Getting around

I miss my car,but not driving, if that makes sense.  Shay is loving the freedom (read: no carseat) of riding on buses and taxis (apparently, NYC taxis are exempt from carseat laws).  It's a bit scary, being used to strapping him into a five-point harness for all car rides in his rear-facing carseat (yes, he was rear-facing until age 3!  It's safer, but I also was just too lazy to turn the seat around). I just hold onto him tightly.  I have only taken Mila on the bus in an Ergo baby carrier, which straps onto my body.

Driving in Manhattan traffic with my dad was an adventure.  He got very distracted by all of the sights and sounds, and attracted more than a few honks from taxi drivers.  We ventured across to Brooklyn to go to Target and IKEA during afternoon rush hour - worst idea ever, but we survived.  We drove around the Target in Brooklyn forever, trying to find a place to park without making any left turns (signs everywhere prohibited them, and the cop cars discouraged them even more).

Driving to Brooklyn.  This picture does not show all of the cars that my dad let pass in front of him right before the bridge entrance.  It was hard to tell if taxis were honking at him or not (but I think they were!).

Finally driving across the Brooklyn Bridge

Next time we went to Brooklyn (IKEA trip, part II) we took the East River Ferry + IKEA water taxi across the river - close to our apartment, less stressful, and stroller-friendly!  $4 per adult - kids free.  It wouldn't be the best option for everyone, but it took about the same time as by bus or subway (or bus+subway=nightmare with stroller).

East River ferry route (taken for future reference)

 

Loved water taxi.  Afterwards, he kept saying that regular taxis were like water taxis with wheels.

Shay yelled: "Statue of Liberty!!!" on the way over.  Too many tour books and tax preparation advertisements.

Blurry picture, but Shay was so proud to help with the cart.  We had the double stroller and too much stuff, so we actually did need the help!

Strong boy

On the ride back.  Mila missed out on the ferry - she slept both ways.

Getting adjusted

I expected things to be different here, but it's so disorienting when everything is sooo different. No car, super hot & humid weather (I felt better when I heard New Yorkers saying it was hot on the radio - means it's not just me!), no concept of where I am in relation to anyplace else. It's a lot of figuring out new stuff, like how to greet the doorman, access the laundry room (sometime you have to use two elevators - um, ok), get the kids used to sleeping in the same room. The first day, Shay was asking to go back to his other house. I kind of felt the same way, but then we just got out and experienced things, and we both started feeling much better!

There are a few play areas right downstairs in the main plaza.  One of them has sprinklers that the kids can turn on and off.  Perfect for sweltering summer days!  I think that we will be visiting that area often.   I hear that there are also family events that take place on the plaza periodically.  I have seen lots of moms, babysitters/nannies, kids, and strollers, and have been gathering tips from everyone that I can about local  activities, schools, stores, buses, subway: basically, everything New York.

Shay shows the view of the East River from the plaza

Rockin' out on plaza stage

View from the plaza

One of the play areas

Mila has been doing well.  She loves exploring all the new environments. As long as we keep her fed and relatively well-rested, she is a happy baby.

Mila at playground (pre-water); loves to climb on things that she can fall off of

Mila exploring the playground with water sprinklers in our complex

I'm also trying to wean Mila - looks like it's going ok

It wasn't the best idea to schedule a school tour (at Manhattan Nursery School) the day after we arrived, but it went pretty smoothly.  My dad came to visit to help out, and he watched Mila for the first time.  Which caused us to be late, since I had to explain where the bottles were, how to make the bottle, etc.  She really took to him, though; my mom says it's because they have the same birthday.  I pushed Shay at least 15 long blocks in the hot and humid weather.  Although we arrived late, the administrators were so gracious.  Shay wanted to stay and play, which was a good sign.  I think he misses the structure and social interaction of school.  The teachers seemed engaged and the classrooms were well-equipped.  As may be typical of Manhattan preschools, they don't provide lunch and don't have an outside space.  They do have a big playroom with a climbing structure and take outdoor field trips.  We have a few more tours next week, then we will decide.  Our options are limited, since many of the preschools only admit for September-June and have already closed their enrollment for this fall.

Getting frozen yogurt and bubble tea after school tour

Walking to dinner with Grandpa Rob

Arrival in the Big Apple

I always thought that blogs were for technologically-saavy people only (does not apply to me), but I wanted a way to chronicle our adventures in New York during Jermaine/Jerry/Jabu/King's residency (and maybe beyond - who knows?).  So I am giving blogging a try.  Most of the pictures will be from my phone, so I hope that they come out ok.  I'll admit that I tried WordPress, but couldn't figure out how to format it nicely or how to save a draft of a post. Oh, and blog name was inspired by our family name (Augustus), made plural courtesy of J's college buddy, Tau Flagg, on a wedding card (we really did read them all!).  Totally welcome all feedback, tips, and requests for post topics.  Here goes....

Most, if not all, of you know that Jermaine will be starting his first year of a three-year residency at NYU Medical Center.  If he tells it, I chose to move out here with the kids; I say that I didn't have a choice because I didn't want the kids to barely see their dad for 3 years (he wouldn't get much time to come home and the prospect of multiple cross-country trips alone with two kids was not appealing to me).   So here we are!

In the past few weeks, we have survived:

Mila helping out at the garage sale

• Downsizing from a 4-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apartment.  We had lots of help - thank you to everyone who helped with garage selling, packing, getting rid of stuff, etc.!

Our movers - I took this picture to explain to Shay what happened to our stuff.
He kept asking if they were taking it to the airport.

• Saying good-bye to all of our families and friends (sometimes multiple times!) in California.  I won't lie: there were tears!
• Cross country red-eye flight with 2 young kids.  After a rough start (Mila was babbling (loudly!) in the beginning), the kids slept most of the time, though we parents didn't.  Holding a wiggly infant/toddler with a preschooler leaning on your arm is not a comfortable sleeping position.  Wine helped a little.  I liked flying Virgin America and ordering food and drinks right from my seat.  We chose to be in the very back of the plane, and the flight attendants were sitting close by and were very nice to us.

She had to check everything out

Big boy on the plane

• Landing at 8am EST (5am for us), then coordinating internet installation, mover delivery, unanticipated fridge and air conditioning repair, and assembly of a toddler bed and crib.  I was so hungry and sleep-deprived at the end of that first day that I wanted to catch the first flight back to California.

Some Chinese delivery and a few hours of sleep really helped.  Much more to come soon!

View of the East River from our living room window