Final Innings in the City

We had one last full day—and one last Yankees game—before it was time to say goodbye to New York. Madeline still wasn’t sleeping great. She was waking up every couple of hours, and honestly, we were all starting to feel it. Some parts of being a parent are hard in the obvious ways—like running on fumes—but then there are these small, unexpectedly sweet moments that catch you off guard. Around 6 a.m., Mads woke up again, and I could tell Alison needed a little more rest. So I scooped our squirmy girl up, laid back in bed with her on my chest, and somehow convinced her to settle down and sleep. I soaked up that quiet moment—just the two of us—as we stole another 90 minutes of rest.

Eventually, Alison woke up, and we got ready for the day. We dressed Madeline in her final fun baseball outfit of the trip—it’s not every day your baby gets to be decked out for Yankee Stadium! After breakfast, we bundled up and headed out into the cold spring air for a walk. It was another chilly day, but the kind that still feels refreshing and beautiful in its own way. Madeline was due for a nap, so we strolled along the edges of Central Park, letting the hum of the city lull her to sleep. It worked like a charm.

Her shirt reads, "I'M JUST HERE FOR THE SNACKS"

Our walk had a purpose too: more cookies. Specifically, more Levain cookies. We shared a lemon one right then and there and saved a lemon and chocolate peanut butter cookie for later. Cookie haul secured, we looped back to the hotel through Central Park. Somewhere along the way, I spotted a red-tailed hawk perched on a fence post—a total surprise. I managed to snap a few photos just as it took off. That little moment was cool.

Back at the hotel, we made a quick switch—stroller to carrier—and set off again, this time to Yankee Stadium. Getting there wasn’t quite as smooth as earlier in the week. The subway was delayed about 25 minutes, and when it finally arrived, it was packed. Still, we squeezed on and got to the stadium with plenty of time to spare. Madeline fell asleep on the way in, which we were grateful for. She’d been a little fussy—understandably. It had been several days of big stimulation, bundled-up walks, and interrupted sleep. We were all running on reserves.

Before the game, Alison and I tried something new from the stadium’s food options—lobster rolls. They were... fine. A little underwhelming, but still fun to try. Then we made a stop at the Yankee Museum. Alison started teaching Mads about the legends: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and those 27 championship rings. Gotta start the baseball education early.

This game felt especially special because we got to share it with family. My brother Jon and his wife Amanda were in town for spring break, and my half-sister Emily (who’s living in New York while working on her PhD) joined us too. She even brought her friend Caitlin along since we had an extra ticket. I never imagined I’d be at Yankee Stadium with any of my siblings—it was a rare and sweet moment for me.

The game itself was another great one. Not quite as historic as the last one, but still full of energy. The Yankees tied an MLB record with 15 home runs in the first three games of the season—matching the Tigers—and Judge hit his fourth of the year, setting a franchise record. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also showed up big, with two home runs of his own. It was an easy 12–3 win over the Brewers, and we got to enjoy the whole thing while chatting with my siblings, learning about Rockefeller University’s PhD programs, and explaining baseball’s finer points to my sibs. There’s nothing like singing along to Sinatra’s “New York, New York” as the Yankees sealed the sweep.

As the game wound down, so did the crowd—it was cold and the lead was big, so the stadium emptied out fast. That worked in our favor. We made a smooth exit and headed to the subway with Emily, Jon, and Amanda. We rode together to Grand Central and gave them a quick tour of the main terminal—it’s one of our favorite buildings in the city. After that, we decided to take a walk together over to Rockefeller Center. We stopped by the LEGO store, where Jon and Amanda built custom minifigs, and I made a few for Anna’s birthday. Then we walked next door to FAO Schwarz—because it’s always worth seeing, no matter how old you are.

Eventually, we said our goodbyes. It had been such a full and joyful day.

At that point, Alison and I realized we were starving. There was one thing left on our NYC checklist: a slice of pizza. We found a nearby spot, grabbed a couple of slices, and decided it was time for Madeline to have her first taste of New York pizza. She was a fan. A piece of crust, a tiny bite of cheese, and a whole lot of curiosity on her face.

Back at the hotel, we started the process of winding down. Madeline didn’t sleep great again—no surprise there—but we all managed to get a little rest before the next day’s journey. The flight home was longer—about five hours compared to the 3 hours and 45 minutes on the way there—and Madeline was a bit more restless. She slept here and there, but she was definitely over it by the time we landed. And honestly, same. We were tired, overstimulated, and ready to be home.

But wow—what a trip.

Our first big adventure with Madeline, and truly a fabulous one. It was more fun than we expected, and while we definitely learned a few lessons about traveling with a baby, we’re proud of how we handled it. More than anything, we made memories. So many. And we already can’t wait to come back—with baby Mads in tow.