The Taste of Chicago

Monday we decided to take a trip downtown for the Tast of Chicago.  Seeing as we've lived here for 2 years (and I have been visiting here all my life!) we had never been...and neither had Theresa!  So we took a few hours and braved the heat and the crowds, and boy was it hot!  The crowds weren't too bad, but we did choose to go on a Monday afternoon for a reason :)

The food was delicious!  Each booth offeres 2 different "Taste" portions of food.  We tried lots!  We had some crab rangoon and beef on a stick at a chinese food stand, a turkey leg from an Indian-Latin Fusion stand, a piece of Lou Malnati's Sausage Deep Dish (yummy!!), toasted ravioli from Harry Caray's, cheesecake from Eli's, churros...oh the list goes on!  We ate too much, but it was all delicious!

We had to have at least one beer too...

Plus, Shawn decided he had to get sometime from the Chiquita Banana stand...notice the super cool banana hat!

We had a great time and all took naps when we got home :)

The Toys Are Back in Town!

We went to see Toy Story 3 last night and it did not disappoint!  Last year when Toy Story & Toy Story 2 were released in 3D Shawn and I went to see them and it was great!  Toy Story is one of Shawn's favorite Pixar movies and I have always like it alot, although Toy Story 2 was my favorite of the two.  Well...I now have a new favorite! 

Toy Story 3 was hilarious!  Theresa and I were laughing so hard throughout the movie!  Children will like this movie, but adults are gonna LOVE it!  There are so many throwbacks to toys of our childhood and the jokes are definitely targeted toward adults, but not at all in a bad way.  It was so funny but still had some really touching moments.  I'm not gonna lie, at the end of the movie Shawn, Theresa and I all shed a few small tears.

Since the story is different now, and many years have passed since Toy Story 2, not all of the toys return for this film.  Andy has grown up, so many of his toys are no longer around.  The main group is still present though.  I don't want to give anything away, but there is a portion of the movie where Buzz is speaking Spanish...priceless!  Go see this movie.  You won't regret it!

Taco Nite

As you know, Shawn and I will be moving soon to Texas.  We are starting to get really excited about the new adventure, but we will miss Chicago very much...and of course we will miss our super friend Theresa!  Theresa came to visit us this weekend and we're so happy!  There is never a dull moment when T is around :) 

Last night we had a stay home Mexican night...and it was AWESOME!  I made a burrito/taco/taco salad bar (including fish tacos for me, yummy) and we made homemade margaritas (delicious!).  It was so good!  Then we played some games and just hung out, which is our favorite thing to do together.

We started playing Kings, which is my favorite drinking game from my days in Muncie.  I made a rule including my yellow PEZ in the game so when there was downtime I was 'building' with it.

Theresa and Shawn got mad about my PEZ though and they were trying to steal it!  Meanies!

Theresa decided to eat my yellow PEZ instead of hiding it which was a mistake for her because she doesn't like PEZ (I think I may be one of the only adults on Earth who does like it!).  We had a fun night and I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend!

Today we're going to go see Toy Story 3 after Shawn gets home from work and Theresa and I are going to drive around and probably do some shopping while Shawn is at work.  Then tomorrow we're going to the Taste of Chicago.  None of us has ever been, so that should be fun!  I am kinda bummed though because they have a lot of free music concerts at the Taste and Friday night was a free concert from Bel Biv Devoe and Salt 'n Pepa!  I would've loved to have gone to that but I had to work.  Plus later this week on another night I have to work is a free concert from Rob Thomas!  I love him! Oh well...we'll still have fun there tomorrow even if the free concert is something lame.

Normal Life

I don't really have much to report now that I'm back in Chicago.  I miss little Logan already though!  Shawn and I got back on Friday morning and then I went straight back to work that night and the next two nights!  Finally yesterday I got a chance to get settled back in and relax a bit...except we needed groceries, I needed to do laundry, and I have really realized how little time I have to get all the packing and such done!  So, today I started packing.  The move is all set now.  I have a job, we have an apartment, I have reserved the moving truck and movers in Chicago and Texas, and I picked up the boxes today to start packing.  Oh fun!

As you may have figured out already, the pictures of Logan have stopped appearing on my blog (as well as Mimi's) because I am no longer in Austin.  I called today and harassed Mom and Mimi to continue with the picture taking and blog updating, so there should be an update about Logan today!

Pool Time!

Shawn has been looking forward to teaching Logan how to swim, so we decided to get an early start!  All of us took a walk to the community pool yesterday.  Logan had a great time!  He cried when he got in the water, but only for a minute.

Uncle Shawn got a chance to swim with Logan too!

Ian picked out this sun hat for Logan...

 Uncle Shawn had fun in the children's part of the pool too!

Uncle Shawn is here!

Shawn is learning to love the little guy!  We decided to get a hotel so that Shawn isn't woken up during the night by the baby.  He is a very light sleeper, so the hotel seemed like a good idea.  We are staying at a super cheap Super 8, but it is the nicest Super 8 I have ever seen!  It is nicer than a lot of other hotels I have stayed at!  So if you plan to visit Austin, stay in the Super 8 near the airport.

