Chi-Town Rocks!

First off, let me start by saying that vacations rock. I love vacations. Especially vacations to new places, or places I haven't been many times.

I'm going to sort of do a run-down of the vacay so far, just to keep y'all posted.

Day 2: Babywearing conference all day. Saw many, many friends, most of whom I'd only known online or on the phone, which was super awesome. I did not feel like that kid in the cafeteria with nobody to sit with, which was a good thing. I may appear quite confident, but those types of settings send me straight back to junior high, standing at the cafeteria door with a tray in my hand, staring at the sea of chatting kids. But I digress. Key note speaker rocked. She's doing doctoral research on how babywearing affects mothers, particularly those with PPD, or tendencies towards that. This is something I could make a million inferences on, and I'm sure those with closer connections to new mothers than I would as well, but it'll be awesome when she's done to have some concrete, peer-reviewed research to back up a bunch of "old wives tales".

Day 3: More classes, more info. I took RE in the AM to the conference, and together we thoroughly enjoyed a yoga class and wrapping II. She found a little pal to run around the yoga class with. If there is a cute little boy within a hundred yards, she's following him. And she did so many of the yoga poses, which was just adorable. We're going to have to do more of that when we get home. Wrapping II rocked, because someone fabulous (who's name I cannot recall), taught me how to to a secure high back carry, with RE, and I did it, and it felt good!! Maybe my dream of becoming a wrapper with our next kid will come true!

Michael came to get RE before lunch, and took her to Skokie to go swimming with Uncle James and the kids camp he works with. She then got to hang out in the gym, and literally spent time hanging from the trapeze! Whee! Fun!

Spent the rest of the day doing conference stuff, volunteering for the fashion show, helping moms get into their carriers, and then going out to dinner with some of my new friends. After that, we all headed over to Beth's house for a vendor party, where we drank beers, ate guac, celebrated Amanda's birthday, and partied. I felt truly humbled to be in the same room with some of those ladies, namely Kristen of Hotslings. She's like a babywearing celebrity, and she actually knew who I was (or covered really well). But really, she was pretty awesome to talk to, and I really respect the way she runs her business. We also discovered that many of us who run our own businesses are first-borns...driven, determined, stubborn, etc.

Saturday, day 4 in Chicago: headed out to DeKalb to hang out with Tammy and Drew. RE fell asleep in the car on the way downtown, and slept through the better part of her first proper train ride. Bummer. But she woke up in time to see where she was, and get pretty excited about being on the train. We had a great time hanging out with Tammy and Drew and the kids...it's so neat to see how cool the kids are, and what a rockin' mom Tam is. Gabe has this funny little thing he does when you ask him if he wants something. Instead of, "yes" or "sure", he'll say, "OK, me too".
"Gabe, do you want some lunch?"
"OK, me too!"

Silly kid. And Izzy just walks around going, "no, no, no" but shaking her head yes. And she's just the sweetest little love bug. RE and Gabe were running around like crazies, but Izzy just wanted snuggles.

We stayed there through Monday morning, since James was in the Pride Parade and was out late and wouldn't really be able to pick us up. Tam took us to the train station this morning, and we headed straight into DT Chicago to wander around. Well, not wander so much as I really just wanted to go to the American Girl Store. I know, it's a racket, and it's no better than Build-a-Bear (well, yes it is), but I played with a Samantha doll when I was a kid, and I really wanted Ry to have her first American Girl doll from the store in Chicago. Who knows when we'll have a chance to make it out here again? When I walked her up to the Bitty Baby section her eyes got super wide and she kept saying, "mama, baby dolls!" over and over again. I asked her if she wanted to take one home and she just got this sweet bug-eyed look and nodded. She chose a little blond baby (big shocker) and we got her the "starter set" for a mere $98 (hey, we've not really spent anything on this trip). So, if you want to know what to get her for the holidays, AG doll stuff would be it.

