Christmas Show

Leah's second Christmas show. She did great! Another year of maturity and a bigger dressing area made the experience much more enjoyable for her. I came down with strep which was just about the worst thing ever for me. I thought I was dying. I was sad to miss helping Leah prep and volunteer backstage. I rallied for Sunday and got to help her more and did my day of backstage volunteering. 

 Leah loved that "her people" came to see her. This year some friends from Girl Scouts, came, too. I think she sold several of them into joining the show next year. We would love that!

 Leah can do the same tongue trick I can do. We took selfies backstage for fun on the last day. 

Leah had SO MUCH fun with this. She loved every minute. She is back to seriously considering the dance team. I have to say, it was much more enjoyable for me the second time through, knowing what to expect. Having a bigger dressing area was key for everyone's enjoyment as well. We shall see what she decides to do! 

Chicago

After Chris accepted an offer, we made a quick 4 day get-a-way to Chicago. For the first time in years we didn't take a summer vacation (or a Spring vacation!). We obviously didn't go anywhere in the Spring because I was 36 weeks pregnant, and didn't in the summer because we weren't sure when Chris's job would be winding down or how long it was going to take him to get a new one. We love to travel, and I am positive we were all missing exploring and relaxing together. I was missing planning, too, as that is one of my favorite parts of vacations. We had 1 weekend before Chris started his new job, so we took a few days off and headed off to one of our favorite cities. 

We had never been in the Winter. It was fun to see the big tree and everything all decorated. It was cold, though, and our little "travelers" lacked the conditioning to walk for too long without complaining bitterly. Miss Juliet Renee would purposely lag a few steps behind us and then try to hail cabs. I think Chris and I explained (and loudly reminded) about seventy billion times that WE LIKE TO WALK AND WERE NOT GETTING A CAB TO GO 1 MILE. 

We went to the Christmas Kindermarket every day. Chris and I were both sick when we were there, and the hot wine did excellent things for our sinuses and throats. The girls liked walking around and looking at all the cool stuff and munching on whatever junk food caught their eye.

 We spent a morning at The Shedd, and Juliet touched a starfish for the first time. She NEVER wants to touch anything in these types of places, so it was a big thing for her. She was so proud (and we were, too!).

We had lunch in The Shedd, and I told Chris about how the last time we were there I walked down a certain set of stairs and thought that my period was starting. I was so sad but tried to not be bothered since I was on vacation. It wasn't, and Bear was actually in there already growing. I have so many memories like that from our weeks in Chicago in 2017. It was a bit surreal to walk around many of the spots where I wondered and worried about our family and having another baby, but be back with the baby that was all ready there during all those thoughts. 

 We walked around Macy's to see the decorations. I have to say, they didn't live up to the hype. It was about 5,000 degrees in there, too. 

We went to American Girl and had just about the worst dinner out we've ever had. They served Chris and I about 15 minutes before the girls. They spilled salad dressing all over C's jacket. My salad was totally tasteless. Juliet's cheeseburger was way overcooked. Even with the $30 off they gave us for spilling all over the jacket, it was still so very overpriced for what it was. I'm not sure how much longer the girls will want to go there, and I'm sad that after so many meals there we might go out on this note. 

 Each girl got a doll's hair done and then we shopped a bit. Bear liked Julie's chair.

 A nice view to wake up to. 

 We went to the art museum. It was so much bigger than I remembered(?) or thought. I can't remember if I came here before or not. The girls loved the audio guides and seeing work from artists they have learned about. 

 The Monet room was a total favorite. For some reason, I think this was my favorite piece in the room. 

 They both sat in front of this Picasso for a long time appreciating it while listening to the guide.  

 I could have spent all day in front of the Chagall windows. They were so beautiful. 

 Juliet was getting to be a little done after a few hours in the museum, so to entertain her we started posing in front of the art like the women and taking pictures.  Leah loved the Japanese art. 

 Hot cocoa for all! 

The Bean is always so much fun. Who would have thought?! 

 First vacation as a family of five. Nailed it! 

Bear is EIGHT Months

Little Big Elf,

What a month! We got in the Christmas spirit this month. You cut down a Christmas tree (and ate a plate of refried beans at lunch afterward), saw Santa, decorated the house, appreciated Christmas lights, took your first vacation, and for the first time had a slew of babysitters as Mommy and Daddy were both working. You didn't get sick even though Juliet, Daddy, and I all were pretty sick this month.

Here are some pictures of you all in your Christmas jammies. This was after Leah's Christmas Show on the last day, so she still has a bit of make-up on. 

You continue to love to eat.  You now have 7.5 teeth (it was a big month for your mouth!). Your favorite foods seems to be meat! Meatballs, rotisserie chicken, and meatloaf are all very appreciated by you. Failing the availability of those, then you seem to like cottage cheese or string cheese the best. This month you learned to pull up and are doing it non-stop. In the past few days you've been experimenting with standing up one handed, or even just with a finger or two. It won't be long before you are standing (tears!). But, you still love Mama best and one of my favorite things is when you frantically crawl to me while making loud screaming noises.

