Thursday, June 21, 2012

5 days and counting....

We are less than a week away from moving so life consists of trips to Home Depot for boxes, more boxes, and more boxes.  For some reason, I only buy one or two at a time - not wanting to over-purchase the $1.17 boxes, which means I have to go back the next day for more.  But, I love a good project so have been enjoying the moving process, maybe too much because I have been known to pack things we need just because I found a good spot for them in the box. Lucy has enjoyed it too because she helps me by throwing things into boxes, helps me tape them, and then I let her draw on them.  So, the countdown begins!

Other than packing, the summer so far has been amazing.  We are spending a lot of time at the parks, playing with bubbles and sidewalk chalk, meeting friends at the zoos and just being out-and-about.    Lucy started ballet last week (pics to come) which I think she is going to really like, and Lucy and Joe take a music/preschool class together on Saturday mornings (which I love!  See you guys back here at 11 am?! Have fun!).  But, the most important update, I realized I never officially (and doesn't this blog make everything official?) congratulated Beth, Rob, Abigail and Caitlin on the biggest news of the summer.  Their party of 4 is about to get bigger.  Yay!!!!!! 99% sure it is a boy but we will all find out in a few weeks and then I have a lot of shopping to do for my new niece/nephew!!!

Father's Day weekend was great - on Saturday we went to a beautiful wedding for friends Joe and Kristy McCann, and Lucy got to hang out with Nana Kathy and Papa Joe, and her cousins.  Would have loved to see the girls together - it is always very sweet.  Since we slept there, we were able to have brunch with my parents on Sunday morning and headed to the track to meet Joe's parents.  It was the perfect day for the track with the petting zoo and pony rides for Lucy before the races started.  And, since it was Father's Day, we made sure to get back to the city in time for some tennis.  Happy belated Father's Day to the dads, grandpas and of course Joe - the best dad of all.  Hope everyone had their perfect day.










Monday, June 11, 2012

21 Month Update





Well, I officially can't keep track of Lucy's months anymore. I have been saying 21, 22, not quite sure but I just checked and she is 21 months and 3 days.  Figured it was time for an update on all things Lucy!  (I love this pic because it is Lucy's first picture on the steps of our new house. Too far to really see her but it is a view of the front of the house!)

There is so much to love about Lucy, but a few of the things "part of her charm" these days - 

1.  She is in her Princess phase BIG TIME!  Everything is princesses - Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Rapunzel, Belle, Tiana.  and taking them away, turning off a princess song, removing her princess coloring book from her high chair during dinner, etc leads into a full-blown sob.  She only reads her princess books, uses a princess cup, asks non-stop to listen to the 4 princess songs on my iphone (because the picture is of all the princesses) and talks about them.  And, somehow, she manages to find a princess in the most random places - like she has a radar.  This weekend we were in a local mexican food store buying a bottle of water during a fest, and she found a picture of the Disney Princesses, and found one at the zoo in someone else's stroller.  It melts my heart when I go in her room in the morning and she is reading her princess books.  

2.  She is so smart!!! She attempts to master "the system" like as soon as it is time for bed, she all the sudden needs a sip of water, to go potty (even though she isn't potty-trained), read another book, etc.  And, when we ask if she wants a time-out (which we really haven't quite mastered in this house yet), she says "one, two, three" and waves her finger like me.   

3.  She is so sweet at bedtime and anything that is in her path on the way to bed, she wants to bring to bed.  She sleeps with a ton of stuffed animals and two blankets - we usually find her laying on all of them when we check on her, or with her arms hugging one of them  She also wants books in bed, her princesses (which are like barbies), purses, etc  One night a sitter put her down and she was sleeping on a purse full of her baby doll accessories like a bottle and bowl.  I wondered how she decided she should bring that bag to bed.  Anyways, I remove it all at night and reposition her so she isn't laying on a mound of toys.  

