Smooch! 12/09/09

Baby Will’s first snow day 12/07/09

3 months & 4 days old

Chicago Marathon training tips from Sophia 12/05/09

I told Sophia that I am going to train for the Chicago Marathon and have a goal to run it in the next couple of years. She said, "Oh! That's easy. I'll train you. All you need is to wear some capri running pants and a jogging shirt. Then you run around the block a couple of times or a few. Bring a water bottle and if it's in the summer, bring one of those bands you wear around your head because you'll be sweating a lot. And that's about all."  PIECE OF CAKE! I'm in! With a training strategy like this, how c...

Let’s Play "I can have whatever house I want" for a minute. 11/30/09

I have serious big house envy. Living in Chicago and NOT being a bazillionare leaves most of us normal people in the starter home market. That means for one-third of a million dollars (sounds more impressive that way) you can get yourself a 60 year old starter home that comes in at 980 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.I love my house, I really do. It's cute and sweet, but not what I grew up in and not where I thought I'd put down roots. So every now and then I stupidly let my mind wander on a creative little tr...

Motel morning 11/25/09

On our way to Grandma Judy's house. This is in a motel in Cedar Rapids.

Ikea Hack! (sorta) Upholstered headboard on the DALSELV bed frame 11/23/09

When Dave and I bought this house about two and a half years ago, we were surprised when our bed didn't fit into our 3rd floor bedroom. Being new homeowners and thusly, broke as all get out, I went to Ikea and purchased the cheapest bed I could find, thinking that we could take the boxes up the stairs and put the bed together. We really wanted a nice, upholstered headboard, but everything we liked was at least several hundred dollars. Here's how we got exactly what we wanted for about $150.We started with the DALSELV...

Zoo trip 11/21/09

Sophia and I spent some time over at the Brookfield Zoo this afternoon. Her Brownies troop decorated one of the Christmas trees over there. After the girls finished up we got a family membership, figuring we'll get more than our money's worth since it's right up the road.

Sophia’s night at the theater 11/20/09

Out with Papa to see Banana Schpeel at The Chicago Theater.

Sophia’s latest 11/18/09

This past Sunday Sophia and I went to a preview show of the new Redmoon Theater holiday production. It was so sweet and magical. There was a little girl sitting next to me who kept exclaiming, "Oh! Look Mama!" So cute. Sophia spent most of the show snuggled up under my arm, very much enjoying having me all to herself. I have to say that it was nice to have some alone time with her as well. We've been going to Redmoon productions since she was about 4 and she's always loved them, so I treated her to her own child's me...

Let’s go back in time to Halloween for a minute 11/16/09

For Will's first Halloween, we were at our friend's wedding. I just got this photo from Sam & Mike this morning. There are other shots still in my camera that I need to upload, but for now here he is...Scary Skeleton Will!

Rollin rollin rollin 11/14/09

Milestone day! 9 weeks and 2 days, flipped from front to back.Will was laying on my chest earlier and kept pushing really hard with his feet, crawling his way up toward my neck. I thought he could use a little tummy time while I clean up in the kitchen and laid him down on his play mat. I sprayed off the stove top, then peeked around the corner at him and he was gone! Faster than you can actually read this, I thought, "He's gone! What the?? There's no way, he can't crawl...can he? NO way." then ran to where he was. H...

Will – 9 weeks old 11/13/09

Happy Willday! 11/06/09

2 months old today. 11/04/09

Sweet Baby Will, You've been with us for 2 months already. Time moves too fast. We are all so in love with you. Your big sisters are constantly doting. Tonight Sophia read 2 books to you before bed. My heart just glowed looking at the two of you curled up on the floor, you cooing to her as she told you stories. I love you my handsome little man. Love, Mommy

Dare I say it? Do we have a baby who…maybe…sleeps through the night?? 11/03/09

And now that I've said it out loud, we'll go back to feedings every 2 hours. But WOW what a great feeling to wake up and realize that we slept for a real stretch.Dave and I woke up Saturday morning in a slight panic. Something was really wrong. What was it? Oh yeah! We weren't exhausted and Will was still asleep! The first thing I did was put a finger under his tiny nose to see if he was breathing. Yup. How lucky is this? I don't trust it will last. It's too good to be true. But then he did it again Sunday and again ...

H1N1 immunizations 10/27/09

I made appointments for all of us to go get vaccinated against the H1N1 and seasonal flu virus this week. Mine was this morning and I was astonished at how much confusion there still is about how to proceed. At first the clinic said yes, I should get the shot because I have a newborn at home. Then they said no, because I'm breast feeding. Then yes again, but it had to be the mist because they don't have enough of the injectable. Then the doctor said "ehh...not sure" about the mist because it's a live vaccine where th...

Stripey, we barely knew ye. 10/26/09

Sophia had an unfair and hard life lesson today. Yesterday evening while visiting Dave's grandparents who live way out in the country, Sophia and Dave went for a walk. After reaching the end of the gravel road, they spotted 3 little kittens hiding by a log. Apparently they had been dumped there, which started the wheels turning in Sophia's mind right away. We told her that if they were still there in the morning we would pick them up and take them to a no kill shelter. So sure enough, on our way out today, ...

Sophia’s haul 10/25/09

She asked if she could hold her pumpkin on her lap all the way back to Chicago.