My kind of town

Over the river and through the woods...

Lucy and I went to Chicago this past week. Chris had to stay back in LA because he was working so it was our first time away from him which was tough. But it was a waaay overdue trip for us so off we went. Lucy had yet to meet her
Uncle Michael (my brother), Aunt Tracy and cousins Tess and Nate. Not to mention her great grandparents, Betty and Fritz and all of her great aunts and uncles and cousins once removed or twice moved or whatever it is, were gathering to meet her for the first time too. Oh and we saw Sally (Chris' mom), Katie and Lilli, Nicole and Michael, MaryChris, Lisa, Becky, Noellen, Nancy, Jackson, Stephanie and everyone at Stanard & Associates, the ladies at the Economy Shop where my mom volunteers aaand I think that's everyone. It was a blast. Lucy was again, great on the plane ride to Chicago. On the way back she had a harder time and when we got off the plane, a lady walking by confirmed it by saying "She was okaaay." A couple heartwarming highlights of the trip besides meeting all of her wonderful family and friends?
1. Being there during a heavy snow fall and giving Lucy some snow to nibble on (snow that we didn't have to shovel!)
2. Seeing my mom getting Lucy ready for bed after a bath (Tracy did it one night too)
3. Hearing my dad chatting with Lucy
4. Seeing Lucy alternately sitting/sleeping on her great grandmother's lap
5. Watching my brother swing back and forth with Lucy in his arms
6. Seeing my niece Tess holding Lucy on her lap and saying that she wanted to stay up later so that she could talk to Lucy. Tess also told me that she would protect Lucy.

And the highlight that out highlights them all? Lucy pooping on her great grandmother Betty. Sorry Luce, I know you may read this one day, but I have to report what happened. She had been sweetly sitting on my grandmother's lap--even napping splayed out which is something she rarely does--and when I went to get her, I smelled it. In a nutshell, it was the biggest blowout of her young life and everyone was so nice about it, you'd think she'd pooped whip cream. I have a new respect for the women in my family, let me tell you.

Enjoy the pictures. My favorite is the one of the four generations of women: Great Grandma Betty, Lee, Me and Lucy. So neat.