The trip to New York started out a bit groggy. Des did not sleep very well the night before and had not yet had a nap when dad picked him up at daycare for lunch. Result: the first instance of Des eating while sleeping. Bags were quickly loaded though and it was off to the airport.

Des really seemed to enjoy looking out the window with dad during takeoff and inflight.

After several delays to an already long layover in Chicago, the connecting flight was finally in the air. Des was a champ with all the travel, with each leg coinciding with nap time or bed time. He didn’t even flinch during the rough landing into LaGuardia.

Our friend Katie graciously picked us up at the airport and we were soon off to their new house in Huntington Station. Des slept as the rest of us stayed up late and caught up.

The next morning we took a leisurely stroll to a neighborhood bakery for the first of many bagels on our trip. Later in the afternoon, we drove up with some of Katie & Stephen’s friends to Northport.

Des decides that “head first” is the new preferred technique for slides.

All smiles for his Sunday morning bagel

Des and dad getting some fresh air in the front yard

It was humbling to see Katie’s theatrical training allow her to whiz through Dr. Seuss’ tounge-tying Fox in Sox with nary a stumble. Mom and dad are still practicing.

Later in the afternoon everyone hiked up to Jayne’s Hill, the tallest point on Long Island. The poem Paumanok by Walt Whitman is inscribed on a boulder marking the peak. Des napped in his carrier with his hat shading him a la Indiana Jones.

A pit stop at the park on the way back to the house for Adelaide to run off some energy

Back in January or February, Des really didn’t like getting into his carseat. Of many random songs dad sung to soothe him, Day-O somehow struck a calming chord. One of the daily rituals has now been singing Day-O while leaving the house in the morning. Dad pulled it out for bedtime tonight, featuring Katie:

The next morning we were up early and joining Katie on her commute into the city. Des was fascinated with the Long Island Rail Road. At Atlantic Terminal, we transferred to the subway for Brooklyn, Katie continued on into Manhattan.