Bye-Bye Tails

I love hair on babies. I don't like side tails.  Lucy had two of them that reached her shoulders.  So, I decided we needed a hair cut and didn't have time for a cute "first cut" from Snippets.  But, I think our Calphalon "sheers" gave Lucy a nice bob that is more appropriate for a baby girl!  Unfortunately, I didn't save the first locks (what would Lucy do with her first locks?!) but when she asks for them one day for some random reason, I don't want to disappoint.  So there will be a second "first cut" in the upcoming months. 

Pre-cut

My new "do" (it appears there is a still a tail, but it looks much more even in person)

Lucy's first locks

Showing off my new haircut to Grandma and Grandpa!  Thanks for babysitting me on Saturday night!

Best Buddies

We love play dates! Since the babies sleep and really don't play, play date is code word for getting out of the house, meeting up with my mom friends, and pretending to have a productive day.  Kind of like Book Club is code for Wine Night.  But, what the heck. I do feel going out for coffee is productive!  And, if we tag on a trip to Target and Whole Foods......

But, really the city is so much fun during the day (and night too, but I am more of a day-girl these days) and Lucy has lots of friends.  So, I am required to take her out to play dates with them! Part of the job.  I thought I would share some pics of Lucy and her buds.

Lucy with her friend Isla (mom is my good friend Katy from work!) This isn't the most becoming photo of Lucy, but oh well

Lucy and Isla givving kisses

Lucy and Matty, who just turned 2! (Mom is my good friend Amy.  Proof that neighbors living across the hall in Chicago can turn into the best of friends!)

Lucy and baby Tommy Munizzo (Parents are Joe's good friends from U of I)

Besties

Lucy with Caitlyn and Jack - the three of us moms were friends at Iowa and ended up in the same music class! Who needs Facebook when you have some fellow DGs to gossip with?  

Lucy with Payton and her new little sis Anna (Mom is my good friend Lauren)

Lucy with Mia (Mom is my friend Megan)

And, Matty again!  They are two years apart, but we are hoping this is a budding love between the two. 

Three's a Crowd

I had my first glimpse into what it would be like to have three toddlers/babies on Friday - we watched Abigail and Caitlin while Beth went to see Oprah!!!!  We were happy to have the girls visiting and had such a great time!  There was a lot of running around, a few games, a few meals, a couple of falls and only a little fussing (on Lucy's end.)  I learned the key to a well-run home with more than one kid is having a 3-year-old helper.  Abigail makes a great one!!!  She made sure Caitlin stayed on the carpet when I had to run to get Lucy, watched Lucy when I had to run to get Caitlin and would tell me when I was mistaken.  I loved the help!!  And, even better, for such a lovely day I got a new Oprah mug that I now use as I watch the last episodes of Season 25!!!

Unfortunately, I think all of the excitement took a toll on Lucy.  She got her first fever/flu this weekend and was a mess.  Our little energizer slept the entire day and had to get a few unpleasant tests at the pediatrician's office.  But after some sleep, baby tylenol and lots of time cuddling in my arms, she was a new baby on Sunday and we were back out again for a family day of open houses in the city!

I love bank holidays!!  Monday was "Daddy/Daughter Day" and was full of excitement, as far as I am concerned!! I spent the day shopping on Michigan Avenue, had dinner with a friend and ended the evening with a facial.  I came home to a quiet, clean, sleeping house.  It was amazing!  It was the longest I had ever been away from Lucy at one time and I couldn't wait to sneak in her room and give her a kiss :)

Abigail can turn it on as soon as the camera light comes on!

Caitlin enjoying lunch

Lucy being part of the fun

We played a long game of hiding the doll around the house.  Caitlin kept finding it because Abigail would close her eyes while I counted to 10 and Caitlin would follow me and as soon as I put it down, pick it up

My co-sitter.  I asked her to watch Lucy for me when I checked on Caitlin and I found her doing tummy time with Lucy

A little break to watch Mickey with all of her friends

A successful Daddy/Lucy Day - Joe is still smiling and it is almost bedtime

Happy Valentine's Day and Auntie Beth Bday (see below)!

Happy Birthday Beth!!

Happy Birthday Aunt/Sister Beth!  You are such an amazing auntie and sister, such a great mom and friend.  There is no better way to end your birthday week than by seeing Oprah, so enjoy the entire week :) We love you!

Our Week in AZ!

Our week in Arizona was just what we needed - Lucy got to spend a lot of time with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Pat and her Auntie Jill, and I got to do a lot of relaxing (which for me includes running, tennis, and a first, indoor rock climbing with my personal trainer Jill) and just spending some quality time with the family.  Lucy got a LOT of attention and I joked while there about how she would expect it when she got home to Chicago.  But, it was no joke! My never-fussy-unless-hungry baby has been a handful this week, fussing whenever I put her down.  But, it was worth it.  It was such a special week.  

Lucy LOVED spending time with her Aunt Jill. It was so cute to see how Lucy looked at her aunt, I could see they have a special bond already.  And, I had such great time visiting with Jill.  We have so much in common and usually our only struggle is getting a word in between the two of us.  My favorite part of the trip with Jill was our adventure to the rock climbing gym.  Although that in itself was an adventure and I am sure somewhat like babysitting for Jill as I learned I am scared of heights, I learned that there is someone in the family equally directionally-challenged as me!  The two of us drove in circles trying to find the place and finally had to give in and call them for directions.  We had such a great time though!  We will have to make some trips out to Boulder to see Jill and Jake soon!

We got to spend a ton of time with Grandma and Grandpa and they took amazing care of us!!  From dinners out (my first trip to Red Lobster!), all the shopping so Lucy would have every possibly amenity in her Arizona home, and all the hours they spent with Lucy, we felt totally pampered and I was hoping they would ask us to move in!  There is nothing more relaxing than waking up and seeing mountains right outside your back door as you drink coffee.  And, we were excited to spend a lot of time with Aunt Pat!  One of my favorite parts of the trip was a girls lunch that we did (Lucy attended all the girls' outings) and then visited some model homes for a sister residential community.  The homes were amazing and we had so much fun looking at the decor of each home.  If only we were 55, I probably could have been talked into buying a home that day. 

Thanks Grandma, Grandpa, Jill and Aunt Pat for everything! We can't wait to visit again soon!!! 

Chatting with Grandpa 

Lucy spent most of her playtime trying to catch some TV

Enjoying the view with Grandma

 Getting some cooking tips from Aunt Jill 

Laughing with Aunt Pat

Look at the view from the back window as the sun goes down!

Grandma teaching Lucy how to crawl

Hiking with Jill and Bill

Learning how to rock climb with Jill.  This smile is not what I looked like when I was actually doing it.  I was a bit more panicked. 

 Grandpa with his bday gift - a TV (not sure how many inches but it is huge!)

Jill had this amazing canvas of Lucy made for Grandpa's office!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for such a great trip!!!  

A family pic!

Sitting....sitting...kerplunk

Happy 5 months Lucy!

Lucy hit a button that somehow changed my font, so I am going to keep it it honor of her 5th month bday....

We Are Back - Happy Birthday Grandpas!!!

After a few weeks without our internet working, we are back up!  Lots of pics to share of our trip to Arizona but today is all about celebrating both Grandpa's birthdays! Today is Grandpa Joe's birthday and last Saturday was Grandpa Bill's birthday.  They were born only a few days (and a few years) apart.  Happy Birthday Grandpa Joe and Grandpa Bill!!  We love you!