The Best Thing I've Ever Done/Created

It all started here, well a couple months earlier than this picture, but this is one of my favorite photos.

Waiting ten years after you get married to get pregnant has its benefits and a few drawbacks. You're more mature. You've finished your education and hopefully paid off your student loans. You have a career, so you'll be able to provide well for your child/children, but the unexpected can happen. It's much harder to get pregnant when you are twenty-right than when you were in your early twenties. It took us two years of surgeries and drugs to finally get pregnant. So when our precious little girl finally arrived we were filled with joy and commitment to give her the best life we possibly could.

When she was old enough she did gymnastics, then ballet, tap, and jazz. She even gave soccer and volleyball a whirl, but she found her passion when she entered the 9th grade. Theater.

Just seeing this photo again takes my breath away.

 In this scene Erik Mueterthies has been institutionalized for mental health issues caused by an abusive mother and Katherine is his social worker. I swear no one in the auditorium made a single sound in this powerful scene. The Boys Next Door was an amazing play. My daughter will be pursuing a BFA in acting. My husband and I are so excited for her.

I may have gotten a bit carried away with our launching her into the real world/college party.

The best compliment of the day (for me) was when one of her friends said our house looked like a Pinterest Page.

I may have gotten a little carried away, as I'm not showing you all the pictures...you don't have the time...so I'm just trying to hit the highlights.

The next weekend was full of smiles and tears and family fun, as 15 family members traveled from 10-18 hours to see her graduate.

After everyone went home we hit the airways...and went to New York City for the first time.

This was the view from our room. That's the Hudson River in the distance. The front of our hotel was on Times Square.

We went to three shows...this trip was all about letting our daughter sample NYC. I'm pretty sure she had a wonderful time.

We walked between 5 and 8 miles a day. It was wonderful: the sounds, the smells, the people, the sights and the lights!

One day we did take a bus tour. I would recommend doing that to anyone going to NY. It was outstanding!

 Freedom Tower

The World Trade Center Memorial

The Bull of Wall Street

Any Law and Order fans out there?

A couple things really surprised me...

I did not expect there to be so many trees.

There were all kinds of vendors lining the street: food, souvenirs, purses, sunglasses, artwork and many more.

I fell in love with Central Park. The contrast between the old and the new was just amazing.

Times Square was full of people no matter what time of day or night it was and I never felt unsafe.

There were street performers everywhere: everything from people dressed up in Statue of Liberty costumes, to artists and musicians.  We even saw a couple guys making giant bubbles.

This trip was mostly about celebrating our daughter, but we managed to throw in one thing especially for me...

I could continue to go on and on, but I'll stop and reflect for a moment...

Our daughter is the best thing in my life (don't tell my hubby). I'm going to miss her tremendously when she goes off to college, but I know with her talent, passion and drive that one day we'll be back in New York watching her on Broadway.

Thanks for stopping by and indulging my proud mommy post.