What did that sheep do to her?

Ever since Eloise was a newborn, she has fallen asleep to the soothing sounds of her Sleep Sheep. It velcros to the side of the crib and plays four calming sounds including our favorites, spring showers and ocean surf. We've always even brought it along when we travel so that she has a familiar face and sound to fall asleep with. Well, just over a week ago she has begun feverishly denying her sweet Sleep Sheep. Even upon entering her bedroom around nap and night night time she begins the pleas "No baa-baa". As we are reading books before bed she interrupts every few pages, "No baa-baa", as we sing our goodnight songs "No baa-baa", as we are lying her down in her crib she repeats over and over "No baa-baa." Is she just too mature and sophisticated to be lulled to sleep with the sounds of a mothers heartbeat? Was it a bad dream? What did that little bow-tie wearing curly haired sheep do to her?

Peacock!!!

Elle's favorite word is peacock. She says it several times each day. Why? We have no idea. Not only does she like to use the word in sentences, her answer to many of our questions all throughout the day is "Peacock!" followed by giggles and laughter. She thinks it's hilarious.

For example:
What do you want to wear today? Peacock!
What should we have for lunch? Peacock!
You get the idea.

We went to the Brookfield Zoo on Saturday and guess what we saw. A mommy peacock and three peacock babies! At least when you ask her what her favorite animal at Brookfield Zoo is she knows how to answer without hesitation and the answer actually makes sense.

Making banana bread with Mommy

So yummy!

An August Weekend in Chicago

We started our weekend with a long overdue date night. I took Andrew to my favorite sushi restaurant, Coast in Bucktown, followed by drinks with friends at Lotties. Saturday morning was a full day of sleeping in (for me), walks to two farmers markets, cheeseburgers and air and water show viewing in Lincoln Park, an overheated and overcrowded stroll along the beach, family nap time, dinner outside, and an at dusk movie in Oz Park (one of my favs - Breakfast at Tiffany's). We only lasted through the opening credits of the movie before we had to leave to take a very squirelly Ellebelle home to bed so we popped in the dvd and watched the movie at home. Sunday morning started with sleeping in (for Andrew), coffee (as it always does...but this time they switched our decaf and caffeine cups and I am still jittery several hours later...) and a family swim at Holstein Pool (our first time at this public pool and certainly not our last!) followed by dinner in our neighborhood at Sully's (so yummy!). In case you haven't heard me say it lately, we love our city!

North Ave beach during the Air & Water Show

Sponge Bob popsicle

Airplanes!

Movie in Oz Park

Family time

We spent wonderful time with family this past week and weekend. Nonna and Grandpa Walker stayed with us Wednesday night and left Thursday morning to fly to Colorado. Uncle Jonny arrived late Thursday night and left with Daddy on Friday morning to spend a weekend in Colorado for Andy's bachelor party. Then Hamma and Bapa came for a visit. We spent a wonderful weekend with them...we had dinner with Hamma at Marcello's (and I got ice cream for being a good girl), we went to the Shedd Aquarium, mommy went out with friends on Saturday night, and on Sunday we went to our favorite brunch spot and spent the afternoon splashing in my pool on our courtyard. I was sad to see Hamma and Bapa go back to Michigan. However, Mommy and I walked to the red line train stop right by our house and who did we see all together? Nonna and Grandpa Walker and Uncle Jonny...and DADDY! What fun it is to see my family and how wonderful it is to have Daddy back home! We missed him!

The Shedd Aquarium just completed renovations on their Oceanarium. The new Polar Play Area is fantastic! We have a family membership, so please come visit and we'll make a trip to the Aquarium. The highlight of the new exhibit is the penguin play area. They have penguin costumes for the children to wear and a real life looking penguin habitat complete with ice slides and temperature changes and nests and eggs and dead fish. Eloise had a blast!

trying on my penguin costume

picking up a dead fish - lunch!
i love the ice slides...splash!
watching the belugas. we have 2 pregnant belugas at Shedd.

Uncle Jonny isn't the only local news celebrity this month...

Thanks for fighting for my education, Nonna!



http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-back-to-school-concerns-over-child-readiness,0,146517.story

Musical entertainment at the Green City Market...starring Eloise