Things that have happened since Charley has been born: first 6 months edition.

Things That have happened since Charley blessed our lives. The first 6 months. 

Charley was born to the music of Courtney Barnett at 4:01pm on 5.1.15.

May

• President is Barak Obama: first black president
• Zoe's graduation - Charley slept through the whole thing.
• I went with Colleen to see "Pitch Perfect 2" (my first time out alone)
• I threw Bill a surprise 40th birthday party (my second time out!) on our wedding anniversary, so that still needs to be celebrated!
• My first Mothers Day: went to Adams and Sons, walked around Humboldt Park. It was cold that day. 

June

• The 606 opened and we went on opening day!
• First meal out: Potbellys with amy and the boys after walking on the 606
• At one month Charley was sleeping so much I thought there was something wrong!
• Dining out: Breakfast Club with Mackie and Darren, Nordstrom Cafe with Mackie, Parsons with Erica.

July

• At 2 months Charley started smiling
• I went to the Grateful Dead show with Jeff
• Cafe BabaReeba with Marie-Elena and her friends
• Mom skipped Pitchfork for the first time ever

August 

I look around the bedroom and everyone is asleep : Bill, Charley, Lenny and Olive.  I sit up stressing out. Tonight its about her 3mo shots, the doctors office says we don't go in until 4mo but thats not right. Before this stress i would lay awake thinking about daycare,  crying myself to sleep about it. 

Charley is sleeping through the night. That means i have to pump. Waking up with a wet teeshirt sucks, but it just shows how much she has grown. 8.4.15. Also, she wakes up so happy and smiling.  I sing "Good Morning Starshine" to her every day. I just love her so much. 

• at 3 months Charley loves being sung to, being held as much as possible, giggling at daddy and smiling all the time.
• "American Pie" is our song :)
• Mackie, Adira, Katie, Mary-Frances and Amy have babysat for us.
• Christine Rosa moved to Austin, TX
• We bought a new car
• I sold my Civic - sniff sniff
• Kanye said he was running for president
• We had lunch at Publican Quality Meats with Nancy + Mackie
• We went to Sheri's rehearsal dinner at Chief O'Neils
• Charley went to her first nail salon (for sheri's wedding party)
• We made bouquets for Sheri's wedding
• Sheri got married!
• Charley started daycare at Marisol's  - Tu-Fri.

September

• Charley turned 4 months old!  She is still sleeping through the night!
• She is thriving in daycare, but we think we might switch to an in-home daycare that is closer to our house. The driving is stressing me out.  And I am dreading winter.
• She is laughing and smiling and overall adorable. She drools a lot - I think she is pre-teething or something. 
• We had our first ER experience, she fell out of the infant lounger onto thr floor from the island...poor Bill he was a wreck. We went to the ER, all was well thank goodness, but we did miss our date night!
• Charley started waking up toward the end of the month, they call it sleep regression, but she usually falls asleep again quickly. 
• She went to Cozy Corner for the first time, the Ravenswood Art Walk with her friend Evelyn,  the rooftop of Fountainhead  with Erica, and visited me at work for the first time!

October

• Charley's first cold!  Ugh, and Bill has it too. 
• Charley met Bob and Rachael, after she ran the marathon!
• Rachel and James are moving to San Francisco
• Charley started a new daycare down the street! I walk her there in the Ergo everyday. Bill picks her up when he opens, too.
• I also got the cold....for 3 weeks.
• We left Charley for the first time to go to Shipwreks wedding in Kansas City. We were away from her from Friday afternoon through early Sunday evening. It was so weird. I missed her so much, and I felt like a piece of me was missing. But it was also nice to be able to do whatever. It was weird. I had to pump a lot.
• Amy watched Charley which was awesome. It made it much easier to leave her.
• We ate at Cozy Corner again. And Meatheads. And she came with me and Nana to Apple Villa. 
• Our first home project: we got new concrete steps!  Wooooo!
• I made my first halloween costume! Kristin helped me! Charley was a pineapple!
• I took Charley to see Zoe and Mary-Frances on Halloween. 
• She wakes up more during the night, usually because of a coughing fit. Stupid daycare colds. 

Rachel and James are moving.

