for the Fourth

We started our Independence Day celebration with a trip to the beach (we headed north to Rogers Park where it's slightly less crowded). It wasn't particularly warm or sunny and the water is always ice cold. (We've yet to have a pleasant beach day at Lake Michigan. Usually the wind is whipping sand into your eyes and you wonder why you even bothered. This is Chicago, after all.)

Dustin took these photos of Clara...

She hasn't let go of that bucket since we left the beach a week ago. (Except to drop it into the toilet.) And lately she is super-cuddly and nuzzles her nose into our legs when she wants our attention. (Both adorable and annoying!)

We co-hosted a BBQ with our friends next door. We spread out on our shared deck and two apartments. It's the perfect situation.

Good friends. (Sadly, I didn't get pictures of everyone.) And good food.

And after the babes went to bed we sat out watching the hundreds of completely illegal firework shows.

spring-summer days

the last few weeks in photos

with Megan and Blake at the Lincoln Square farmers market

(the fruit and veggies are great, but let's be honest we go for the grilled cheese and crepes!)

a little shopping (with two tired babes)

and lots more eating

we babysat Lincoln (our permanent next door neighbor) and he only wanted Dustin

which meant Clara only wanted Dustin

 the last time she'll ever get a squeezy pouch to eat in her car seat

Clara's favorite chore: unfolding laundry
(it makes her so happy I can't bring myself to stop her)

Dustin and his male co-residents at the annual Graduation dinner

(80th floor of the Aon Center)

we left a sleeping Clara for a night above Chicago

hooray for babysitters next door! 

(that's the Sears/Willis tower behind us)

first birthday photos

back at the beginning of May I had my friend and photographer (and then neighbor), Bryn Stucki, take pictures of Clara (who wasn't her happiest self that day and kept giving us her crooked chomping smile- thank you, teething- but glares and all I love them anyway)

oh, and there was no styling involved. we just let her little bit of hair do its thing

here are a few of my favorites...

thank you for capturing these, Bryn!!

all photos by Bryn Stucki, http://brynstuckiphotography.blogspot.com/

she walks! (and a few other moments)

from the last month or so...

sharing a burrito bowl

(the girl LOVES food. you'd never guess since she's so petite)

  

took her nap sitting

(she hasn't figured out how to lay back down on her own yet, so she gets stuck)

this mama on mother's day

soothing a sad baby

(note the big bags under my eyes from a streak of nights awake listening to Clara coughing)

don't try to get a cute picture of Clara at bedtime

I love these faces because I see them much more often than is represented here (as in on this blog)

thank you, Chicago, for your multitude of parks

this girl loves her playgrounds

and with "dada" on father's day 

just us girls

Kristin and baby Madeleine (almost 8 months) came to stay for a few days on their way to Minneapolis. Two babes in a small space can be frightening. But they seemed to love each other's company and despite the squishy circumstances, slept great. (Uh, except for Clara's nonstop coughing that's mostly keeping me up all night. She's not super sick but she won't stop hacking. Poor thing.)

As usual, Kristin and I didn't take many pictures. I guess we were just too busy enjoying each other's company to pull out a camera.

We joined my temporary (her husband is here for a summer internship) next door neighbor, Megan, and baby Blake for a few adventures. We took our jogging strollers and babes x 3 on a run and to the park. We made it to the lake front beach to be greeted by storm clouds and wind. (At least we pulled out the swim suits for the first time this summer.) And then downtown (with our parade of massive strollers) via the train for a sweaty stroll down Michigan Ave, sandwiches in Millenium Park, a stop at the bean, and, of course, some shopping.

Missing you two already.

the week we moved a mile away

our new place is practically up the street (and then a few blocks east)
but it didn't matter because moving was is still miserable

our new apartment is a third floor unit
with no elevator
so our movers (dustin, my dad, and two much bigger men we hired) hated it
but my glutes are thanking me

we found the place because friends in our ward live next door
we share a landing and back deck
it's perfect for two moms with little ones
we'll have each other

best of all our new apartment isn't so old and creepy
it has a modern kitchen (more modern everything, actually), a real working fireplace
and oodles of glorious sunlight
(I'll share pictures of it all- eventually)

my brother was in town for a visit the week before
my parents came as well and stuck around through the move to help out
dustin had a dental conference in Orlando a few days before (Clara and I wanted to join him but we were, ah, moving)
so it was crazy

but we fit in a few fun things

a tour of Wrigley field

our first Cubs game
on our last day living in Wrigleyville
(although, like I mentioned, we're still close)

Ukrainian food in Ukrainian villiage (because Jacob served his mission in Ukraine)
the borscht was amazing

and lots of time spent running around with Uncle

(my parents were there- sadly, they just didn't make it into many pictures!)