Visit from Mimi

We had the most wonderful time with my Mom last weekend! The weather was pretty crummy, so we did lots of indoor activities, like the aquarium and lunch at La Carta (where else?). The sweet waiter at La Carta brought Bea her own little dish of guacamole, which she ate with a spoon. What can we say, the girl has good taste. My mom and I got to steal away for a few house here and there for shopping and lunch. What a treat!
There are no pictures of Bea and Mimi because Bea is in a weird mommy-possessive phase. She didn't want anyone to take my attention away from her and acted out when someone did. A month ago, I would have describe Bea as an amiable child. No so now. She's been abducted by the two-year-old monster!

Beach Baby

Bea is a beach (more specifically sand) fanatic! We spent a glorious Saturday at Golden Gardens beach, followed by a tasty lunch at La Carta de Oaxaca. Bea managed to get more sand in her shoes and diaper (while clothed!) than I thought possible.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Bea wishes her Daddy a Happy Birthday with the very special birthday hat. It fits her head better this year than it did last year. How could her head get smaller???
There was no better way to spend a birthday afternoon than tromping around the Lincoln Park beach.

Bubble wrap

Thanks, Aunt Jules, for being so kind as to send Bea bubble wrap!

Fish! Fish!

Mommy-daughter first verbal battle

Bea and I had out first 'heated discussion' a few days ago! I picked her up from daycare and it was a beautiful day, so we headed straight for the park. She was so excited, belting out "slide!" and "wee!" upon seeing the playground. But...when I got her out of the car I realized she had a dirty diaper and, alas I had not brought the diaper bag. Oh no! Trying to get Bea back in the car was a feat for an Olympian- she was totally hysterical. She cried all the way home and all the way through the diaper change. Finally she calmed down, but when I tried to put her back in the car to go to the park, she became hysterical again, kicking, screaming, tears, snot, the works. Finally, I put her down on the driveway and we had are first 'fight':
Me: Bea, do you want to go to the park?
Bea: (through tears) Yes!
Me: Then you have to get in the car.
Bea: (crying harder) No!
Me: If you want to go to the park, you have to get in the car.
Bea: Park! (looks at the car) No no no no no!
Poor girl can't quite reason through this one yet. I managed to get her back in the car (a miracle considering all the flailing limbs) and to the playground, but she was pretty annoyed at me for a while and didn't want to do anything I suggested. So it starts!

Spring in February

We've had a spell of Spring-like weather for the past week and have been going crazy running about town. Here are a few of our latest adventures with Miss Bea.


Bea stops on her way up to the slide to give Daddy a smootch!







Getting ready to go down the BIG slide.




















Singing "Itsy bitsy spider" with Daddy.















































Bea: "Oh boy!"
She loves the 'wees'!













Chasing ducks!











Watching penguins at the zoo. They are definitely the favorite.












Making Daddy pretty.