Why I don't blog more often....

Just as I was congratulating myself on actually posting those last few pictures, I turned around to find this. I guess I wasn't one of those mothers blessed with eyes in the back of her head.

Summer fun!

We're too busy and tired to post anything exciting...but here are a few new pictures for the Nannas, Nannos, Grams, and Papas out there.

Love to you all! - J, B, & M

Marti's Birthday Party - 7/18/09

Sun worship at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The monkeys are our new favorites!

These sunglasses are the "must have" accessory of the summer.

Betting on the horses and watching Elmo (can you guess who is doing which thing?) at Arlington Race Track last weekend.

Digging in the sand at Foster Avenue Beach. This is our new favorite free activity in Chicago!

Madeleine's new wheels!

Webcamming (is that a word?!?) with Lulu. We think she should just come visit already!

Snuggling with Mommy at Chicago Folk & Roots Festival a few weekends ago.

Rocking the pig tails!

Madeleine kissing her friend Matt during a quick trip to Michigan.

Hamming it up for the camera...

Madeleine cannot resist a good bath, even if she just had one and already has her pajamas on.

Playing the cow manure at a the zoo farm.

Maddie relaxing in her Zoe slippers.

Playing with the butterflies at the Nature Museum. Check out the one by her left ear. Cute!

BIg Girl Bed (a.k.a. The Crappy Crib Got Recalled)

I know it has been a while since I've blogged and I hope to be better about it now that the Symposium is over.

New posts are coming, I promise! In the meantime, here is a quick one to hold you over.

We transitioned Madeleine to a "big girl bed" yesterday. Not really a new big girl bed as much as her crib mattress on the floor surrounded by pillows while her crib sits in the back hall because it was recalled kind of big girl bed.

Somebody put a diaper on this kid and put her to sleep already!!! :)

Is it that time?....

To cut or not to cut...that is the question. Thoughts?

OCD

Apparently, my child is a genius. Or she has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  I prefer genius, thank you. 

The very first time these blocks came out of the box (and every time since), Madeleine constructs these perfect block towers. Squares with squares, circles with circles, and on and on. She even has to have the holes on the sides and the numbers facing up or she's not happy.

If only she was as obsessive of a walker....

The paramedics said no nap for us today....so I guess we are off to play with more blocks....

hey, mommy...

can we get a dog?

Aye, aye, eye

Madeleine has always been a little, well, I'll just say it. Lazy. Not an unemployed, couch-surfing all through her twenties kind of lazy. Rather, she has always figured out a way to get her needs met while putting forth the least amount of effort kind of lazy. Anyone remember the one-legged super crawl?...

A few months ago we discovered something else lazy about our precious little girl. Her right eye. After three months, she has finally gotten use to her glasses and asks for them everyday. Unfortunately, they aren't doing the trick. Last week we learned that she will need a surgery to (hopefully) correct the crossing of the eye. She goes back on June 11th to get measured and then they will schedule a date for the procedure. In the big picture of things that life can throw at you, this is very minor and we are certain that it will be just a blip on the radar for our family. At any rate, keep your fingers crossed for our little girl that it all goes well!

My husband will be very unhappy with me for posting this (this picture is exaggerates the problem...because most of the time you can't actually tell) but I have to update Maddie's adoring fans with the latest...sorry babe!

"Stand"off

Yesterday was the first really nice summery day in Chicago. While at the park, Madeleine and I had this debate:

Me: "Sit down on the slide. Madeleine, sit down."

The great debater: "No, all done sit down, mama." followed by her walking off the top of the slide and falling (butt first, thankfully) all the way down it.

Next time at the top of the slide:

Me: "Sit down, Maddie"

Baby: "Sit down, Mama slide" followed by her taking four steps (to what I thought would be her untimely death), then quickly plopping on her ass - just in the knick of time.

She was so proud. Now if only she would stop telling me to sit down every five minutes at home....

In case anyone was concerned, WE HAVE HAIR!!! Just enough for a bow, a few curls in the back, and that wind-blown effect on the playground. This baby is officially a GIRL!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I had a great birthday this year! 

The Chicago winter decided to take a break for the occasion and toss some 70s our way. As a result, I got to have brunch on the patio at my favorite neighborhood spot with these two goofy girls. Someone may have even spiked my o.j....

A nice walk home ended with picking up not one, but two pieces of birthday carrot cake at Sensational Bites. Yum!

Came home to find these, sent from my BFF Susan. Thanks, lady!

Then, itybit took a long one of these....

Went to dinner with our friends Marti and Jim. Food was so-so, wine was good and the company was great! At the end of the meal, I got a big birthday surprise (below) from Bryan. Woohoo!

Went to the Jazz Showcase after dinner. This was great!

Jim read my mind and suggested we end the evening as every evening should conclude. With DQ! Too bad they were closed...

Thanks everyone for making 29 such a fabulous beginning!