My friend Rachel is a fun, witty, intelligent person. Her fiancé James is also fun and witty, very outgoing and they are both very talented at numerous things.  James is a musician amongst many other things, and Rachel could be a famous chef if she wanted to (also amongst many other things). They both will beat you at pinball.

They are both pretty ready to leave Chicago and have been longing to move to San Francisco: the food, the weather, the mountains, the accessibility to beautiful nature.

And poof!  After looking for a job for a scotch of time, Rachel landed a big girl job with a big girl company. And she starts in 2 weeks.  Meaning they are leaving like now. NOW!

How does one balance their emotions, between happiness for them, and sadness for myself because my friend is going to be 2,131 miles away (or 31 hours of straight driving time without pee breaks). And who will go to the grocery store with me just because they like grocery stores? And who will just go to Target because who doesn't love Target?  And how am I supposed to go to a restaurant without first hearing if its good or not?  And how do I recap a night of going out without someone to tell me what happened after I left?

This is all a part of growing up. I feel like my friends, and Bill's friends which are also my friends, but my friend community that consists of doctors and teachers and social workers and nurses and artists and sellers and all of it: That we are not grown ups. We are all so fun and awesome, that its hard for me to admit I am a grown up.

Even after marriage, home ownership, a baby, 2 dogs, a new car....after it all, its all a part of growing up. And moving on. And they are moving on. And I'm happy for them, I will still be sad for me, but I am so happy for them. And I will miss them so much!  It means more reason to travel, to use Skype, to master Google Hangouts... I think I'm still in denial, it hasn't totally hit me yet. I'm scared for when it does.

ACK! I'm almost 35!!

And I think because I'm almost 35 I keep using the word ACK, from good old Cathy comic strip.  Anyway, lots of action per usual, summing it up in photos.

Bill's knee is SO MUCH BETTER, he can hopefully go to work on April 11th.  Please let him go back to work, although it will make the puppies super sad.

Bill looking dapper as usual, at the super duper crazy fun Thaw benefit for Links Hall.

Work is crazy crazy crazy as usual in the Spring, as we are gearing up for our Industry Events Series.
I'm so work crazed I dressed to match our branding:

And we're a bit behind schedule, and I took 3 days off this week because the Greeks were supposed to come in but now its pushed back a week.  SIGH.

I went out to celebrate Molly's birthday - she is about to have her THIRD DAUGHTER!  Its so exciting for her, and she looks amazing per usual.

Moving into Spring, Rachel and I started a "Seed Draft" to correspond with the guys Fantasy Football Draft.  We got lots of fun stuff:

And lastly, there is an awesome new chicken place that opened by us called The Art of Chicken and it is Amazeballs.

Rambling March post.....finished!

Thanksgiving week

Where, oh where has my time gone?
How is it already Thanksgiving?  I look back to an early blog, in which I complain about having to decorate the front my my parents house the day after Thanksgiving as it is a tradition I do so every year.  What is different about this year is that my dad, really for once needs the help.  The treatments have been going well - 2 down, 6 to go - but he's so tired, and easily irritable.
This year we are going to get the tree early, so Bill on Thanksgiving can help us mount it in the front.  It's a crap ton of work, so it will be nice to have his help!

Anyway, Halloween happened - here are some pictures.  As per usual, wen to John & Kadima's and it was really fun.

And with Rachel back, I have been doing lots of baking, too!

And with Denise & Colleen, we have attempted planking.

Los Angeles, Oh what a Time it was!

I'm shocked its been almost a month since my last post!  This one is totally dedicated to how "Nobody Walks in LA".  Just kidding, we walked around a bit!  We had a total blast in Los Angeles, it was Bill's first time there, and he even said he liked it more then he thought he would.
Upon arrival I receive a text from James saying "I'm coming to get you!"  This was odd, considering Rachel was going to get us.  Well, Rachel's car broke down after Home Depot, so Jamesy had to leave during rush hour to get us.  1.5 hours later he arrived!  We were tired, hungry and thirsty but thrilled to see James, its has been since our wedding that we have been together!

Finally we land in Silverlake and Rachel and I were reunited again!  I miss the Winn/Barron household so much, I hate how far they live.  The first night we went to a bar to grab food, Bill and I were exhausted and wanted to rest up for the next day.

