Ahhh...Summer!

So the silver lining to being unemployed is that we got to have a summer vacation for the first time in years. We're definitely making the most of it. True we've had some hot-as-hell days and we've had some thunder-stormy days but for most of our time here the weather has actually been great.

Can you believe we've been here 6 weeks already! Time flies when you're having fun....and staying busy. With Reese toddling around we find it best to get her out of the house as much as possible. Here are some highlights from our adventures:

Above you see Reese gazing out at the tall buildings that make up the Chicago skyline along Oak Street Beach and Michigan Avenue.

We also took her to Millenium Park so that Reese could stomp around under the famous Cloud Gate sculpture aka "The Bean". Here she is kissing the pretty baby in The Bean.

We got tired of trying to wrangle a squirmy toddler onto a CTA bus or train so we bought a bike trailer, almost new, on Craigslist. Now we can take Reese all over the city and she gets to sit back and enjoy the view.

She even has her own helmet!

We rode to Lincoln Park Zoo with Grandpa and had a picnic. (NOTE: It's the only free zoo left in the country and I have to say, not too shabby! And we are used to the "World Famous San Diego Zoo" so that's saying a lot.)We've actually been to the zoo twice and Reese is always more intrigued by the other kids and this fascinating water fountain. Watch as she somehow manages to narrowly miss the spurting water, EVERY single time!




There are lot's of fun things to do closer to home too like blowing bubbles in the backyard with mommy.

Chill-axing at the kiddie pool with Daddy.

And of course the beautiful, beaches that are even more lovely now that those rowdy summer camp kids have gone back to school.

She looks right at home doesn't she?

For my darling, silly Reese:

This is a first for the blog, a video that is not for any of you lovely readers. I am posting this one specifically for Reese because she enjoys watching herself on video. For anyone else this would be considered vain but as cute as she is, it just makes good sense.

She was having fun one day teasing Mike by giving all her kisses to me. She thought this was SO funny. See what you think...

The Big Move

The San Diego Sandors (and all their stuff)arrived in one piece! I guess we are now officially "The Chicago Sandors" but for simplicity's sake I won't be changing the URL.

Reese had difficulty adjusting at first. The first 2 nights here she did not want to be left alone in her crib and after I finally did get her to sleep, she woke up in the middle of the night and cried hysterically if I left the room. It was good that I had planned to stay with her a few days before flying back to SD to make the drive with Mike.

By the time I actually did have to leave her, she was comfortable enough that apparently she barely noticed. I think even at her young age she knew she was in good hands. She kept herself busy exploring the big house, bonding with Grandma and Grandpa and playing with our neighbor's grand-kids who are also in town.

(From l-r: Amara; 4, Reese; 15 mos., Liam; 9, Genevieve; 6)

Of course Mike and I missed Reese tremendously too. We made the 32 hour drive in less than 3 days so that we could make it back to her ASAP. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we are all much happier when our little family unit is in tact.

For it's part Chicago welcomed us with a heat wave, luckily my parents live blocks from the lakefront so we have been going to the beach and/or the park just about every day since we arrived. Reese is becoming a real water baby. She equally enjoys splashing around and playing in the sand. We may have to consider some baby swim classes soon.
Stay cool everybody!

P.S. We only just unpacked the charger for our real camera so more pictures and videos are coming.