I really enjoyed being in there though...I'm such a girl. I wanted all the babies. And all their little outfits. I could have easily dropped a grand in that store, and I've no doubt that's what they're hoping will happen. We walked down to where they keep the historical dolls, the ones I played with as a girl, and when RE saw them all lined up (maybe 15 dolls) on a shelf, she asked, in a really sweet, innocent, quietly amazed voice: "Mama, more dolls to come home with me?" Not in a greedy, I want kind of way, but really just in a disbelieving, could those really all be for me kind of way. Too sweet. Where on earth would we put them!?

Back to James' place, then to the nearby park for some fun playtime, then to Thai food. Then pretty much straight to bed, but only after reading The Rainy Day and tucking in both new Bitty Baby (who needs a name, anyone?) and Baby Zach.

Will add pics to this tomorrow...tired.

First Day in Chicago

I know they're not for everyone, but I really, really love big cities. I love the public transportation, I love being able to walk everywhere, and though I generally hate crowds, for some reason, city crowds just don't bother me.

We took the EL down to DePaul University, where the conference is being held, and the three of us grabbed lunch after I checked in. Michael and RE wandered all over Lincoln Park, and found themselves at the Lincoln Park Zoo. RE told me all about the monkeys at the zoo, and we talked endlessly about the train she rode. I kind of think that between the plane and 2 train rides, these 2 days have been the highlight of her little life.



Meanwhile, I really enjoyed the conference sessions I attended today: Finance and HR for small businesses, and Owning and Operating a B&M. Both have be fired up and scared witless of opening my own shop...mostly because I know I dream big, and big dreams cost money and time, neither of which I have. Plus, I'm not really sure that this is really what I want to do in the end run...I know I'm good at this retail stuff, I know I'd have customers, I know they'd be happy and well-treated, but I don't know if running a shop, owning a shop, and being my own boss will be enough to keep me from getting into that "I hate retail" place. I don't think I would, mostly because this is a whole different game than I've played before, but it's scary nonetheless.
What I do know is that it's a decision that has to be made sooner than later. I can't grow the business anymore in the space I have (my kitchen), and that's actually not a terrible thing right now, as I have some catch up to do with inventory and selling. But, I digress.

The day kind of rocked from there...we met with Tammy, Drew, Gabe and Izzy and hung out with them for the rest of the evening. I love that whenever Tam and I get together, it's like no time has passed. Suddenly, we're 23 again, and hanging out at Michael's bachelor pad, or at Clubsport, or driving through Taco Bell on the way back to Las Positas, and it's just like the old days. But we have husbands (well, Michael's always been around) and kids, and strollers and slings and diaper bags and just a whole lot more stuff! But we hung out on the street for a while waiting for Katie and Jason to meet up with us, then finally caught up with them, and went for pizza. We found a great little pizza joint and the kids were SO well-behaved...I think Katie and Jason want kids, but only if they can be like all of ours.


I have conference the next two days, and then we get to see Tammy and Drew again on Saturday and Sunday (I think), then one more day with James, then home and back to the grind (kind of, it's 4th of July holiday).

Fancy Nails

Just like Fancy Nancy in our favorite book...she's tres chic (that's a fancy, French way of saying stylish). RE now has pretty nails. I'm the first to admit that she looks a teensie bit like a prostitot, but it's cool. She's my kid and I'm fully aware that this is the case, and it is OK. She will not be ruined. I'm more amazed that she held still for it, and long enough for a single coat to dry a little bit. I'm not allowed to paint her toenails, but her fingernails are OK. Go figure.

Oh, and to keep her occupied while I got the final stuff ready for our plane trip, she did her own make-up. So pretty...SO pretty.

Chauffeur

I finally understand at least a little of what my mom referred to as, "Mom's Taxi".

I was driving Owen and Ryan home from Costco and the park, and of course, the two of them were in their seats in the back of the car. The funny part was that they were yakking back and forth, chatting about going to the potty, asking each other when cars go potty (Owen asked, Ryan replied that cars don't go potty), shrieking about the park we passed (Owen wanted to go, Ryan explained that we were going home), shrieking at me to "go, go, GO" (Owen), and then reminding me to wait until the light is green (Ryan) and just chatting with one another.