Day 2 we went to Olvera Street and I bought awesome stuff for my birthday party fiesta!!!

The evening of Day 2 we went to Pins and Needles and played pinball for hours and hours.

Day 3 we went to Melrose Avenue for shopping and then to Papa Cristos - "The best Greek food in LA".  We feel bad for people in LA.  Although we ate a ton, it wasn't as good as Chicago.  But check out Papa Cristos!

The evening of Day 3 we went to Smog Cutters.  My cousin Trevor and his girlfriend Holly met us, along with Jenny, Bridget and lots of James's and Rachel's friends.

Day 4 we were all feeling wow so awesome, so we went to Griffith Park and enjoyed the view.  We had a great brunch in the morning and headed up there.  It was beautiful and amazing and just what a hangover ordered!  

And finally that evening we made homemade pizzas on the grill, and invited people to come over and join us to eat and drink, and I was thrilled to have my old friend Daniel, who I met in Savannah, Georgia in the year 2000 while I was working on "The Gift", even stopped by.

We had a fabulous time, and missed Jamesy and Rachel (and Signal!) immediately, and forever after, too! Move home to Chicago our friends!!!

And one month later!

So I'm getting settled into my new position as Creative Industry Liaison at Columbia College Chicago in the Portfolio Center.  Everything is going very well, and next week Bill and I fly to Los Angeles to spend a week with Jamesy and Rachel!  We can't wait!  Rachel spent 6 weeks with us this past summer, but Bill and I  haven't seen Jamesy since our wedding, which is almost 2 years ago!

Our last vacation was to visit the Mighty Carmona Family in North Carolina, and that was soon after Victor passed away.  We have Lex staying at our house next week to take care of Lenny + Olive, and hopefully they will be angels.  Although I doubt it since now when we leave we have to put the garbage can in the bathroom.  Oy vey. So annoying.

The Year of Big Decisions, Let's start with Dog #2.

When we adopted Lenny (fostered 6/7/10, adopted 6/22/10) they were hesitant to give him to us because they said he needed to be in a 2 dog environment.  His separation anxiety was too intense, and even training classes proved to be somewhat useless.  We used Chainsaw, the dog that used to live downstairs, on our side to show he wouldn't be alone.
Chainsaw + his folks (Jeremy + Shirley) moved out a couple months ago, and it has been tough on Lenny.
Bill and I decided to look at local shelters.
When I first saw Lenny's face, I feel in love with him, hard, and so did Bill.  He just looked like an Alevizos.  But I knew finding dog #2 would prove to be way more difficult.  We went back to CCR to see which dogs were available that we liked online, and we saw Olive.  Now, I really wanted a SMART dog, like a collie or something, because Lenny doesn't really know how to listen and could use improvements in various areas.  But there was Olive.  Terrier/Corgi/god knows what weirdly cute female dog with a Fu Manchu.

So here we go.  Yesterday was Day #1, and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty much emotionally unstable all day. Let's start with the fact she is IN LOVE with Lenny. I have never seen a female dog attempt to hump so much.  Really.  And she wouldn't just chill and leave him alone.

I cried on and off all day.  Bill was at work, so my apologizes to the following people for freaking out and losing my mind that had to listen to me sob on the phone: Mom, Mackie, Rachel, Mary-Frances, Kristin, Lex + of course Bill.  I started to doubt, do we want a second dog?  Are we getting a dog for Lenny and not for us (which is partially  true.  If Lenny was fine when we left the house I'm sure we would have held off until we bought a place for dog 2, but Bill has always wanted dog 2 so you never know).  
Is Lenny happy?  Is she happy?  Is she the right dog? Did we make the right decision?  Did we rush into this?  Is she going to be chill and get along with all dogs as Lenny does?  Is she going to bark at night?  Is she going to bark when we leave?  Is Lenny annoyed?  Will she pee in the house?  Will she calm him down when we leave?  Will she like all people?  And so on.  This is literally how I spent Sunday, January 9th, while Olive was in our home a brief 5 hours total, and I lost my mind.

I felt so much better when Bill got home from work (alone time with the dogs, 7 hrs) and Lenny was happy that Bill was there.  And the dogs played and played.

