: new friends :
: great food :
: beautiful park :

Today (Saturday) was one of the best days we've had since moving to NY. My new friend Christine set up picnic so Matt and I could meet some of her and Stephen's friends and they could meet us and we were also able to invite our neighbors from across the street. We met at this great park called Snug Harbor and had the most fabulous picnic, we ate great food and talked and got to know each other. We've definitely made some new friends and tomorrow we're all headed to Manhattan for a huge all day concert in Battery Park, however Matt keeps reminding me we must be back by kick off, we can't miss the Cowboys/Giants game...I just keep doing whatever I'm doing and say yeah yeah, I know....hee hee, I'm oh so glad football seasons here!

Our new friends shown below are Tony & Leslie and their little girl Kalla (not sure on the spelling, she's 6 months old), Tamara and her friend Beth and Hugh & Arlene, their little boy Gabriel and little girl Ariana who was born just two days before Dealey (they are our neighbors across the street and aren't pictured not sure how that happened), then Christine & Stephen and little Eva who we met not that long after we first moved here. Lots of fun, it's nice to meet other people who have kids that we can hang out with it and they are all big foodies so I am excited and motivated to get the last of our boxes unpacked and the apartment set up so we can start having dinners, the first one a tapas & wine party....I can't wait!!!!!! I feel like it may all be okay after all...

Oh and when we told D here comes Eva it was too funny that his reaction was to start drooling! I think he's going to be the little boy that chases the girls around and ask for kisses, I smell trouble!

From left to right: Christine, Tony holding Kalla, Beth, Tamara, Stephen's back, Leslie & me

Gorgeous little Eva (almost 4 months old)

Beth holding the oh so cute Kalla!

Snug Harbor...

Me and D, see he's already quite the character!

From left to right: Tamara, Leslie & Tony

Stephen holding Eva, Matt holding D, Beth holding Kalla & Tony's head!

Snug Harbor is absolutely beautiful it has a butterfly garden, a herb garden, botanical garden, a little secret garden for the kids that's a cool maze but it's all kid height so parents can see kids but the kids can't see over the bushes that make up the walls of the maze. A huge outdoor stage and very cool 9/11 memorial, a huge children's museum that has cool programs all summer long and through out the year, a community theater and an art studio where you can take classes that also has a gallery. The park is beautiful year round and I hope to take anybody there who comes to visit. There's also a cool little cafe and a Japanese sculpture garden in the park that we haven't been to yet but plan to explore in the comeing days, weeks & months.

I've been meaning to write a post about our Labor Day weekend for days but unfortunately both Dealey and I are sick....it sucks but I guess the nice thing about it is I have so much to do with him every day to make sure he doesn't get worse that I don't have time to remember just how crappy I feel....so as we enter Thursday the snot flows freely in the Maples household and it looks like it'll be flowing steady for many days to come!

Okay enough about yucky stuff, lets talk about Labor Day! Matt and I spent Labor Day weekend hanging out at beaches, talking and enjoying what little time we get to all spend together. The best discovery was Bradley Beach, NJ it was incredible we were sad that we found it at the end of the season. Yeah that's right end of the season. Apparently up here Labor Day is officially the end of summer, everybody leaves the city, heads to the beaches and soaks up the last of the warm sun. However it was barely 70 degrees but the water was surprisingly warm. We splashed in the water walked the shore and talked about life.

I knew this move was going to be hard, moving to NY leaving everybody and starting our family. But there are many days I'm ready to endure everything I dislike about Texas just be back with family and friends. I have no idea what life holds for us where we'll be or what we'll be doing but I think for the first time in my life I realize just how much we need those things in our life. But for now life is in NY and I Heart NY, I just wish we had family and friends to love it with us. Here's some pics of our weekend, we went to South Beach Saturday night, and Matt took some cool pics then we were in NJ all day Sunday, we did IKEA, Trader Joes, a cute little town called Meutchen where we took a break and had ice cream at a place called "What's the Scoop", then we headed to Bradley Beach, hung on the beach until dusk, walked the boardwalk and enjoyed a MexiCali dinner at a place called "Fins". Enjoy the pics and remember you could see this all first hand when you each plan your trips to NY!!!!!!

South Beach & Verrazano Bridge


Bradley Beach, NJ

I was at my new favorite hang recently "Everything Goes Book Cafe" and they have this question posted on the wall in huge letters and I found myself starring at it. The fear of failure has been my nemesis my whole life. So I've been spending the last few days walking around Staten Island and Manhattan trying to answer this very question and what I've found is that the answer is so confusing I don't know where to start. I thought I'd toss the question out there to see what thoughts it provoked in others and what your answers would be....

