Children's Concert

This afternoon we met up with some of our baby friends for a children's concert.

Baby friends

Daddy and Baby

I had a lot of errands to run today and wanted to do some shopping. Alone. Daddy and baby went to Starbucks and played at home.

Dad captured this sleepy baby out on their walk to Starbucks. 

This is what I found when I arrived home. 

Out. Alone.

Joe and I have only gone out without C a few times since she's been born and we haven't been anywhere alone since March. We decided that we were in desperate need of a night out of the house where we didn't have to worry about a baby crying through dinner and one were we could just focus on catching up with each other. Funny how you can forget to do those things unless you make time for them. So I arranged for a former coworker of mine to come babysit tonight and we went out for a couple hours.

Yesterday someone from the restaurant called to confirm our reservations and asked if we were celebrating anything. I told her no but at dinner another thought occurred to me. We are celebrating something. Maybe our rare night out is us celebrating the fact that we survived the first six months of parenthood.

Overall, the service and food weren't as great as we had hoped for (our fault for straying from our trusty standby) but we got out of the house; I'm calling it a success.

This is what happens when you haven't been out alone in three months and aren't sure when you will get your next opportunity for fine dining. 

Six Month Photos

We got some photos taken today. They mostly turned out great despite C's refusal to smile.

Had to add the meltdown. She didn't understand why mom had dressed her in feathers and she wanted a nap pronto.

Funday Friday

We've had a very full day today. First, we went to the Arboretum with Holly & Abby. Then we met three of our baby & mom friends at the pool for a couple hours. And I'm going to top the night off by meeting a mommy friend out...with no babies in tow.

Abby & Claudia

Holly & Abby; Abby loved pushing Claudia in the stroller.

Our first trip to the pool!

Modeling her swim cap! Always a fashionista. 

With Claudia's friends (Cooper, Claudia, Laila and Cullen).

Lionel

Kamilah and me at the Lionel Richie concert last night. All the hits, all night long. So much fun. 

First Father's Day

Our framed photo gift for dad

On our way out for a walk. Claudia fittingly wanted to wear her "I heart my dad" shirt. 

We went to Father's Day brunch and have come to the conclusion that we can no longer go places and, certainly, not nice places. Farewell to our old life. This little girl may look sweet and innocent but she knows exactly when the food comes that it's time for a meltdown. :) 

He's back!

After taking a hiatus for a couple years, it seems that my husband is back to blogging. You can check him out here.

Birthday Girl

Our baby girl is six months old today. Since her birthday is 13 days before Christmas and will always prove to be such a hectic time of the year, we decided we'd like to do something fun on her half birthday each year. No gifts, no parties, just a fun day together. So today Claudia took her first trip to the zoo.

 Claudia doesn't realize she's at the zoo but here we are. 

She wanted to wear her giraffe shirt when she saw giraffes for the very first time. 

One of five giraffes we saw today. 

Claudia slept through the visit. 

We ended the day with the big cats. Love them. 

Before and After

Our interior staircase railing has always been pretty rickety and it's one of those things I knew we'd have to replace once Claudia became more mobile. We finally got around to it and you know how these things evolve. It started out that we needed a new railing and then I thought that as long as the contractor was here maybe he could replace the tile that I have always hated in our basement bathroom and the vanity. Then I decided that if we were replacing the tile and the vanity, maybe we should just replace the toilet, too. Then when my mom was here, she said the perfect time to paint would be while everything was torn out. Well, I did hate the paint color...

Stair railing before 

Stair railing after (ignore the baby gate at the top which is keeping our dogs away, not the baby)

Bathroom before

Bathroom after 

A Visit From Grandma

My mom heading home after a fun couple days

On Friday we got a visit from grandma. My mom came to town so we could attend our cousin, Declan's solo piano recital. He's 18 and has been playing since he was 3! It was such a nice event at the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple. 

Saturday, on a whim, we decided to repaint our downstairs bathroom. We've been doing some home remodeling projects and decided it was the perfect opportunity to repaint. We, of course, switched off between baby duty and painting duty. Before and after pictures coming soon! 

Thanks, grandma (mom) for coming to see us! 

This Week

This week we've been busy as usual. Lunch with friends, walks, lots of baby socialization - the list goes on.

On Monday we noticed a tooth coming in and, since then, another!

We had dinner with some friends. 

We played with our friends at Gymboree.

Claudia's friends

My five-month-old has so many friends. She doesn't realize she has friends yet but she does. This morning we went on a walk to Starbucks with our neighbor and her little daughter. Then we went to Gymboree. Then we went on a walk with another new mom friend and her baby. And now my social butterfly is worn out and fast asleep.

Claudia and her bff Cullen at our mom's group earlier this week.

Our Gymboree friends. 

Claudia's first 5k

My former coworkers invited Claudia and me to participate in a 5k walk to raise money for a local center that helps cancer patients through cooking classes, yoga classes, massage therapy, counseling and MUCH more all for free. Of course we wanted to help the cause. Claudia was a trooper and we had a great time.

Baby and baby doll all ready for the 5k. 

Five Months

It's so hard to believe that this girl is five months old. For the first time ever during our monthly photo shoot, Claudia wanted to play with the rabbit. She was very aware of it and kept touching it.

Claudia's First Trip to Missouri

We have spent the past four days in Missouri visiting family and friends. Claudia's first trip was successful but she is worn out!

Four generations 

Claudia with her cousins - this was during one of her meltdowns but too funny not to post

Claudia in a swing for the very first time

A happier time with cousins

With grandma and grandpa

This is the kind of stuff I eat in Missouri :) 

My first Mother's Day with my beautiful little girl

And one of the main reasons for our trip - my friend Monica's wedding! Such a beautiful celebration. 

Busy ladies

This week we have gone to Gymboree classes twice, mom's group once and out for lunch with friends twice. Whew! We are busy ladies. Next up is our first trip to Missouri to meet cousins, great grandma, other relatives and friends.

At Gymboree. We like to sing songs, watch bubbles, do tummy time in front of a mirror and make new friends.  

At lunch with Addie who is exactly one month older. 

Menu Plan Monday

Last week's tuna noodle casserole was bad. So if you thought about trying it - don't. I tried a new recipe and, needless to say, won't be trying it again. The chicken dumplings were great though.

This week's menu plan isn't much since I am gone one night, Joe is gone one night and we're leaving town for four days. But in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we're having shredded pork soft tacos tonight.

Saturday Fun

We are so fortunate to live in a great community with an abundance of beautiful parks and amenities, one of which is a great little petting zoo - totally free for residents! Today we took Claudia there for a stroll and some fresh air. It's tough being a baby born during a polar vortex; she's had very few days outside so far but hopefully that's about to change.

Our first trip of many!

One of the baby lambs we saw today catching some rays. 

Claudia with dad. 

Her hoodie is still a little big but it did the trick.