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This girl loves her sand toys!!!!

Mom, ok. I smiled for your pic. Now can you help me build a sand castle?

Oh yeah. Rocking’ a 4T swim suit. Gap runs small , right?!?

Hurry Mom ! Onto the next adventure – or lunch!!!

Photo credit: Kaila

Natalie and her two best girlfriends met up at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday – Taylor on the left side of the picture and Molly on the right.  Taylor is turning 1 tomorrow (happy bday, T!) and Molly is 21 months.  Given that 5 of the 6 parents of these cuties went to ND, we’re hoping that we’ll all get to meet up at Junior Parents Weekend…. or London, if the girls decide to study abroad in London spring of Junior Year (as 4 of 6 parents did!)  This is obviously one of the huge perks of living in the City.

For more pics, visit our friends’ blogs:

Molly’s – http://babycashew.blogspot.com/ 

Taylor’s – http://santucci-family.blogspot.com/ (Pics aren’t up yet, but I’m sure they will be soon!)

My mom recently treated Natalie to a new toy – a stroller for her to push.  (I have been wanting her to have one for awhile, as I new she would love it – she likes to help push her big stroller, which is challenging, given her pint-size and she likes pushing her friends’ baby strollers too.)  My mom included a special treat in the stroller – Minnie Mouse, courtesy of my little sister Leah’s tremendous stuffed animal collection.  We think Minnie Mouse hails from our first plane trip to Florida when I was in 7th grade.  (Compare this to Natalie, who had been on 3 plane trips before her first birthday!)

It was love at first site.  When Natalie walked inside my parents’ house, she immediately released an “ooo” and proceeded to play with the stroller all weekend.  My mom sent us back to Chicago with the stroller – and at the last minute, insisted I take Minnie too.  When we got back to Chicago, Natalie took a nap – and when she awoke, the first thing she wanted to do was set up her stroller again.  I tried to put a new giraffe I bought her in the stroller – she wanted nothing to do with it.  So, I put her 2nd favorite stuffed animal in – Yot who lives in  Pot (Dr. Seuss). 

Then, we went on a walk to the park.  On our return home from the park, we stopped at our car to get Minnie.  Natalie let out audible excitement and proceeded to carry Minnie the remaining 2 blocks home, gently patting her back as to reassure her that “everything was alright” and that Mannie wouldn’t have to spend any more time in the car without her!

Then, when we got home, Natalie immediately threw Yot out of the stroller and onto the floor, so that Minnie could resume her rightful place.  The next day, when Natalie saw Kaila for the first time in nearly a week, she rushed to show Kaila her new toy.  I’m sure Kaila loves Minnie just as much as Natalie.

Thank goodness Natalie has grandparents who live in Florida, so we have an easy way to indulge a future request to go to Walt Disney World.  I wonder when that request happens – hopefully not until age 4?!?!

Our good friend Derek is in town for his bachelor party.  Jordan is at the Cubs game with him, as I type.  However, Derek first kicked off the weekend as most bachelors typically do… on a play date with two 1-year-olds and their mommies.

Hey, I just threw that too you - now can I have it back?

Uh oh - a pop fly!

Derek also gave Natalie a coloring set-to-go… Natalie loved it.  It looks just like Mommy’s Vera Bradley bag! 

 

Who is ready for school? ME!!!!

 

She did try to take out the crayons to see if they worked like sidewalk chalk – a wonderful toy that Kaila recently introduced her too.   The above caption is very purposeful – we often ask Natalie questions…. “Who wants to go to the Children’s Museum?  Who is hungry for dinner?  Who wants to read stories?” and she responds with the sweetest, most energetic “ME!!!”

 

Finally, as my mom reminded me, happy 17 months to Natalie!  I cannot believe she’s almost 1.5 years old!

 

 

Kaila gets the photo credit.

I know I loved my first Mother’s Day, but my second one was even better!  Despite another cold and some terrible teething, Natalie and Jordan really outdid themselves!  (Thankfully, Natalie was also in a much better mood than she was in Saturday aft.)

The day started out with flowers and a family date to the Children’s Museum.  We asked Natalie in the morning, “Who wants to go to the Children’s Museum?” and she eagerly responded “MEEE!!!”  Natalie made sure to take us to her favorites – Water Ways and Treehouse Trails – and Jordan made sure to show Natalie something new too.

Hm, I'm still not sure why you use this club when you could just throw the ball in the hole....

A pretty frame from a pretty girl!

Mom, when am I going to have pretty long hair like Kaila's?

We had a terrific time in Colorado for my college roommate’s wedding. Congrats Dina and Andrew!

As you can tell from the fact that I don’t have a pic of the groom, I was very focused on hanging out with some of the best girlfriends! Oh and my hubby who tore it up on the dance floor, per usual. (see below. The pics didn’t load in the right order)

However, after waking up at 645, we have been delayed more than 3 hours – two of which were on the plane – due to bad weather in Chicago. We know Natalie is in great hands with Nana, Pop, Aunt Jira and Uncle Alex, but we are incredibly eager to get back to the cutest girl in the world.

It’s the first time we have both been away from her for two nights. Thankfully, I took tomorrow as a vacation day and we are going to have a play date with some of our friends!!