Friday, April 11, 2014

A Blue Baby Moon

I need to put in a plug for anyone who every plans on becoming parents to take a babymoon. Why? Because they are amazing and probably the last relaxing vacation you will ever experience. We decided to take our little vaca a few weeks ago and it felt sooo nice to just be with Sel. I realized a few hours into our road trip that I hadn’t had a full body laugh in what felt like months. I spent most of our trip just cracking jokes with Sel or sharing meaningful looks that had us erupt in laughter.  Sel and I started our trip by driving about 500 miles to Newark, NJ. We joked the whole time we were there that we should just spend the rest of our week in Newark because it was such a charming little place (joke). It really wasn’t as bad as people had led me to believe, but what a confusing street/highway system. I think Sel wanted to strangle me at least three times while I played navigator and accidentally led us to a shady mafia run car lot, a cemetery, and a majorly ghetto neighborhood. I am probably the world’s best driver (which is why Sel never lets me drive) and the world’s second best navigator. Poor Sel.

Throwing the Asian peace sign in Central park
The next two days we knocked out A LOT of New York city. Over the course of two days, we walked a full marathon (aka 26.2 miles). I was a bit of a complainer our last day because I have a tiny human stealing a great deal of my oxygen and energy.  By the time we made it to the MET, Sel and I had to both just sit around a lot and take naps. Not surprisingly, my favorite part of the NYC trip seemed to center on food. We tried out this amazing pizza joint (Lombardi's-thank you to the wonderful NYC guru who recommended this) in Little Italy and I am zero percent ashamed to admit we ate the whole thing between the two of us. Other food highlights were Grays Papaya, Pomme Frites, and the king of all kings, Wafels & Dinges. Sel and I were only in NYC for 48 hours and we ate there four times. I cannot even begin to describe the heaven that is W&D. I am really wanting to plan a trip back there for the sole purpose of eating more of these. 
Sel carrying the lunch box of all my preggo snacks. I would have died without that baby. 
We also got super lucky and got to get together with some of New York's finest for dinner. Oh how I have missed my dear roomies! They are just as fabulous as ever (if not more so) and I am sure you will see their names in lights in the not too distant future. Watch out Broadway!
The Elite New Yorkers
We rounded out our trip by visiting Lancaster, PA to see our Amish friends. We were sadly a tinsy bit disappointed by the Amish of Lancaster. We have been majorly spoiled by the Amish here in Columbo who make the BEST baked goods this world has ever seen and were expecting Lancaster to be the mecca of Amish baked goods. False. It was absolutely beautiful, but much more commercialized than charming Charm, OH. The Bed&Breakfast we stayed at certainly made up for the lack of pastries by being the most adorable, comfy little home I could have ever imagined. The owners came and talked to us when we got there and told us about their conversion from being Amish to becoming Mennonites. It was such a relaxing little stop and I wished we could have stayed in those rolling hills forever. It was nice to have such a contrast on our trip; the never-ending hustle and bustle of NYC and the charming, simple life of Amish country. 
Pomme Frites
Oh! I will round this baby out with one of our final trip highlights. Sel and I decided last minute to take a tour at the Herr's chip factory in PA. It was honestly one of the more fun and interesting things we did. It was certainly better than Hershey, PA which was unfortunately a big let down. I expected chocolate town to smell of chocolate and to have men and women standing on every corner passing out delicious chocolate bars. The only thing that was worth any mention was the chocolate BBQ pizza and chocolate chili we tried at Hershey world. Too bad Rittersport is all the way in Germany cause I would have LOVED to take a tour of their factory and then eat every single bit of chocolate they make. 
Oh boy! I have a problem apparently because most of our babymoon was focused on either being impressed or disappointed about what we ate. Either way, the trip was sooo needed and I am undeniably grateful to Sel for making it happen. I know I emphasize it a lot, but I married such a winner. That kid is my whole world and makes everyday feel like we are on some crazy cross-country adventure.


What we mostly did at the MET

Hopefully our children will be as cute as those behind Sel

Our B&B in Lancaster