Chicago and Family

Last weekend Daniel and I had a bunch of firsts. We found an amazing deal to fly to Chicago, where my sister Sharon lives, so Daniel and I boarded an airplane Thursday morning and met Sharon at O'Hara that afternoon. I was nervous to see how he would handle the flight and how difficult it would be to travel on my own. Daniel slept when he wasn't the center of attention for all around us and the people we encountered were amazing. People oohed and aahed over him all over the place -- in the security lines, in the waiting area, in the bathroom, on the plane. . . everyone seemed to want to be near us and have the chance to play with him. Every time I had to move people asked if I needed help. In fact, when we got off the puddle jumper plane in Harrisburg and they brought the carry on luggage out on to the tarmac I didn't even have the chance to get my stroller, car seat, and diaper bag, three different people just grabbed them up and stated that "it takes a village." I have never experienced such courteousness from Americans before.

Sharon, her baby Ella, Daniel and I had a very nice visit despite cold, rainy weather. We went to the store, cooked, napped and enjoyed each other's company. Ella seemed to really like playing with Daniel and kept poking him so that we knew he was there! I got to see her husband, Mark, in passing and at meals; he was shut up in the office all day working from home and all night doing work for his MBA program. Daniel in Ella's "I'm a princess everyday" bib.

Friday our sister Laurel and her youngest Leah joined us.
The three babies were so cute together (when we could get them all awake at the same time). The weather cleared a bit so we took a nice long walk Friday and did some yard sale-ing Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon my cousin Andy and his family drove out from Indianapolis. I haven't seen them since last Thanksgiving so it was a nice added treat. Amy is pregnant with twins (one boy, one girl) and they have two adorable little girls, Anna and Cora, already. Cora is about two and a half and is smaller than Ella who just turned 1! Daniel spent most of the day playing with Andy. I think they were overwhelmed by all the pink swirling around them and they both seemed to have a wonderful time doing manly things.


I had to leave Sunday morning just as the weather really got nice (there seems to be a pattern developing here with my vacations and nasty weather) but I loved every minute I got to spend with my sisters! We'll have other years to visit the city of Chicago.
(You can see more photos of the trip on my sisters' blogs.)