Day Two. Friday. Chicago.

Ah yes, day two. Lets start with where we left off. {Day ONE can be found here}

No sleep. For me and the toddler. I think we were up about every hour just tossing and turning so there wasn't much uninterrupted sleep to be had. Not much at all.

But we woke up refreshed. Happy. Excited. And somehow, not sure how, re-energized.

The relaxing chill energy didn't last long, as I quickly realized we needed to get our butts moving and actually shower and get ready for the day especially since by this time Jody was texting me at this point... "Sheesh, still getting ready." And Andy {Jody's husband} even set out bate by the connecting door to get us moving. My shoe that I left in their room the night before.

Silly Andy, I bring a bag full of shoes.

However they were right, and we finally got finished getting ready, gathered our things, put the car seats in one car, and headed on the road.

Two babies in one car.

I'm not sure how Kennedy felt about some other toddler invading her vehicle. And Elliana was all sorts confused.  But both? Cute as can be.

Andy used the navigation to get us to our destination... The Shedd Aquarium. However, the navigation must have had too much to drink the night before because it was definitely not taking us where we needed to be. A U turn later and a little brainstorming between the two men up front and we were finally there.

Us and the population of China.

We thought that by us going on a Friday, we were making a smart decision. Who would be there on a Friday versus Saturday right? Well. We didn't consider all the little kiddies and their school trips.  Everyone's gotta see the fishes in Chicago.

The aquarium was fun. The different kinds of fish were interesting to look at, as I had never seen anything like it. The girls enjoyed them as well. We were also able to see a few dolphins and the walrus.

We roamed around looking at all the sea animals for a while when finally we realized we were starved and it was definitely time to get something in our bellies.

I think the boys {the men} were sold when they saw the red velvet as big as your head cupcake at this little cafe in the aquarium.

And as I am trying to give husband my order the tantrum begins. The full on SCREAMING from my little precious angel Elliana. Oh JOY. I was zipping out of there at the speed of light. Jody following, because she's a great friend. Because she's also a mom. Because she gets it.

 Once the babies get some food in them {including the adults}, we enjoy the outdoors and let the kiddos run around like wild animals. Chasing birds. Chasing each other. Chasing the daddies. The other little baby around us.

And then out of nowhere... tantrum number two begins. And this one is fierce. FIERCE. Need I remind you, we are already outside. So we book it. Out the gate. Out of there. Goodbye tantrum city.

The babies pass out in the car, so we take them back inside and put them in the same room, close the curtains so it is pitch black {tricky we are}, turn on the monitor, and head to the other room. Where the cards get whipped out, the beers are cracked open {wine for Jody}. and the chips are devoured.

A game of Euchre begins. After we teach Jody that is. That's interesting. Teaching someone. It's even more interesting to hear how different everyone views the game and the strategies they play. Can you guess who won?

Okay, don't guess. Because it was in fact not us. I blame it on the BLL.

After the girls woke up from their nap we went to the hotel pool to do some laps. Or just prance around in the water. Elliana clung on for me for dear life, but totally surprised me with how much she actually enjoyed the water.

We then headed back, got ready, and ended the night with a nice little romantic dinner for 4. Aka babies were not invited.

Andrew's sister came over to the hotel while we had dinner to watch Elliana {who passed out on Ali about an hour after we left} and then we came back and hung out with her and her husband for a bit before hitting the sack and calling it a night.
................

Here are the rest of the pictures from the Shedd Aquarium. Before the meltdown city.

Stay tuned for Day 3 {the final day}......

Day One. Thursday. The day I met a Blogger.

Chicago Day one.

Problem number one, I had to work the night before. So when I came home from work and found the grinnin' husband on the couch with the cheesin' baby girl, I knew we were in trouble. Problem number two.

I'm a hustler. Get things going. Chop chop. Hurry up. We have a time schedule. Tap my watch. I think there is another name for people like that, but we won't even go there.

So I'm home around 8:15 and I was hoping to get out of the house by 9:30, 10 at the latest.  Lets just say... it didn't quite work out that way.

I sent Andrew and Elliana on their way to my parents house to drop off the dog first, while I scrummage around the house putting all the clothes and items I had set out the day before into bags.

