Team Whitney

How Baby Was Safely Recovered (or why Freeman's a Great Dad)

2012-01-24T19:42:00.009-06:00

Once upon a time...

at a Toys'R'Us in Central Illinois, a loving great-aunt got a Cabbage Patch doll for a one-year old Veronica. Although the doll came home and lived with the other dolls and stuffed animals, Veronica didn't take much notice of her until one day...

Veronica's mommy had a new baby girl. All of the sudden it clicked. She had a baby, too! And although this baby didn't have a name (other than being referred to as Baby Jesus for a brief time around Christmas), she was very loved. Veronica took her everywhere, until...

one snowy evening, Veronica's family was returning home from a Bible Study and on the mile-long, snowy walk home, Baby was accidentally dropped. Except that nobody noticed.

The next night, Veronica asked for Baby to join her in her bed (which was her usual custom). Neither of her parents could find Baby, and being tired, distracted her until she fell asleep. But Baby had to be found. So Veronica's loving father donned his heavy coat (it was freezing outside) and retraced the family's steps.

It was WAY colder than this!

It wasn't until he had made the entire walk and turned around to return home that he noticed sweet Baby, frozen to someone's patio. So, he trespassed to retrieve her and brought her home, where she was given a nice bath in the washing machine.

The next morning, Veronica was so excited to see her baby once again. And everyone lived happily ever after.

Bathing Beauty

2012-01-23T10:05:00.003-06:00

She loves the water!

Kick, kick, splash!

Brother and Sisters

2012-01-18T16:02:00.011-06:00

Hamilton introduces himself and his sisters to everyone: the bus driver, cashier, park district teachers, museum employees, neighbors, and anyone else who will listen (or nod politely). He is thrilled to be a big brother and have two sisters.

Here he is talking to Caroline about the importance of eating fruits and veggies (seriously). Oh, and she was on her back until he came around...yup, he's worth trying to roll over.

He is often imparting his knowledge to her, "Caroline, we must obey mommy and daddy. That is very important." "Caroline, you should hold on to the rail when you walk down the stairs." He then waits for me to do my Caroline voice in response, "Thank you, brother. That is very important to know. I am glad you are teaching me such things."

Veronica thinks that Hamilton is the most amazing person she has ever met. Anything he does, she wants to do. Anything he says, she repeats. Because of this, she already "knows" several Bible verses, the days of the week, the planets, the alphabet and anything else Hamilton is interested in sharing with her.

She also loves Caroline...but often looks like she doesn't quite understand this little person.

I thought taking a picture of the two of them with cupcake shirts might be cute. Veronica followed my directions but was skeptical about how well this photo would turn out.

Veronica was so focused on putting the buttons in the can.

He worked on this for almost an hour. I really have to make him the pieces for a homemade ball run. Taking toilet paper and paper towel roll donations now!

Caroline is awake so much more now and often focuses in on the fastest moving things in the room: Hamilton and Veronica.

And boy is she trying to perfect that rolling over technique!

Kid Pictures!

2012-01-17T22:06:00.006-06:00

My Aunt Tabby found this really cool kid-proof camera and thought that Hamilton (and by extension, I am sure, Veronica) might enjoy taking some of their own pictures. Boy, have they! (and we can pretty much vouch that this little camera can go through a lot and still keep clicking). Here are some of their better shots.

With Hamilton and Veronica both represented in this picture, I think one of the cousins must have been trying it out.

Cool oldest cousin, Emily. (Did I mention the camera comes with a flash?)

Daddy

Veronica ready for bed

Mommy not saying "Cheese"

There are about 20 pics of Caroline from this particular photo shoot--all from this very flattering angle.

I have a feeling this picture is incriminating...

Skyping with Daddy

I was witness to this series...it sounded something like this...
Hamilton: Veronica, say "cheese."
Veronica: Sees.

Hamilton: No, Veronica. I said, "Cheese."
Veronica: Sees.

Hamilton: Cheese!
Veronica: Sees!

Hamilton: Veronica, please say, "Cheese."
Veronica: ...

There are a lot of pictures of Veronica's nose...taken by Veronica. And if you hear a little voice somewhere around your knees saying, "Sees," you best pause and give your best smile.

Thanks, Aunt Tabby!

Quiet Time

2012-01-16T13:12:00.005-06:00

"So, when do they nap?" It's a question I try to avoid, since it's always a little awkward when I say, "They don't, really." Some other parents then try to apologetically explain how they are trying to get their child to give up a nap--like I am somehow judging them.

