The zoo with mommy's friends

Matt, Acadia and I were able to meet up with some more friends from my mommy board at the Brookfield Zoo on Saturday.

All of us: Mark, Stella, Elena, Ray, Jackie, Taylor, Jason, Amanda, Owen, Matt, Jen, Acadia, Melissa, Jeff and Johanna!

The babies: Elena, Owen, Johanna, Taylor, Acadia


The boys with the kiddos: Matt, Jeff, Jason, Ray and Mark


The sexy mammas! Amanda, Melissa, Jenny, Jackie, Stella


Mark, Stella and Elena - I don't think you could meet a cuter couple than them. Not only are they an incredibly sweet and gorgeous family, but they like the Red Sox! You can't get much better than that!! Mark has only one more year of school until he becomes a doctor - yay Mark!! I'm sure you're counting down the days! ;-) Stella is just so sweet and beautiful! She is due in December with their second child and is absolutely glowing! And little Elena...I think we all fell in love with her when we met her! She is so sweet! They don't live too far from us (ie. a half a day drive), so I am really hoping that we can meet up with them again, because I really can't wait to meet their little one!



Jackie, Ray and Taylor - Honestly. Jackie is just gorgeous! Blond hair, blue eyes, beautiful smile and the sweetest and most friendly personality to go along with it! She is just awesome and I decided that she was my "soul sister" after we both said the same sentence at the same time to our husband and now I can't remember what we said!! Oh well. We are still soul sisters - it was pretty funny at the time! We just kind of looked at each other and laughed - did we really just say the exact same thing?! Her husband Ray is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He was SO sweet and Matt and I both agreed that we could have talked to him all day! He was just so friendly from the second we met him - and such a doting father and husband. If we lived closer to them, I just know that he and Matt would become close friends. And Taylor has mommy's looks and both of their personalities. She is a beautiful little girl and SO SWEET! She wasn't able to fall asleep in her stroller like some of the kids and you would have NEVER guessed that she didn't get a nap that day. She is such a sweet and happy baby! (I'm sure the parent's have a lot to do with that!)



Amanda, Jason and Owen - You know how you meet someone and from the moment you see them, you just KNOW that they are amazing parents? That is Amanda and Jason. They were so cute with one another and with Owen. Owen also didn't get a nap until towards the end of the day, and you wouldn't have known. He is such a happy and laid back little boy, again, really reminding me of mom and dad. They are such sweet, friendly, go with the flow type of people. I think that it is very easy to become stressed when you have children (when they are fussy, etc.) and they both strike me as the type of people that let things roll off their backs, go with the flow and laugh about it along the way. And you have to have that when you're become a parent, or else you'll go crazy! lol! They are such a sweet and beautiful family and I wish we lived closer to them!!



Matt, Jen and Acadia - Thanks, Jackie for taking this picture!


Melissa, Jeff and Johanna - Melissa and I were able to spend quite a bit of time together when I was in Chicago, since she had Fridays off. I am going to miss her terribly! We spoke on the phone the night before I left and both said that as crazy as it is, because we have only been hanging out for a month, we will miss each other! She is a friend for life. It won't matter how often we are able to see one another, but I know she will be in my life forever. She is one of the nicest women I have ever met - showing me around IL when we met up, taking me to Target and the mall, taking us out to a yummy Mexican dinner - our trip would have been half of what it had been if it wasn't for her. Literally from day one, we felt like we had known each other forever, and I really will miss her. Her husband Jeff is such a nice guy! During dinner while we were there, he made me laugh the whole time! Matt and he talked throughout the entire meal, and Jeff will always be known as the "first husband from Jenny's mommy board that Matt's met". Johanna....sweet, little, beautiful Johanna! I will miss that little girls and her "beautiful eyes!" She is just such a love - a sweet natured, beautiful little girl and I will miss her!



Sweet Elena - I wish they made that shirt in my size!


Taylor, Owen and Acadia having a snack


Jason and Owen...so sweet...


Cadi and Johanna looking at the goats


Taylor brushing a goat


Owen and mommy...I love this picture


Acadia excited to be at the zoo!


Everyone...


Buddies - Taylor and Acadia


Owen (the only boy!)


Beer time!


Owen and Cadi sharing a snack


Nap time!




We had to leave early, because Acadia started having an allergic reaction - her eyes were red and watery and her nose was really runny


Luckily, Amanda and Jason recommended Benadryl Perfect Measure, which is awesome for when you're on the go, and this was Acadia an hour later!



Good bye, friends - we had fun!!

So long, Chicago

It is with a lot of sadness that we say goodbye to this beautiful city of Chicago. We are so very excited to get back to our friends, family, home and doggie, but we will miss it here terribly. We will miss putting Acadia on train rides at Navy Pier, walking to Millennium Park to see the bean, the friends we have made here, the parks, the doormen, the coffee shop, Michigan Ave, the view from our apartment (both at night and during the day!), the Lincoln Park Zoo, the warm weather, the friendly people, the amazing restaurants, the Children's Museum, the aquarium. I will miss walking downstairs every morning, chatting with the doorman and heading over to the coffee shop on my way to the park. I will miss trying a new restaurant every night. I will miss being able to walk anywhere and everywhere.

