Arriving

We flew from Nashville to Chicago this trip and Sam was such a good baby boy! He really does get an A+ for good behavior this trip. He is so great.

When we arrived at Midway, we took turns taking pictures before Uncle Ben arrived...Here is the boy with his mom and dad!

It's been a while

We all went to Chicago for Thanksgiving and spent a whole week with family and friends. It was a great time and I can't wait to share pictures of our trip! Those are coming later.

While I was in Chicago, my mom was watching Oprah's Favorite Things show (did you know that it's on at 9am in Chicago?). I guess that show highlights Oprah's favorite new things and everyone in the audience gets to take those things home - can you imagine?

That got me thinking...what are my favorite things? I thought I would share those with you. They are things that I use and like and maybe you might too...Ariana's favorite things. Not worth the prices of Oprah's treasures, I am sure. But maybe you can find something new?

Here's one: My favorite eyeliner. It's from Milani cosmetics - drugstore. True Black.

It's the little things in life, I have to remind myself of that!

Happy Turkey to You!

There is much to update you on...but had to wish you a great day!

Count your blessings. Thanksgiving is the best!!

Bailey's Birthday!

My buddy Kelly has a baby girl named Bailey - she is precious and was born about 8 weeks before Samuel.

Kelly commissioned me to do Bailey's first birthday invitations and they are now ready to go to Chicago. Here's the finished project!

Babies...

These babies keep coming...

Here's a nursing blanket for Shawna. She will be having Cameron this week for sure!

Oh. Then she will start training in 4 weeks for the Knoxville Marathon relay race. What a trooper.

I will start training this week for both the Knoxville and Nashville 1/2 Marathon too...Remind me that I said 1/2 and not whole!

amazing.

I had to share this with you.

Did you know that the New York Marathon was this last weekend?

Did you know that Paula Radcliffe was the female winner with a time of 2:23:09? (For those taking note that is a pace of 5:27 per mile over the course of 26.2 miles)

Did you know that she had a baby 9 months ago??? No kidding. 9 months ago.

Hmm. Puts things in perspective. I gave birth nine months ago!! She is awesome.

My Kind of Town

What did you do this weekend?

Well...I went to Chicago with my college friends! Every year a group of us picks a city to visit and we all meet there for a fun weekend of hanging out. Whoever is at the weekend trip that year nominates and elects the next city that we will visit.

So far we have visited:

1. New York
2. Las Vegas
3. New Orleans
4. San Antonio
5. Miami
6. Chicago

Up next year: San Antonio. If San Antonio is going to cost us a mortgage payment, then the runner up is Nashville.

Now about Chicago. I know. I am from Chicago. But it is a great city and we treated it like we were visiting any other city. Meaning that I didn't tell my family that I would be in town...didn't stay with them.

We stayed at The Allerton on Michigan Avenue and shopped the Magnificent Mile. We also visited the Field Museum of Natural History and ate at the following places - all recommended!

• Joe's Stone Crab
• Gino's East
• Corner Bakery
• Garrett's Popcorn

It was a wonderful weekend and I think I did great being away from the mister. I asked my friends if I talked too much about Sam - they said no. So, unless they are not telling me the full truth, I didn't talk too much about him, didn't call a million times and overall felt pretty good about being away!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Happy Monday!

Trick or Treat

We had a monkey for Halloween. Isn't he so adorable?

We stopped at G-mas house to trick or treat and say hello. What else would a 9 month old do for Halloween? :)

I will have much to update you on next week...I am going solo with a girl's weekend starting tomorrow and my little monkey will not be with me!

Woo hoo! I think...