Nope...it's just that my firstborn was never a great day sleeper (or night sleeper for the first 8 months, for that matter). And at some point around 18 months, he gave up naps for good. Of course, I kept trying with it for a bit but I realized one day that he didn't get grumpy without one. And, if I did get him to fall asleep, he would inevitably be up until 10 or 11 at night as opposed to his habitual 7 o'clock bedtime. So, we made the executive decision to stop enforcing nap time.

Really, trading in that hour of sleep for some flexibility in the afternoons worked well for me, and Veronica was such a great napper-on-the-go that we kept the pattern going after she was born. That was, until I was getting into that want-to-go-back-to-sleep-at-ten-in-the-morning part of the pregnancy with Caroline and it hit me...

No rest in the afternoon isn't going to work with three kids. And while Hamilton was pretty good with entertaining himself, he wasn't very good at entertaining himself quietly. Plus now that Veronica was no longer in her crib, I needed to be more intentional with her rest time in the afternoon, too. Eek!

So began our family quiet times. And, whew, it's been a lot of work and lots and lots of trial and error. And more errors than successes generally. It's been a work for me in being disciplined, too. I know from my teaching days the importance of consistency in getting a routine to work and become effortless...but the mother-Jenny is apt to nudge aside quiet time on a nice day and head to the park or run an errand. And pay for it the next day in trying to reinstate the routine.

Enter the iPod...loaded with familiar VBS songs...and our quiet time now looks like this (on a good day).

She spotted me and said, "Cheese."

He only looked up because of repeated flash needed in our bedroom.

This little one could teach the rest of Team Whitney a lesson about consistency in routine. She is a clockwork napper and goes to sleep on her own. I am in awe--I had no idea it could be like this!

Our Little Lady Bug

2012-01-15T17:31:00.004-06:00

at 3.5 months
in double-time
(I especially like the bit between 25-30 seconds..who can resist a baby smile)

p.s. it's a silent film

Not gonna catch up!

2012-01-14T18:55:00.005-06:00

Each time I sit down and look at this "New Post" screen, I am a bit overwhelmed. There is so much I could write about. We are so blessed; our lives are never boring. I end up typing a couple of sentences and giving up. So here's my admission. You are probably never going to read a blog post about:

the fun park and zoo visits the kids took with Freeman and Grammy while I was getting used to having Caroline at home;
the Book-a-Mania Library Event and trip to the planetarium with Oompah;
the trip back to the planetarium the following week with Grammy and Granddad;
Thanksgiving and Christmas 2011;
Zoolights;
the countless trips to the Children's Museum;
the adventures of learning to get around with three; or
New Year's Eve in the ER (and Hamilton's song about it).

Instead, I am starting with tonight. And keeping it simple. Because, really, I want to have a blog to look back at and remember what life looked like around here and I want to share these things with the family and friends that I don't reach out to as often as I'd like.

Tonight, somewhere between dinner mayhem and bedtime craziness, Freeman rallied the kids for a cool little science lesson. He pulled up the star chart on the computer and found Venus and helped the kids locate it outside our (hand print decorated) window.

It was a sweet moment. I'd write more about that, but I've got a fussy little one on my lap...more soon.

Before and After: 2011

2012-01-13T19:52:00.008-06:00

Freeman and I were checking out some old photos and video last night of our kids. Through the laughter, we kept commenting how much Hamilton and Veronica had changed from the beginning to the end of the year. See...

Veronica - January, 2011

Veronica - December, 2011

Hamilton - February, 2011

Hamilton - December, 2011

Sick Days

2011-12-12T21:27:00.009-06:00

I recently read a quote (and I won't even try to cite it since I think I saw it on Facebook and it sounded like one of those requoted-so-often-the-original-source-is-buried type of things) that said, "What if we only had today what we thanked God for yesterday?" And I got to thinking of all of those unnoticed gifts that get buried by daily life. (And, then, as quick as that, life took over again.)

Tonight, after I got Caroline down, I was really looking forward to taking a shower and crawling into bed myself. No sooner than I was dressed for bed, I heard the unmistakable sound of...well, let's say a stomach bug doing it's thing, in our bedroom. Yes, poor Veronica is sick...again. We had just gone through one round of this with everyone but Freeman affected and I was so thankful for our regained health.

