Wednesday, June 23, 2010

{Exploring. Chicago} Brenan comes to visit...


My brother Brenan came out to visit for a few days and we had a blast exploring the city while poor trav had to work. Brenan was so sweet and patient to let me and Taiya tag along. We had so much fun with him!

I love that there is a river right in the middle of the city. This city is amazing!

Getting ready to head up to the top of the Sears (now called Willis) Tower.




Fearless.
This is the sky box, which is glass on all sides including the floor. Taiya was loving it.


In front of Chicago Union Station metra.

View from the end of Navy Pier.

This is more for laughs than anything. So I when trav and I were at Navy Pier before I made him take a pic of me jumping and he was way way embarrassed. I thought it was so funny (that he was so embarrassed) so I kept having him take pics.. of course we never got one. I seriously cannot jump high to save my life. So I had to take another one this time just for Trav. I'm about a whole one inch off the ground! Yay! Ha


Chicago dogs are to die for. Seriously. So yummy!

Coolest amplitheather ever. Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

The "Bean"




Buckingham Fountain





Outside Wrigley Field

This little boy was the most amazing drummer!


We met the owner of the Cubs! We were sitting in our seats and he came and asked us how we were liking the game and if it was Taiya's first time. We didn't realize who he was until he walked away and the people next to us said that he was the new owner. Right after he walked away he got swarmed with people wanting to take his picture! Pretty cool!


It got pretty cold, but Brenan kept Tay all toasty warm!

Waiting for the metra.


Brenan's favorite team is the Bulls. Always has been.

Famous Chicago dawgs. Mmmmm...


The long walk home in the rain from the metra.

{My First} Mother's Day


I had an amazing "first" Mother's Day. I got to spend it with my two loves. Taiya and Trav. I love being a mom more than anything in this world. This little girl is my sunshine and my joy. I can't describe how much I love her. She is my best little buddy. She loves doing whatever mommy is doing. I love sharing all my little moments with her. Oh I just love her. I feel so blessed to be a mom. Thank you to this little sweetheart for making me one. I had a great day, we were all together. And a thanks to my sweet husband who spoiled me with yummy french toast with strawberries (always a favorite) and some new perfume.

Grandpa Andy comes to visit


We were so lucky that Grandpa Andy had to come out to Chicago for some business, or so he said. We think he just wanted to come see us... which sure made us happy :) We also went into the city for the first time and had lots of fun checking out Navy Pier. What a great weekend!










Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Chicago {Taiya: 9 months old}

The end of April we made the 3 hour drive from Indiana to Chicago, which will be our home for the next few months. We are living in a northern suburb and loving it! More about our Chi Town adventures...

... 9 month pictures ...



Always on standing on her tip toes.

Loves playing with her tongue.


She hates crawling on hard surfaces.. so she walks on her hands and feet...

Miss Attitude



...What Taiya started doing at 9 months...

She loves clap for herself.

Little miss jumper.

Love those cute dimples.

Mommy and baby cuddles.

Cutest little tootsies.


Poor baby. So tired she fell asleep sitting up.

One of the best parts of being in Chicago is that my friend Jess is out here for the summer too. She is living about 30 minutes away (which is a long ways when you don't have a car) but we our doing our best to get together weekly. Our girls also love playing together- at least Taiya loves to follow Josie around and wants to do everything she does.









We went to lunch here. The strawberry oreo shake was to die for. I'm obsessed.