New York City: A Year of Opportunities

It’s official. Harlan and I have been “city girls” for a year now. I remember the day we moved to this amazing city we now call home.

We arrived to an apartment filled with boxes, couches that didn’t fit, and a bunch of people. My two little brothers and their friends came up with us to help us unpack and put furniture together. My sister and her boyfriend {who already live here} were over to help do the same. I’m sure you can imagine the chaos with 8 people, a baby, and two dogs crammed in a 900 square foot apartment packed with boxes. But at that point, I didn’t care. My family was FINALLY back together again after 9 long months. Harlan and I were home.

When I got here, I had no idea of the adventure that was in store for us. I had to learn to be self sufficient in a city I knew nothing about, without a car, and without any friends. Much to my surprise this big city became my community. I had never felt that before and I wanted to be able to share the experience with my family, so I started this blog.

Little did I know that this blog would be an adventure of itself. I would have never experienced half of the things in this city, if I hadn’t started it. I feel very blessed to be able to do this in a city with so much opportunity. A little while after moving here I received a “Mommy Makeover” for Parents Magazine, had the opportunity to discuss our potty training experiences with Harlan on national television, fulfilled my dream of interviewing celebrities on the Red Carpet, and Harlan and I were “lucky” enough to get a feature in the New York Daily News {one of the most memorable moments of the year.}

Since we’ve moved here our family is closer than ever. We have had so many “firsts” together and have come to love spending time together discovering NYC. From our weekend morning walks in Central Park, to going apple picking for the first time. This year has been full of memories.

Harlan and I have become closer than ever. Our days together are nothing short of exciting.

Harlan has also experienced so many milestones over the past year.

She took her very first steps in our apartment.

Celebrated her first birthday surrounded by her entire family and friends.

Had her first big boo boo.

Has a new found love for taxi’s and buses. {She’s obsessed.}

Even met a few celebrities along the way.

And ran after some too! {This is Barbara Walters she’s chasing, after she literally ran into her.}

Harlan has now lived here longer than she did in Tampa. This will be the city that she remembers growing up in. A city surrounded with museums, parks, fabulous restaurants, and amazing people. She is one lucky girl.

Although Harlan has grown up before our eyes in the past year, I think I am the one that has done most of the growing. I’ve had to put on my big girl pants and learn to do a lot of things by myself. I’ve had to learn to do all of our dishes by hand {which was very tough after leaving a house with a dishwasher}, had to get used to sharing my washer and dryer with my entire building, and even carry a stroller up and down the stairs on at a subway station.

What I’ve learned most about myself is that I am a tough girl. I’ve had a to get some thick skin after hearing some of the things people will say to me on the street. I am a lot stronger than I thought I ever could be. I have NYC to thank for that.

Can’t wait to see what the next year brings.