We have loved this city for the past month and have tried to take full advantage of everything it has to offer. So....while it is time to go home to our family and friends...we will miss you, Chicago...

Someone is ready to go home...

I swear to you that we didn't put her in the suitcase! We have been running around packing tonight and when we went into the living room, she was in one of the suitcases :)

Last "adult" night out in Chicago

We had the BEST dinner last night at Shaw's Crab House. As any of you parents know - getting out of the house alive, with both your shoes and matching socks is a BIG deal. I remember when Acadia was younger, coming home at the end of the day and realizing I had spit up on my shoulder. Who knows how long it had been there? That's just the way it is when you have children.

So. When given the opportunity to shower, shave BOTH your legs and get dressed up? It's just a real treat. We stopped by a bar on the way to dinner for a quick drink, then off to our yummy lobster. We both said a few times last night how wonderful it was to have a night out alone so close to when we're heading back to Vermont. Chicago offers so many amazing restaurants, many of them not-so-kid-friendly, so to have a nice night out just the two of us was awesome...

Mary Poppins? Is that you?

As we were walking to dinner, it started sprinkling. I opened up the umbrella for us, and felt like Mary Poppins! But as I look at this picture, I suppose I look a bit like Mary's sister - Scary Poppins (with only one leg!)

Family Portrait

Our friend Megan came over last night to babysit Acadia while Matti and I went on a date. (Thank you Megan!!!) While we were talking to her, we realized that we didn't have a picture of us in our apartment. I am so happy we have this...there are so many memories from this apartment and we will miss it here - the view, the sweet doormen, the pool...I'm glad that we have this picture!

I am so lucky

Not only was I able to go to the Signature Room with my husband on my birthday, but my mom and I also went there while she was visiting! It was great to go with her - it's an amazing view, and to experience that with my mom was just awesome...We also lucked out and got a window seat - yay!

ps. Ladies - if you are able to go someday, it's true that the BEST view of the whole city is in the women's bathroom! Strange, but true!

Yay for Matti!!!

Matt just got home from class and passed his exam!!!!! Today was his exam for the certification for SAP. Everyone got 3 hours to take the computerized exam and he's been studying for it all week. He found out right away that he passed!!!!!! I am so proud of him!

I'm ready to go home...

My sister took her last class tonight to get her Associates Degree...I couldn't be more proud of her...it's hard to even put into words how much I love her...sure - sisters may be close to one another, but she is my BEST friend and the fact that I am not there to celebrate with her makes me beyond sad...

Our family and friends threw her a surprise party at a local bar and I am missing everyone so much right now...I just want to be there with them celebrating Miche's hard work. I have never missed a "major event" and it really upsets me that I am missing this one...I am ready to go home...

Holy COW!

Are you even kidding me?!

Yes, that's right - she BIT me!

Great

I was hoping that this day wouldn't come. But it has. I have a hitter. We were at the park this morning and a little girl came up and picked up Acadia's ball. Keep in mind that Acadia was sitting down reading a book about 10 feet from the ball. Ignoring the ball. Until this little girl picked it up. Then, my sweet, lovable angel got up, walked over to the little girl and said "NO" then HIT her and took the ball away! I just looked at her shocked and told the mom I was very sorry. So. Who knows how long this will last, or what we will do about it, but let's just hope it passes quickly!

Don't be embarrassed, Acadia - this, too shall pass!

Our trip to the beach

This is shocking to me, but Matt and I have still not gone to the beach together. Our weekends have certainly been filled up, but the beach has not been on our list. We are hoping to make it there this week or this weekend. While my mom was here, we went to the beach near Lincoln Park, and I was so impressed at how big it was, and how beautiful it was! We had a great time, and Acadia loved playing in the water and sand.

Why my mom is awesome

Background: We obviously walked around a LOT here, admiring the skyline, having cosmos, and visiting the bean. She knows how much I will miss Chicago and that it will be an adjustment going back to Burlington, as it is a much smaller city than Chicago. So she has sent me these e-mails to get me excited for going home to Vermont...please note that the highest building in Vermont is probably 6 stories high and there is NO skyline!

*When you come home, we'll go on to the very tippy top of the parking garage & look at the beautiful skyline.

*When you come home we'll drink all afternoon & then walk for 8 miles & pretend we're on vacation.

*When you come home I will put a huge mirror in front of my fence in the back yard & run my hose on top & we'll pretend it's the bean for Cadi.

*When you come home, we'll go to the waterfront and you can choose between a) bring a picnic b) buy lunch at Beansies c) go to the Skinny Pancake d) go to Breakwaters e) all of the above but not on the same day

Some images of the city

Matt took these on our walk to the park Sunday