Living Life

When we got back to Chicago three weeks ago (ok, now it's been longer since it's taken me several days to finish this post!), I was worried I'd feel lonely and isolated now that's it's "really" winter and there is no family close by. It's also Brandon's busiest quarter and he is just so busy with interviewing on campus, traveling to interview off campus, networking, and, oh yeah, don't forget he's actually in school and taking classes.
So, I've been making lots of plans to keep busy and socialize with adults (and babies!) and even though I've missed my family (and Brandon!), I haven't felt lonely or isolated one bit. In fact, by the time it gets to Saturday, even when Brandon is gone studying most of the daytime, I am more than happy to have a quiet day alone in our apartment with Alyse.
The Woodlands sent a box of stuff we hadn't been able to fit from Christmas, and Alyse LOVES her "new" tractor from my dad and Bev. We've heard the Old McDonald song a lot!



After Alyse's nap, we have a routine of going to play and snuggle on the bed. She started to want to put on Brandon's pjs and try to move in them, which is pretty hilarious since they are way too big!




We are so blessed to live in this community with people from church, business school, and our apartment building willing to be our friends and let us be part of their lives. It's also been an exceptionally mild winter, so we've gotten to get out quite a bit (today, I ran with Alyse on the trail to and from the Museum of Science and Industry to meet my old friend Brooke Lowry who was in town).
This phase of mothering her is definitely one of my favorites (although all phases have been amazing) because Alyse is so interactive and wanting to engage with us. She learned several signs (I didn't really teach her baby sign language, but while we were out of town I decided to try with a few because my step-sis, Steph, said it was really fun when she did it with Hannah). This is Alyse signing "more" which she translated into her own version: pointer finger on one hand touching the thumb on the other hand, repeated several times :)

AND, Alyse picked up on them really fast and now signs "more" which she also uses for "I want", "all done", "thank you", and "book". She's also saying a handful of "words": momma, dada, ball (ba), book (pronounced very exactly), shoes (choo), her friends' names (Jesse and Lilah), and woof woof.


People have started telling me that Alyse is looking more like me, which of course makes me very happy :) She still looks predominately like Brandon and Grandma Debbie, but outsiders have started to say she has my eyes.

We love our little stink-stink!