Emma Olivia Staples

At 3:19pm, September 6, 2009, Chelsea gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at New York Hospital / Cornell Medical School (6 lbs 14 oz, 19 1/2 in. after 37 weeks). Mommy is doing great and our newest family addition is perfectly healthy.

Enjoy the pics...we're going to get some sleep (it's been 40+ hours).

The first bun is in the oven!

So, I know this comes really, really late! But I'm prego and due September 26th. We are having a girl, which those of you who know me, know that I couldn't be more excited! I am having all kinds of fun shoping for clothes, making dresses and have even planned out a cute little cocktail hat for the baby blessing. It's going to be tons of fun! So, I'll try and keep some updates coming to you. As of now, I'm feeling great. Just tired all the time...but that's normal. She kicks like crazy, so I've started calling her Mia (Hamm). But we are both very excited!

Mitzy Gaynor...need I say more?

I know it's been a while since I posted in general, but it wouldn't be a New York update without my latest Barnes and Noble celebrity book signing! My mom texted me about this one, so thanks mom! Mitzy Gaynor was at B & N to celebrate the Blue Ray release of South Pacific. All I can say is that she was fabulous! I don't know if you've ever seen some of her variety show from the 70's, but she was just as bubbly, energetic, and funny. She cracked jokes and made fun of everyone. I enjoyed listening to her tell stories of filming the movie. So here are pictures!

Ms. Gaynor answering questions and telling stories. You can tell my her coat and hand on her hip that she definately has personality!

We then got to hear the current actress of Broadway's current run of South Pacific sing "Happy Talk". She couldn't stay and sign books though because she had her stage call time 30 minutes afterwards. Luckily, it was just across the street. But power vocals!

hehehe! She signed my DVD cover and a book for my mom. I really want that coat!

These were the two actors that originated the role of Jerome in the 1949 Broadway cast. They were twins...and couldn't be more different. But they also signed my mom's book!

This fabulous lady originated the role of Ngana in the same cast. All had wonderful stories of working with Mary Martin and Rogers & Hammerstein.

yes...in this picture, you get to see the start of my prego belly!

There for the question and answer portion, were other members of the original Broadway cast and some of the revivals. It was fun to see them all.

Twilight Madness!

So I think everyone knows about my obcession with Twilight by now, but if you don't...I am addicted! It's really quite sad, but I don't care. I love the books! I just get engrossed in them and can't seem to get enough of them. I know I am 25 years old...and married...but I have embraced my Twilighter heart and proclaim is proudly! Yes! That means that I wear my Twilight T-shirt to Twilight movie premiers!

hehehe

Bryant was a great sport and went to the movie with me! Actually my friend Becky managed to get her husband there as well. We married great, understanding men. I think they may have even enjoyed it...a little.

Anyway. Loved the movie! It was a great adaptation of the book. While there a few things I missed, I left very satisfied with the way things turned out. When I went home over Christmas, you could see it for $5 if you went before 4:00...so we did...5 more times which brings my total to 6. That's kid's stuff compared to my mom and Michaela, but I tried. Plus it just made for great mother-daughter-sister bonding.

Final Projects for FIT

So as many of you know, I am taking classes at the Fashion institute of Technology (FIT)! I love every moment of it. Well, before Christmas we finished our final projects and I thought everyone would like to see my creations. The first is for my Draping class. Think Project Runway. We basically take a flat piece of fabric and pin it to a dress form and create a piece of clothing. Here is a dress I did. It had to be a dress out of striped fabric with a fitted bodice and flared skirt. I got an A!

Here is the front view. It was an empire dress with a white sash to cinch it tight. I tried to make it modest. That was hard. It's hard to get creative when a sleeve is involved, but I think it turned out great for my first attempt at draping an entire garment. The rest of the semester, we only draped half and out of muslin and not a stripe. This posed some difficulties, but I think it turned out cute.

With the up close view, you can see the center stripe. I had to sew all the white portions closed so you could only see the green color. It took forever! It was supposed to go all the way down the back too, but my eyes were crossed about 2 am so it ended at the waist.

Here's the back view

And me with the dress. I was so glad to have it over and done with.

This is my millinery collection. I also took a hat making class. We learned to mold and shape the wool felt on hat blocks. My collection was based on the colors pink, black, white, and grey. Can you tell? I loved my hats! This was my favorite class, by far because of all the creative juices that got flowing through my fingers. Each hat fits my head and hopefully I will get to wear them around for a while. They are all hand shaped and sewn...no machine was ever used, much to my chagrin sometimes. But they turned out beautiful. My teacher went through each collection and talked about where they would belong in the retail world. Mine fell into the couture hats that would be sold at Saks 5th avenue for around $1,000-$2,000! I about died! But what a compliment, so here is my moment of bragging.

My very first beret. It was an easy hat, but cute and goes great with my black pea coat.

My second hat. It was a great cream wool and then I hand beaded pearls all over. It look so elegant.

