New York with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson
5 Months Pregnant
I’m 5 months along now! Time flies. But in the last month my stomach has grown a ton. I gained 11 pounds in the last five weeks. Now I’m 123, 6 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. I just organized and cleaned out my closet and put all the tiny clothes away and got out the tent clothes. I’m now fully into maternity clothes. I have some cute ones but not near enough!!
Chris’ Schedule
Chris has the hardest two weeks ahead of him. He went to bed at 8:30 last night so he could get up at 4:00 and study for his Pathology test this morning. He has 3 tests this week and 5 tests next week (midterms). He did really well on his Pathology test and then they taped him performing a full 45 minute physical on a patient - prostate/rectal and everything. Yuck! He is studying all the time now except for a quick walk to the park everyday when he gets home. Ryan LOVES it when both of us go and we BOTH have to watch him do everything.
Chris has been able to unwind a bit playing a few basketball games. His intramural team at school is doing really well. I think they are in second place! And the ward team won Stake and now will play in the Regional tournament. Ryan and I have gone a couple times in the past 2 weeks. We got a new little stroller for Ryan and when he’s buckled in tight, he knows he can’t get out. Then he is content to watch the basketball game, read books, and eat snacks. I’m so glad he is more manageable. Then I get to enjoy the game.
Ryan
Ryan and I have had a great week. We’ve met friends at the mall to play on the ‘indoor playground’, had 2 picnics at different playgrounds, gone on lots of walks, and gone to a friends house to play. I must say there are quite a few perks to being the Mom.
Ryan is talking more and more. He knows so many words now and is starting to put words together. Yesterday, I asked him, “Ryan, where’s your shoes?” He said, “Shoes, I don’t know?” while he shrugged his shoulders. That counts as a sentence, doesn’t it? He is so cute. But with the good comes a little bad too. He gets so upset now when things don’t go his way. Definite signs of an early ‘terrible two’ stage.
Lisa
I am doing great!! I just love being pregnant. It’s so fun to finally be showing and into my maternity clothes … the few of them I have. My biggest complaint is that my back aches! I have to have pillows on both sides of me when I sleep. Needless to say, there’s not a lot of room for Chris. My body pillow has now acquired the nickname “the boyfriend”. When Ryan sits on my lap to read a story or something, he always tries to back up but he just gets bumped off. He doesn’t realize he’s as far back as he’ll get. And it will only get worse since I am only 5 months along. Ryan and Daddy always talk to the baby. Ryan points at my tummy and says ‘baby’ (sometimes he points to his own tummy too). Ryan loves to give the baby kisses and ‘zerberts’.
Tonight I have my FHE packet swap at Geneva’s house … always a great ‘girls night out'. Then Friday night, Sheri Dew is giving a fireside not far from here so a bunch of my friends and I are going to carpool. Saturday night we have a birthday party/BBQ at some friends house.
Spring Break with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson
Tami and Melvin visit for 2 nights as they tour the East Coast. Chris finishes last midterm. We go downtown to Museum of Natural History. We have fun. We pick up Del & Shelley from the DC airport. We go home and have homemade soup. We visit. We go to bed.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We wake up, pack and are on our way to New York via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We stop at Independence National Historical Park. We bundle up and walk up to Independence Square. We tour Independence Hall... famous as the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the US. Constitution. Very enjoyable. Next we walk to the Liberty Bell Pavilion to view the cracked Liberty Bell. Again enjoyable. Shelley wants to see the Betsy Ross House so we walk a few blocks and tour the small home of the woman who sewed the United States first flag. After a visit to the visitor center Chris picks us up and we proceed to NEW YORK.
New York City
6:00PM We arrive at the Staten Island Navy Lodge and are quite pleased with the room. A kitchenette, two beds, a crib for Ryan, TV and VCR etc. We unpack and then get directions for somewhere to eat. The front desk lady, in a thick New York accent recommends the Country Club Restaurant... “You’ll get a LOT of food.” she keeps saying. We trust her recommendation and drive away. We eat and eat and eat. LOTS of food was right. We waddle back to the car and relax in our hotel room playing with Ryan and watching Shawshank Redemption on cable.
