Friday, February 15, 2008

I Heart New York

Plane tickets have been secured and I'm a nervous wreck. It always happens when I hit the "purchase" button on whatever airline website I'm on. Orbitz took care of that for me last night. I'm not simply nervous about the tickets arriving, the proper flight times, etc...mostly nervous about leaving the babes for 4 days during Spring Break. Holy shmoly. Besides my time in the hospital delivering baby #2, I haven't left the boogers overnight except for one time - last month. It was an overnight to Jekyll Island for Carter's birthday. An entire 15 minutes away. Bout killed me to walk out the door, but once I got away, knew the kiddos were in good hands, I relaxed and enjoyed myself. And I couldn't wait to get back to see them the next day (when usually I can't wait to "escape" for some Mommy time!).

We planned this trip in our heads when we got married. Declared we would take a big trip every 5 years to celebrate our anniversary. We invested money 5 years ago, let it grow, and are now going to spoil ourselves rotten in the Big Apple. Then we'll start the process over for our 10 year anniversary. Sounds great on paper, but when I agreed to this, we didn't have the 2 cutest chitlins on the planet.

As Carter snoozed on the couch, I took a HUGE deep breath and clicked "purchase". I know that wasn't near as tough as when I'll actually drive off to the airport in late March, but it's a baby step. After sealing the deal, I felt a lot more freedom to get excited, plan an itenerary, search for a hotel, broadway shows, tours, etc. We've been to NYC before (pre-babies and with Kara on one of the most fun vacations EVER) for about 8 days, so we've done A LOT, but there's still so much to explore. And we don't so much want to stay at the Super 8 this time. :)

The only thing currently booked is our flight, so the rest is wide open. If anyone has any ideas, places of interest, places to stay, etc. - we'd love to hear about it. That's basically how we planned our last trip to NYC - ideas from others. We found the BEST hidden pizza joint in Brooklyn that way. Then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset - also an idea from friends (and Frommer's!). Send ideas our way! We've got 4 days to fill...and I mean every second of those 4 days because I don't want to be boohooing over my babies in the middle of Times Square!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Goin' on a Biggles Hunt

There is quite the story of our dearly beloved Mr. Bigglesworth (aka Biggy, Biggs, Bigoozy, Biggy Smalls). Carter surprised me with the gift of kitty newly into our marriage (despite his lack of love for the feline friends). I smothered that little thing with love even though we quickly learned he was possessed. He had a knack for biting off fingers and going for your achilles tendon as you walked by him. Nevertheless, I loved him dearly. When I became pregnant, Biggs hit the road for 2 weeks. He's a boy cat...and boy cats need to do some explorin' every once in a while. Just don't go explorin' and not tell your preggers momma because then she looks like a fool walking the neighborhood EVERY DAY 3 times a day shaking a can of treats and boohooing like a baby...or like a hormonal pregnant woman. Carter prayed earnestly for that cat to return so as to have his wife back. And return he did...with a vengeance...and even crazier than before (I've assumed something traumatic happened during those 2 weeks but not even counseling has worked to get Biggy Smalls to open up about it).



Post baby, big shift. Biggs is thrown asunder (or outside) because a kitty germ might touch our baby...and that could not happen. He has continued to be an outdoorsy cat, only allowed to sleep in the garage.



Once upon a yesterday, the kiddos wanted to play with Bigoozy (actually they just squeal at him and then run when he swipes the claws at them...not real fun, but it passes the time). So we went on a Biggles hunt. We searched high and low, backyard and front, in the bushes and up the trees. No Biggy. Giving up, we came inside. Seconds later we hear Little Brother saying his new word "Biggy, Biggy, Biggy" with much excitement. Aw, that's cute...he can say Biggy. Oh, wait, that's a little too much excitement. Coming into Sister's room, we see Brother has ended the hunt. What the crud? Cat snuck in at some point during the day - or yesterday? - and has had a nice lounge with Elmo and friends. Pardon us, Biggs, didn't mean to intrude.