Visitors

This weekend my mom came back for another visit (it was the third time she made the 12-hour drive to Chicago in 5 weeks... she must really love me, or Clara actually) and this time she brought Katelyn with her (who quickly fell in love with the city... I agree it's pretty awesome here!).

They babysat and we went on our first solo date since Clara's birth... breakfast at Over Easy ... soo good! (I'll have to start a Chicago restaurants post soon- we've already discovered a handful of favorites!)

My brother has been begging for the truck, so mom took it with her when she left (and we got to keep the Accord- not a bad deal). I don't think Dustin was too sad to see it go. He had to take a few goodbye pics though...

And a few other shots found on Dustin's phone. We call this one "gangsta Clara":

look-alike

Jessie & Daddy @ 5 weeks 

1986

 (sorry about the image quality- I didn't have access to a scanner so I resorted to the 

"taking a picture of a picture" method)

Clara & Grandpa @ 6 weeks

2012
(funny how my dad is still wearing a Hawaii t-shirt...
it's safe to say his style hasn't evolved much in 26 years)

thirty-one

On Friday the 13th Dustin turned 31! He had to work all day so the three of us celebrated at home in the evening with our go-to Mexican take-out, a present or two, and mini birthday cake.

Saturday we ventured downtown to Taste of Chicago. We were a bit disappointed in the food selection (not that there's anything wrong with deep dish and hot dogs)- we were just expecting a few more "gourmet" options. So on the way home we stopped for Epic Burgers  and then got caught in a massive downpour. By the time we made it to the metro and from the metro home, we were... wet.

Happy 31st, Dus. We love you!

Music in the Park

Monday night, free concert in Millennium park, with the other pediatric residents...

It's about a 15 min walk to our nearest el stop, but it beats paying 30$ to park. So we strapped Clara on and took the el (elevated) train downtown. She seemed in awe/completely overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds. Better get used to it, baby girl. This is how we get around now.

Tidbits

So far in Chicago...

My family moved us out and then Brooke stayed with us for a few weeks before my parents came back again to pick her up. This'll be our first week alone in the city (just the three of us) and my first week alone with Clara since she was born. Dustin starts taking patients today. (I've been a lucky girl having Dustin and/or my family around since her birth.) 

We haven't had the chance to explore too much of the city but I'm already falling in love with the food and the shopping and the excitement of living here. (Just not the noise, the parking, and the crazy high sales tax.)

We miss our Richmond friends and are much too far from both our families. We would love to have visitors! Come stay in our extra room and see Chicago! (We mean it.)


Clara is already 2 months old. I wish I had stats to share but since we haven't been to the doctor yet (waiting for new insurance coverage to start) I have no idea how much weight she's gained or how tall she's grown. All I know is that she's growing up way too fast! She smiles and squawks nonstop. She sleeps 8-10 hours most nights. (Awesome.) She holds her head up and kicks and squirms all over the place. We've been fighting the bottle wars- if we give her the right bottle with perfectly warmed milk and I'm the one to give it to her, she'll guzzle it down (no screaming or tears). That's major progress. Now if only she'd let someone else feed her. Bottle drama aside, we totally love her. And still wonder where she got that adorable nose.