Church in Staten Island
9:00AM We wake up early and get ready for church. We have the address but no time so plan on being there at 9:00. As we drive around we realize Staten Island isn’t all that great. In fact... we lock the doors as we drive. We keep thinking “There couldn’t possibly be an LDS chapel around here. We find it but it’s doors and windows are covered with iron gates. It looks like a renovated old house with a small church sign. No one is there. We have an address for another one on the island and wander to find it. Ah... a much better area of town. Everyone is friendly and comes to talk to us. We enjoy church... Ryan loves nursery.
1:30PM We eat a crock pot dinner of Italian Chicken and rice back at the hotel so we don’t have to go out. We relax, visit and all take a nap. We discuss what we will do that night. I opt for playing games but Shelley is anxious to see something. Chris is of course torn in the middle trying to make everyone happy.
Staten Island Ferry
We arrive at the Staten Island Ferry at 8:00PM right in time for the ferry. Because we don’t know where to park and the ferry guy is nice he lets us park underground. We don’t realize that that allows us to have ‘free parking’ and board first to pick out some great seats at the front with a spectacular view of the New York Skyline. We are excited to spot the Empire States Building and Statue of Liberty. A lady passed us and says, “Ah... the rich people sit up here.” We chuckle like we know what she means. Moments later the ferry is packed and 3 black gentlemen take their position right in front of us with stereo and box of change. They sing song after song in perfect harmony. ...and we have the perfect seats. Ryan is enthralled. He watches in awe. Grandma gives him a coin and he knows exactly what to do. The singers smile. The crowd chuckles. Ryan immediately turns around to get another coin... and another... and another. Pretty soon people are coming up to Ryan to give him money to take to the box. He’s a big hit.
New York Streets and Subway
8:30PM We’re off the ferry and fighting the crowds to the streets of New York. Everybody walks as through they know where they are going... everyone, but us that is. We look for the correct subway and a nice lady helps us out.
8:40 PM The New York Subway is everything to be expected. Dirty and scary. I am glad to be with Chris. The subway is fast. We get off at GRAND CENTRAL STATION. It is big. We feel important. Outside... Ah, a downtown New York street... EXACTLY how I pictured it. Buildings so tall I lose my balance as I glance at the top, lights flashing everywhere, yellow taxi’s covering the streets, We learn quickly the importance of the crosswalk WALK and DON’T WALK signs. We find our position and decide to turn left. Not 10 seconds later a friendly man with a shamrock hat stops us to ask where we are going and then turns us around and points us in the right direction.
9:00PM The boys are walking fast. I’m trying but I have a bad cramp on my right side. I waddle like I’m 8 months pregnant. We walk down Lexington and decide it looks Seinfeldish. The blocks are small and I welcome the wait at each intersection.
9:15PM Still walking... my cramp is slowing us down but we are enjoying the scenery. We bump into the Shamrock hat man and he asks us for directions. We laugh. He points to the Chrysler building and tells us the very top light is a bathroom. Funny. We wish we could pay him to walk around with us. I’m starving... I eat a half of kudos bar but then throw it away.
Empire States Building
9:40PM We finally get to the Empire States Building. (I always want to say Empire Strikes Back.) I really need to sit down. We purchase tickets and start up the elevators. They go up 10 floors at a time very fast. Our ears keep popping. I lean on Chris... I’m exhausted. Ryan is being so good in the stroller.
10:00PM The top is SPECTACULAR. We gaze out and see lights go on forever. We spot Times Square, the Twin Towers, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty... I lean against the rail. I try to ‘soak up the view’ but I wish I was back at the hotel. I’m frustrated because there are no benches. I finally opt to go inside. I find a lonely corner and sit down. It feels good but my head is pounding. Chris finds me and tells me we’re going to get me home. He can tell I don’t look good. I just want to stay in my corner. He lets me lean on him as we wait in line for the elevator. It’s almost our turn. I feel faint... I feel nauseous. Suddenly my knees buckle and I fall to the floor and throw up. Twice. They try to move me but I can’t. It feels so good to sit on the floor. Chris hugs me. The ushers rush around to help. I feel much better already. I think ‘I can’t believe I threw up on the top of the Empire States Building.’