I got poor, sweet girl out of her bed and into the shower to get her clean enough to put back to sleep. As I was remaking her bed, I heard another unmistakable sound from the other side of the room. Oh, yes. Apparently our oldest two did a very effective job of sharing this bug.

So, over an hour after I was seconds from being in bed, I am hanging out at the computer, waiting to see if I am needed again...and remembering that quote. Don't get me wrong, I don't think God's in the business of taking away things immediately when we don't thank Him in this era of history. But, isn't it true that we recognize what we had more acutely when it's gone?

As I think of tomorrow, which will probably look a lot like this

(and I may even have to cancel our playdate for Wednesday)
I am going to work to be thankful in all things.

Sweet Caroline

2011-12-11T18:54:00.006-06:00

With each of our kids, I've (somewhat inadvertently) come up with a song using their name. Basically, while trying to calm a screaming infant, I resorted to singing. As you will soon see, I am neither a great songwriter or singer.

Hamilton's song is to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin" and went something like this:
I love Hamilton; I love Hamilton. Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
I-I love, Hamilton; I-I love Hamilton. Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

Brilliant, no?

With Veronica, it became a bit of a duet, since I had Hamilton as a helper, so we developed a little ditty to the tune of O, Christmas Tree.
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?
Are you tired, do you want to (and Hamilton says) sleep.
Are you hungry, do you want to (once again, Hamilton) eat.
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?

As she got older, we changed the "how are you" to "we love you."

Now, not only do I have Hamilton to help out, we've got a budding choir (ha!). And, of course, what tune could we possibly pick other than "Sweet Caroline (ba, ba, ba). Enjoy! (and please ignore the craziness in the background)

I tried to cut the video in time to save your ears from some high pitch screaming. You are welcome!

The Smell

2011-11-18T08:23:00.011-06:00

Ah, yes. I didn't actually reveal what the smell was. The receptionist was so kind and called me at home to update me. Apparently there was some work being done on the sewer down the street and the fumes from the sealant they were using was seeping up through the toilets. Not flammable and not really toxic (though the packaging does say to use in well ventilated areas). So, mystery solved!

And some unrelated pictures...

(Note: I just realized that Freeman posted some of these pics on his Facebook account last night...but they are already loaded, so please enjoy the duplicates.)

Sweet Sleeper (and yes, we need to take more of her!)

Climbing the Tire Tower at the Children's Museum to ring the bell

Contemplating his accomplishment (or surveying the beauty from the pinnacle?)

Happier on the ground (well, maybe in this picture, but don't let this monkey fool you)

At the park. Once again, my kids are the ones who eschew playground equipment for drums made of pipe caps and fallen sticks.

I love my scooter.

I think this is one of my favorites of Veronica so far. In her sweeter moments, this is definitely an expression you'll see.

Pure excitement.

The Dentist (and Fireman) are People in Your Neighborhood

2011-11-16T14:11:00.009-06:00

Today was Veronica's first dentist appointment. Actually, it was just another one for Hamilton and I asked if they could do Veronica's first "appointment" at the same time. (Our dentist's office is great--they do an orientation appointment to just get kids used to the surroundings and people). But, for the official record book, today was the day. So I tried to prepare them: we checked out and read several dentist books, I talked up Hamilton's role in showing Veronica how it's done, and I brought the camera.

Boy am I glad I brought the camera.

We got there early so that the kids could enjoy all the cool toys. When the hygienist came out and called them back, Hamilton did a great job of leading the way and Veronica was happy to follow anything he did.

Now, I should mention that there was a bit of an odor at the office. I noticed it upon getting there, but assumed someone was getting a procedure done that used something with a smell (I had a root canal done this summer and there was something they put in my mouth that tasted like that smell). But, after the kids headed in, I heard the desk staff talking about the smell, so naturally, I asked about it.

And then this arrived...

Apparently, the fire department had been alerted to the smell and needed to come in and check it out.

This fireman went in and said hi to Hamilton while he was in the chair. He was also a little taken aback by my request to take his picture (but so kindly obliged).

Shortly thereafter, the kids were done with a "thumbs up" appointment and they came out to the waiting room to play some more while the firemen walked around inspecting. (Note: I was glad this appointment went well, because last time I got a "Your son doesn't want his teeth cleaned" message).

The patients with the dentist and hygienist...too busy checking out their new toothbrushes to smile.

