Millennium Park

Last week, Lola and Mommy met up with Tracy & Parker at Millennium Park for a fun-filled day. We traveled via train again and Lola is proving to be a great traveler. I've learned the key is to catch an express rather than a local!

On the way over to the park, we popped into the Art Institute's Garden. I couldn't resist snapping a picture of her here, seeing as how it's where we took our engagement pictures. A really neat space. 
We met up with our friends at the bean and then headed over to the Chase Promenade to catch the 10:00 am Wiggleworms performance. The kiddos had a blast boppin' around to the music. After the concert, the babies were ready for milk and naps, so while they drifted off to sleep in their strollers, Tracy & I enjoyed a relaxing walk over to Buckingham Fountain.
Parker: "What do you say Lola, should we get this party started?"Some random little girl decided she wanted to check out Lola's stroller...I can't get enough of Parker's sweet smile!
Who likes Lola's Elvis lip?


After we met up with Chris for lunch at Roly Poly (YUM-O!!!), we decided to head back to the park and let the babies cool off in the Crown Fountain. Lola absolutely-positively LOVED this part of the day. She's such a fish!


We ended the day lounging in the grass on the Pritzker lawn. It was one of the best summer days I can ever remember. Tracy is one of my dearest friends and the more we get our babies together, it's obvious they're fond of each other, too. 

The "Sweet" Life

We gave Lola a "sweet" treat last weekend in an attempt to snap the perfect picture for her 1st Birthday party invitation. I literally snapped for just two short minutes and we ended up with priceless pictures--and a priceless memory! She LOVED licking that candy, it was so fun to watch her. But her drool started to make the color run (see pics below) and it started to drip all over the white peter-pan collar! Photo shoot ended, baby stripped, stain stick applied and dress quickly washed. 

We chose this for her invite picture. We couldn't resist the look of those eyes! But above all, I love her little hands wrapped around the stick. 

This was the original of the above pic.
And a few more of her sweetness.


This was before she started licking. It's almost like she's asking us: "Really?!"

Happy Father's Day!

Watching John with Lola these last 11 months has been nothing short of amazing. I knew he'd be an incredible father, but he's even better than I imagined. He loves her more than anything in the world and would do anything for her. She's the luckiest girl in the world to have him as her Daddy. But if you ask him, he'd say he was the lucky one.

Enjoy this little montage of Father & Daughter. When she was just a baby-baby, he'd rock her and sing her this song...

(After you hit Play, press the red HQ button in the bottom to watch high quality)

Fun In The Sun

Mommy & Lola (finally!) got a chance to hit the pool a few times this week. Today was the most BEAUTIFUL day of the year so far, so all three of us walked up to the pool this morning and had a blast splashing around together. Lola LOVES the water and I'm pretty sure she'll be a little fish like her Mommy always was as a little girl. 

She loved getting thrown up in the air by Daddy--and how beautiful is that sky?! Like a painting!

It's a Zero Depth pool, so she can sit and splash...

...and crawl around!

The best thing-- she's so worn out from the water, she falls asleep on the walk home!

Ave Maria

Lola & Mommy took advantage of the beautiful start to the day and headed over to St. George for the morning rosary at the Millennium statue. While she couldn't articulate the mysteries with the others, she of course interjected her "oohs" and "goos" along with the faithful.

Lola praying on Bragie's rosary...the same one I carried down the aisle and the same rosary I prayed with when we were trying to get pregnant. Very special to see her little fingers intertwined in it.
We ran into Lucy, too!

For Nana

The Nashville Zic's sponsored a rocking chair at Camp Marymount in memory of our dear and deeply missed Nana. Cousin Jessica (pictured below) has been attending Camp Marymount every summer since she was little. 

Cousin Jessica & "Nana"...

A beautiful memorial. She would have loved this!

A Summer Eve with friends

On Sunday evening, we headed over to the Nowinski's for an impromtu BBQ. It was nice to just kick back with a pint and enjoy Tom's grilling skills. Lola & Ellyana always have fun playing together and they were perfect angels through dinner, allowing us to enjoy ours!

The best part of the night was Lola trying watermelon for the first time. She LOVED it and couldn't get enough.

Lola & Elly playing in the toy room

Group Shot

Elly shares so well with Lola

...and Lola really looks up to her.

They love their girls!

Eating ALL her peas!

Giving eachother High Fives!

Hello Mary

As part of our 75th Anniversary celebration, our parish has been hosting Our Lady of the New Millennium for the past two weeks. The statue was commissioned by the late Carl Demma and was inspired by his life-long devotion to Our Blessed Mother. In 1999, Pope John Paul II blessed it during his trip to St. Louis.

Sunday was one of the few beautiful days we've had in the last two weeks. So during Mass, John and I took turns taking Lola for a walk outside to visit Mary. When I took her out, I told her to say "Hello" to Mary and she waved at her! Lola waves when she hears the word "Hello", so it was very sweet for her to greet Mary (who Mommy prayed to when we were trying to get pregnant again.) A special moment for sure...

The newest DiTore

The newest member of our family has arrived! Our cousins Rich, Lindsay & Clark welcomed Dexter Vincent DiTore this afternoon. Mommy & Baby are doing great. Lindsay was blessed with another quick labor and delivery. You can check out the whole story on their blog HERE. 

He's SO ADORABLE! Congratulations to Team DiTore. We love you guys!

Daddy's Girl

Lola has a serious crush on her Daddy these days! The second he walks through the door she lights up and reaches out for him. And then when he tries to give her back to me so he can change out of his suit, she doesn't want to let him go! Like I said, she's got a crush on her Daddy. I don't blame her. I do too!

Her look says "Sorry Mommy, he's taken!"

Will my "garden" grow?

Sage, Chamomile, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley, Basil, Tomatoes.

That's what we have planted on our patio and I'm praying my severe lack of a green thumb doesn't kill them! My AWESOME gardener of a step-mom was so sweet to bring this over for me on Wednesday. She has a huge garden in her park-like backyard and has grown some lovely produce over the years. If we had a back yard, you can bet I'd have an expansive Victory Garden going, but for now, out little pots will do. 

Can you see the baby tomato growing?

I'm going to put that basil to work!

Soaking up some sun on the patio!