This month Daddy went back to work. He was off for about a month with both of us and about a month with just you after I went back. You really liked "dude time" and it was wonderful to see your bond get a little deeper as you two spent your days together. I loved (and was jealous at the same time) when Daddy told me about your days and about how you would sleep so long on him that he would have to pee and eventually have to wake you up so he could use the restroom. It was funny that I was the "breadwinner" for a few weeks there (thank God that has ended or we would be living under a bridge). You spent your days with Daddy watching various "dude" movies and completely inappropriate for children TV shows, taking long walks around the neighborhood, and playing while Daddy looked for jobs. Daddy would try to get projects done, then tell me how hard it was to do so with a baby (I've been telling him that for years!).

You are no longer the great sleeper I used to brag about. You now are up several times a night and move around the bed like a wild man. I can't count the number of times I've woken up to a slap or hair pull by you. I try my best to put you back to sleep with out nursing for too long and that often means that we wrestle around until you give up and go back to sleep. That lands us in some interesting positions. You love to stick your head into pillows which I hate,  but at least I know a monitor will go off if you can't breathe. 

You went to Chicago which you LOVED. Save for about 10 minutes both ways there and back when you had a little bit of a car meltdown, you were amazing. You barely slept as we explored the city because you wanted to take it all in, too. You would take catnaps in the Ergo, but just mainly wanted to be awake looking all around.

When Daddy went back to work we had various people watch you until we could find a permanent babysitter. You did great with all of them! You still seem to need to be held during naps which we will have to work on with the new babysitter (but not with me. I will hold you until you are 15 if you'd like).

This month you started biting when you are tired. Mainly just me. I have little bruises all over me compliments of you telling me you are ready to go to sleep. When I tell you "NO" firmly, you stick out your lower lip and cry with despair that you somehow did something wrong. You get a look on your face like, "You have it all wrong. I'm perfect." You always forgive me, though (then bite me the next time you want to go to sleep).

You now can real crawl, but when you want to be fast you still army crawl. You LOVE getting to things that are not yours. The stick for the doorwall is one of your favorite toys. You also love to crawl all around and under the kitchen table. You love to get to the animals and pull their fur. They usually don't mind because you share your food with them so often. At a Christmas celebration you showed us that you can climb a flight of stairs all by yourself.

 You are still big. Many 6-12 month clothes are coming close to being too small. You weigh 24 pounds, which is much less than we thought (Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa all took bets--ranging from 25-30 pounds--I won with my 25 pound bet). I just had to buy you a bunch of new clothes so that you don't freeze in a few weeks when you officially outgrow everything. You wear all size 4 diapers.

We love you SO MUCH, Bearsey Boy. Wait to be EIGHT months. Please slow down just a bit, though.

Everyday Days

 Brain has been there for every baby I've had. He's loved them all. Teddy reminds me of Leah with Brain. He is very interested and does his best to be very gentle. I love seeing them together. He's getting older, which always scares me. And Chris, too, apparently. He's been letting Brain sleep *literally* on his head for the past year. I wake up in the middle of the night and laugh because Chris looks like a sleeping Russian, with a giant fur hat on. Brain thinks he belongs there now, and can't be tricked into sleeping with Leah as much as he used to. 

 We finally put up this guys crib. We meaning Chris. And only Chris. And it's a good thing, too, because Bear has slept in there for a grand total of 3 minutes in the one plus month that it's been up. He is spoiled rotten with getting held for naps, which remains A-OK with me. I am keenly aware of how fast time passes, and am determined to be there for every minute I can be. Soon he will be like Leah, sleeping to 10:30 whenever possible and complaining that I am embarrassing him all the time.

 Around Halloween, we were "Boo-ed". The girls thought it was the best thing ever. They got a lot of great treats, and couldn't wait to share the idea. They were so interested in who got us, and even after watching our doorbell recording, they couldn't figure it out (a smart 4 year old did her best to cover it during the act!). We picked 2 neighborhood friends to get. We had a lot of fun going under the cover of darkness (wearing masks, naturally) and ringing doorbells. We got one of Leah's friends who is Japanese, and here for only 2 years. I think we scared them by ringing the bell so many times at night. They never answered! I later found out the dad was away on business and they didn't want to answer the door. I had to text the mom the next day and explain it all (and tell her to get the stuff off her porch). They thought it was great once they understood. 

 Tilly and Ollie LOVE that Bear gets real food now. They crowd all around him when it is food o'clock. Ollie is always licking Bear's hands, and he seems alright with that!

 Teddy's first beater! He was so excited to eat it. What a big boy!