Midtown and More

With an ambitious agenda set (Mom's Birthday), we headed out to conquer Midtown. Our strategy centered around finding parks and playgrounds often to allow Ella to run around, wear herself down, and be ready for the next stroll.

With all the project runway she's been exposed to, she was a natural at Bryant Park.

A pose for the camera
Then some clowning around

OK, at this point the battery dies. Poor planning by Dad. So here is what is not recorded for posterity's sake:

1. A trip to the New York Public Library. An amazing structure with a tremendous collection. Somehow we never ventured there during our time living there...Ella showed little respect for the quiet rules so we ushered ourselves out rather quickly, Mom's hand cupping our shouting child.

2. A trip to American Girl. Dad was in shock...three floors of dolls (escalators at a doll store?), little girls with their dolls at what can only be compared to power lunches, and then of course the sales force and sheer magnitude of outfits, accessories, and so forth. Naturally, back in Manhattan, we left with a bitty baby; feeling the need to let Ella have a doll that doesn't embarrass Mom and Dad (the $5 made in china doll has been a hit). Pictures would not have done it justice.

3. A stroll up Madison Avenue, 5th Avenue, and Lunch in Rockefeller Plaza.

4. A visit to Kristi's office, aka Saks 5th Ave Corporate HQ overlooking Rock Center.

5. Naptime (a staple each day we were in NY and a subject of some planning)

6. Purchase of a second battery for the camera...

Somehow we had enough charge for a photo of Dad & Daughter at Grand Central Station. It's a different feeling when it's not just passing through en route to a meeting.

We shocked Kristi and Kerri with our early dinners, they are thoroughly New Yorkers these days. Fortunately Ella fell asleep in the stroller just as we arrived at Artisanal for dinner (cheese is the main course, full name is Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro, you might think it was Dad's birthday). Ella slept quietly for almost an hour and a half during which the adults enjoyed multiple courses of cheese augmented by a little wine. With an uncanny sense of timing, Ella woke up just in time for desert...profiteroles!

Ummm!
After dinner we headed back to Kristi's for a evening of conversation and games where Ella could run free (and chase the cat and dog). First it was off to the Madison Park dog run to relieve Tucker. Ella is cautiously curious about dogs, so plopping her in the middle of the dog park elicited quite a response. As usual she handled it without too much drama, but there were a couple moments...

Sunset in Manhattan