The Windy City...

We took a mini vacation to Chicago to meet up with Mimi and Papa for the weekend and enjoy some time together as a family before mommy has to head to work full time...we had a wonderful (although not so relaxing time).  It was Caleb's first trip in a hotel and he did not do very well.  He and Hannah shared the front room of our suite and Craig and I had the back.  Caleb woke up around 4 am on Saturday and wouldn't go back to sleep...of course we didn't want him to wake Hannah, so we brought him in with us...that didn't solve it either.  We probably would have been better off to just leave him where he was...I am too soon to forget that Hannah could sleep through a freight train rolling through her room (she does take naps every day at daycare with 11 other one and two year olds)!  We had a great time, none the less...someday we'll catch up on our sleep.  This weekend we just got to spend way more time with Caleb than we thought we would :).

Here's Caleb's first dip in the pool...he loved it and Hannah loved being thrown up in the air and jumping off the side into Daddy's arms.  

Drying off...getting ready to go and see Mimi and Papa for the first time since Christmas...

Hannah enjoying her independence being able to play on the steps in the pool...

Saturday we had breakfast (LOTS of coffee) and headed downtown to take in the sights and do a little shopping.  Of course the first stop was to American Girl.  Hannah enjoying playing with all of their accessories and walked out with a new outfit for her bitty baby, Rose.  If you have never been to an American Girl store...that place is the empire of all empires...makes my love of Cabbage Patch Kids back in the day not seem so impressive!!  

Here's Caleb at the American Girl store thinking--you have GOT to be kidding me...I'm so glad to be a boy!

Mimi and Hannah doing what us girls do best...shopping!

At the WaterTower place, Hannah was a little scared of the glass elevator.  I told her to cover her eyes and somehow that seemed to help...she's a nut for sure!

Daddy and Hannah in the big city...it was a little chilly, but the sun was wonderful and allowed us to walk several blocks to the Disney story and further still to the Nordstrom building.

Here's Woody at LegoLand...Hannah loves the Toy Story movies and she was excited to see him in 'real' life.

Unfortunately our visit with Mimi and Papa had to come to an end...we planned to make a quick trip to Shedd Aquarium on our way home and let the kids nap in the car.  We parked in the parking garage at the football field and walked (in the cold, cold drizzle) to the entrance...upon getting closer we commented on how many people there were in line...of course we had to head to the stroller lane and upon asking the attendant how long with wait was to get in, he said an hour and a half.  Since we had already paid our money for parking, we decided to wait it out...it wouldn't really take 90 minutes would it?  No, he was wrong.  It took more like two hours and 15 minutes.  Lucky for me I got to go inside with Caleb to feed him and when I returned I was informed it was free admission day and that's why all of Chicago and the surrounding communities were there waiting in the rain to get in.  I was able to go wait inside in the cafeteria area with Hannah and Caleb until Daddy was able to get into the door...after all of that, we were on the elevator right about nap time.  Caleb slept most of the afternoon (since he hadn't slept at night) and Hannah was a real trooper watching all the fish and loving the penguins.  

Hannah was so glad to find Nemo!!

We had a picnic lunch in the basement under the dolphin show.  We were able to see them get ready to jump into the air and them swim towards the bottom.  Hannah was amazed...and so was Daddy--this was his first trip there, too.

We did pay extra to watch the dolphin show and to get into some of the special areas.  Craig and I were both very disappointed in the dolphin show, that it was more of an educational tutorial of how they train the dolphins than an actual dolphin trick show...but...when it was over and we were walking toward the stroller, Hannah said, "That was great!".  At that moment, I didn't care how long we waited or how much money we spent...it was all worth it!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

The day filled with love!!!  I was so thankful to be able to spend Valentine's day with my two special little sweeties!!  Hannah had a party at school which I was able to take her to...here she is sporting her Valentine hat she made and decorated with stickers.

And checking out her Valentine box that she took such wonderful care in painting.  She was able to pass out Valentine's to all of her little friends...all who were excited to have a new pencil, eraser and lolli!

