Chicago Day 2:Part 1

Day 1 of Chicago was a take it easy and rest kinda day. On day 2 we were ready to go, see, and do. As we were walking to the bus stop, we discovered quite a sight.

How could we not take a picture of this eye-catching sight? This 30-foot eyeball sculpture, "EYE," By Tony Tasset can be found at Pritzker Park.

We started Friday with a trip to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. http://www.msichicago.org/ this place has a little bit of everything that young and old can enjoy. I think we spent about 3 hours walking around this incredible place. The first exhibit we visited was the Idea Factory. This really cool exhibit was only for Babies-10year olds and parents. The interactive activities, encourage scientific exploration,which allow them to discover scientific principles for themselves. Both of my boys had a blast here.

Farm Tech was the second exhibited we saw. Hendrix was very excited to see a tractor up close. It was at that point that I went snap happy with the camera.

There was way more than just the tractor at the Farm Tech exhibit but apparently not worthy enough for me to take more pictures.

Last but not least, a picture of David and Hendrix with one of Jeff Gordon's fire suits.

While that was a ton of pictures, there were so many things that were really cool that I didn't get a picture of. At the Science Storms exhibit we saw an indoor tornado, lightning, and mud slide. The museum also has a Transportation Gallery where, among other planes, there is a real full size United 727 hanging from the balcony, that you can actually walk through!

As much fun as the museum was, Friday evening was the real highlight of our week in Chicago. More to come in Day 2: Part 2.

Chicago!

David, Hendrix, and I just returned home from a WONDERFULLY FANTASTIC trip to Chicago for a 2nd year meetup of the Jan09Mamas. We went, we saw, we did, we ATE. The day before we left, Hendrix helped me pack:


Hendrix did wonderful on the plane, and was less than enthused with the train ride.



I personally found the public transportation to be very convinient! Turns out he just needed a snack to return to my happy boy again.




We soon arrived to our hotel, where all 17 of the babies/mamas (and some husbands and siblings) stayed.


We decided since there wasn't a whole lot of day left, and we were pretty exhausted from traveling that we would just grab an early dinner and walk around a bit. David was excited to eat at one of the three places that Man V. Food had visited in Chicago..so off we went to Gino's East Pizza. I just realized that we ate TONS of pizza but took no pictures of it! Regardless, the pizza was amazing, AND they let you write on their walls to commemorate your visit. Here is David leaving our mark.



Whew, all that was JUST Thursday, more of the weekend later.

Father's Day

I'm a bit behind with this post but I wanted to share. I'm pretty sure I can never top this years' Father's Day gift..I'm not one to brag..but it was pretty awesome. I (I mean Hendrix) came up with a very creative gift.

Back story:

David and I love watching this show called "Chopped" on Food Network. Four chefs are given baskets filled with crazy ingredients that make no sense and are required to make a meal using everything in the basket. Read more here.

Here is the basket I made David.

Inside the basket I included:

Bison chuck roast

Pink Peppercorns

Balsamic Vinegar

Purple Potatoes

Here is what my AMAZING husband chef cooked up!

You & Me Going Fishin' in the Dark!

The past 2 Friday nights my parents, David, Hendrix, and I have packed up a cooler and spent the evening at Benbrook Lake. Last Friday I caught *drumroll please* 6 perch! My dad then took them as bait Saturday morning. Each time we've gone Hendrix has nearly given my mom a heart attack because he likes to run straight into the water. This boy has no fear. Here is a great (albeit not great quality) picture that my mom took of Hendrix and Grandpa talking about fishing.

17 Months Old

My sweet boy is 17 months old today. He's growing up so fast! I can barely remember him as a baby. I look back at pictures and wonder if that time really existed. I know everyone thinks their kid is a genius...but really I do. We made a list of all the sign language signs that Hendrix knows and we came up with 19!!!! That is amazing to me. Even though he doesn't SAY a ton of words, he KNOWS what a ton of words mean. Just the other day we were in the bedroom and I told him we needed to take a shower. I look up and he's running to the bathroom and starts banging on the shower door. Harvard material I tell you. No wait, that's too far away!

I tried snapping a few pictures of H today, but if you've ever tried to make a toddler sit still, you know it's a losing battle. Here's the best I could do.

These Words Speak To Me

Kelle Hampton is one of my favorite bloggers. I actually had no idea who she was until one my friends (Melissa I think) posted a FB link to her blog. Her 2nd daughter was born with Down Syndrome and she had no idea until delivery.

Today she said the words that my heart have felt ever since my first pregnancy complication (subchorionic hematoma) and I felt it again at our 20week appt when we found out Hendrix had a CCAM on his right lung....and kept feeling this all throughout the many high risk dr appts and pediatric surgeon appts. I still thank God for healing my sweet boy and surgery was never needed.

RAMBLING SORRY!!

So here is what she said today:"Nella had her four month appointment yesterday.And, amid most of the time where I honestly forget she's different, I am reminded every once and awhile. Like getting ready to go to the doctor and feeling a little flutter inside. Like what if they tell me something. Like what if they rock my world again. Like what if one of those "increased likelihoods" that happen to attach themselves to that sweet little chromosome comes true. But, here's the thing. Once you become a parent...once you start feeling a little funny and you buy that pregnancy test...once you see a pink plus sign...once you know it's not just you anymore...well, you automatically carry around, for the rest of your life, an increased likelihood. To have your heart broken. And it's a constant fear that we struggle to put to rest.And we can choose to be afraid or we can choose to live. And I choose to live. Because an "increased likelihood of having your heart broken" also carries with it an increased likelihood to find yourself the happiest you've ever been in life."

If that doesn't put things into perspective I don't know what does. Her attitude SINGS TO ME!!!

Thank you. Ramble over.

Coming to an End

This morning may have been H's last time to nurse. It's getting less and less common. I cherished every moment. I sat up in bed (as opposed to my laying-down-half-asleep position) and I held his long body that no longer fits in my cradled arms. Here lately he has only been nursing a few minutes on each side, but this morning was different. It was as if he was cherishing it too. While nursing he signed dad, so I said "dad" followed by "mom". He stopped nursing just long enough to say "mama" which brought me to tears because he very rarely says mama. I made sure to sing him the "mommy's milk is so good" little jingle I made up and have been singing him since the very beginning. I also tickled him just to see his silly I'm-trying-so-hard-not-to-laugh-while-nursing face he does that I adore so much. Ahhh...I love this kid. A lot.