Our Chicago Trip

One of the benefits of being married to/having a daddy doctor is that he goes to conferences in some pretty cool cities. Maddie and I tagged along to San Francisco a few months ago, and found our way to Chicago this time. We were there for 4 days and had a great time! Maddie is a lot more fun on trips, now that she can do more.

We left Missouri (my first time in Illinois ... and East St. Louis) and got a view of the other side of the arch. Turns out ... it looks the same on both sides!


Maddie fell asleep after the first couple hours and slept all the way to the hotel. What a good traveler!

We went to the hotel, dropped our stuff, and walked to the train station.


We hopped on the train and went to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play the Dodgers.


Maddie and daddy each drank their juice ...

It was really cold (seriously! the line for sweatshirts was longer than the line for food!!) so we left a little early. We had a lot of fun, though!





We went home and got ready for a fancy steak dinner. Daddy asked for an out of the way table because we had a little one with us, and so we got the best spot in the house! Maddie has led quite the charmed life. Everyone there was just in love with her.




The next morning, we ordered room service breakfast. What a treat! Maddie had her banana and oatmeal and loved the big, fancy table.


Then we wandered down Michigan Avenue and found the Hershey's shop. Mmmm ...
Then momma met the love of her life ... I did not know someone like this even existed! I brought the baby as a cover ... really, I wanted to get a photo alone! Shameful!

Then we found the American Girl store ... HUGE HUGE HUGE!!! Daddy would not let me take his photo in there. He said it was just too much.
Then we found the Disney store and Maddie found some friends.


Daddy had to go to a meeting that afternoon, so Maddie and I wandered around town. We went to the Navy Pier and looked around. I can't believe how big Lake Michigan is!!



Then we saw this. Mmmmmm ....



The next morning, daddy woke up early and went to his conference and left his girls in their king sized bed. Poor daddy ... but lucky us!Maddie then enjoyed her morning bottle in her big ol' bed. Someone's got to live this life, right?!



I was in the bathroom getting ready and I heard some bongo drumming in the room. I walked in and found that our brilliant little lady had turned the hotel trash can into a drum. Pretty impressive!

Maddie and I went and got breakfast at a little cafe across the street. Maddie did not eat much because there were a million birds outside the window and she would not stop looking at them.



So, after breakfast that morning, Maddie and I decided to bring a few crackers across the street to feed the birds. She just loved it! We will have so start going to the park to feed the ducks. She just loves animals. We are going to Grant's Farm this Friday, so I am sure she will go nuts!



So, now that Maddie is older, we get to do all of the fun kids things again!! We took Maddie to the Children's Museum and had a great time!! Maddie did such a great job. She is so smart and curious. First we went to the music room.


Then we went fishing. Maddie is so good, she does not need a fishing rod - she just uses her hands!
Then we played with Daddy's favorite toy - Tinker Toys! Maddie did a surprisingly good job playing with them!

Then daddy found something fun! He created some kind of flying machine and had a lot of fun. Silly daddy!

Then we went digging for dinosaurs. I was surprised at Maddie's ability to pick up on it right away. Brilliant girl!

Daddy had some fun, too!
Then, Maddie and Daddy did some sculpting.

This is a long movie, but it is a montage of all the things we did at the museum. I would like to point out that the chess pieces were not light. She is one strong baby!!!


On our drive home, we stopped for lunch. Maddie sat in an old time high chair.


Then we looked at all the things in the store. Maddie found a BUNCH of things she wanted. They were all right at Maddie level. Perfect!


There were a bunch of rocking chairs outside the store and little ones, too. Maddie tried one out. Too cute!

Then we crossed back over the Mississippi River and headed home.

What a great trip! Thanks daddy!