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM LITTLE D TO YOU.....HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE....I HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE THROUGH....HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM LITTLE D TO YOU!

Happy 32nd Birthday daddy, you deserve the best life has to offer and I hope D and I can always give that to you because you give it to us everyday! We love you so much and hope you have the best year EVER!

We spent a wonderful Saturday in Manhattan. We should have stayed home and unpacked the mountain of boxes we still have but what fun is that? So we packed up and headed to Manhattan for a walk through the farmers market in Union Square where we picked up some yummy snacks to eat once we got to Central Park. When we got to Central Park we landed in a great little area called Cedar Hill where we soaked up the sun, played with D a.k.a. "mr. right" and people watched (one of the most fun things to do in NYC)....So 9 hours later we were back on S.I. where we headed to one of my new favorite places Every Thing Goes Cafe for this cool Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer player but we headed out early because we were both so exhausted....Here's some picks from our day in the city!

When we first got to the park, D was half asleep and was seriously confused about where we were!

But once he figured out there were people he couldn't stop looking around, he didn't want to miss anything!

And then he was ready to pose and be funny. It's been so fun to watch his personality slowly come out, I feel there's more to come but every little bit is just that much more amazing!

Mr. Right is Mr. Cool! Watch out ladies he's going to be a hottie!

Oh and D's new favorite thing, blowing bubbles. Okay not new because he did it in utero but it's so funny to see him discover, he thinks it's so funny!

I couldn't help it Matt kept taking my pictures and you all know how much I love that so I started making faces to make it slightly more tolerable! Until next time.....big hugs and love.

NYdoctors....

We had our first dr. visit in NY today D did great considering he was pocked, stretched and stuck with needles :oO. The doctor said he was doing great he's in the 25th percentile on all his stats which she said was good considering were he started. We'll be working hard the next couple of weeks to get him on a more regular schedule which if it works as well as it looks on paper means slightly more restful nights for mom and dad!!!! So here's the update as of August 16, 2007

10lb 15 oz : 22 1/2 inches

He's healthy and growing and for the most part happy if we can get him a little more regular we think we'll get to see a few more smiles from time to time, however I must say it's seems our D is a pretty mellow and serious person, he always looks like he's thinking about something, my guess: " who are these crazy people they've left me with, what wierdos!?" Or maybe he's just wondering when he gets to eat again! Either way we're just happy he's healthy!

2MONTHSandgrowing...

I turned 2 months old this weekend and I must say it's been quite an eventful life so far, and in case any of you guys didn't already know, my parents are crazy! They moved me to New York when I was a month old and I've ridden the subway, eaten in little italy, rode in a limo, met everyone at daddy's work, looked at art in union square, walked a million miles with mommy (mostly when I decide I want to cry and cry) and today I got to touch sand for the first time. However I believe my greatest accomplishment is that I've driven both Mom & Dad to the brink of insanity! I put my evil plan in to place only moments after birth while everyone was ooooing and aweing over my big eyes and out of control tongue....

We are all getting settled in NY and can't wait for more visitors, we had a blast with Matt's mom, sister, aunt & cousin! Here's a bunch of pics daddy took to celebrate my b-day!

Hugs as mommy would say....and a sprinkle of m&m's!

And now for the comparison...from one month :2: two months!

I almost fit in my bumbo and there is hope someday I might grow into my feet..hee! Watch for pics from the beach this week, we're just getting ready to hang with mommy and daddy's friends JD & Celeste and my new friend Colin (their son), they live in California!

INTERNETaddict

that's what I am! We have been without internet since Wednesday and today I could take it no more, so D and I packed up and headed to Starbucks for some body warming tea and INTERNET! We might have it back by Sunday but not really sure yet. So I responded to a few emails people sent and now I have to run, so if I didn't get to yours I'll try to tomorrow, I have access hear until 4:00 pm....if you need something now, call my cell phone! Pray internet returns soon...PLEASE!

On Saturday afternoon Matt got home, his mom and sister arrived shortly after and his aunt and cousin arrived in the city late that night. Sunday around noon we all met in the city @ Union Square where we shopped and walked before heading to Little Italy for what quickly became a series of events that would make for the best day we've had in NYC so far!

