Chicago

On Tuesday, Mom, Gram (my mom's mom), Kathryn, and I went into the city for a day of sightseeing. We went on a Wendella Boat Ride on the Chicago river, with a tour of the city's architecture. Then we strolled through Millenium Park, which is new since the last time I was there.

Out to lunch at the Park Grill...very yummy cuisine!

Here is a sculpture in Millenium Park, called by some "the Bean". It's essentially a huge metal Jelly Bean shaped structure that you can walk through.

Here's the view looking up inside. It has a kilidescope effect where you can see lots of your own reflection, depending on where you're standing. Very cool.

Snuggle time with Nana

I feel like Kathryn has grown and changed so much, even in this week being away from home. She is much more vocal now and rolled over for the first time yesterday! She has also started sucking on her fingers and fist. In fact, shortly after this picture was taken, she had her whole fist in her mouth and was gagging herself as a result. :) It is so fun to have a baby and watch her develope and grow. She misses Daddy and is ready to show him all her new tricks!

Wheaton

With Gram, her great grandma

Chillin' with Aunt Kristen and soon-to-be baby cousin

Cuddling with Aunt Margaret

Uncle Jeremy made her come closest to laughing she's ever gotten. His wife Nancy is due with their fourth in June.

Meredith, age 3, is Jeremy and Nancy's youngest girl...she loved "holding" Kathryn.

I'm spending the week in Wheaton, IL this week. My cousin Katie got married on Saturday, and my sister Kristen is due with her baby any day! I'm leaving on Friday and hoping to be able to be here when Kristen's baby is born, but we'll see. Her official due date is Thursday. Kathryn and I have had a great time here....we miss Nick/Daddy, but it's fun to visit with family. It's been especially fun to see my siblings with Kathryn, this being the first time any of them have met her.

New pics

Looking Back

These pictures were from when Kathryn was 9 days old. It's amazing how she's grown in 3 months!

Kathryn It Is

I think we've decided that we'll stick with Kathryn instead of Kate. Not that it's a big deal, but thought we'd let you all know. :)

Smiley Girl

Cherry Blossoms

DC is known for its beautiful Cherry Blossom trees this time of year. On Monday, Nick planned a date into the city for us to see these beautiful blooms. Apparently these particular trees (probably thousands in number) were a gift from the Japanese government, and every year there is a "Cherry Blossom Festival" held to celebrate. We walked around the Tidal Basin, from the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial. It was very crowded (surprising, for a weekday) but so worth it...just beautiful! I have my wonderful husband to thank for these shots...he manned the camera the whole day.

Nick took this shot because he said it's how he always sees Kathryn, draped over my shoulder. We affectionately call her "Milk Tongue." You can see why! :)

April Fools! (Read the post, too!)

Yep, this is what it looks like! Well, all I can say is that the Lord has a sense of humor! We are delighted and surprised at this new development in our little family. I had been feeling really tired (more than usual) this last week, and I thought that it felt like when I was first pregnant with Kathryn. Wanting to put my mind at ease to know that I was not pregnant, I took an early pregnancy test and was quite shocked to see two lines instead of one! So it looks like we will have some Irish Twins (2 babies born within the same year)...from my calculations, it looks like Kathryn and this new little one will be 11 1/2 months apart. Actually, everything you've just been reading is a big fabrication...April Fools! Gotcha! For the record, I'm not pregnant. :)