Logan got to meet his Grandpa Don & Grandma Ana on Sunday.  They are completely taken with the sweet little guy!

Logan wore is best onesie that day...well at least Auntie Lisa thinks it is the best! Check it out!

Today Logan decided to take a nap on my chest and her certainly spread out and got comfy!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE this baby??

My snuggle-a-saurus :)

We have been busy here with Logan :)  He is such a good baby though!  He loves riding in the car and we've been out to eat twice now and he sleep through the whole thing.  Mimi and I have been really enjoying all his cute clothes.  This is one of my favorites because there is a dinosaur on the butt :)

 Such a big boy!

Dad & Ana arrived from Chicago last night and Shawn will be arriving in a couple of hours.  Dad and Ana got to hold Logan and they were so excited!  Dad said he was expecting him to be bigger...but I think he's pretty huge!  Especially compared to the babies I am usually around :)  Time to get ready to pick up Shawn!

Logan's Sweet Sunglasses

Since Logan has the coolest Auntie in the world, she thought it would be cool to get him some sunglasses.  He does live in Texas and being born in the early summer, the sunglasses should come in handy.  Logan did not seem to like them much though...he'll learn to love them though!

Logan and his mommy have been having some nice times together too.  Just sitting around :)

Great News!

I have good news from Austin!  As you all surely know by now, Shawn and I decided we are moving to Austin this summer.  This visit of mine was not only to help with my wonderful new nephew Logan...but also to find a job and an apartment from the 4 of us (since my Mom and brother, Eric, are moving with us as well!). 

I am happy to report that I found a great apartment for us that is in a great school district for Eric.  He will be going to Austin High School (which is the same school that the Bush' daughters went to, just as an fyi) and I think he will really love it here!  The music scene is great and that is his #1 interest in life!

Secondly, I found a job!  I had 2 interviews at fantastic NICU's in Austin and I chose to work at the North Austin Medical Center in their Level III NICU.  The manager of that unit is just wonderful and all the people I met were great!  I am really excited to start work there.  I really think that it is the kind of unit that has the same ideology about nursing care of neonates that I do.  They all love the babies, and if you know me at all then you know that I do too.  The manager has a lot of awesome plans for the future of the unit and I am excited to have the chance to be a part of it.  Also, after I accepted the position I was informed that they offer a $3500 relocation reimbursement program!  Wow! I am so excited because now we can hire movers :)  Yipee!

Shawn has made contact with the Men's Wearhouse people down here and they already told him that they definitely have a full time position for him right away.  He may not be able to transfer right away in management, but hopefully once he gets down here it will be as quick as when he started at MWTux in Chicago.  I have faith in him!!

Mom is obviously looking forward to being Logan's daily babysitter :)  I think she'll basically be in heaven every day...and Eric is already really excited to meet the little guy!

I love baby Logan!

Oh, Oh, Oh!  I really didn't know that is was possible to love a baby so much!  Logan is just the sweetest thing ever!  He eats well, he sleeps well, he doesn't mind when the dogs lick his feet :)  He's pretty darn close to perfect!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the last day or so.

 Tummy time!

Bath time!

 Nap time!

Feet time!

 Nap time in the crib!

A

Auntie Time!  (I got him this cute outfit!)

Tonight we're going to go for a walk with the dogs!

Playtime!

Logan played on his Activity Gym this morning...but just for a little while then he got cranky and hungry!

 He is waving at his Auntie Lisa :)

Jaska has decided that she has to watch over Logan constantly!  She is now officially his dog-guardian.  Mimi said Jaska was checking on his hourly all night!  This morning I held him for awhile so Mimi could get some more sleep then put him in his crib and Jaska was looking all over for him!  She is so interested in watching over him.  She even was making sure he was ok during tummy time on his Activity Gym.

Annie is still not so sure about Logan, but I think she'll come around soon enough.  She likes to be in whatever room of the house he is not :)  She even slept with me last night since he was in Mimi's room.  When I took him into his room then she went to sleep with Mimi!  Dogs are funny!

Logan is home!

Logan and Mimi were discharged from the hospital today.  He looked so cute in his teddy bear outfit and all snuggled up in his car seat!

We were curious about how the dogs would react to the new baby, but they did pretty well.  Jaska was a bit over excited, but she calmed down fairly quickly and has taken up the post as Logan's guard dog.  Annie would really rather just stay away from him.  She doesn't want to get too close to him and when he cries she heads the other way.  We tried to get the house clear of hair (and by "we" I mean "me") but within a few minutes of being home he had hair on his face already!  I guess he'll just have to get used to that since he lives with Jaska!

He got him first nap at home in his Pack'n'Play in the living room.  He looked so cute the lay he was laying!  Adorable!

 

  

Mimi and Logan are bonding :)

Logan's Here!

 Logan James Richardson

June 3rd, 2010

7:56 am

10 # 2.3 oz.

22 inches

 

Logan loves his Auntie Lisa...and I think she's pretty fond of him already too!!