We gave Olive a bath, and she was happier, and hey, I was happier, and I think she is adjusting very well.  Now, this is a foster, so if in two weeks we feel this isn't working out, then she will go back to the shelter, but honestly so far so good......stay posted.

2011 MASTER LIST

Ok, per a heavy duty FB conversation today, here is the beginnings to my 2011 accomplishment list. Items left over from 2010 will be marked with a *.
1. Hot Dougs - 3324 N. California*
2. Modern Wing @ the Art Institute*
3. Pho Pho Pho*
4. A bike ride*
5. The Green Market*
6. Use my Chicago Public Radio Membership card for restaurant discounts*
7. Ramen Ramen Ramen  **WENT TO ARAMI 2/18/11.  THE ARAMI RAMEN WAS AMAZING!!!**
8. Korean BBQ (I'm on an Asian Food Kick)
9. Visit Rachel and James  **TRIP IS BOOKED FOR SPRING BREAK, MARCH 2011******
10. Visit the Pacific Northwest
11. Have a romantic weekend with Bill
12. Avoid the same old 2010 haunts (Oak Oak Tap, Clutch, Cleos, all those same old places)
13. Master brand new Soups
14. Make a recipe out of EVERYTHING in my CSA, not just the stuff I'm familiar with
15. New gig, please **I START 2/28/11 - DREAM JOB!!!****** FYI - amazing. Awesome. So great.
16. Get Bill to actually donate some articles of clothing, shoes, etc.   He Donated TWO shirts. Its a step.
17. Margie's Candies
18. Girl and the Goat ***reservations 5/14!***
19. Start a business plan for a doggie daycare "Victors Garden"
20. Get a piano
21. MOST IMPORTANT!  A DINING ROOM TABLE!  I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, and at this rate we will be eating on the floor!

Oh Rachel, I miss you so!

My wonderful friend Rachel was in Chicago for six weeks, from May 14 - June 22 and she stayed with Bill and I.  Rachel and I have a long strange history though working various jobs together, but our friendship was really bonded when she and her boyfriend James moved into good old 2350/52 W. Ohio.  The four of us were like Melrose Place, minus the fights, the sex scandals and drama.  Just good old fashioned fun, gardening, parties, and Cubs games.  On the roof of course!

Regardless, Rachel and James moved to Los Angeles in November, right after Obama's election.  It's been a long time, and here is hoping that the pilot she was working on Chicago gets picked up, because we need Jamesy and Rachel back!!!! NOW!  And as a thanks to Bill & me, Rachel bought us a ridiculously generous gift certificate to Longman & Eagle, just voted Best New Restaurant by the Chicago Reader!  And that also means Date Night!

Lenny the Dog

Bill and I are still grieving over the loss of Victor Pants. Its one of those things that with time, it doesn't hurt as badly, but we still love Victor and he will always be such an important part of our lives.
We were not actively looking for a new dog, it has only been four months since he passed away.

My parents were actively looking for a new dog, and when I was at their house the day before Memorial Day, I was perusing petfinder.com, and this picture jumped off the page at me.

Wowzer!  I sent in my application asap and called furiously to the Chicago Canine Rescue.  Long story short, I have never fought so hard for something in my life.  They wanted Lenny to be in a home with another dog, and I told them all about Chainsaw downstairs.  They wanted us to have an 8 foot fence, I told htem Lenny would never be outside alone.  And then we met him.  And it was love at first sight.  We took him for a long walk.  Then we went the next day and walked him again.  Then on Tuesday we had our home visit, and Lenny was dropped off.  Lenny was a little scared of the stairs, and he walked in and peed in front of the dog bed, and on the fridge, and on the plants on the deck.

I was worried that he would be in the house, but that was that!  We have him on a totally organic high protein food - he's underweight and he needs to gain more before he can be neutered.  He's so amazing and transitioning so well.  He jumps in bed and follows Bill around everywhere.  He's so awesome. 

I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried to begin with.  I cried a lot about Victor - would he be mad, would he be sad, would he be happy?  Has enough time passed?  I'm feeling guilty, etc.  So many feelings.  But I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.  We got Lenny.  He is happy with us.  He already loves us, and we are quickly falling in love with him too.  We are a family again.  I still miss Victor, though, and that feeling will never go away.  I just hope that they would be friends.