Goodbye Chicago....

After nine very full, exciting, scary, life-changing, wonderful years in Chicago, we are leaving for the proverbial greener pastures.  Since having Eleanor, we've long discussed the merits of living in a smaller town versus the big city.  In the end, the terrible state of public schools (and the horrible expense of private ones!), the lack of our own home and yard, the hour plus commute for Matthew and the general frustrations of the city have gotten the best of us.  We had been looking at new jobs for Matthew for a number of months before anything came along, and then it all happened so fast.  We looked in both Iowa and Michigan, near our two families.  The best job for our family was in Iowa City, so we made the decision and now we're on our way!  Along with being a fantastic professional opportunity for Matthew, it will also give our family a much better quality of life and the ability to enjoy simple pleasures like weeknight dinners with Matthew, family bike rides, lounging in a hammock in our own backyard, and a home with no shared walls!

Without question, one of the toughest parts of leaving the city is saying goodbye to this chapter of our lives, and to packing up the memories of all the things we've been through in this city.  There are so many good memories: meeting one of my best friends, Matthew N., and the hundreds of silly, drunk nights we had together in this city making memories.  Living with so many wonderful roommates, Katie, Teresa, Matthew N, Melissa and then finally my husband.  Living in so many wonderful neighborhoods: 2 apartments in Boystown, then Andersonville, then Wrigleyville, then back to Andersonville and finally over to Lincoln Square.  Bringing home a sweet boxer puppy with Matthew N that we named Foster, who has grown into the gentlest, kindest most well-adjusted city dog.  Getting engaged at the Art Institute, to the best partner I could imagine.  Living out our newlywed days in a teeny tiny apartment full of so much happiness. Giving birth to the most beautiful baby girl who has changed our lives in every imaginable way, but somehow has left intact our sense of humor.

We'll also be leaving behind some tougher chapters, ones which we are grateful for in retrospect as they shaped us into the people we are today, but ones we are nevertheless happy to leave in the past.  Things like Matthew's illness and treatment, a fluctuating economy that often made the job market difficult to negotiate, certain friendships and relationships lost and the inevitable fallout that follows those, and of course the loss of our first baby.  But, we are proud to have been given those burdens...to have carried them and moved past them.

We know that there will be both good times and hard times where we are headed, and we are sailing into them with joy, wonder, excitement, and endless hope.  Chicago, we salute you to a wonderful (almost) decade of life.  Thank you for the memories................we'll be seeing you.

The Littlest Patient

Our cutie pie went in for a minor surgery last week! She had a small, extra piece of skin on her ear that needed to be removed. It was a simple procedure but my heart was doing flip-flops because she had to go under general anesthesia. As my mother-in-law put it, "The procedure may be routine for the doctor's, but it's not for you."

Despite the significant worrying I did, Eleanor did fantastically. Every aspect of the surgery, and so far the recovery, has been great. She is such a trooper. All the prayers and good thoughts from family and friends definitely helped us through that tough morning. The cliché of parents saying that they wish they could do it so their child didn't have to feel the pain, is a cliche for a reason! 

We are so thankful to have a happy & healthy Ellie!

My First Mother's Day

It's a pretty incredible feeling to be a mom. Last year on Mother's Day we were moving into our new apartment and I was about 7 months pregnant. I already felt like a mom in some ways, but wondered how different I would feel this year; after having some real "mom experience" under my belt. I can honestly say that nothing could have prepared me for what it feels like to be a mother. It is so joyful, rewarding, overwhelming, scary, intense, and beautiful. It has been such a gift to love and care for my sweet girl. I'm thankful each day for her health, her joyful spirit, her smile. I'm thankful for all that she has asked of me and brought out in me. She has challenged me to be a different & better person in ways I didn't think I was quite capable of. No matter how tired or frustrated I am, her sweet face makes me fall deeper in love with her. I can only hope that as the years wear on, my love and gratitude for all that she is will always grow. I hope that I am able to change and learn and adapt to her changing world; that I'll always be able to provide comfort, guidance, and love in just the way she needs most.

It seems fitting now that Eleanor is going through a "Mommy" phase. She grips me so tightly around the neck when I hold her & she never wants me to put her down. How lucky I am to have someone who loves me so much and whom I'd give anything for.

Thanks for giving me the chance to enter the ranks of motherhood, Eleanor. I'm the luckiest lady to have you with me to take this path together.