A Day in Chinatown...

July 12, 2012

So, Mamma, who is 38 weeks pregnant, braved the heat with my baby and we adventured into Chinatown.  We took the subway down to Brooklyn Bridge in TriBeCa and walked to Chinatown.  We stopped at a great park on the way and you had fun playing while I sat in the shade.  Then, we walked to the Chinatown Fair.  There is a lot of history at this place and it just reopened in 2011.  We had so much fun and played all the games.  You won 400 tickets two times in a row on this spinning shell pirate game.  You were so excited and I was so excited for you!   You love going to game places - Mamma does too.  I love games!  Uncle Rhoni and I grew up playing games non stop.

I love you amore, Mamma

The Supreme Court in TriBeCa (my old hood)

Mott Street - Chinatown 

Chinatown Fair - Video Games - This place was established in 1958 - lots of history!

July 4th Down the Hudson River!

July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July!!  Today, we did something so fun and so American for our country's birthday.  We took a boat down the Hudson River (the rover you were names after Hudson), around the Statue of Liberty, by the new Freedom Tower in downtown Manhattan, over to the East River, pass the Southstreet Seaport and under the Brooklyn Bridge (DUMBO).

It was a beautiful day.  The sun was out and the River was glistening.  Mamma is 9 months pregnant so there were some times I had to go down below to be in the air conditioning, but I did pretty darn good for a woman over 9 months preggies.  You had so much fun.  You stood on the side of the boat and held the railing and took in all in.  When you saw the Statue, you said, "Look Mamma!  The Statue of Liberty!"

A beautiful July 4th!  Happy birthday America!  Today,  we commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Mamma and Daddy both of our boys!  xoxo

You on your river! (above)

Mamma is 9 months pregnant with beautiful baby boy Squires 2. (above)

DUMBO (Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass).  The Brooklyn Bridge is so amazing.  It took 14 years to complete and ranks as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. Daddy and I had our wedding dinner under the bridge at the very famous River Cafe. (above)

There she is, Lady Liberty (above).   IT always takes my breath away when I see her.   The French gave The United States this beautiful gift, the Statue of Liberty, in 1886 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

This is the new Freedom Tower (above) will replace the World Trade Center twin towers.  Nothing could ever replace the twin towers, but this will be a magnificent feat in downtown Manhattan.  

View of downtown from the back of the boat. (above) 

This is Ellis Island (above).  This is a special place for Mamma and a big reason your name is Hudson.  When I lived in TriBeCa, I walked or ran along the Hudson River almost daily.  I would stop many days or nights and look at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  I would look at Ellis Island and thank my ancestors for coming to this country to give me a better life.  Our ancestors came through Ellis Island, don't ever forget it.  Our Arabic last name was Jalbut.  Someday, I will take you and your brother over there and we will look for our family name.