Randoms from Chicago

Reading all by herself in a giant basket chair


Playing with Bode (Bo-dee) my sister's 2 yrs old male, energetic cat


Silly Olivia with oven mits on her hands


Relaxing with Elli in the giant basket chair


Her first trolley ride from the parking garage to the aquarium. I'm talking with Ryan.

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

After the Lincoln Park Zoo, we all traveled to the Shedd Aquarium. Olivia loves fish so we thought the aquarium would be enjoyable. Oh, were we wrong. Not only did we mis-judge the crowds on a holiday weekend, the show stadium for the dolphins had just reopened after a year of construction so there was not any real show. The dolphins had only been in the new show pool for one day prior to our visit. Olivia didn't mind though, they still jumped in the air which she throughouly enjoyed, although it was more of a demomstration about training techniques then an actual show. There were many strollers and stairs which are not a great combo. I got bowled over by kids trying to squeeze into the smallest spots to see the fish and Olivia is so small she didn't get a good view either. Need less to say these few pictures are the best we have, due to low lighting, large crowds and my anxiety attack. Enjoy!

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

Olivia and I have traveled up to Chicago to visit my sister for Memorial Day Weekend. Today we ventured out to the Lincoln Park Zoo...free admission a plus, although parking prices was high. Olivia enjoyed walking around looking at all the animals. She enjoyed the polar bear, birds, giraffe's and of course the big cats. She even really enjoyed circling the base of a tree on a metal grate, just going round and round then round in the other direction. Thank goodness we didn't have to pay admission and parking for her fun with the tree.

The weather is nice, cool 70s for us southern folk, and she is currently taking a much needed nap. She did very well on the two day drive north. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Winnie the Pooh were a staple on the DVD player. My cats are with us and they have done great too! There are three cats in the apartment for the weekend and they all seem to be getting along alright. Leo and Elli are nearly 5 yrs old and Bode (my sister's cat) is only 2, so he tries to play with my cats with very little success. Olivia on the other hand loves to chase Bode around the livingroom and corner him at the end of the hall. She just giggles and giggles when he runs away...poor cat. More updates of our adventures here in Chicago later. We plan on going to the Shedd Aquarium and the Navy Pier.

Olivia Turns 2 Early

With Ryan missing Olivia actual birthday this year, we invited some good friends and neighbor's over for dinner and a small celebration a few weeks early. Olivia turns 2, OMG...2 already, this Sunday the 17th. Dinner was great and Olivia loved opening her own presents this year. Our friends gave her Winnie the Pooh, which she promptly placed in bed with her and has slept with every night since. We gave her some new books, puzzles, Minnie Mouse to go with her Mickey Mouse (they're like salt and pepper, if she wants one, she wants both) and a Winnie the Pooh Crayola Color Wonder book with markers. Not to promote the product, but it's the markers that only color on special paper. It's great because I don't have to worry about her marking the carpet or herself...althought that might be fun to see just once. As you can see from the pictures below, she loved her all chocolate cupcake and can say cupcake now too!! She blew out her own candle and I can't be more proud to be her mother!!

Olivia's Little Brother

It's official...we're having a boy!! The ultrasound tech said it was plain as day that we're having a son. Time to shop for some clothes, paint his room and figure out how to deal with two little ones. Exciting times! Ryan is excited to attend the ultrasound as he missed Olivia's last time. Pregnancy is going well and my energy level is finally up. Lot's to do and little time to do it...it's always that way!

Just One More Day

It's only one more day until we find out what Baby v2.0's new room color will be. Either blue or purple with no VOC. We're really excited and Olivia doesn't really understand what's going on just yet. We point to my belly and say baby, then she points to her belly and Ryan's belly and says baby too...must work on that. Update to come asap tomorrow.