4. She has the funniest memory/recall/association of things.  Like when we read a book that talks about a balloon, she always points to where we once put a balloon in her room (like a year ago) and remembers that Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster were on it.  And, although not random, just smart of her, I was telling her that Aunt Katie was coming to see her on Friday and she said "and Vern."  Or, we have this Snow White figurine and a ear broke off the bunny.  She always asks for "broken Snow White" or "boo boo Elmo" which is an Elmo that I had put a band-aid on one time.  We love how she remembers such random things.  

5.  Although maybe not something we love these days, she is apparently still trying to find some sense of independence, or hoping that I will one day say "okay, you don't have to wear clothes or a diaper today."  She runs when I try to change her diaper, and hides.  She also hates getting changed or her hair put up.  This is where the princesses come in handy for a distraction.  For a nice-looking ponytail, I usually can find an interesting YouTube video.  I recently found the Disney parade, so she watches that.  But, we still laugh at how she, everyday, tries to get out wearing a diaper and clothes.  

6.  She is really getting good at telling us what she wants - and can combine two and sometimes three words so we are starting to have mini conversations.  She will tell me "mommy play," "I want to pick," or "I don't want to."  

7.  She is just started to "sing along" to music in the car, and she always has special requests in the car.  These days she likes princess songs (on my phone so she can see their pictures), Shiny Dinah, Skinamarinkidinkidink (sp?), the Wheels on the Bus, and this really annoying song that has a baby crying for about 10 seconds straight.  It is her favorite and the worst!!!

8.  Most of all, we just love the little personality she has developed over the last (almost) 2 years.   Everyone seems to just love Lucy - even the older kids at the places I take her for classes or to the childcare at my work.  She always seems to be the kid in class making everyone laugh or waving at the other adults, sitting on their laps, or trying to hold their hands.  It is very cute!  

Hope everyone had a nice weekend too! We had a busy weekend with a graduation and birthday party (Congrats Amy and happy bday Ashley!), the Brad Paisley concert at Wrigley (awesome night out!!!! Maybe one too many glasses of wine?!) and a great dinner in Barrington with Chris and Bill's bridge group.  And, of course Lucy had a good time with Nana and Papa while we were gone!  Have a great week!!!




Tuesday, June 5, 2012

And a late Bday Rob!!!

Almost forgot to mention it was Uncle Rob's birthday on Sunday!!!!! Happy Birthday Rob!! We heard it would be spend relaxing and watching NASCAR.  Hope it was the best day!!!!  Thought this was a fitting photo :)


Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Kick-off!!

If Lucy could recall these early years, we know she would say the weekend of June 2-3, 2012 was the best weekend of her life.  We had one of those weekends around the city that we rarely get - with no plans but so much going on that we never have a reason to be home.  On Saturday Lucy and Joe went to her music class and afterwards we all went out for lunch.  After her nap we decided to check out Do Division, the local street fest, and Lucy's first.  After we weaved through the mile-long mass of people in line for beer and sangria, we found an entire street of tents for families and kids.  More our style these days.  And, to our surprise pony rides in the middle of the fest!! Who would have thought?  And we then saw one of Lucy's former music teachers singing on a stage who said "is that you, lucy?" over the mic. Lucy felt very popular.  We thought Saturday was the highlight of her life....

Until Sunday when we met Aunt Kristy, John, Will and Aunt Pat the zoo for the morning, followed by Griffen's (our friend Kilmer's dog) surprise visit to our house Sunday evening.  Lucy is a puppy lover, but they are rarely in her room.  She was consumed with Griffen running around the house, drinking water, laying around, giving her kisses.

So, it was one of those weekends with nothing eventful but so much busier than we could have ever planned.  In between all of the activities, Joe and I went with friends to the Icon brew-and-view.  Movies are so much better with a bottle of wine!

My first pony ride! (On a side note, look how sad the pony looks? Maybe not what he had hoped to be doing on a Saturday afternoon, or ever)

Dancing to Ms. Sarah

Loving Aunt Kristy

And John

Aunt Aunt Pat, and Will but sadly no photos with Will

And enjoying Griffen's company