My very first draped felt hat. It started out looking like a domed piece of wool felt and I shaped it over a block and then pulled in the folds. I sewed the brim on separately and tilted it down in the front. It is bound with sating and has feathers and a cute rhinestone broach in front. I love this hat! It's chic.

This was hat project number two. We had to drape two hats simultaneously and cut out the same shapes. Then sew the cut outs into the opposite hat. So this one got the black flowers and the black hat (below) got this one's gray flowers. I then added 3 dementionalness to it by sewing another flower on top of it.

This is the sister hat to the gray one. It took a long time for inspiration to strike on this one, but I really like the end product. I beaded the white flowers and the band so it has a ritzy bowler feel to it. The feathers and beads just make me smile.

This was just a random extra hat that I wanted to do. This is the back view. Bryant thought it looked like a pug nosed dog, until he found out it was the back! I love him dearly...but I love this hat too.

This is my happy hat! It's totally me, but I don't know that I have the courage to wear it out yet, but I love it none-the-less. It's a wide brimmed fabulous hat!

This is the back view of another hat that is a big statement. It has the wide brimmed front and short back. I love this one too! Ok, I guess I love all my hats. Its just such a fun talent and skill to have. I really want to take a shoe class too, but I don't know if I will ever be able to. Next semester I am going to learn to work with straws and buckram frames.

This is my white blouse from the Pattern making class. This was what originally got me to FIT. I always wanted to learn this and I am going after it.

For this project, my teacher bought a blouse and we had to create an exact replica of it. This is my attempt at that. It actually fits me too! So I wore it home for Christmas. I want to make a black and white Hounds tooth skirt to match it, but that will take a little while.

Here's the back view.

So...stay tuned for next semesters exploits. I am taking another pattern making and millinery class and starting the Haute Couture classes. I can't wait!

A few of my favorite things...

Because our life has been so crazy lately...it just doesn't seem to let up! But everything seems to be pretty typical in it (meaning there isn't crazy stuff to blog about or things to take pictures of). so I am dedicating this particular blog to things that I love about New York City. I want through my pictures about found things that are particularly unique to the city experience. So without further ado....

I get to find out things like, I weigh 2.622 trillion pounds on a neutron star! Not soemthing you want to see on the scale every morning.

I probably should have put him first. But let me introduce you to "Thoth". You can even google him and watch some live performances. He is just a representation of the street performers New York has to offer.

Mr Tony Bennett! Walking down the street by Bloomingdales!

You know you are in New York when McDonald's doesn't brag about how many burgers it has sold, but how many seats there are available to sit in...(sitting is a luxery in most places...just not the space)


Fabulous old guys dancing to disco music in Central Park. I actually think he was the DJ for the roller skating club that gathers each week.

Enough said about the bike. It is an actualy bike though with pedals...and skull buckles glues on everywhere...It just made me smile

Being able to camp out in central park for free concerts by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and The Metropolitan Opera.

FAO Shwartz and the dancing piano players. Yes...this is the piano fromthe movie "Big"

Canal Street and all the Chinese workers..."Chanel, Coach, Prada..." anyone.

The Sheep's Meadow in Central park is one of the Hidden Treasures of the city. You can be surrounded by nature and still have a city skyline. It's beautiful! I absolutely love it here. This is where we like to come with the planket and a picnic basket

Serendipity and the Frozen Hot Chocolate of course!

Can't forget Tiffany's and the diamonds...

Ice Hockey!

Christmas windows at department stores are amazing! I couldn't have dreamed how intricate they would be. Fabulous!

St. Patrick's Cathedral is beautiful and amazing. I feel the reverence of this place every time I go. It's beautiful.

Good Morning American and TV tapings in general. You get to see people like Reba live!

The solemnity and reverence for the heros of 9/11. I get tears and goosebumps everytime I visit here.

Proposition 8

I found these on the church website. And like many of you was confused and concerned over Proposition 8 that was being voted on in California. For me, I was like "Who cares?" If they want to get married, let them as long as they aren't making it a religiously sanctioned marriage. That, I am sure is surprising and appalling to some, but why not? I voted "no" in Missouri because the Church told us not to, but not understanding exactly why.

Here are two videos that have clarified the that concern. I am now whole heartedly for Proposition 8 and every other ballot measure that will be similar to that in other states. I understand the church's fears and concerns. They go a lot farther than just protecting marriage, although that is a large concern. President Bednar's question and answer was particularly enlightening. So if any of you are still concerned or confused over why the church is having us vote in favor of this, watch these. They were awesome! And then look up some of the lawsuits and things the governments have been forcing religious leaders to do in the name of equality.

I worry that there will come a day when the government would be able to force bishops to marry gay couples on the grounds of discrimination and they would have no choice or face court time. And then only a short time before our sacred temples are used likewise. If that day ever comes, I don't know what we would do. President Bednar is exactly right, tolerance only goes one way. Once we tolerate gay marriage, they will no longer tolerate our moral and religious views because we would be discriminating and could face court time but more often ostracism. So watch and enjoy. If they don't come up, here are the links:

http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/bednar_edit02_150k.flv&type=FLV

http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/California_Broadcast_8Oct08.flv&type=FLV

Life is crazy!

