winter in new york.

here on this cold winters night i find myself truly, 100% over winter. why, amanda! you say, you grew up in utah! aren't you used to all this cold and snow? why, yes i am. but for some reason this one is just particularly… dank. yes, dank. but despite this "dankness", i'm required to document our experiences here for our progeny.

so this week i established my very own cafe crawl. i've decided to visit 3 new cafes a week in hopes of better discovering my neighborhood and to enjoy the charming cafe scene here in NY. plus, the baby really loves hot cocoa, so i'm trying to be a good mother and let her enjoy it in moderation;)

1st cafe: Bel Ami, on 68th and Madison. DELICIOUS palmiers, average hot cocoa. charming little place though! loved the french music!

2nd cafe: Bocado Cafe, 87th and Lexington. average hot cocoa (i think it came from a packet), but good (just good) crepes. the mr. and i split a nutella crepe and it was very satisfying! it's a sit down cafe, but the ambiance is just delightful! [are you getting tired of these adjectives???]

>>> the pigeons here are so funny! on the row of trees outside our building they just huddle together on the branches and make their little cooing noise… i love it! i think it's a particularly fun characteristic of new york.

 >>> finally, the sun!!!

things i like about new york so far:
1- being able to walk EVERYWHERE. i rarely take the subway- too many germs.
2- the fashion. women 45+ in particular! i love their fur coats and hats (PETA is probably going nuts), and it's hilarious when they have their little yorkies in boots and a sweater. besides that, people here just have such a great sense of style!
3- townhouses- they are epic! i can't say anymore until you get here and see for yourself. i am truly so happy for who ever gets to live in those stunning homes.

things i dislike:
1- everyone SMOKES! okay, slight exaggeration, BUT i am constantly dodging smokers and holding my breath. isn't this the 21st century, people?! don't you know… smoking kills?!?  sometimes i just feel they are being selfish smoking right in front of me, making me breathe their bad choices. don't worry, i've become a VERY fast walker because of it. so maybe i should thank them for making my calves so toned…? HAHA!
2- the police sirens. all i can say is that police must get such a kick out of those things. it honestly sounds like the t-rex from jurassic park. it's completely frightening + annoying. if you can't hear it in your head after the t-rex description, imagine what a "zombie alert siren" would sound like. if you still can't imagine it, call me, i can do the exact noise, and it'll terrify you.
3- i have to say it: cost of living. i have not gotten used to spending $5.50 on a box of cereal yet. i never will. we have started to eat very boring cereals because i refuse to spend more than $4- which is still crazy!! maybe that's why people here are so skinny, they have chosen to forgo eating in order to shop at bloomingdales and have a roof over their heads. heavens knows you can't have it all.


enough about NYC. i'm sure i'll form more opinions over the next couple months, but for now let's just look at how i'm BUSTING out of my pants… >>>>

i don't want to complain because i know i'm very blessed, but can i just be honest?

i had a good friend back in california who absolutely LOVED being pregnant! she took on this "pregnant hippy" thing and rocked flowy dresses and ate "food of the earth" and just giggled all day because it was "good for the baby". 

i've kind of taken on this "what the HECK is going on here, this is not natural" thing. i feel like at any moment she is going to pop outta here, which is hilarious considering i'm only half way. i know this is totally normal and natural, but it's just so weird! plus she is constantly moving around, which is the same feeling as when you have gas (at least in my opinion), so i have to remind myself "oh, don't worry, it's not a fart, it's a baby…"

and THAT, is the HONEST truth. 

and on that note, we'll end there:)