Magnificent shopping

If it's the day after Turkey Day, it's heading to downtown Chicago for 2 days of shopping with my MI relatives.

While we were in the neighborhood, we paid a visit to see Baby Belle's brothers and sisters.
While I Kelty'd on Dad's back most of the day, Grampa made sure I didn't miss out ...
... on my first trip to Ghirardelli's.
Grammy's ice cream ... mmmmmmmmmm.
After a long day of shopping, we headed back to the hotel for some deep-dish food and then a big celebration (a week early).
My cousins helped keep me on task in the present department ...
... and Mom made sure I sampled some yummy cake before heading to bed.

On Saturday, we hit the pool for a quick swim before hitting a few more stores ...
... and saying goodbye.
dAfter heading back to my GDO and GMO's house in WI, we celebrated my second 1st bday party in 2 days! No cousins to help unwrap this time, but a schnazzy refurb'd rocker from GDO's workshop put a smile on this 358 day-old's face!

Over the river and through the woods....

...to Grandma and Grandpa's house we went for Thanksgiving! While we were there, I kept busy making friends and helping organize Grandma's things whenever I got the chance. Libby and I became good pals and traded pets and pokes for snacks and kisses.

I got to hang out with my Great Aunt Linda too. In return for sharing some turkey, I got lots of hugs and funny stories.
I worked hard all day to help make sure the doors to the dinning room were in good working condition. I led the way when it was finally time to eat.I filled up on turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of rolls, and some of Aunt Betsy's stained glass jello! It was delicious!

Dinner magic

My Grandma and Grandpa showed up tonight just in time for dinner! They say they're here to play and do projects. I'm thinking they're the perfect audience for my well-practiced tricks!

Tonight we started with a fun game of "Where did Lyllie go?" Where did Lyllie go? (Giggle, giggle, giggle from behind the napkin!)
Voila!
Here I am! (Giggle, giggle, giggle from around the table!)

And for my next trick...

If it's a chyllie Saturday, it's making tracks in the snow as we BOB over to get mochas and donuts.

After scarfin' down my donut hole, it was off play with the coffee shop toys while Mom and Dad finished their mochas and a few articles in the paper.
Since I was up at 6:15 this morning, Mom and I were ready for a little snooze when we got home. When I awoke, it was time to practice my new tricks! I used to push things like this walker and my Bumbo, but now just pick them up and carry them around.
I can also balance on my lunch box like a circus seal!

Dinner giggles

Click on the picture (it comes to life) and turn up your volume!

ISWD: Elmo edition

If it's Tuesday and daycare Mary is sick in bed ... it means I'm stuck with Dad. After an early morning of dancing to my Baby Tunes playlist, we flipped on Sesame Street ... and I loved it!

Figuring we'll never acclimate to the mid 20s if we don't confront them head-on, we Kelty'd around the neighborhood and through the park ...
... and stopped by to say hi to my bakery ladies. Of course they wouldn't let me leave empty-handed, so I snack'd on a couple of the city's best once we got home.
After lunch we played kitchen and chased each other around and had a smiley-good time.

My hair's longer than Dad's

While Mom was at the gym, Dad and I had 2 objectives. 1. highlight my sometimes-hard-to-see-in-pics hair in a couple of pics, and 2. have fun.

We checked #2 off by dancing to the "Wee Hairy Beasties" while pounding out a few solos on the piano.
We also dug through the toy pile where I re-discovered my cousin Bryan's first Christmas present to me ...
... before taking a learning break to picture up on farm animals ...
... and then Mom got home and caught us practicing walking on my hands.

Inside work

While Dad made progress on house projects outside today, Mom and I worked on re-arranging my changing-table (above) and baking lots of yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Who knew 1/2 of a cookie's worth of chocolate was so messy?

Donut holes, mochas and tea

If it's a chyllie Saturday, it's BOB'n on over for mochas and donuts.

I got to have my very own donut hole this morning ...
... and searched Dad's empty mug for a drop of mocha to wash it down. Mmmmm!
On our trip home, I ditched the BOB and walked through the park ...
... and found a stick! And a swing! Mom and Dad gave me a few pushes but before long we had to head home because they were too cold to play in the park.
When we got home, I had a play date with my bath toys and shared a few smiles while wrapped up in my bath towel.
Later while I was snooz 'n, Dad set up one of his old toys. I woke up to find a new kitchen ...
... and my very own cabinet door to open, close and hide things behind! Mom and I celebrated all the fun by sharing a pretend cup of tea.

Rarrrrrrrrrrrr!

Fresh off of a couple of more trips to daycare's sin bin (I ALWAYS want to play with the big kids ... and when I'm not allowed to I let my displeasure be known), I had fun playing a version of hide-and-seek with Mom and Dad tonight. Check it out! (Click on the pics below ... they come to life!)

A lot of this and that: trip edition

No posts for awhile because we've been super busy ... we just returned from a 2 day drive/1 day visit to my Michigan grandparents' house where we honored my uncle Kyle's poetry and celebrated my cousin Ellen's birthday.

While there, we also went shopping ... for SHOES! We went to the same store that Dad's baby shoes came from and we found the perfect pair for me.
In preparation for a few weeks from now, Grammy gave me my first taste of birthday cake (a yummy treat baked by cousin Ben and decorated by cousin Bryan).
I also spent a few hours yesterday morning playing with Grammy's daycare toys ...
... and showed one of the daycare kids how well I "share".
As we packed up the car, Grammy introduced me to the finer points of snowball making ...... and gave me one final hug goodbye.I slept for about 10 of the 14 hours that our ride home took yesterday(!), waking up long enough to take a lunch break and a smiley picture with my great aunt Sue.