Ellie Sue

Summer parties can't be beat, and this one was the party of the summer.

My bestie's baby girl is turning one this summer, and so Kirra and Taylor threw her a magical backyard party on Friday night.

The decor, the desserts, the dim summer sunset fading into party lights strung across the yard.

I mean, magical I tell you!

Ellie Sue,

I fell in love with you the moment I held you in your beautiful Northwestern hospital room with that glamorous Chicago view.

I secretly love that you've always acted so happy to see me, and not-so-happy to see "Big Neal."

You know he's super tall, but every time it just surprises you I think.

It's just the cutest though.

You are book club baby, you are baby bestie, and you are (maybe!) birthday buddy to my little goose!

I cannot wait to see the two of you together.

I love you more than all the city lights twinkling in the sky above you.

Happy first birthday!

 

 

Best Burger

Throughout my pregnancy, husband and I have often gotten the advice from people to "go out" and "enjoy each other" before baby comes and we're more homebound or tired or you fill-in-the-blank.

We've been looking at each other with a shrug and a "Carry on?" since that's pretty much what we've been up to for the last six years.

In fact, there's probably been a little too much of that this pregnancy and not enough staying home and resting or getting baby things done, because now five and half weeks from our due date we're feeling hectic with baby to-do's.

But in following the "going out" and "enjoying each other" advice, we had a date night at a place in Wicker Park that I've been wanting to visit for who knows how long, Mindy's Hot Chocolate.

It was absolutely delicious-- everything.

Husband and I both had burgers-- as did the couple on our left and on our right I noticed-- and it was the best burger I've ever had in the city.

We also had the platter of cookies and of course, hot chocolate.

Out of this world!

The Land of Summer & Roots

Hello and happy summer!

I've been away from the Windy City for a week, tucked away in the land of summer and where-I-come-from roots.

Every year husband and I look forward to the week of summer reunion with my immediate and extended family at my childhood home, and this year we had my brother's wedding and my baby shower all in that week as well!

You would never know from these pictures that my brother's wedding weekend was one big torrential rainstorm and that the reception had to be moved indoors, but all of my parents' work on the yard paid off to be enjoyed for the rest of the summer, don't you think?

The next time I set foot back here, I will have my little mister in my arms!

Now that, I don't have words for.

I can't wait to introduce him to the great big world but perhaps even more so, to this place.