Chicago

Keeping up with tradition, we HAD to take our trip to Chicago to see the Christmas tree at Marshall Fields (OK, Macy's.... even though it will always be Marshall Fields to me!) So, Maggie, Gramma, and I jumped on a train, met (a very pregnant!) Auntie Katie downtown and had a  spectacular "ladies" lunch at the Walnut Room. 

My favorite Christmas tradition. EVER. 

Writing a letter to Santa!

Mailing it off in the famous "red" mailbox!

 These "fairies" came around during lunch and sprinkled Maggie with magic dust!  

Lunch with Auntie Katie (and a very soon-to-be cousin!) 

We got some shopping done, as you can see!

 We got to sit on Santa's lap....

 ...before shopping a little more! What a diva!

 Silliness with Gramma on the train ride home!

Halloween

Although we officially were back home in Kenosha for Halloween, it felt like we had already "celebrated" in Florida. Halloween fell on a Monday (the day after we returned home from vacation). While we were all planning on returning to work/school, etc that day, it was just a bit too much for everyone. So we stayed home, threw on some pumpkin hats, took some cute pictures, and called it a day. Enjoy!

#3

Oh, yeah. In all this craziness, I was busy growing a(nother!) baby in my belly. Ha! 

Here are a few ultrasound pix!

During my first ultrasound in late September, the baby was measuring a bit smaller than they thought he/she should have been for as far along as I was.... so I was scheduled for a second ultrasound a few weeks later. Dan was unable to go with me, but my mom asked to go. During that visit, they: 

1) pushed my due date back by 2 weeks to March 6 (instead of February 19) 

2) asked if I wanted to know the gender of the baby

During my first 2 pregnancies, I adamantly REFUSED to find out the sex of the baby... I mean, you only get so many surprises in life, right? Dan was always a little curious- but my stubbornness won out each time. This time, there was no way I was going to find out- especially without Dan being with me to share the moment. When the ultrasound tech asked, I said... well, I hesitated. For a looong time. Then I asked her if she knew. She smiled and nodded. I asked her to show me what she "saw" (or didn't see!) but not to say anything. If I could figure it out, good for me. If not, well, then it wasn't meant to be. She moved the ultrasound wand all over, got it in position, and showed me... some greyish blob. I seriously had no idea what I was looking at. She just said "There you go!" Um, OK. Well, loooooooong story short, I ended up having her write the results on a slip of paper, and sealing them in an envelope. That way, Dan and I could decide together if it was something we wanted to open. 

It was hard to walk around with that envelope in my purse for the rest of they day. 

Here she is... Yep, I said her. (but it's July- and you knew that already!) 

Final Disney Randomness....

The remainder of the week was truly, truly magical. I know how silly and cliche' that sounds, but there really is no other way to describe it. The girls were super troopers (no naps, long days, lots of walking...) and. They. Never. Complained. Ever. I think there was a little Disney magic at work right there! 

We opted for the Disney Photo Pass (totally recommended, by the way) and there are much better pictures on our pass than what we ended up with on our camera, but it's 9 months or so after the fact, and I just want to get these pictures out there and move on to other big events (like Christmas, and the new baby!) Ant Jood made both of the girls some AWESOME Shutterfly photo books with their Disney pictures for Christmas. If you're truly interested in seeing more pictures, just ask them. They love to show them off! 

 We bought these cool light-up Mickey ears on clearance at the Disney Store before we traveled. So cool!

 We got to stay at the park late one night- and go trick or treating. It was awesome!

 Thankful for being pregnant- it got me out of the awful TeaCup ride! :)

 Winnie the Pooh's house

 Maggie, waiting for the Halloween parade to begin!

 The girls with Minnie Mouse...

 ...and Thumper!

 Gramma's favorite is Goofy!

 Chip N Dale

 ...and Mickey, of course!

 Cinderella's Castle- lit up for Halloween!

 Ant Jood and Gary with "the Mouse!" 

 Getting ready for the "Bug Show!" 

 Dumbo's Wild Ride with Papa! 

 Maggie's 3-D glasses

 Sooooo tired after trick or treating (it was about midnight at this point!) 

 Bippity Boppity Boutique Day (and Dan's birthday!) 

 Peter Pan

 Sooooo tired!

 We even got eaten by a shark! Aaaaaggghhhhh!

 Lucy gets her face painted

 Meeting Rosetta- one of Tinkerbelle's "fairy" friends

 Maggie got her face painted

 Hanging out with Tinkerbell... she talked to the girls for a loooong time!

 We even met Jasmine and Aladdin (Dan was a bit jealous that he didn't get HIS picture taken with Jasmine, but whatever....) 

Gramma and Papa with Lightning McQueen and Mader

Lucy's Turn

While Lucy was just a tad too little (you have to be at least three) to be "princessed" up in the Boutique, a little birdie told us about the Barber Shop on Main Street. What an amazing little "hidden gem!" For a (very!) minimal fee, the ladies at the Barber Shop colored and glittered Lucy's hair and made her feel pretty special, too! So much fun! (it was not as much fun, however, when it came to actually attempting to wash all of this out.... but it was soooo worth it!) 

Look Who We Saw....

....right after leaving the Bippity Boppity Boutique~ the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella's Wicked Stepsisters and Stepmother. Our timing couldn't have been better!