Showers Galore and a night at Navy Pier

Well, for those of you wondering I did not make a last minute trip to Knoxville to have a baby shower... BUT apparently my friends had one for me! Someone found a way to hack into my computer and leave that post about how great my shower was, etc. I was incredibly confused and the whole thing was a bit mysterious (and still is!!) but I was told by a little bird that the mail man would end this shower mystery soon! Another explanatory post will follow when all has been uncovered!

Here are some pictures (lots this time!) of my sister's weekend in town. We miss her already!

Its so funny how you spend so much time making the tables for a shower look nice and rarely does anyone really want to see a picture of it... but here it is anyway. :)


Here's Addy enjoying a book before everyone got to the shower.

She got a lot of great gifts!!



Here's a picture of the bride-to-be with her aunts, mom and grandma. These are the ladies (plus Nana) who threw the shower. My Nana left early so unfortunately she isn't in the pictures :(


The bride-to-be and her inflated sister. :)


Tutu & Me



Addy did surprisngly well despite her late night the night before and short nap that morning. Here she is giggling with GG.



The Mexican Mamas


Aunt Tara introduced Addy to corn on the cob. It was love at first sight.

Here's a belly shot to satisfy recent requests for one. 38 weeks.
Would a post be complete without a shot of these incredible eyes?


Dinner downtown at Rivas.

Addy is playing peek-a-boo with the napkin.


And snuggling/playing with Aunt Tara


I realize this one is sideways but its so cute. :)


Uncle Adam, Addy & Tara


About an hour past her bedtime:



It was a great weekend - we hope to do more of them!!

Knoxville Shower

With all of the Fourth of July festivities and my mom coming in last night I haven't had time to post about my baby shower for John Michael in Knoxville. It was such a wonderful time! I love seeing all my friends there and they had some really sweet gifts for my little guy.


Natalie loves looking at my big belly, "Look at you!" We came to shower together ... and were running late, so I took this pic in the car! She was toting a cute gift from Nouveau so I didn't care that we were late.















Trillia made it to the party just a few days before she had Weston! I hear that he is precious.




















Julie and Alison enjoy the food, themost important thing at a shower.















Amy with John Michael's cousin Sadie ... look at her cute little dress!















Emilee and Anna Kate, Addy's best friend, gave John Michael some cozy pj's for those cold Chicago nights. Em is expecting number two in February!















Leslie loves anything mongrammed, so she made John Michael a perosnalized plate. Her picture refuese to uplaod ... so maybe I'll add it later.

I didn't get a picture of Rebecca, she must have been hiding somewhere with Jacob.

I had such a great time girls! Thank you so much for my fun shower!

smiley girl at the carnival

Well, the 4th of July pictures continue... here is a picture of me taking Addy on her first ride, a choo-choo train!

And some random shots of our giggly girl getting ready for bed.

sliding addy

One of Adeline's favorite park pastimes is to go down the slide. Here are a few shots of her going down some slides we got a garage sale. Johnny set this one up to land in the pool. She liked it but only when Johnny was in the pool waiting.

"I'm not so sure I want to do this!"


"Maybe if I dip my toe in first it won't seem so cold"

"Nope, that didn't work. Still really cold."


"One, Two, Three.... GO!"



"Whoa! Did you see that Mom??"


Three weeks to go until Adeline gets to meet her little brother! Contractions are still here - some rather uncomfortable but nothing to call home about just yet.

The Kiddie Parade & nesting mamas

Well, three weeks to go and I'm officially nesting. Today I spent all day cleaning the house... well, that is in between Addy's breakfast time, playing time, bath time, reading time, lunch time, snack time, dinner time, Great-Grandfather time, youth group dinner at our house and time with my dear friend Sam. But, I worked so hard I had contractions all night! I'm sure that means I'll go two weeks late.... :) My doctor would like to induce me too fit me into his schedule (those are my words) since he is going to be out of town during my due date but I don't think we'll go that route... just hope and pray that I deliver the week before (or two weeks before if he's ready... hehe)

Well, the Highland Parade wasn't the only parade we participated in this year. Highland also has a Kiddie Parade. This is the parade when all the little kids get dressed up and deck out their wagons, bikes, scooters, motorized vehicles, etc. and walk through Highland passing out candy. Addy loved it since there were so many little kids to watch but getting a smile out of her serious face wasn't quite as easy. The parade ends at the Highland Fair and the smiles were in full force once she went on the rides. Here are pictures for your enjoyment.


"How come all the other kids are eating candy and you are giving me cantaloupe?"

"This is the life"
I'd just like to point out that Addy does this quite a bit in her stroller as well.... both my mom and I ride the same way in the passenger seat of our cars - feet up!

"Man, my mom did a terrible job of decorating my wagon. Look at all those other kids wagons. Good thing one of those nice kids gave me this flag or I'd really look lame."


Finally, the rides!!



My first (but definitely not my last) carousel ride.

Parade Number One

Every year Highland has a 4th of July parade but to be honest I'm not a huge fan of parades... but this year we ventured out to see if Addy would enjoy it and boy did she!!

Here she is with her Grandpa pointing and talking to the trucks driving by.

Addy has a special affection for her Uncle DD. One of the games they play together is putting Uncle DD's hat on and off of him. You can see she's enjoying it!

Addy and her cousin Ajai watching the parade go by. Ajai made out like a candy bandit!

How could she not enjoy it when she got her first taste of cotton candy?

Saving some for later.

Grandma was worried the fire engines were too loud for little Addy's ears so here is a picture of her covering one ear while Auntie Donna covered the other one.

Addy & Uncle Oogie.

Not too long after the parade started it POURED rain. Addy got pretty wet but it cleared up right away. Here she is looking confused about the rain and all the activity.

I couldn't get many shots of her smiling but she was pointing, laughing and yelling at the fire trucks as they went by.

She's just pointing in this picture but doesn't it look like she's signing "I love you?" Let's all just pretend :) Love you too peanut!