Sawyer's First and Second Ride

Sawyer's First Ride (Alyse at 25 Weeks)

Sawyers Second Ride

Today marked a parenting milestone (at least for new parents in New York City) as we selected the stroller (Sawyer's Second Ride). My Parents (Jeffrey) wanted the stroller to be their gift to us and Sawyer and told us at Alyse's surprise baby shower. New York City is unique and parents take their strollers seriously in this city as both vehicle of utility and symbol of parenting status. You walk almost everywhere braving New York wether, mobs of people and a sea of yellow taxis and are expected to do with some NYC flair. We didn't quite realize how serious the "stroller decision" was in this city until we started talking with other expecting and already New York Parents: "Oh you have to buy the Stokke, they are rated to withstand a subway collision!" (Note they are not rated to withstand such a collision and we are not recommending anyone to attempt such nonsense). "We plan to go with an Orbit Black, you know it's Kourtney Kardashian's favorite..." We weren't sure so we did a little research and went to a baby store to see for ourselves. We met a "stroller sales specialist" who looked like a love child of a used car salesman and Cheech Marin. "Cheech" was awesome. He first asked what we wanted (no clue), how we travelled (most by foot and subway), where we lived (downtown/Battery Park) and what brand we favored (again no clue but like UPPABaby). Then, he took us to the stroller lot in the basement for a test drive of what was to become our pick, the UPPAbaby Vista. "The Lot" looked like a third world traffic jam. Strollers, parents and salesman going every which way, showing every feature and accessory. The husbands shuffled anxiously and stared at the ground doing mental math as the wives agreed to every superfluous accessory known to man and baby. One couple: Wife: Oh this is a must. Honey look at this matching stroller bug shield. You know how babies are with bugs. Husband (quietly): I don't know and neither do you. Wife: What? Husband: I said I think we should get that too... We chose the vista given all the included accessories, good recommendations from parents who already use it and that it is super comfortable for tall parents like us. Years later, 16 years and 3 months to be exact when Sawyer is ready for his "Third Ride", we would be so lucky as to find another "Cheech" but will probably only spend marginally more on the "Third" than our parents have on the "Second". Its only right.... A Hearty Thank You to Nathan and Carol for the gift.