DC, Richmond, Raleigh, and Holden Beach

all crammed in to one post. because I don't have the time/energy to do it differently. this'll be a lot of pictures. I'll try to add some captions with a few highlights of the trip. here we go...

our only full day in VA we returned to DC for Eastern Market Crab Cakes

and checked out the Native American Museum

we're road trip wimps (post-Clara) so we split the six hour drive up into segments

we stopped in Richmond for lunch and caught up with friends (plus a few who aren't pictured)

and spent the night in Raleigh so we could visit Tim and Chelsey and Mason

(sad we only got this one blurry iphone pic- oh, well)

then we drove some more (Clara was sickish and slept beautifully in the car)

Holden Beach, at last

day 1 Clara was timid in the water and wouldn't take her shoes off in the sand

but by the end of the week she had ditched her sandals and was running off into the waves

we spent an evening in Southport (adorable town where they filmed Safe Haven and A Walk to Remember)

she's a fish girl, but her favorite part of dinner was the tarter sauce (she proceeded to lick the cup clean)

 Oh, my sister Katelyn and Dan got engaged at the beginning of the week!

loves fishies

these weeks

I should have titled this post "the weeks I wore the same shirt every day" (or at least every time I was caught on camera). I promise I washed it a few times in between :)

Summary of the last few weeks: sick baby (to include teething) and tired us.

So basically a collection of random photos to share of nothing much except runny noses, trips to the park, and a few other outings...

yum. and yes, she ate some.

 the Zoo

 Clara was sick so no smiles

 lately we take her to the park and she wants to spend the entire time sitting on the ladybug

 diaper escapee

(naked and proud)

helping in the kitchen

Butcher and the Burger

sad goodbye to Matt and Megan and Blake

I'm not sure what was going on here but thank goodness it's fake

our second Chicago home

Finally some photos of our new place...

We live on the third (top) floor of a brick walk-up with a little courtyard in front (where we get to buzz people in through the gate) and garage spots (that we access through the back alley). We're only a block away from an el stop (far enough that the train isn't too noisy) and half a block from a fire station (which is super obnoxious)*.

The neighborhood is, ah, a bit sketchy. While I don't miss anything thing about our old place, I do miss those (safer) beautiful streets and parks behind it. Since we're only a mile away, we often go back there for walks/to play.

We've found that living in Chicago (on a budget) there are always trade-offs. We lost our ideal location and a bit of space, but have a much newer, nicer place. I love this apartment (at least compared to our old one). And we still have friends from church living next door!

*When we first moved in the sounds of sirens invaded my sleep (and wake). But after a few days I've, for the most part, gotten used to it. I've learned to tune them out. I didn't realize how well until twice recently driving I've had ambulances trying to pass me and not even noticed them approaching! I don't hear sirens when I'm driving. Dangerous, I know! But there's not much I can do about it as long as I'm living here. I hope they buy my excuse when I get pulled over for not pulling over.

You'll notice Clara followed me around the house as I was taking photos and pops up in them here and there (usually getting into mischief)...

 the bathroom 

nothing fancy, but actually quite spacious by my re-adjusted standards

(Clara helping herself to my make-up, I've since smartened up and moved it out of reach)

 our bedroom/office

the walls are way too dark, but we decided not to mess with any paint colors since we'll only be here a year

thankfully, cave-like bedrooms are good for sleeping

oh, those hardwood floors = love

and we can walk on all three sides of our bed!

 baby girl reading my journal. (she found her ultrasounds)

we had to remove the middle closet doors to make room for the dresser- whatever it takes to fit our stuff

 Clara's room

(considered painting it coral again, but didn't)

usually the floor is littered with books 

 our living room/family room/play room/exercise room

mirrors, mirrors everywhere.

(they make it seem more spacious which is very much appreciated)

 with a real working fireplace this time!

(something to look forward to about winter, I suppose)

also love these big sunny windows

kitchen/dining room/laundry/pantry

a slight upgrade from our last place, huh?

 my baking station

  laundry! (and not in a creepy old basement!!)

 back deck/garden

(that poor tree has since died. I'm not sure what I did (or didn't do), but I'm sure I'm responsible)

So that's the tour of our less-than-a-thousand square foot living space. It's small but (minus the sirens) we love it here!