We just returned from a fun road-trip to Chicago via the train; it was Rick & Mallory’s first time on the train and they both did very well. With gas prices being so high, and parking in Chicago being so expensive, it totally made sense for us to rail it west.
Only two things on our agenda: deep-dish pizza and fun with my cousins. The original plan was to go to a Cubs game but the games are all sold out. I wasn’t sure if they were *really* sold out or sold out like Michigan games are, where you can usually walk up and get tickets from a scalper before the game. But we didn’t risk it and and just enjoyed the weekend. Tad & Susan traveled down from Wisconsin for the weekend, and my other cousins Bill & Nan and their kids drove in from the ‘burbs to join us for dinner (which, by the way, was OUTSTANDING – Lou Malnati’s – I HIGHLY recommend the pepperoni deep-dish with some beer, followed by the Chocolate Chip Pizza. OMG.) We also hit the aquarium which was fun and did some mild window shopping on Michigan Ave. We did buy Mallory a shirt from the ESPN Zone that says “I watch ESPN with my daddy”. But I need to be on the lookout for “I watch the Discovery Channel/History Channel/Versus Channel with my daddy” too.
Mallory was a great traveler, handled being in a strange crib in a strange room just fine. And she tolerated being passed around to all of my cousins like a champ. She is a wonderful little girl.
Mallory being a good train passenger, carefully reading the Passenger Safety Card:
At the Aquarium, checking out the fish:
This will probably earn us Parents of the Year, but Mallory loves to take bites of our apples. She gets little chunks with those two bottom chompers she’s got:
Today is our two-year anniversary and there isn’t much on the agenda – Rick & I took the day off today to sort of extend our weekend vacation. Football starts on Sunday so we’re trying to cram some family time in before he abandons us girls for 4 months. Mallory has her nine-month (wait, I have a NINE-MONTH-OLD?) pictures at 1p but the weather is beautiful so maybe we’ll head to Zukey for a long boat cruise after her photo shoot.
On a personal note, Mallory is on all formula now. This has been a sad month for me, going through this weaning process. Mals is used to bottles because of daycare, so she is making the transition seamlessly. I, however, have been struggling so much with losing the special time I got to spend nursing her (pumping at work and stressing about keeping up my supply was becoming a chore). I seriously never saw myself as the granola-y, pro-breastfeeding type but I really really liked nursing my sweet baby. Everyone tells me I’ll be able to nurse again when we have another baby but I wonder if I will enjoy it as much if I’m chasing after Princess Pumpkinhead?
Speaking of Pumpkinhead, I better go get her outfit(s) ready for her pictures.
i love this post! # 1 because i totally am that granola-y, probreastfeeding, babyfoodmaking, hippy mama! and i love that we can all be so different as moms but also share experiences and experience so much of the same things with our babies! also it is hilarious because phil constantly watches the discovery channel and the history channel along with ESPN – maybe we should double date! (: i know what you mean about nursing being different with your next one – jack will be running around like a crazy man! i think you guys are awesome parents, apple bites and all – i think it is awesome that you are adventurous and flexible with her – i bet she had SUCH a blast on your trip! congrats on your 2 year anniversary by the way!!!!
ps – POST those 9 month shots when you get them – where did you have them done?