Hello from NYC!
My husband and I have been in Manhattan all week for his work, and this weekend, we’ll be enjoying our East Coast baby shower! I can’t wait to see all our loved ones and celebrate the rapidly approaching arrival of our baby girl!
I’m not sure if I’ve told you all this yet, but Baby Berbette is a BIG BABY. She is measuring in the 96th percentile…to the point that they’ve moved my due date UP A WEEK!!! People are SHOCKED when they see my belly and find out I’m only 27 weeks. Most people think I am 36 weeks from the size of the humongous basketball I’m carrying around!
So that’s great news — we love that she’s big and healthy. Now…ask me how I feel about that from the perspective of wanting a natural, unmedicated birth….LOL!!!!!
Just kidding. I am so grateful to God for giving us this beautiful, strong little girl. Not to mention, God created me to do hard things! So I know I can do this!!
ANYWHO – it’s pretty safe to say that since moving to Ohio, my husband and I just flat out don’t miss New York. Don’t get me wrong…we miss our family and friends here of course, but the city itself…yeahhh, we’re good on that.
I mean, if you’ve been keeping tabs on the city like we have, you know that crime is through the roof — to the tune that they’ve had to employ the National Guard on the subways. Women are getting punched in the face in broad daylight, thanks to a new “knockout game” that is taking NYC by storm, and leaving hundreds of black-eyed women in its wake. And to top it off, there is a serious illegal migrant issue, with hundreds of thousands flooding the city, taking residence in luxury hotels and being given tax-payer-funded debit cards to live off of.
Our hotel choices this trip were incredibly limited because so many hotels have been converted to house the illegal migrants that get bussed here daily. Limited options, and the ones we did have available were astronomically expensive.
But I digress.
Let me tell you a quick story that happened on our way to our hotel from the airport that perfectly sums up what NYC is like nowadays.
So we’re in an Uber…a $115 Uber from the airport to the city, mind you…and we’re approaching our hotel. It’s situated in a very complicated cross-section where there are lots of bike lanes, pedestrian-only sections, and only one, one-way road. Needless to say, it was tricky for our Uber driver to navigate, especially at 9am on Monday morning — right during rush hour.
Anyway — our Uber driver had to cross over the bike lane (perfectly legal) and then pull over on the one-way road so we could get out of the car in front of our hotel.
So we’re cautiously crossing the bike lane, and there’s this guy — dressed in a nice suit, on his electric scooter on his way to work. And he has to slow down to accommodate our car crossing the bike lane (we had the green light and right-of-way).
Anyway — as we’re crossing in front of him, he HOCKS A LOOGIE in anger onto our car window!!! AND THEN, seeing that we’re pulling over to the shoulder and getting out, he drives his scooter over to the car, and starts yelling expletives at our driver, and getting in his face and trying to start a physical altercation!!!
I was terrified to get out of the car, to be honest.
This man was out of control.
Our driver tried his best to ignore him and just help us out of the car with our suitcases.
My husband shielded me and protected me as we hurried into the hotel, “She’s pregnant!“
It was just one of those episodes where you like, Yep…I’m back in New York, alright.
And that’s another thing — people have absolutely no respect for pregnant women here either. On the plane, I decided to count the number of other pregnant women I saw in New York while I was here…I made a bet with my husband. I said: in a city of 8 million people, I betcha I don’t see 10 pregnant women.
And it’s our last day in the city: I’ve see three.
I’d be walking out of the grocery store or CVS with two big grocery bags — one time I was even carrying a case of water — and this guy watched me and waited on the other side of the glass door while I was struggling trying to hoist the door open with my leg! And then when I did finally get the door open, he walked through it first!!!
I mean, I’m not expecting chivalry here or anything, but at least some human decency or respect!
Anyway…
That’s enough of a rant here about New York. Suffice it to say, I am so glad we don’t live here anymore. And to be honest, I cannot believe that I lived for 12 years here. Sure, things were different pre-pandemic, and when all of our friends were here and I had built a life and was falling in love and chasing my dreams. But now — the city is sadly a different place.