When we got home it was time for our Valentine celebration!  Daddy bought Hannah a special flashlight (so she wouldn't break his) and she enjoyed learning how to use it.  She also got some new sneakers...her first pair of Nikes.  She likes to put them on and run circles around the house saying how fast she is :).

Mr. Man with his new swimsuit that he received for Valentine's day...it doesn't take much to make him smile!

He looks fierce like a shark, doesn't he!!

Hannah eating the chocolate off her chocolate covered strawberry :)

Caleb didn't get to enjoy a sweet treat, however, he did get to enjoy some rice cereal...yummy!!!

I could not feel more blessed to have a home filled with such tremendous love each and every day.  I love each day that I wake up knowing that I get to spend time with the most wonderful kids and husband a gal could have.  I look forward to every smile and kiss, every tear and whine, every lunch I have to pack and every book I get to read.  Sure, I get stuck in the routine and feel overwhelmed at times with too many things to do and too many places to go, but at the end of the day when I kiss my kids goodnight I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness that God chose me to be the mommy and wife that I am.  

Sibling bonding...

For the first time when I asked Hannah to play with Caleb, she actually did!!  This is the beginning of such a wonderful friendship.  She showed Caleb what each item was and how to make them  make noises.  He is an intent listener!!

Still listening...

Hey, sis, when you weren't looking I played with your My Little Pony...

 

Blizzard 2011...

Well, we got a little bit of snow over the past couple of days...not as much as my poor parents in Missouri who don't have the luxury of a snowblower...but enough to cancel schools and work and make bread and milk a hot commodity at the grocery store!  After the flakes stopped falling it really turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon with the sun shining...what a perfect opportunity to make some tracks in our snow!  

Here's Hannah on the 'dog trail' to the backyard.

 Swinging in the snow...

 Baby brother all bundled up and just hanging out...literally!

 Hannah, the human snow-pusher...

 Mmmm...nothing better than fresh snow to eat!!

 Furry brother Ike agrees.  He loves the snow and insists (by barking incessantly) for you to pack up some snow and toss him a ball.  He dives right in!

 Hannah enjoying an icicle.

 And the highlight of the afternoon...sledding down the freshly snow-blown drive way.  There was absolutely no traffic so Caleb and I were at the bottom cheering Hannah on as daddy pushed her down the hill...more more more more more!!!

 I LOVE to see my little girl with such a huge smile!

 Our snow gauge...she's about 35 inches tall...

Our biggie boy!!

Caleb  has just started really being able to sit up by himself...here he is today amidst his landing pad of pillows playing with one of his favorite penguin toys...he is just SO darn cute and SO happy!

Caleb's first taste...

After months of sleeping through the night our little Caleb started waking up...so, I called the pediatrician and got the go-ahead to start him on some rice cereal...it went something like this:

Always pray first...good boy!!

 First spoonful...

 What is this stuff??

 Uh...Dad...Me no likey!

 I don't think so, dad!

 There, these taste better!

 Well, maybe it wasn't so bad...I'll try again...

 Nope, just as bad as I remembered!

 Interestingly enough, Hannah wanted to give it a try and had to chase it down with some milk...I don't blame him for not liking it...I've started to make some baby food, so in a few weeks we'll introduce him to some yummies he is sure to like!!

Another month down...

We have been so busy and it seems like the we have gone through SO many changes in the past month...I feel very far behind.  Here's a journey through our January:

