First Day of Preschool

Lily's first day of 3 year old preschool!!  Such a big girl :)

Kyle's First Birthday Party

We had a baseball-themed party for Kyle's First Birthday Party.  It was cookout on Memorial Day, complete with hot dogs, peanuts, and cracker jack.  Our Cubs colors doubled as a patriotic theme too!

Here is Nana with the party princess.  Her crown and bracelet lit up, which made Lily so happy.

Here's Grandma with the Birthday Boy

So happy with all of his new presents

He dove right into his cake with no hesitation.  He put on a show while everyone watched.  His favorite thing is to clap and watch everyone else clap with him.

The King needed a crown too.  But didn't wear it for long.

Kyle with Grandpa and Nana

Kyle is One!!

Kyle is 1!!

Last monthly photo in the rocker

You may be a "toddler" now, but you'll always be my sweet baby

He's 15 months now... but again, better to post late, than never. :)

Mother's Day 2013

Grandma's Photo Shoot for Lily and Kyle

I found this in my drafts... better late than never!

Grandma started summer vacation so she came up for a quick visit.  She brought her fancy camera and did a little photo shoot for the kids.  Here are a few favorites.

Lily modeling her new favorite dress.  She would wear this every day if I let her.  She must always wear her cupcake necklace with the dress to complete the look.

This toy always makes Kyle smile

Brother - Sister Love

Cinderella at her play house

We used these pictures to make baseball cards for Kyle's 1st Birthday party.  I put them on a box of cracker jack and handed them out as party favors.

I got an idea on the internet to take a picture in adult clothes on every Birthday to see how the child grows.  So this is the first of many to come in this jersey.

We are ready for some football!!

Hi blog friends!  Just wanted you to know that we're alive.  It's been and busy summer and I didn't get anything posted.  I'll see if I can do better this fall.

Zoo Day

In early May, we met Grandma and Papa at Brookfield Zoo to celebrate Grandma's Birthday and early Mother's Day.  The weather was great and we had lots of fun.  We just started an annual pass, so this will be the first of many visits this year.  It was Kyle's first trip!  He loved watching the people and animals.  The petting zoo was closed, which was a bummer, because that used to be Lily's favorite part of the zoo.  (She loved those goats!)  But we got to see the new dinosaur exhibit, which was really cool.

New Videos: Kyle 11 Months, Lily 3

Sweet smiles after his 11 month photo shoot


I love that laugh!


This one is long, but I think it's worth it.  This is their favorite game to play.  Lily lines up all her princesses and Kyle knocks them down.  I can't believe he waits this long before knocking them.  It's like he understands that she's not ready yet.  Then at the end you can see his new game where he plays ball by himself.  So cute!

Kyle is 11 Months

Here's your 11 Month photo shoot Kyle.  So many happy ones... how do I choose the best?

Kyle and Lily were much too squirmy in their pictures 

So what's new with Kyle....
- Still a happy, growing boy.  Wearing 18 month clothes but can also wear 24 months.  Diaper is still size 4.
- Eats mostly what we eat (and what Lily refuses).  Baby food pouches are great on-the-go.  We've pretty much stopped jar baby food.
- Naps have been unpredictable, but I think it's probably my fault.  Lily is busy with activities and friends, so he's not always home for a morning nap.  He doesn't like to sleep on-the-go unless it's in the car.  And sometimes when he gets a morning nap he won't take an afternoon nap.  Remarkably, he's never fussy when he skips a nap.  He has been waking up a lot at night, which is not fun for me.  It can usually be fixed with a found paci or a quick diaper change and then he's back to bed.
- He loves playing with his sister.  He's having more fun now that he's more mobile.  But if she's doing her own thing, he can play on his own too.  The other day I watched him throw a ball and then crawl to catch it.  He kept doing that across the room.  He also loves doors (real ones and doors on toys).  He can open and close them forever!
- He's still sliding on his tummy and doing a weird "worm crawl".  But it gets him where he wants to be... and fast!
- Kyle knows his name and will look at you when you call him.
- Shortly after turning 11 months, his first tooth started poking through.  One of the bottom middle teeth and the pointy one next to it are coming in at the same time.  He's been fussier than normal, but that's still not too bad.  I feel bad because I know that has to hurt!