And I’m in a different stage of life.
One that, NYC certainly does not cater to.
Anywho – I hope you all have the most wonderful weekend! We’ve got our baby shower to look forward to!!!! And we cannot wait!
I’m off now to scavenge some lunch!
BeautyBeyondBones 
Yeah, that sums it up.
I saw that video a couple weeks ago of the NYPD staff getting beat in the street… and all I could think was “You all voted for this.”
Consequences have actions.
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Wow, never been to the big 🍎. And from what all you describe, l haven’t missed anything. Have a fantastic baby shower! 🥰
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I’m not surprised at all to read that you both have had enough of that city and regret spending 12 years there. I feel a bit the same way with Michigan, my home state of which I have no desire to move home to. The illegals you mention underscore the fact that our southern border and the country as a whole, is in dire straits due to political bickering and poor choices at the voting booth. I’m sad for my country, Caralyn. But, we know who will win this battle don’t we. ✝️🙏🏻❤️
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I regret that you had such a negative experience in NYC recently. My husband and I were there for 3 days last week and we did not experience anything negative. I was concerned since I heard about the face punching and subway problems, but NYC was as wonderful as it has always been in recent years for us. We did not ride the subway, and we rarely ever have. But I walked the streets alone as I always do (7 miles!), in the daylight, of course. We went where we normally do. I would not like your readers to think your experience is common. And prayers for a healthy baby for you!
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Carolyn, sounds like you are doing an awesome job nourishing your baby girl. Good job Mama. 🙂 (As for going for that natural unmedicated birth, go for it if you want to)!
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P.S. What is the iced treat in the last picture on your blog post?
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Anita and I also are pleased you moved back home to Ohio and we hope to meet you and Steven in person someday… and “others” in your family!🤠
❤️&🙏, c.a.
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I have been following your journey for a long time here on word press. If I could offer a bit of advice what I would say is, it’s time for you and your husband to close the NYC chapter of your lives and move on. It’s not going to get better any time soon, I realize that’s easy for me to say. Work, friends, family etc. You don’t need NYC at this point in your lives. It’s not going anywhere, but its in trouble right now and its going to take years for it to recover. You’re Pagan Friend. Karac.
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Goodness! Your description of NYC certainly makes me happy to be living in small town Montana!! People here are so helpful and aware of one another’s needs! I’m sorry you experienced such rudeness, Caralyn! On another note, I’m cheering for that 97% baby girl! She’s 100% blessed for sure!!
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Wow. I knew it was bad up there but not that bad. Our family would not to NYC for million dollars.
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When is the due date?
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You notice different things now that you are a mom. 🙂
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Precious one I am so excited for you! I’m so sorry to read this about New York. I’ve been traveling to Brooklyn and upstate, but I have not been downtown for a while. I know my son-in-law is filming there right now. I just sigh and shake my head and pray. I’m not sure where we are going in this world. But I am glad there are people like you and your beautiful family in it! God Bless!!
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Nicely worded. I’m glad I live in a small Arizona mountain town and don’t have to contend with a big city. Phoenix is getting as bad as NYC.
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Love your pregnancy glow 🙂 sorry about the incident. Wishing you an amazing baby shower ❤
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I’m glad you realized New York was not the place to bring up children. Praying for God’s blessing on the little one as it develops and a successful delivery, Make every moment of the child’s upbringing a safe and happy experience. They grow up and have to face the world all too soon.
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I’m so glad that you, your husband and baby are okay.
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I am so glad that you are out of NYC and living close to your parents. Take care girl! Best to you and Steven and your baby girl.
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Wow! It’s been so long since I’ve been on WordPress – so nice to catch up on some blogs & this is the first I read. First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy & move out of NYC. I can totally relate to the diminished desire to be in the big city – I lived in London to years and now am back in the rural part of South Africa & the transition has been liberating in a lot of ways. I hope you enjoy your new adventures with baby and family. Many Blessings to you & family.
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Great post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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