Two Weeks in NYC G-Pa

I've been here for two weeks now. Baby Red (Mee Mee Da, as Ruby calls him) had his two week checkup today and has been gaining and growing. He just filled out some college applications. All in the blink of an eye! I've been staying nights at a place in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that I found via Airbnb. It's about a 1.2 mile walk to the Js and Rs place, and it hasn't been a pleasant walk across the Pulaski Bridge when the mornings and/or evenings have been cold and windy! At those times, I really miss my Florida weather! ( This Friday i move to a place that is two blocks from their apartment. I cant wait! ) I have been spending full days being G-Pa to Ruby and to Red. I have been enjoying it immensely! I am totally exhausted but smiling on the inside and the outside! I head back to Florida in a week and will probably sleep for a full month. But I will really miss my times with Ruby and with holding Red. There's a lot of construction going on around town and I jokingly say I will purchase a nearby new studio apartment for only $450,000! But seriously, I would like to plan more frequent visits!

On the day when Red came home from the hospital with Mama, the top of the Empire State Building was lit red in his honor!

And i did have one evening when i went into Manhattan to see Kinky Boots on Broadway. Loved it! My neighbors next to me in my row, were a hoot!

So, here is a sampler of our goings on.

Happy Birthday Adele!

I'm looking forward to celebrating with you when I get back to Florida!  Donald wanted me to tell you to have a fun day!

Ruby and Daddy at Shady Park

WHEEEEEE!

I've been having a ball with Ruby. She was excited when her Daddy came home from work and they got to play in the park. I was sitting on the benches with the other nannies, chit chatting, talking on my cell phone and ignoring the children. 

Red and G-Pa

One of my favorite of the two of us. This was taken a week ago when he was two days old

Sunday in the Parks with Ruby

Good morning NYC!  Began the day by walking across the Pulaski Bridge from Greenpoint, where I'm lodging, to Long Island City. 

I met up with Joe and Ruby at the playground on the riverfront. Although it was mostly sunny, the breeze made it a bit chilly at 8:30 AM!

We played for a while then headed back to the apartment. It was a leisurely day with a couple trips to playgrounds (Train Playground and Shady Park).

A Day With Ruby

Saturday began with Ruby and I heading over to Shady Park to play while Mama and Daddy and Red headed over to the East Side for a checkup with the pediatrician. It was a beautiful sunny morning and there was only one other little boy at the playground. Ruby had a ball running and squealing "eeeeeeeeeeeee" as she and the little boy ran around together. I chatted with the boy's parents as the kids played. What a small world it turns out to be! The husband is from Lake George, NY and Bennington, VT and his father worked at the same state agency where I worked!

After playing for about 45 minutes, Ruby and I headed over to the Food Cellar for a bagel for Ruby and coffee and a muffin for me. After hanging for a while, we headed over to the park along the East River, then back home to meet up with Mama and Daddy and Red.

Parental discretion paragraph:
Now, when Ruby needs to poo (pardon my French) she tends to emit long grunts. With Red being born this week and normal routines disrupted, Ruby was a little past due for both a BM and a nap.

After a delicious lunch of grilled cheese (thanks Joe!) and tomato soup, Joy and Red settled in for tag teaming of nursing and napping, while Joe headed out for a location scout and Ruby and I headed over to the "Train" Park.

When we arrived it the park, I then realized why it's referred to as "Train Park"!  We had the playground to ourselves!  Ruby headed to the giraffe slide, but hesitated at the top. I thought she was enjoying the view.  Then the grunting and grimacing began.  Oh, no!  My first thoughts: head back home!  I realized she would not agree to sitting on that lump of coal all the way home, plus I didn't want to do that. So, over to the nearest bench, a quick semi-strip, (for the not faint of heart, it was a clean job!). And, voila!  All is well.  I figured we would head over to the playground on the riverfront which would put us closer to home should the grunting begin anew.  Back into the stroller and off we went.  Not a half a block later, the second lacking event occurred, Ruby was asleep!  Mission accomplished!  We walked along the riverfront for a while, then headed back home where Mama put Ruby to bed for the remainder of her nap!

Later, after joe came home and we feasted on pizza and pasta, Joe, Ruby and G-Pa headed up the block to get some cupcakes.  Ruby had a ball riding her tricycle and "weeeeeeeee"ing all the way!