New York and Other Adventures

I am happy to say that our little family has been reunited (minus one puppy) finally in New York City! We arrived last Sunday evening, and Tim met us at the airport. He had moved us in (dropped boxes in the dining room) and accepted a furniture delivery the day before. Ellasen and I flew into the airport and Tim met us there. When we got to our new apartment Tim had some flowers for me, and a new Ariel Barbie for Ellasen. 
Ellasen's first taxi ride! No car seat! 

Ariel! 

Happy Family

We set out immediately to check out our new neighborhood and find some dinner!


 Ellasen and I spent most of the next week getting the apartment in order. I have a hard time relaxing when things are a mess or out of place so I knew that I had to make that a priority!





We did manage to slip in a quick play date with a friend and a couple of park dates too. Tim had Saturday off so we made our first trek to Central Park. There are 21 playgrounds in Central Park and we hit up one of them! 









By Monday the house was pretty much put together, and I was feeling much more relaxed. Today Ellasen and I went with another friend to ride the tram over the river to Roosevelt Island. There wasn't much to do on the island, but the tram picks up right by our apartment and it goes in the air over the water so the kids loved it!






The views of the city from the island were amazing! 
So far we are really loving the city and our neighborhood. The upper east side is super family friendly. There are several restaurants nearby with kids menus and crayons! I have found many of the comforts of home here. There is a TJ MAXX and a Bed Bath and Beyond just a block or two away. There were four little kids having a lemonade stand on our front stoop this afternoon. We even found a delicious bbq place on the corner which serves decent southern comfort food! I am talking collared greens, pickled okra, brown sugar baked beans and yams!  There have also been things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone. I still fumble a little with my wallet whenever it is time to tip someone...I am not super smooth yet. Ordering groceries online to be delivered to the door is very different, but this might be something I could get used to! Overall we are really enjoying ourselves! We look forward to more daily adventures exploring our new city!

In other news, I know most of you already know this, but I thought I would make it blog official. Our family is going to be growing some time this holiday season. We are expecting triplets! I am a little over 20 weeks along. We have two very healthy little girls growing away in there! Unfortunately our third baby isn't doing very well. Baby C is growing fine, but has very low fluid, and only a two vessel cord. The doctors have told us there is very little chance this baby will be coming home with us. Obviously this is all very overwhelming, and we are really just trying to take it day by day. The more Baby C grows and moves the harder this all gets. We are trying not to let it overshadow the joy we feel about our twin girls. Some days that is is easier than other days. Triplets is extremely high risk, and we are really trying to keep that in mind. Nothing is guaranteed, and while I seem to be handling the pregnancy well so far, anything could happen. Triplets are almost all born by 32 weeks. They will induce me at 36 weeks if I haven't had them. These babies WILL be premature. We don't want to be negative, but we are trying to manage our expectations somewhat. That being said, we are thankful for those of you that have been praying for us, and we will do our best to keep you posted on the triplets progress!


14 Weeks

16 Weeks

18 Weeks
20 Weeks

I am measuring about 2 months ahead of where I would be if we were having one baby,
and I think I look pretty close (I might be a little bigger this time!)
to how I looked full term with Ellasen. See below:
36 Weeks with Ellasen
20 Weeks with Triplets
 I have one baby on my bladder, one behind my belly button and one on my left lung. Fun! I have all the normal aches and pains associated with a single pregnancy I just have them three times earlier and maybe a little worse!

Back in Rochester Tim and I told some close friends our big news. My very sweet friends threw me a little surprise baby sprinkle! It was so sweet and so much fun! They were all trying to get ready to move, and had been busily packing up their lives, and they took time out to do this for me! I thought it was so sweet!







Home Town 2.0

This post will cover the second half of our summer in Michigan. We have been staying really busy! We are about a week away from joining Tim in NYC, and while we are thrilled to have our family reunited we are really going to miss my parents, the rest of my family and this beautiful state! This second half of our summer included a trip to the zoo, a visit from daddy, a night of camping, fishing, some out of town guests, a family reunion, a baseball game, some beach time and much more! Take a look at what we have been up to below!

Gunner keeping Daddy's spot warm


Beach! 

Ellasen and Uncle Dave watering the grass



My brother and sister-in-law are having a baby so they decided to have a gender reveal party!

They let the grandparents hit a pinata until pink or blue candy fell out


The pinata was supposed to look like my sister-in-law...BLUE CANDY! 

Doing Our Hair

Ellasen got her first Barbie for giving up a baby toy she has slept with since she was born! 

Daddy came to town and took us to the zoo! 

I think I have this picture with every member of my family as I was growing up: John Ball of John Ball Zoo

How big are an eagle's wings?

Playing on the wooden train at the zoo

I think everyone in Grand Rapids has this picture...under the waterfall at John Ball Zoo

Up close to a bear! 

Riding a camel

Playing the bongos! 

My happy place! 

The water was so warm! 

My mom and dad

My sand bunny! 


Aunt Di and Ellasen at lunch on the beach

Tim at Rose's looking out at Reed's Lake

Camping with some cousins! 

Ellasen and Sofi checking out the lake


First time in a camper! 

Roasting marshmallows! 

S'mores! 

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Ellasen and Uncle Steve getting ready to fish! 

Success!


Wearing Mommy's glasses! 

Cousin Eva and Ellasen - Ellasen ADORES her! 



Notice the double forked chocolate cake monster! I am pretty sure my grandma encouraged this because one of her five food groups is chocolate! 


Swimming with cousin Davis



Ice cream! 

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Climbing cousins at our Saugatuck picnic








Baseball game fun! 







My brother and sister-in-law and I went to a movie in the park downtown. The picture doesn't do it justice! tons of people and a beautiful setting on the river! 


Lunch, shopping  and more lake time in Rockford

Superman Ice Cream...a Michigan (and Uncle Jason) favorite! 

The marina at Saugatuck

Blue Moon Ice Cream...a Michigan staple! 

If you managed to make it through those pictures our next post will most likely be coming to you from New York City! We probably have one or two more adventures left here in Michigan, and then it is onto the next stage in our lives! We couldn't have been happier with the way this summer has gone, and we are so grateful to my parents for putting up with us for almost 7 weeks! Thanks Mom and Dad!