Mom's Day at Preschool

Yesterday, Lily's school had a Mother's Day celebration.  There was a little fashion show and the kids performed a song.  It was a really fun morning.  

Here is our Mother-Daughter ensemble.  All the clothes were supplied by two local consignment shops.  I went to the store first to pick out my outfit and then I went to the kid's store and they found coordinating items.  I even had a personal shopper help me!  It was fun feeling like a "model" for a little bit.  I was glad Lily had fun with it and wasn't too shy to get up in front of everyone.

Taylor, Lily, and Ava are showing off their adorable outfits.  Lily was missing shoes here but eventually got a pair before the show.  Somebody wore hers the day before and accidentally wore them home instead of leaving them for our show.

Here are the girls practicing before the show

This was the kids' performance for the Moms.  Lily is in the middle of the front row.  She actually sang and did the motions this time!  Wa-hoo!  A big improvement from the Christmas performance.

April Catch Up

The month started out with Kyle celebrating Cubs opening day.  His shirt says "Don't change me until the game is over."

While Matt was busy finishing tax season, the kids and I visited some friends in Chicago: Cassie, Mindy, Kim & her son Jack.  We had a nice brunch and then walked at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Jack and Kyle were glad for sunshine and no rain, but it was still windy and a little chilly.

Lily had excellent zoo tour guides.  It's always more fun to be with the big girls instead of the babies.

This photo was a random dinner night.  I can't remember what was so funny, but they both had a big case of the giggles that night.

This month Lily started taking gymnastics lessons.  And she does it with her BF, Taylor, so it's even more fun!  She goes by herself while Mom and Kyle wait in the lobby and watch through the glass.  

So far she has tried everything they've asked her to do.  I'm so proud of how brave and independent she's getting.  Her favorite seems to be the balance beam.  

There were several bad storms this month.  Lots of rain and flooding in some areas.  Thankfully our basement stayed dry.  We did lose power one afternoon.  So we went over the Taylor's house and the girls got to watch a movie and rest under a cool living room fort/tent. 

April Road Trip

In early April, Corey and I made a road trip from Chicago to Atlanta for Jamie's wedding.  Corey, Jamie, and I were best buds when we worked at Disney together.  They were both bridesmaids in my wedding and I've been happy to attend both of their weddings.  Matt was still in the heart of tax season and had to stay home.  I wanted to be "Amy" at the wedding and not "Mommy" so I left the kids in Indiana with Grandma and Papa.  It was a win-win for everyone. :)

We made a stop in Chattanooga along the way to visit a couple of my Zeta friends, Cara & Jen.  It was awesome weekend to catch up with so many old friends.  Too bad it was such a quick trip.  Cara has a beautiful home on top of a mountain.  This is the view from the back of her house! 

 Cheers to a great get-away!  After the kids were put to bed it was time to have fun like we used to.  We drank wine and played a board game.  Man, we are crazy! ;)

Jen, Cara, and I all had babies last May.  So Timmy, Addy, and Kyle are all a few weeks apart.  Too bad Kyle wasn't there, but he can meet his Birthday friends another time.  I can't believe they are all about to turn 1!!

After staying at Cara's, we finished the drive and got to our hotel.  The wedding was outside Athens, GA, which is where UGA's campus is.  We took a little campus tour before getting ready for the wedding. 

Here we are dressed up in front of our Red Mustang.  Road trips are more fun when you ride in style :)

As expected, Jamie was a beautiful bride.  Here she is walking down the aisle.

Marrying her wonderful husband, Kilby.

The ceremony and reception was outside by this old Southern house.

Bride and Groom pictures after the ceremony

The cake

View of the reception from the house balcony.  We were too shy to get closer to the edge cause we probably weren't supposed to be up there. 

First dance

Her dress was beautiful, as was she

Best wishes to the happy couple!