December started out with a trip to MN! Jack had his 3rd trip on an airplane...and we've decided we'd like to minimize air travel with kids as much as possible! He did great but was still quite a handful. He's a busy little kid and wasn't very fond of sitting on our laps but luckily the trip to MN is pretty short so we were thankful!! We went up there for a McKinsey weekend and attended a dinner on Friday night, a brunch on Saturday and their Holiday party on Saturday night. Troy and I stayed downtown at the W and Jack stayed with the grandparents! Although we always miss our little guy when he's away from us, we really enjoyed just having a weekend together before the baby comes and life gets crazy again!
The following weekend my parents and Amy and Isaac came down to visit on Saturday. My parents were kind enough to treat us to a great day of eating out and going to a Broadway show in downtown Chicago. We saw Wicked and even got to go backstage! Amy gave me a wonderful birthday/Christmas gift and Jack even got to open an early Christmas gift from Nana and Papa!
Troy has been out of school since the second week of December and has been an incredible help around the house and with Jack!!! We have had 3 weeks of wonderful family time and have tried to take advantage of some of the fun things to do in Chicago. We took Jack to see Santa...and as you'll see in the pictures below, he wasn't too sure about the funny looking guy in red! We also have gone downtown a few times. Once to Gino's East (an amazing pizza place) where Jack decided he was old enough to use a fork...and actually was able to do it himself! He ate 1/4 of our 12" deep dish pizza! He absolutely loves mushroom pizza! We also took a trip downtown and used the Metra train. Jack still loves trains and had fun at the station watching them come and go and enjoyed riding it too! We visited the Kristkindlemarket which is a German Christmas market modeled after one in Germany.
My birthday also came during the month and we had fun plans to take Jack to the Kohl's Children's Museum but Jack ended up with a high temp and double ear infection. So instead, we stayed inside except for when Troy took Jack to the doctor. Troy did end up baking me a homemade chocolate cake though...which ended the day perfectly! Although it wasn't what we planned it was still a great day because I got to be with my two favorite people in the whole world. It's funny how your perspective changes when you become a parent...
Troy's parents drove down to spend Christmas with us this year since I am too far along to travel anywhere. We enjoyed spending time with them and ate some great food during those three days! I'm afraid to go to the doctor tomorrow for my weigh in! :-) Jack, as always, loved all the attention he got during those few days!
I am 37 weeks on Thursday this week...FULL term!! We are so ready to meet this little guy...so I hope he comes early! I'm trying not to get my hopes up though and keep reminding myself that I could still have 4 more weeks!
Jack update: he turned 14 months on Christmas day! I can't believe it! He is turning into a little boy more and more everyday. He understand so many things now and we can ask him to do something (like "please bring me this" or "let's go to Jack's room and read") and although he can't talk will understand and do what we are asking! He's a great walker now and even knows the difference of whether he should walk to the elevator to go downstairs or walk to the door to go out to the car when we "go go" somewhere! His favorite item this month is definitely the swiffer that I use to dust! He is obsessed with it and carries it around the house like a toy! His motor skills have really improved as well. He is really good at using his index finger and thumb to read books, pull on things, etc. He also babbles incessantly like he's truly trying to give his opinion! He has also gotten pretty good at using silverware. We feel like he learns something new everyday and are so thankful we are both here to witness it! We love him so much and are so excited to see him as a big brother this next month!
Pictures are below...enjoy!
Troy and me (at 33 weeks) dressed up for the McKinsey Holiday party
Jack helping Daddy with putting up the Christmas tree
Anderson Family at Wicked
So excited about my gift from Amy!
Nana, Papa and Jack
Jack and his Swiffer...
Using an adult fork by himself at Gino's East pizzeria
Troy and Jack and Gino's East...Jack loved this penguin...
35 Weeks!
Jack's favorite meal...lasagna!
Jack and Santa
Daddy had to come sit with Jack and even then he was unsure of this man in red with a beard...
Downtown Chicago at Kristkindlemarket
On the train!
He had a ton of fun playing in this huge gift bag!
My birthday and birthday cake!
36 Weeks!
Grandpa and Grandma with Jack over Christmas
He loved his Little People Farm!
Daddy played his trumpet and Jack tried too!
Both the boys with their trumpets!
Christmas Eve...
Hangin' with Grandpa
Playing with his farm
Super cool musical bath toy...he's excited!
Pulling his new doggy around...
Loves the xylophone we got him!
The Octopus blows bubbles and sings songs in the bath...how fun!
