Stragglers

These are the last of the photos from Poppy's birthday at the end of August (and her second cake). After the trip to the Shedd Aquarium, we stayed at the lake for the rest of Labor Day Weekend with Bry's family. Grandpa Carroll and Grandma Louise were even able to spend a day with us. 

These pictures made me realize a few things...

1. Poppy had a pretty good birthday

2. I'm falling terribly behind in my posts

3. I already miss summer (though I do enjoy a good fall)

Round two...key lime pound cake by Lori

A new kitchen set for the three year old

Playing with her "begetables"

Tiny pots and pans...cutest thing ever

Grandma Louise and her Poppy Louisa

She said she was ready for the pool

Making funny faces at each other

Last swim of the year

And then for the mini photo shoot full of summery goodness...nautical stripes, big white hats, sunshine and happy smiles...

I love my girls.

Six Months

So I guess our Cetty-bugs has been around for half a year already. Which is more than enough time to fall completely in love. 

I've especially appreciated how relaxed and content she is. She really has been just about the perfect baby. She's so physically strong, but at the same time so gentle and loving. She can keep herself entertained but adores people and has a bright smile ready for whoever happens to look her way. She has the twinkliest blue eyes, the tiniest little nose (that wrinkles when she laughs), the fuzziest bit of a mohawk, and the most ridiculously soft skin. She's a charmer and we've been charmed.

So for a look at what she's been up to, here's five minutes in the life of Cetty...

+ She's sitting up on her own and has even started pulling herself up to standing

+ She's crawling

going...going...

gone.

+ Putting everything into her mouth, which can get her into some trouble

+ She's playing with toys...and demolishing them

+ She's waving, wiggling, and moving all the time, while making lots of new noises

+ She giggles most when Poppy is around. And Poppy thinks she's pretty funny too. Best friends already.

 + And she's still loving her thumb and blanket (or clothing when a blanket isn't around) when she's feeling sleepy

...So that's life right now for our lovely little Lucette.

 And she says, enough of that!

Shedd

For Labor Day and the second half of Poppy's birthday celebration, we headed to Chicago with Bry's family for a visit to Shedd Aquarium.

Favorite picture of the day...

Hot dog. Chicago style.

And a couple of other winners...

And then it was on to the museum...

 Touching stingrays. Well, some of us anyway. Poppy was a little suspicious of their "stingers."

 hundreds of tiny jellyfish.

 3-D glasses. Enough said.

This thing was massive.

 And as for Cetty, she had her thumb and it got her through without nap times. Such a champ.

This is cool as long as it's in a tank and not above you in the ocean.

 Here we are lining up for a group picture. Just when we were all ready and had handed the camera to a kind stranger, the battery died and that was it for the day. 

I didn't get pictures of our walk through Grant Park after this or the very cool tapas restaurant on Michigan Ave. where we stopped for dinner (Mercat a la Planxa).
But at least I got this happy little face...

Poppy Turns Three

When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said, "To be with my friends."

She is wise beyond her years. She has already learned that you don't need much if you have good friends.

And so we gathered all the cousins together at Luke and Andria's for a little party.

 To decorate her cake she requested, "green...with pistachios. And berries." She usually has an opinion. And it usually surprises (and amuses) us. 

 The raspberries were a hit and disappeared off the top of the cake in about 15 seconds.

 The sparkling limeade and lemonade were also a hit. In Noah's words, "This stuff packs a punch!" 

 I love the happy craziness of this. 

Greyson and Ellie are at the far side of the table, hiding behind Avo and the flowers. And I'm not sure where Noah is at this point. Also there but not pictured are all the tiny ones (Olivia, Lucette, Prim, Gisella, and Wells).

 She wore her birthday dress (also green, but not with pistachios) all day and walked around the grocery store like quite the important lady.

 From Andria...a wooden jewelry box covered in poppies.

 And just so she wasn't completely overshadowed by the birthday girl, I snapped a picture of Cetty looking very bright and angelic in the afternoon sun.

A party isn't a party without an appearance from Trader Joe's...Thank you to my favorite grocery store for coming through once again. They even gave Poppy a free bouquet of flowers.

She started the day wearing a sparkly tiara but broke it halfway through and ended up with this on her head instead. It seemed appropriate. Happy third birthday to our little warrior princess.