As I walked to the counter to finish the paperwork, etc., the fire chief approached me and said, "We're just doing this as a precaution, but at this point, we are not sure where this smell is coming from and not sure whether or not it's flammable, so I am going to have to ask you to please put on the kids coats and leave."

Um, yes, I'll get my things and go.

Although we did get this photo with the fire truck:

my city kids' reactions to waiting for the bus next to 4 fire trucks, an ambulance, several police cars, etc. was more like this:

Oh to grow up in the city!

Resemblance?

2011-11-12T21:41:00.004-06:00

Hamilton at 32 days

Caroline at 39 days

Like Chicago Weather

2011-11-09T20:18:00.007-06:00

Friends have been asking how we are doing (and I am so touched by how many people are remembering us). I've told a few people that it feels like I was used to juggling two balls, and now I've got three; I have a sense of how it should all work, but it's taking a lot more energy and focus than it used to.

I have a new analogy now--we're kinda like Chicago weather. Some moments are like that first spring day where everyone's out on the lake path--the older two are playing well together, Caroline's content, the house isn't sticky, and dinner's going to make it onto the table. Other moments are like late February when the snow has turned brown and frozen over and there's the realization that there may be months more of this. I won't go into what that looks like in our house, but I am sure you can imagine.

The nice thing is that, like Chicago weather, if you wait a few moments the temperature will likely change.

This analogy came to mind because that's exactly what happened with the weather today. We woke up to a day that was grey and wet. I began to go through my mental list of ways to keep both Hamilton and Veronica engaged and active. At about 9 am, I was prepping the materials for a hallway-relay-race, I looked up and could not believe what I saw. The sun was shining and the sky was blue! I ran to the computer to check the temperature; it was 58 degrees. I literally called out, "Children, socks, shoes...quickly!" Within 5 minutes (possibly a new record), we were out the door and to the park. Yes, it was wet, but who knows how many more park visits we will get before snow and ice (and who knows when the next meltdown will occur).

It was a little tricky taking pics of sweet Caroline, since she was strapped to me. She instantly fell asleep when we stepped outside. I think she enjoyed the fresh air as much as the rest of us.

Hamilton forwent the playground equipment for more natural diversions, such as autumn leaves and puddles.

I think in this last picture he's saying something like, "Mom, my shoes are off because they are wet. "

Veronica was racing motorcycles and loving it. In fact, none of the pictures did it justice, so here's a video.

You'll notice a the end that it no longer looks sunny or calm. In fact, about 2 minutes after that recording, we loaded up into the stroller and headed for cover before we got what felt like freezing rain. (And, as I type this, later the same day, it is officially 37 degrees in Chicago--a whole 20 degrees colder).

So back to the analogy--we couldn't count on that sun staying out forever (or even all morning). Likewise, the relative calm in our house didn't last either (once again, I won't bore you with the details, but trust me, chaos would be an appropriate descriptor). But I am learning to be thankful for the moments we do have and remembering that the chaos (and winter) won't last, either.

Meeting Caroline

2011-11-05T19:33:00.004-05:00

How can I pitch this video with poor lighting, awkward angles, and fuzzy sound...?

Well, it is kinda funny...if you like watching little children run around in dim hallways.

And, it's sorta cute...if you can understand toddler mumbling.

Actually, it's the type of clip you can probably skim through and get the idea, but I haven't yet figured out all of the nuances of iMovie, so I didn't edit it much. (I give you complete permission to "watch" while surfing other sites; you'll still hear all the confused excitement and get a sense of the active-ness of our household).

As a sidenote, do any other moms out there notice that snapshots seem to portray an activity as much calmer and more organized than it actually was? No, just me? Great!

Why post it, then, you ask? I am guessing there's a grandparent or two (or four) who would like to see this and what the grandparents want, they get.

Note: If you'd like to travel down memory lane and watch Hamilton meeting Veronica for the first time, check this out).

Caroline Noor Whitney

2011-11-02T13:26:00.013-05:00

Almost a month later...

Caroline Noor Whitney was born on her due date, October 3, at 9:52 pm and weigh 8 lbs 3 oz and was 21.5 inches long.

Less than 7 hours before her arrival, before heading to a routine appointment, Freeman asked, "So what are the chances we'll be sent over to triage to have this baby from the appointment?" I very assuredly answered that there was little-to-no (emphasis on the no) chance we'd have the baby that night. How's that for a lesson in humility!