Since we were passed all of the holiday travel and activities...we figured there was no better time to start potty training Hannah.  She had been using the potty successfully at school for a few weeks and Hannah seemed interested in her little potty at home...after talking about it for several days we took the plunge and threw away all of Hannah's diapers in quite a dramatic ceremony, tried on her new Elmo big girl underwear and prayed for the best.  The first day, January 8, was a breeze, she went every time we took her, we read books and sang songs and put stickers on her chart, and it was quite a fun day...we thought we had this licked.  What was all the hype about anyway...all the books and advice and programs available...we didn't need any of that...or so we thought.  Then, there was day two...our little precious Hannah showed her stubborn, independent streak that we have rarely seen before.  The battle ensued as we tried to get her to go before we were to leave for our bible study group at church...there was no getting her on that potty.  We were sure she would have an accident on the way there and tried to bribe her in any way we knew.  No such luck...when we got to church she seemed interested in checking out the potty room there (which, come to find out was a favorite activity of her father's and is certainly a strong gene as EVERYWHERE we go Hannah has to check out the pot!)...but she was more interested in the paper towel holder she could reach on her own.  So about 30 minutes later poor Mallory had to come and tell us Hannah had an accident...it was down hill from there.  The third day was the most difficult day we've had with Hannah and by the end of the fourth day we were ready to throw in the towel.  There were tantrums like we had NEVER seen before...we had had enough!  I packed her daycare bag with clothes enough for a small country and dropped her off on Wednesday morning with apologies for what I was sure they were going to endure.  Much to our surprise Miss Hannah did quite well that day and they encouraged us to keep trying...and we did.  Each day got a little better and when she was finally ready she made it happen.  All those books and advice and programs...I read them, sought it and researched them...and the one book I will write on the subject...When they are ready, they will do it!  Doubt it will be a best seller, but it is the truth!!

 Potty training Day 1...this would be the last smile we'd see on our little girl for a while!!  She chose the boots herself...not sure if she has a future in fashion or not...

Later that same week...on January 12, I had to return to work part time.  I am so blessed and thankful to work for a wonderful manager who values family and allowed me to take extended time off and to return to work on a phased return schedule.  It was still a terribly hard day...the first day that we would all head our separate ways and I would be apart from Mr. Caleb for more than just a few hours.  Craig was first out the door as he went to work at Bronson...Hannah and I were next as she went to Little Tykes and me to Pfizer.  And Grandma graciously came to our house to get Caleb up, dressed, and fed in order for us all to have some sanity in the morning!  I could not wait until 3:30 when I could roll my chair away from my computer and run out the door to once again see my family.  These past four months have been some of the best of my life and I will always cherish the time that I was able to spend with Hannah and Caleb. They have both taught me SO much...especially how to love in a way that I have never known before and probably will never be able to explain and do it justice.  I love them with all my heart and these are the smiles that I look forward to at the beginning and end of each of my days...

On a lighter note...Here's Hananh and Daddy rough-housing...it always makes Mommy incredibly nervous, but we haven't had any major boo boos yet...

 Caleb continues to grow bigger and bigger everyday...he LOVES LOVES LOVES his exersaucer and really goes crazy in it...he also likes this jump-a-roo.  His favorite past time, however, is watching his sister.  He'll turn to find her when she enters the rooms and just looks at her with his eyes filled with love...she has really started to take an interest in him, too, and gives him hugs and kisses without being asked...we'll have to remember these times when they are teenagers!

 Concentrating...he looks JUST like his daddy when he has his mind on something.

Our happy baby...

 Hannah had her first sledding experience this past weekend at some friends of our's house.  Much to my surprise she loved it (we had anther trip to Bounceland which I thought she would love and she did not at all...again...when she's ready she will do it)...she had one MAJOR biff which ended with some snow-rash on her check.  Daddy was on tree patrol while holding Caleb...she was sure to hit it so daddy put his foot out to help divert her...and that he did.  She went flying up in the air and somehow landed with her feet straight up...for her mommy being 15 feet away it seemed as though she was in that position for 5 minutes.  A few tears later she was back at it.  She had a great time...

 No, Caleb did not ride down...this was just a pose which only lasted moments until Hannah got her way and was tired of sharing.

 Wheeeeeee...

 Hannah and Savannah...best sledding buds!!

 And our little dude...FIVE months old already!  He has recently started sleeping on his tummy and sleeps so soundly that way.  He started eating cereal this past weekend...well really, it's more we put it in his mouth and he spits it out...but we've started none the less.  He is pretty consistently sitting up by himself with the occasional wobble backwards or forwards.  He's still the greatest little baby boy...always happy and smiling.  He has the greatest laugh and it is quite contagious!  His favorite show on TV is The Price is Right :)...and his favorite activity is bouncing in his exersaucer.  He's all of 16 pounds by now and over 26 inches long...about the size his sister was when she was 8 months old!!  We love our little man and can't wait to see what his sixth month has in store!