10:35PM We receive special treatment and our own elevator down. Chris won’t let go of me for fear I’ll faint. We ask directions to the closest Subway. The doorman tells us and then watches to make sure we go the right way. We didn’t and he comes running after us to turn us around. I must say I’m surprised how nice the people are here. At the subway we see rats... although I’m not surprised. I’m glad I sit cross-legged with my legs up. I’m feeling much better but am exhausted.
A Full Day in New York
8:45 AM We’re on the ferry again. It’s overcast but will probably be warmer than yesterday. I’m feeling a little nauseous this morning... probably from he rocking of the boat. Ryan found a ramp that he wants to go up and down, up and down. I wish we had the singers in front of us again. I’m feeling tired even thinking about everything we want to do today. We just passed the Statue of Liberty. It’s a lot smaller than I thought. Oh... here we go.
9:15AM We take the subway again to 86th Avenue and walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. CLOSED... just on Mondays. We peek inside the windows and wish we could go inside-- mostly because it’s cold outside-- but decide to walk through CENTRAL PARK. It’s huge and we find it odd that it is among all the high-rise buildings of downtown New York. We walk along the pathways and can’t help but laugh as we think of Phoebe running (FRIENDS episode.) As we come to the other side we see NY Central Park Police on Horses. Ryan says “Horse” and “Nay” We come across the American Museum of Natural History. It’s spectacular. I want to stay and watch a Dolphin IMAX but others decide it’s lunchtime. We take the subway again to TIMES SQUARE. Its fun to see places you hear so much about. Our phrase is “This is BIG!” Not big in terms of size but... spectacular... significant... just BIG... almost describing our emotion at our first glance of it. When we walk upstairs to Times Square we say “Wow, this is BIG.” We walk down what’s known as ‘Restaurant Row’ and decide on ALL STAR CAFE... a sort of sports Hard Rock Cafe. We eat in a huge baseball mitt and Chris and Del talk about great athletes of our era the entire time. Ryan is exhausted and sleeps the entire time we’re in there. I don’t feel well so I order a hamburger but only take a few bites and then lay down against the side.
After lunch we find ourselves strolling around the streets of NY. We are amazed at the amount of people who smoke. Everyone smokes... even those who don’t smoke, smoke. I can just feel it going down into my lungs.
2:00PM The NY Public Library seems almost majestic. Everyone is quiet... as if in awe. The ceilings and paintings are ornate. We don’t see any books until we reach the main reading room and then books adorn the walls and people live their New York lives sitting at the Mahogany tables with their portable laptops. Outside Ryan finds the Lion statues particularly amusing and breaks the silence by pointing and shouting “Rrrooaar”.
2:31PM The St. Patrick’s cathedral is gigantic and amazing but too many stain glass windows for me. It almost has a gothic gloominess to it. I can’t help but think how much more beautiful our temples are. We sit down on a pew among people praying and a woman reading ‘Praises to Jesus’. She seems to read louder so we can hear. I’m just glad to rest my back and legs.
3:00PM We’re in line for half price Broadway tickets. Once again being there on Monday is frustrating. Only three Broadway shows are available... none of which is extremely appealing. Everyone else decides on CATS. I feel like I’d rather go home with Ryan and sleep but a baby-sitter’s already been arranged (a nice lady from the Staten Island ward who insisted on Sunday) and I think it would be nice to spend a magical evening with my husband on Broadway, in New York. We purchase $80.00 tickets for $40.00 and then stroll around again looking in shops. Ryan’s being so good.