It all started with a fun subway ride down to Little Italy where we almost lost Matt's cousin Tabitha because she suddenly jumped back on the subway car thinking she left her phone, luckily we had a small overnight bag for Matt's mom and sister that they were able to shove in the door and Tab leaped for freedom over the bag as laughter ensued. We walked into Little Italy towards a restaurant called La Mela. The afternoon was perfect a crisp breeze made the sun seem less intrusive than it had been in previous days. We sat on the sidewalk, enjoyed a huge bottle of the best house wine I've ever had, talked and enjoyed the amazing food. We chose to do family style where you don't pick the meal, they just start bringing you course after course. First caprizi salad, gorgeous tomatoes, thick slices of the freshest mozzarella and fragrant fresh basil all drizzled with yummy EVOO! The second course, grilled mozzarella wrapped in something buttery and delish, mushroom caps filled with sun dried tomatoes and cheese and roasted asparagus and red peppers, God could it get better? Why yes it can, as the waiter softly placed a massive tray of pastas on our table Gnocchi in marinara and cheese bubbling on top. Fresh tri-color cheese tortellini in a crazy yummy cream & marinara sauce. The third pasta was rigatoni in fresh tomato sauce with fresh basil ever so perfectly scattered on top.

Tabitha with a very sleepy D in Little Italy...

Now that's a milk drunk baby!

We couldn't resist his face was just to perfect for this shot!

So as you can imagine by this point we were all getting a little tipsy and very full, but there were still two courses to go ?! We went ahead and "forced" ourselves to eat the meat course with buttery lemon chicken, shrimp in marinara sauce and roasted garlic chicken. We decided to stop before the desert course because we wanted to go someplace else after our show. We finished our wine (seriously yummy) and started walking back towards the subway, when the next memorable moment happened...we saw a limo, he noticed the size of our group and Jeri (Matt's Aunt) and Matt went over to negotiate, not sure what they decided on but the next thing we all knew we were in the back of a white stretch limo traveling the streets of Manhattan. Singing horribly loud and laughing. It was D's first limo ride!

We got to Jeri's hotel unloaded and headed upstairs to get freshened up for our next adventure...BROADWAY! We went to see "Mama Mia" which I highly recommend it was fabulous and hilarious! I don't know many ABBA songs but it didn't matter the "older" couple sitting next to me knew every word! We left the show and headed to a favorite desert place of mine and Matt's called Juniors off 45th & Broadway they have amazing 7 layer cakes & awesome cheesecake (that's what they're known for) so we sat and talked and ate and laughed before heading back to the hotel where I picked up Matt and Deals and the three of us headed towards home. We got to the ferry just in time for 12:30 am departure and thank goodness we did, because after that the next one wasn't until 1:30....aahhh! It was an amazing day in the city for sure the first of many memorable moments.

Not sure why we were so surprised about our love of Little Italy after all Matt has professed for years that his love of Italian food means he must be Italian...well while I'm pretty sure there isn't an ounce of Italian in my fair skinned freckled faced husband, I am sure that our love of all things Italian runs deep and we can't wait for many more lovely dinners on the streets of Little Italy followed with more amazing Broadway musicals! We are definitely learning about great places to take all our friends when they come visit so book your trips now, we can't wait to share our NY with all of you!

And here's a few pics of our sweet boy!

I have a music crush on this group :Crooked Still: My sister-n-law Thea turned me on to them last summer when we were in Canada. They have a new album (Shaken by a Low Sound) out and I encourage everyone to check them out, they describe themselves as Acoustic/Folk Rock I describe them as freakn' awesome!

They are going to be in NY in Nov and we're going to see them, you should ALL come join us!

Check out their website www.crookedstill.com you can listen to a few of the songs off the new album there as well as purchase it or you can listen to and buy it and their other album "Hop High" on iTunes!

Hi friends, I wanted to introduce you guys to a very special family the Gross's. They are officially our first S.I. friends! I meet Christine at Starbucks on Monday and then Wednesday we went on the longest walk ever not really but the North Shore is all hills and I think we both felt like we walked them all! Steven & Christine have the most precious little girl Eva (isn't she cute)!

You guys would have been so proud to see me talk to a stranger granted I had my black jacket on and you know with the binkie in place I can trick my mind into thinking I'm a stronger person than I am. Thank God for Starbucks and courage! For the first time since we got here my hope was renewed that this was the best decision we've ever made! I can't wait for you guys to come to NY and meet the Gross's!