Well...to all my faithful readers...I think I am back from a long hiatus of not blogging! We'll see though. It's hard to get back into it when you've been gone for so long. However. Here's an update.

Bryant is already full swing into his second year of medical school. It's harder and the hours are longer, but he still likes being here. He got some more fun 'doctor toys' this week that he gets to play with when he goes on rotations through clinics and shadows doctors. Hehe...I like when he wears his white coat to school and now he has accessories for it too! That's what every outfit needs, right?

I have been the busy one. I've started school again. Nothing, huge. I'm doing some certificate programs at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) that I absolutely love! I am taking courses on pattern making, draping, and millinery! I love them. I have already made three berets and am working on draping my first felt hat. I know that didn't make sense to most of you, but I'll post pictures when I finish it. I love it! It's nice having night classes because it allows Bryant some study time and gives me something to do instead of staying at home watching TV every night. I'm hoping to take a Haute Couture course next semester. That would be awesome! I think I have found a new hobby. A little expensive, but I love it!

I am also juggling two callings: ward missionary and primary chorister! Our Primary program is three weeks away and the kids are doing awesome! I'm so excited for them. I just hope everything goes well. But we are working full time on this and drilling those songs into their heads like there's no tomorrow! They're good troopers.

I have been doing a lot of odd jobs around here...babysitting, mending, sewing projects, etc...all to pay our bills. It works and I love that it gives me flexibility.

We are happy and still enjoying New York. I'm loving New York actually. I love it every time I step outside my door. It's a wonderful city. I'm growing quite attached to it! I never thought I would say that, but it almost makes the high costs worth it...not really, but I don't mind them so much anymore. I"m sure I would be thinking differently if we were actually paying our rent at the mement and not doing it through loans. But for now...I love the city. I love fall in New York. It's everything that "You've Got Mail" described it to be! Beautiful.

Random New York Happenings

My mom and Michaela on the Brooklyn Bridge

We suprised Michaela for her birthday! It was so fun! I bought her tickets to the Stephanie Meyer and Justin Ferstenfeld 'Breaking Dawn' concert in NYC. She was giong to be here for it, so why not! She jumped up and down. I love suprising people. I think this made me her favorite sister (sorry Caitlin)! Bwahahaha!

My mom, Michaela, and I camping out in line for our awesome places in line for the Breaking Dawn concert. We waited pretty much all day long on a side walk in the middle of Times' Square. It was fun. One more memory in the book.

Inside the concert waiting for Stephanie Meyer to appear!


Stephanie and Justin doing their thing. It was fabulous. If anyone doesn't listen to Blue October, you should start now! He was wonderful...

After the concert

With our books in hand!!!! You should ask Michaela about the stupid blonde girl in line with us that provided some good entertainment while we waited for midnight to hit. She was precious!

So I couldn't get this photo to go vertical...one day in Times' Square they were having calls for the TV Show 'What Not to Wear'...mom stood inline to say why she's amazing and deserves a fabulous NY makeover.

Getting wired for the audition. I love my mom! She's wonderful and spontaneous!

We also camped out to get tickets from the Wicked lottery, but to no avail. We'll try again when the tourists come to a slow down. But my mom and Michaela got to see Mary Poppins!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has Monet's! And you're allowed to take pictures!

Some modern art I actually like and understand...:0

Coney Island beach

Can you tell whose toes belong to who?

Michaela about to get hit by a wave

Our first Coney Dogs! The real thing baby! Chilli and all!

Yay for Coney Dogs!

Radio City Music Hall

I love Peter Pan

My Captain Hook...


Belle was there for us to take pictures. I'm doing the wrong job...I should be a princess so people can come to me and take pictures all day! What more in life is there?

So, my new favorite thing about New York is....(drum roll) Thog!!!
I think the picture speaks for itself. He danced around and sang in a high soprano voice and arched his back back and screamed...it was rather frightening, actually.


Barbie runway show and FAO Shwartz! Create your own barbie and she will model your outfit

The Hungry, Hungry, Catepillar...I love toy stores

Tiffany's...a must see for every tourist

I couldn't believe how large this was...

My first purchase at Bloomingdales! Probably my last for a while, since it's freakeshly expensive!

We had way too much fun at the Natural History Museum

So apparently I weigh 2.622 trillion pounds on a neutron Star! Not exaclty what every girl wants to hear..

This was more like it. 10.8 pounds on the moon! I'm moving to the moon...

I have no caption for this...

Mr. Tony Bennett!

So I'm walking down the street the other day, by Bloomingdales and I look in front of me and what do you know? There's Tony Bennett! It's really him just out and about with his friend. I was super excited and managed to snap a non-intusive photo of him...I promise he didn't notice.

I love New York.!