5:15PM We’re in TGIFridays. Everyone gets a desert but I just get a smoothie. I haven’t eaten very much today but I don’t feel well. Ryan amused us. We watch as he says “Feas’ for Grandpa’s water and then Grandpa’s strawberry shake and then Grandpa’s ice cream. Grandpa keeps giving and Ryan keeps asking. I feel rejuvenated. Chris takes Ryan back across the ferry to the baby sitters and we keep walking around... Saks 5th Avenue, Tiffany’s, the Warner Brothers Store, The Gap, The Disney store, The Ed Sullivan Theater. The sunset is amazing. It’s cold but we’re bundled up and we just keep walking.
7:58PM We’re in the CATS Theater now waiting for Chris. He should be here any minute. The musical is about to start. The set is done up like a junkyard. Oh, Chris just walked in. Good. ...During the first couple numbers I think... I can’t believe this whole musical is about cats. Then I get into it. It’s not bad. I’m enjoying myself although it’s hard to stay awake. The final couple of songs are catchy and we end up humming them all the way back to the ferry.
11:21PM The ferry terminal at this time of night is scary. The benches are taken up with people sleeping... people with big bags next to them that contain their lives ...people who are smoking and mumbling things that don’t make sense. There are many of them. It’s hard to even look around. I think about my townhouse in Gaithersburg and about my family... I have everything.
Last Day in New York
12:30PM We slept in till 9:00 and packed and enjoyed being slow. We took the ferry and Subway to WALL STREET. It is a busy part of town. Lots of men in suits out walking on their lunch break. We get tickets for a tour of the New York Stock Exchange. We wait in a line for the door, wait in a line to go through Security Checks, wait in a line to get on the elevator and finally wait in a line to see ‘the floor’. Chris is enthralled. I find it very interesting... I learn a lot, although have a million more questions. I think my dad would enjoy it.
1:54PM We wander past old churches and through small parks to get to the World Financial Center and World Trade Center. We waste time and finally choose an expensive place to eat. My meal’s not that great. We wander around some more and try and find a bathroom. It takes too long. We’re all tired from yesterday.
5:00PM Back on the Ferry for the last time. We don’t get to tour the Statue of Liberty because we forgot that it closes at 5:00 and didn’t leave ourselves enough time. I’m disappointed... Chris is too but I don’t think anyone else is.
8:20PM I’m exhausted. It’s pouring rain. I’m cramped and can’t find a comfortable position. I don’t feel well. We stop at a diner in New Jersey to eat a quick bite... again I don’t feel like eating. Ryan kept picking up a fry and saying “This is a rye.” Then he’d pick up a piece of hamburger and say “This is a bite.” He went back and forth while we all laughed.
11:40PM I’m so glad to finally be home. I get in bed and say “Oh, I missed you.” Chris says WHAT? and I repeat... he then realizes I’m talking to my body pillow.
Washington DC Zoo
The rest of our spring break breezed by. On Wednesday we took turns having wonderful naps... and relaxed all day. Then at 4:00 we played in the balls at Discovery Zone with Ryan, enjoyed a sack lunch and then watched Chris destroy the other team in his basketball game that night. Thursday Chris came to my Preschool class with me. I love it when my cute hubby comes. He’s so good with the kids. It was fun to watch Ryan interact with the kids as well. Then we went to a movie...Cider House Rules. It was ok. We thought Ryan would fall asleep but he didn’t and ended up wandering around the whole theatre. Luckily it was almost empty. He climbed all the way to the top, when across and then down the other stairs. You could see his little head bob up and down across the bottom. It was so funny. Friday we went to the zoo with the Chuggs. Ryan loved the ELEPHANTS... which he calls “abadamps”. He gets so excited. He has to tell me and then daddy and then me again. He’s a riot.
Friday night we went shopping at COSTCO and got a good deal on a dutch oven. (Money from my dad to Chris for Christmas) and then test drove a Plymouth VAN. It was so nice. I wish we could have bought it!! We’re thinking about getting a second car... but probably not a mini-van. Saturday was a fun day for Chris. He played GOLF in the morning with his buddies... Pete, Brian and Jared. Then in the afternoon he had an exciting ward PING-PONG tournament.