's true!

I know that if my job was less stressful or I wasn't new to it that I wouldn't feel this way. So at least I know it's temporary. The new york area also breeds a mentality of work work work...people are hustling and bustling to and from work...long hours...trying to be 1 step above or ahead everyone else. I love the drive and ambition, but ever wonder what's the point?! I keep telling myself that the point is to make $$ to enable us to do enjoyable things in life and then eventually enjoy retirement!

Through my deep breaths, headaches, to-do lists, and a few tears...I remember I'm lucky to have a wonderful support system around me. Personally and professionally. I'm also lucky enough that my career allows me to drink on the job and that always helps the day end well ;) hahaha.

This is honestly what's been going on with my life recently...so interesting or not...it's my blog for the week. All I can say, is these pictures help me remember what life is all about...plus talking to Casey is always the best, she never fails to come through and even sends me articles like this.

family and my ridiculously cute niece, caroline...who's new found laugh almost made me pee my pants laughing over skype this weekend. she's the happiest baby I've ever met!



sweet and incredibly supportive hubby and cuddly soft dog who's affection is always welcome (although him being on the couch is no longer welcome!)


girlfriends, champagne, and celebrations...Allison and Barbara celebrating Allison's engagement in NYC (they came up from DC for the night)!!


i like my job. i like my job. repeat...