Our long-awaited trip to NYC was this past July. Although Mami was very nervous about the trip, Ricky was unbelievably well-behaved during the airplane rides, sleeping, eating, and laughing with all the neighboring passengers. We spent a week with Papi's family in Brooklyn, where Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed him every day. Mami and Papi even got a chance to go on a date. For those new parents who don't remember what that is: We left the house ALONE, held hands (because Mami didn't have a stroller to push), ate a nice HOT meal AT THE SAME TIME, and didn't watch the clock for the next feeding time. It was wonderful!
Ricky also met his Titi Joby, Tio Michael, and his cousins David and Michaella. Ricky and Michaella competed for the biggest thighs (Ricky lost!) and David loved being the oldest baby in the house. Despite turning Abuelita's single life upside down for two weeks, she was in her glory with her three grandchildren finally all together. Now if we could only convince them all to move closer to us! Heehee! He also met Papi's fraternity brothers (Dennis, Ivan, and Mark), Mami's sorority sisters (Yasmin and Monique, along with little Alejandro), Mami's co-workers from the Bronx, Mami's cousins Wanda and Susana and even his Abuelo Tony!
There were other important firsts, too! Ricky rode the NYC subway and buses for the first time. He looked around in amazement and Mami had a whole new appreciation for those amazing commuting mothers who do it on their own every day- whew! We visited the Central Park Zoo and watched as David and Nino (David calls Rick "Nino," short for Padrino) climb rocks and play catch.
We've been home for a couple of weeks now, and Mami is preparing to go back to work. (Those of you who would like to send their condolences are welcome to do so.) Abuelita will come for a week or two to help with the transition before taking Ricky to stay with a wonderful woman named Ms. Sandra who will take care of him. She'll tell Ms. Sandra not to tell her anything new that Ricky does while she's at work, so it will always be the first time at home! Ignorance is bliss, right?
