taco 'bout a party

I love a good theme party and it helps that Margo loves tacos and nachos so, ¡voila! a theme was born: 

We invited family and our small group from church and she was surrounded by all the people she loves and who love her. It was a great day and she didn't seem to notice that everything was very taco and/or Mexican fiesta themed, but she certainly did love her tortilla chips and galletas (cookies)! After we ate taco's (obviously) the kids each got a turn to whack the (taco shaped) piñata. Somehow it worked out perfectly that each kid got two whacks and by the time it was Finley's turn, her second whack did it in and it dumped in spectacular piñata fashion. 

After the piñata, Margo opened presents and then we mingled until it was time for a siesta. It was such a fun party and reminder of how much she is loved by more than just Alex and I. We don't take for granted how important family is and that we both come from such wonderful families who always show up and love us so well. 

bestie birthday bash

On Margo's birthday, I decided to invite all of her little friends over for a playdate and for the mama's to chat and drink coffee. All of the kids played really well together and it was so much fun! At the end of the morning we decided to try to take a picture of them together and miraculously, we got a (relatively) good one!

I am so thankful to do life with all of these wonderful families and to get to raise our kids together. Staying home has the potential of being very isolating, but thankfully we're surrounded by such good, loving, gracious community. I don't know what we'd do without all of you!

margo is two

Happy second birthday to our sweet girl! I can't believe that she is two! It feels like it happened over night. I put her to bed one day and she was a snuggly, quiet, pacifier using babe and then she woke up walking, dancing, singing and talking and is definitely her own little person (with a huge personality!). I guess the old adage is true "the days are long, but the years are short".

Right now Margo loves puppies, babies, balloons, coloring, tacos and especially tortilla chips, cookies- specifically chocolate chip cookies, Peppa Pig, dancing, singing "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Trust and Obey", "Let It Go"- Frozen, "We Know the Way" (Away, Away)- Moana, and "Havana"- Camila Cabello. She loves people and hates when they leave and she can't go with them. Moose is one of her favorite things even though he'd rather hide from her and she can't go a day without asking to FaceTime Pop (and Grandma...but mostly Pop).

We went for her 24 month well child check up and she weighed in at 27lbs (53%ile), 32.5 inches (15%ile) and her head circumference was 45cm (5%ile). The doctor feels like she is growing well according to her growth curve and is thriving, little noggin and all!

Her schedule is basically the same as it's been since she dropped her morning nap. She wakes up at around 7:30am, eats breakfast, plays and depending on the day we: run errands, go to swim lessons, go to the We Rock the Spectrum Gym for open play and music class, go to BSF, play with friends or have a lazy day at home. She naps from 1p-3:30pm and then plays until bedtime at 7pm ish. She eats breakfast like a champion and will eat lunch and by dinner time she may eat a bite or two but isn't interested...unless it's taco night. She's starting to show interest in potty training, so we'll see how that goes... But, all in all, I love our days together and wouldn't trade them for anything.

We love you so much and cannot wait to see who you grow up to be! God has and will use you for His glory and for great things. I cannot even begin to express how thankful we are to be your parents. You are loved sweet girl. So, so loved.

midwinter 2018

Each February in Chicago, the Chicago Dental Society hosts a weekend of continuing education courses and an expansive exhibit hall of vendors wheeling and dealing their latest and greatest dental gadgets and products and collectively it's called the Midwinter meeting.

My dad has been going for 30ish years (minus a few here and there) and every couple of years Becky and I join him, usually the year our CE hours are due. So this year Margo got to spend the better part of a week with my mom, while my dad and I took the train to the Windy City from Wednesday through Saturday and Becky met up with us on Thursday.

We ended up with 18 CE hours each(!!), a big bag of free goodies and managed to have a lot of fun along the way. We ate a lot, shopped a little and mostly paid attention in our classes. Thanks for letting us tag along Dad, I'm glad we get to do these classes together.