Museums

At the Children's Museum in their "Fort" room. This was one of my favorites. A big room full of furniture and sheets to create forts. Such a good idea.

Simon, Jack, and Blake digging for dinosaur bones.

Blake was getting into this activity. He plays hard and always has sweat on the bottom of his hair.

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I babysit a 12 month old boy twice a week named Asher. I've taken both boys out to the park or places nearby but never ventured more than that. A few weeks ago my friend Melissa was kind enough to help us get out to a couple of museums. Two kids is a lot of work if you try to leave the apartment! Especially if you don't have a double stroller, you take a train, it is raining, and you're pregnant. We had fun.



Blake and Asher at the Planetarium in front of the sun.

Shedd Acquarium staring at the fishies.

Lucas, Asher, and Blake rowing the boat.

Museum of Science and Industry. This place was heaven for Blake.

St. Louis

We went to St. Louis for the weekend to visit Eric's parents and to go to his 10 year high school reunion. We went to Grant's Farm and to a pumpkin patch on the one day that it didn't rain. Eric's reunion was interesting. It was fun to watch him reconnect with high school friends. Two people came up to me and thought that they knew me. One asked me if I was sure that I didn't attend Lafayette high school, and one asked me how my daughter Sophia was doing. Weird.

The funnel cake was that good.

Monkeyda

We are so glad to be back in Chicago. I haven't been taking many pictures, but we've recently been to the zoo and acquarium. If I ever mention the word "zoo" now, Blake grabs his shoes and heads to the door because he wants to go back. Even if it's 7:00 at night he thinks we should go to the zoo.

Blake has recently changed from taking two naps to just one a day. He sleeps a solid three hours and that is a long time! The binky has also been eliminated. The first night that I didn't give him his pacifier he kept saying "beepee" in the saddest voice.

Blake is talking up a storm. Some of my favorite words that he attempts include computer, muffin, and applesauce. When Eric leaves for the day we tell Blake that he is going to school. So during the day if Daddy is ever mentinoed Blake says "cool" to inform me of where he is. I'm trying to teach him to say please when he wants something instead of whining for it. He is picking up on it and will look at me if he wants a toy that another kid has and signs and says "pea." The next step is to teach him how to not fall apart when he doesn't get what he wants.

He loves leaving our apartment and going out into the world. He cries if the door opens or shuts and he is still inside. When we do leave, he screams and squeals as he runs down the hall to the elevator. I love how much energy he has.

We had an ultrasound appointment yesterday and had it confirmed that we are officially 100% having a girl. Although this is what I expected, it is nice to know for sure. We are so excited!

The other day I was imagining what my life will be like in four months with two kids. I imagined what it would be like in public places trying to keep tabs on them both. Blake does not like being confined to a stroller or a cart and would rather be running around. Sometimes he is too fast for me. So today was the day that we bought him the monkey backpack/leash. I thought it was so cute! I gave him the option of a monkey or doggie backpack and he kept saying "monkeyda!" Don't they look like pals?

I was in the other room and I heard that Blake had found his crackers in the bottom of the stroller. Before I could get to him I heard hundreds of fishies dropping to the floor. He was acting like it was candy falling from a pinata and was eating as fast as he could.

Our friends are letting us borrow this cute kid chair. Blake loves it and goes to sit there when he requests milk. It is like his throne when he watches movies too.

Visit to Arizona

While Eric drove back to Chicago, Blake and I flew to Arizona to visit my sister and some old roommates and friends. It was a big girl reunion.

My sister Amy's cute baby. She was so little! I loved this onesie.

Blake and Daphne (roommate Jill's daughter). This was the best picture I could get of them.

Roommates Brie and Jill

Lydia flew from New York and Brie came from Utah. Jill recently moved 5 minutes away from where my sister Amy lives in Gilbert, Arizona. Highlights of the trip included dinner at Cafe Rio, shopping, making baby bows, learning new recipes, and talking of course. Thanks to Amy and Jill for hosting!

Goodbye California

We loved spending our summer in California. We'll miss grandma and grandpa, swimming, Gymboree, Sunnyvale friends, and beautiful parks. Eric enjoyed his internship with Cisco, and I enjoyed working at my old job on Saturdays doing speech evaluations. Blake grew up so much over these past few months. I feel like I took a baby home and brought back a toddler. Now he has 6 more teeth, drinks from a sippy cup, walks, and talks.

Sacramento

We met Eric's brother and his wife in Sacramento on Labor Day. We spent most of the day in Old Sacramento walking around the shops. Apparently I've been here before when I was younger but I don't remember it. Blake loved the horses and train.

Lately

Blake loves watching sports on t.v. When baseball is on he pretends to throw a ball. How is he already so interested? I'm in for it with these boys and sports!

We went to a Giants game last week. Blake was scared at first with all the cheering so he sat quietly on my lap the whole time and watched the game. He stayed awake until we got home at 11:00p.m. and was pretty happy the whole time.

This is what Blake does when we say "show me your teeth."

We celebrated our fifth anniversary by staying one night in San Francisco. We left Blake at home with grandma and grandpa. We walked around, had dinner, and slept in until 9:00a.m!