Lets talk about the bags. In this picture here is just the bags for Elliana and myself. The essentials. The clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories.

Missing: Large tote of toys. Elliana's car. Large bag of food. Computer bag. Andrew's bags. Stroller. Pack n Play.

 The only thing we didn't pack it seems was our bed. Otherwise? We were set. The S household officially relocating to Chicago.

So 9:30 quickly comes and goes. I'm finishing up getting ready myself {as I worked a 12 hour shift and no one wants to smell me after that... especially people I had never met}, and I'm calling the husband to get updates. Where are ya. Will you be home soon? Where are ya? Did I ask... where are ya?! 


Aaaaannnndddrewwww


So I sat at the kitchen table waiting for him. Had my evil eye down to a T.

He strolls through the door at about 10:30. Already 30 minutes late. And then he has to shower, and get his bags ready. Because men can't read your list the night before with the number one thing on it saying pack your bags.

Fast forward. We leave at 11:30. Yes. A whopping hour and a half after the expected time.

Makeup-less and SLEEPLESS. Referring to me. Obviously.
Although... E is also makeup-less. Always.
Natural beauty, I guess.

The car ride isn't too bad. At least I didn't think so because I wasn't the one driving. I snoozed for about an hour and a half of it . Elli snoozed for about 30 minutes. And then when I woke up, E asked to paint her toenails. Because she is advanced like that.

So we painted the toenails. And we had pictures to show for it.  Lets just say it was quite the challenge to paint a toddler's toes... especially one that is trying to fling her feet at you and think it's the funniest thing ever.

We have the same feet. Twins.

 I was texting Jody throughout the car ride. All morning. Things like "Eeeeek I'm so excited!" And "our husbands are going to love each other." And "Don't forget to put the rose petals all across our room, since you will get there first."  If only my husband walked into a room with rose petals all over. I would die. He would freak. And the trip would be over right there and then.

My "excited" face. Not so pretty face. However, I did eventually put makeup on.

But no worries. We showed up and there was neither rose petals on our bed nor serial killers in the adjoined room. IN FACT, they looked just like the pictures. Sound the same. And act the same.

As soon as we opened up the door that connected our rooms, the girls ran to each other and stared in amazement. Like "wow, who's this little human that is the same height as me." Elliana was digging Kennedy from the start. Kennedy? Not so much. E was totally invading her space bubble {as she normally does to people... just like her mama} and K didn't like that too much. She liked to look at her from afar.

Of course Jody and I felt like we had already known each other forever {at least, I felt that way}, so there was no awkward silence or weirdness between us. Safe to say it was best friend at first sight.

And the boys? Oh the boys. Instant connection. I thought maybe it would be slow coming? Naaahhh they just got right into talking, cracking jokes, showing each other commercial videos on their ipads... and making fun of their wives. Us.

In fact, about an hour or so into the meeting, I sent the boys to Trader Joe's just right around the corner of our hotel, together, without us, to pick up some dinner and milk for the toddler tots.

And they did. Just like that. And I know my husband well enough to know that if he hadn't felt comfortable yet, he would have asked me to go in one way or another.

I also know my husband well enough to know that he liked Andy right away. Just the way he was so relaxed. The way he smiled. His i'm-having-fun-laugh. I was observant. And my heart? Was all sorts of happy.

We spent the rest of the evening just relaxing, eating Chicago-style pizza {that's a must}, drinking adult beverages, and watching the girls run around with crayons, books, and blocks. And a pink car.

Yes, BLL squeezed itself in the picture.

The night was wrapped up pretty early as we had a long weekend ahead of us, so we said our good nights, turned off the lights, and attempted to put Elliana down in the pack n play.

Well, she was having none of that. So I threw {not literally} her in bed with us and the tossing and turning began. And never ended. Head up. Then head down. Feet one way. Then the other.

I got no sleep that night just worrying that at any minute my precious baby girl was going to fall off this king size master piece of a bed.

I'm in for it if the tossing and turning continues.
We have 3 more days to go.....

......stay tuned for day two {on Wednesday!}

-----------------------------
Tomorrow will be the blog2print giveaway!