Adult Saturday Night Out

Saturday Eric and I actually had an adult night out. Our friend, who does all of our professional pictures birthday party was at a local bar. Eric's parents got to watch Claire and they were over the moon excited to watch her for the evening. Eric and I headed out around 8pm and didn't get home until 1:30. We had a great time, full of drinks (for Eric), laughs and friends. I have not been to a bar since being pregnant with Claire. Illinois is a smoke free state but Indiana is not and guess where that bar was...Indiana. When we first got there, it wasn't too bad seeing as only half the bar/restaurant was smoking until 10pm. Once that clock struck 10pm, you could see the smoke. It was so so smoky and I not use to all the smoke, my eyes were burning within an hour. Then the music was turned up so conversations were having to be done by screaming at one another. Through the smoke and the loud music we had fun. We saw friends we rarely get to hang out with (seeing as we are the only couple with a baby in the group). We did hit one more bar before heading home with a smaller group of friends- that bar was even worse. It's a smaller bar and it was so smokey. After being there for a bit, I was over everything, tired and ready to head home and get out of my smoke covered clothes.

All in all we had a great evening! I cherish the few hours Eric and I get out as a couple but don't let me fool you, I think and talk about Claire all night!  Instead of another adult Saturday this coming weekend, I think we will try to hit one of the local children museum! Claire deserves to have a fun Saturday too!

Family Thursday

We had a great Thursday night tonight. Made a very yummy dinner, hung out at the library with Eric and Claire, checked out 6 books (listed below) for Claire that we've already read a hundred times, then headed to Cold Stone Ice Cream to get a savory treat. I love the simple nights that we can relax, have fun and spend time together. It's the simple things I really do cherish. We are always so busy during the week, going here and there - we try to make Wednesday and Thursday nights family nights. Family nights can be taking walks, hanging out at the library, going out to eat, out for ice cream, watching a movie while enjoying some popcorn, reading books and playing games. I love family nights, I love my little family! I'm very thankful for what I have, I feel very blessed.

Books we checked out today:

"In Elmo's Easter Parade" (Claire loves anything Elmo)

"Trucks Go" (Claire's really into trucks, trains etc...)

"Mouse's First Fall"

"Clubhouse Christmas" (It's Mickey Mouse and to Claire he's the best)

"Duck & Goose" (Claire loves playing "duck duck goose" - check this one out, it has super cute pictures)

"Baby's Numbers"

Happy Thursday Everyone! I know I'm excited tomorrow is Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

All I have to say is "Love".

Claire's 18 Month Check Up

Claire had her 18 month check up last week...drum roll please....

Her stats are:

Weight - 21lbs (6%)
Height - 31 inches (26%)

She's a petite little thang like her mommy and daddy!

(Birth: weight - 6lbs 7oz, height - 20in)

She's doing very well. The doctor was impressed with everything is doing and saying. (You can check out everything she's doing at 18 months here) We have a very healthy, active little one and a half year old on our hands. She got 2 shots - Hep A and MMR (although we wanted to wait until at least 2 or 3 (I know the stories/article connecting vaccines to autism have been debunked, I was still nervous) our doctor said there has been a recent outbreak of those disease - so we didn't even think otherwise. There was no way we would risk Claire getting any of those! She HATED, hated the shots. It's like she new they were coming. I think now it's way worse watching her scared getting a shot then it was when she was a newborn.  I can't believe her next visit to the doctor will be when she's two. Holy Cow - 2!

Here on some pictures of our adventure to the doctor:

Sitting at the kids table in the waiting room

Playing under all the chairs

She really wanted to wash her hands

Dancing and jumping while waiting for the doctor

My Dreams

I came across this on another blog and wanted to share.

"There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.
I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body, I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immerse power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.I have learned to appreciate life.Yes, I will be a wonderful mother." - Unknown

I found this so beautiful and as many of my followers and one's I follow know becoming a mother's takes time, patience, understanding, tears, grief and simply the unknown. I wish I could be one of those ladies who chooses to have "December" baby, messes around  and "bam" end up pregnant with out any thought. I'm not one of those ladies and just know, I'm starting to except that. I know, "my (2nd) dream will be crying for me" hopefully in the near future.

Football Sunday

We live in Chicago and so we are die hard Chicago Bear fans. We love, love, love football so today is a big day - Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers!  No matter what the outcome or who ends up going to the Superbowl (fingers crossed it's the Bears) today will be fun, exciting and gut wrenching! We are going over to my parents, my brother is home from college so it will be a nice hanging out with the family kind of day! Plus there will be some awesome snacks for during the game!

On a side note -Claire and I are battling stupid colds. Her's is of course worse then mine - stuffy and a runny nose, sneezing and a cough (which, thank goodness is not too bad). No fever! I just hate having her feeling a little blah but more I hate that I have to torture her by wiping her nose every 5 minutes. Hopefully we will be feeling great again very soon!

Hope everyone has an awesome Sunday! Bear Down!

Wordless Wednesday

Relaxing with her blanket and snack