Now, rewind about 20 years, me and my best buddies sitting in the backseat on the way to ballet class, yakking about boys, music, dance, or whatever, and my mom sitting quietly in the front seat, silently amused (I'd guess) at the sweet, innocent little conversation being had in the backseat.

Fast-forward another 6 years, and I know I'll look back on today as the first day I quietly eavesdropped into the inner workings of my little daughter.

Feeling really blessed...

And I'm not really one to toss that word around, but I really, truly feel blessed with some amazing people in our lives. Yesterday, Ryan spent the day with her best bud Owen and his parents at Camano Island while I worked. She had a blast, and really enjoyed her time looking at crabs and playing in the sand. Today, we went over to Lindsay and Elliot's for dinner (which was great) and Ryan and Owen took a tubby together.





This is only one set of friends that have been so great, kind, and welcoming to us. It's hard living away from family, but friends like those we have up here make it so much easier.

I sit in my fairly clean house right now, watching 27 Dresses, and just enjoying the peace. Tomorrow it's my turn to have 2 toddlers on hand, so I'll just enjoy my little bit of quiet I have right now.

This is Ryan, the morning after, in her boyfriend's jammies...

I left my heart in San Francisco...

Is it possible to have a love affair with a city?

Yep.


And sorry Michael, I'm in love with San Francisco. But I know you know that, and I know you are too. We decided that if we could ever afford a 2.4 M dollar home, that's where we'd buy. Right on Hyde, between Chestnut and Lombard. It's yellow, and adorable, and 2.4 M dollars.

I love it.

And really, seriously, despite all the tourists, the overpriced food, the cheesy souvenirs, I love that city. Don't get me wrong, I love Seattle too. But something about SF...maybe it's because I've never actually lived there that there's still a romance about it. It hasn't been ruined by things like living in the U District, or strange construction projects, or taxes. Or maybe it's because it's practically an island, or is that an isthmus? Don't know, don't care. It's surrounded on three sides by water, and you can use any number of bridges, ferries or underground mass transit to get there.




And it's not just the shopping, although, obviously, it's world class. From about 800 GAP stores in a 49 sq. ft area, to Britax, the coolest fabric store ever, you can seriously shop that city for days...and I have. But not this trip.




This trip was our anniversary trip. Michael and I have been married for four years now, and still going strong. We actually like each other. And enjoy each other's company. That's pretty freakin' cool. We had such a nice time walking (ok, hiking) the city, plotting our dream life, enjoying the tourists and the myriad languages we heard, watching the sea lions play and frolic at Pier 39, and eating overpriced sandwiches at Boudin's, the SF landmark bakery. Then, of course, a few blocks away, we found Kennedy's Pub and Curry, which sounded so cool, but we were stuffed, and needed no more food/beer.






Back to reality...we returned home, satiated with one another, and with San Francisco, for a little while at least.


It also happened to be First Wednesday in Pleasanton, so we went downtown to enjoy the music, food and quality people-watching that Pleasanton allows. RE had fun dancing to the great guitar tunes.

I'm such a dunce

I fell down the stairs.

Why? Well, I was rockin' my super hot high heels, because I was heading out to SATC:TM with Miss Lys, and I simply caught the heel on the TOP of my parents stairs, and proceeded to tumble head over heels down the stairs, stopped by the landing, the wall, and the bannister.

ouch.

Now, my neck hurts, my head hurts, and I'm quite bruised. Most of my left arm is bruised, and both my shins are, and I have a lovely bruise on my head that I only notice when I'm washing or brushing my hair.

This came towards the end of a day that began with a 2nd mei tai (at midnight), a toddler in bed (330am), a VERY early wake up (530am), a seriously wicked hangover, and spending most of that hangover trying not to throw up on an airplane. With a 2 year old. Thank God I brought The Incredibles on DVD and my laptop (because I don't yet own anything more portable than that).

Oi.

What a day...