And, really, God's timing was perfect. My dad was watching the kids while Freeman and I went to the appointment--and was so great to stay the night with them when we realized I wasn't coming home. (If you've ever spent time with two energetic toddler/preschoolers, you know that's no small task). Freeman's mom came up the next day and stayed for several days to help with the transition (once again, no small task). We are so grateful to both of them! And, to be honest, if we'd been at home, I am not sure we would have made it to the hospital in time--let alone with Oompah there to babysit.

She has been a sweet, calm, easygoing little baby so far (though she does like to be held and cries a bit when she's alone in the bedroom). Really, for her safety, I wear her in my Moby sling a good part of many days. She does spend some time hanging out on the couch and seems to like watching shadows. Of course, her laying on the couch is an open invitation for lots of love and interaction with Hamilton and Veronica, but she doesn't seem to mind (in fact, today, Hamilton's presence calmed her down from crying--hooray!).

Ready to go home!

2 weeks old

Seeing how I haven't taken many pictures of her since this point--I'd better get on it!

And One Makes Three

2011-10-29T12:06:00.010-05:00

I know that we have been delinquent in posting anything about our sweet Caroline (and thank you to those who have "reminded" me--I really do appreciate it). And for those of you who are thinking, "Poor third child," please know that she's probably been held/strapped to me more than the other two combined (mostly for protection) and part of the reason this is so delayed is because I am so in love with her (and have fallen in love again with the other two) that I choose snuggling during the rare times it is quiet enough around here to compose a post. Oh, and I still have mommy brain and the idea of composing a sentence, let alone a post sounds trickier than a #29 bus ride to Navy Pier with 3 3-and-under kids!

I'll get to work on a "Meet Caroline" post shortly (really), but wanted to post a couple of pictures and highlights of life with three.

Our three sweet monkeys. No doubt that life is a bit crazy right now, but we sure do thank God for them and love them to pieces.

Sweet Sisters

Some of the memories that stick out about Veronica and Caroline in these first few weeks are:

One might think that Caroline's name is Olivia if going by what Veronica says most around her. She very emphatically repeats "O of oo!" while getting closer and closer and showering her sister with kisses (notice the movement in the first photo). She's not saying her name, she's saying "I love you." It melts my heart every time, even as I am trying to protect Caroline from her "love."
She's pretty sure whenever Caroline is in the touchdown baby position (you know, with the arms as goal posts), that her sister is asking her for a high five. And she is happy to oblige. In fact, she insists on it...several times a day.
She brings me diapers, blankets, and toys for Caroline--such the helper.

Big Brother

Initial memories of Hamilton with Caroline:

He uses a very staccato pronunciation of her name: Car-O-Line.
He asks to hold her about a dozen times a day...and I try to let him as much as possible. He's actually pretty good at it (enough so that I can capture some quick pictures, but not enough for me to be further away than arm's reach).
That first photo is of him when Caroline got a bit fussy. He's obviously been watching me because I use my pinky to calm my doesn't-want-a-pacifier-but-wants-to-suck baby.
That second photo captures how he looks at her--you can just see the love.
She's the first thing he wants to see every morning.
edited to add: How could I forget my favorite Hamilton/Caroline memory thus far. Hamilton loves saying things like, "Baby Caroline, you are so sweet/wonderful/amazing/special." The other day he started in with "Baby Caroline, you are so sweet." Then he got a thoughtful look on his face and added, "But not delicious."

More to come!

Veronica and the New Bed

2011-08-25T14:46:00.002-05:00

So, I suspect that most of the couple of people who tune in here know that Freeman and I moved into a one-bedroom condo back in 2003 when we got married...and that we're still here (and I should actually do a separate post on that sometime because I am sure we'll want to remember how it all worked out--someday). So, when we started sharing that we were expecting another little baby in early October this year--it wasn't a surprise when the #1 question was, "So, you are moving now...right?" Long story short, after some (ok, a lot of) praying, thinking, discussing, and researching, Freeman and I came back to each other with two realizations. #1-A move was not a good move right now and #2 -We both felt that God was using our situation to teach us more about contentment.

That left us with the challenge of finding sleeping space for all of us in the bedroom. Unfortunately, they don't make toddler-bed sized bunk beds (and Freeman doesn't have experience welding). After playing around with several twin-sized stacking options (trundle, bunk, trundle/bunk), we realized there was no ideal option. But, we knew something would work out--and it didn't have to be ideal to work.

