chicago - urban baby

one of my favorite restaurants in chicago is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. i love the pot pie style pizzas but once JR tried the grinder, he's never gone back. i've had bites of his sandwich, which were amazing, but love the pizza too much to switch.

it is a quaint little restaurant with a host who works every single night and has a photographic memory. the waiting area is so small that the wait of people pour out of the restaurant onto the sidewalk and on most nights has a two hour wait. no reservations btw. the host doesn't write anyone's name down yet he remembers the exact order that guests arrive and the wait time he told you is always accurate.

we always start with the mediterranean bread that is a huge flatbread, larger than the plate it's on, and you rip off bite-sized pieces. we also love their salad and dressing. mmmmm

nat was being goofy and putting it all over her face.

trust me, if it weren't a dining faux paus, i would do the same!

okay maybe not in my eye though.

if you look closely you can see the crumbs and seasonings all over her face! what a mess!

love it! miss it! can't wait to go back!

we stayed with courtney and john who have a cat, pandora, that natalie looooves!

i think pandora loved the attention.

and was fortunately very patient with the smothering snuggles!

the next morning we took natalie on her first L ride.

she loved it but i was bummed about the trip because i left my gloves on the train! ugh!

we went to macy's which is the former marshall field's.

the window displays were a disappointment and the indoor christmas tree was huge but not as big as JR remembered when he was a kid. doesn't that always happen?!

JR lived on the 48th floor of the west tower of marina towers back in 2001. we looooved being at this location.  

so convenient and so much fun!

lunch at M Burger. it was small: about 10' x15'.

JR said their burgers were small too! it's true. okay they're not that small - it's just that we can eat a lot!

nat's first cab ride!

one of her first baby books was a board book called Urban Baby that tells all the things a baby would do in the city. i was so proud that with no effort, she had done all the things in the book except for take a taxi. i know it was only kansas city but it's still urban. there's no need for a taxi in kc (except for after a bar) so we had to do it in chicago! she loved it.

christmas eve was spent with the gasparys. since we only had a mini tree up in our apartment, i wanted to take advantage of the beautiful tree in their home. however, my subject had more fun being uncooperative!

big puffy heart this one!

i love that natalie is such an animal lover. and isn't this lab/shepherd puppy sooo cute?!

the feeling's mutual!

i can't even remember if she had dinner. i think she just went straight for the cupcake!

being silly with uncle joe!

after the gaspary gathering, we drove to the brackers (courtney's parents) in elmhurst because that's where santa knew to find natalie.

ketchup? what?!

these expressions are the best!

mormor made natalie her special stocking!

but just in case we weren't prepared with our own, grandma sue also provided a stocking for the little princess! wow was she stocked up!

natalie got lots of goodies between her two stockings and didn't even ask about opening presents!

these jammies were passed down from my sister whose four kids all wore the same pair!

i love that because i was behind the camera, aunt courtney is the one in all the pictures! yay - none of my christmas morning self is documented!

after church natalie changed her clothes and wanted to wear her butterfly shirt so no cute christmas outfit here.

this is the kitty piano she asked santa for. it really came from nana and papa and she LOVES it. we've already changed the batteries once and i think they're meowing to be changed again...

she has learned all the songs on it, loves to play the music and sing in the microphone. i love hearing her sing and i love that it boosted her confidence about doing it more often!! (in front of people other than me!)

whoa! look at all those gifts! only two of them are from us - she was spoiled by our friends!

littlest pet shop!

darling rain jacket from aunt courtney and uncle john!

i read on someone's blog that they have their kids make a christmas list of 1. something they want (that comes from santa) 2. something they need (from parents) 3. something to do/make/assemble (craft, legos, puzzle, etc.) and 4. something to read. then those are the four gifts they get (besides from other family or friends.) i love this intentional list and think it's something i'd like to try when natalie is old enough to choose those things.

more littlest pet shop!

it's a pillow. it's a pet. it's a pillow pet!

i loved that tina's gift from her secret santa was a botox certificate and the game operation!! hilarious! (she really asked for the botox (doesn't need it in my opinion!) but i think the game was the perfect touch! ha ha)

oooh i spoke too soon. i am captured on camera.

oh yeah, there i am again. naps aren't just for thanksgiving, right?!

mmmm john made prosciutto-wrapped asparagus!

and the girls played in the snow!

megan was so kind to feed natalie her christmas dinner - strongly encouraging her to try all the food i put on her plate! it's so great when it's not coming from mom!!

yay - the big kid table! we had so much fun and loved getting to do something different for christmas - celebrating with our other family! (instead of being front and center i should have gone back between liana and ras. whatev.)

megan stayed over and played with natalie all the next day. it was so nice having a live-in playdate! i think someone was on to something with... siblings!