In the end, we found a toddler bed that looked remarkably like Hamilton's and after some excellent planning/moving by Freeman--we now officially have sleeping arrangements for 5!

We also have a toddler who is no longer a little baby sleeping in her own bed. I wish I could capture her little satisfied smile when she wakes up from her nap and walks into the room and announces, "Hi!" But, I did capture a snap of our sleeping sweetie during nap #1 (with her bunny blanket and water bottle--sleeping necessities).

What to Do When Momma's Cleaning the Floor

2011-08-24T12:39:00.007-05:00

I had to get the floor cleaned today. I'd like to blame it on the nesting urge, but the reality is that it's been too embarrassingly long since I had last tackled it. The floor was getting sticky enough that it was getting hard to use the dust mop (how's that for keeping it real?). I decided to go full-force and move all the furniture and do as thorough a job as I possibly could--which meant Hamilton and Veronica had some new furniture arrangements to play with.

First, they ate their morning snack under the dining table (the chairs were inaccessible and I asked them to sit there to contain the crumbs to a place that wasn't already clean). It became their hide-out and they played some sort of peek-a-boo game after they were done eating.

Soon, their hide-out was stormed by a floor cleaning momma and they had to find somewhere else to play. No worries, our couches can easily be converted into a ship!

Hamilton wanted his red blanket as a roof and decided that the couch cushion made a perfect seat belt (something he's very interested in since we rarely have the opportunity to use them). Veronica looks a little tired (she's having a mix of caffeine-free, sugar-free iced tea and water).

We turned on some sailing music and they watched me getting the rest of the house done!

They did such a great job that we headed up to our building's roof deck after the floors were all done to enjoy a little "picnic" lunch. (Ok, who am I fooling...I was also motivated by the thought of not having to sweep the floor of breadcrumbs so soon after having just finished).

And now on to naps and rest time!

Impromptu Beach Day

2011-08-16T20:03:00.005-05:00

According to Google Maps, the 12th Street Beach is 1.7 miles from our house. Actually, that's the walking distance; as the bird flies, it would be just under a mile. So you'd think that we'd have actually visited the beach at some point. Nope. Part of it is I have a hard time just relaxing for long periods of time (ask Freeman). I like doing things with a purpose. But really, the main reason is I don't know how I would manage two little ones--who almost always want to go in different directions--with Lake Michigan right there.

So, last Saturday Freeman takes Hamilton out for a bike ride while Veronica and I spend some quality time at home (unloading dishes, sweeping--yeah, I am the fun one!). I get a call that they made an impromptu stop at Oak Street Beach and that Hamilton was loving it. So, Veronica and I pack it up and head up to meet them for some fun beach action.

Hamilton playing in the sand as we arrived. He had found a clear plastic cup and turned it into his own mini-lake with sand, water, and things I wouldn't feel completely comfortable touching.

The kids were really excited about going into Lake Michigan. They were fascinated by the waves and sea weed. There weren't too many photos of all of this, though, given that I was always holding onto one of them (and yes, that is a t-shirt and skirt--what can I say).

Hamilton practicing his swimming while Veronica's waiting for the next wave.

We would have probably stayed all afternoon, but off in the distance, we saw this:
Though the beach volleyball crew seemed unfazed, we decided to call it a day and avoid the downpour. Even though our impromptu beach day was cut a bit short, I would call it a success and suspect we'll aim for another one before the season is out. Yay for fun family time!

Fouth of July Parade

2011-07-02T22:43:00.008-05:00

One thing I love about our neighborhood is that within 1/3 of a mile, there are 3 playgrounds. Within 1/2 a mile, there are 5 or so. If you take into account parks without the play equipment, you can add another 3 or 4 to the mix. So there is no shortage of places to go and enjoy the outdoors and meet up with friends.

Last week, we made plans to meet up for a playdate with Megan and Ryan at one of the playgrounds. Then we found out there was a small "parade" being planned for a neighboring park space. How fun! My friend, Jessica (Ryan and Megan's mom), was kind enough to bring a scooter for Hamilton to decorate and ride in the parade. The organizing moms were so well prepared with everything from streamers to sparkly paper to festive snacks. So impressive!

The Starting Line

Hamilton--Ready to Go

And They're Off--I was pretty impressed with how well spaced they were (for a while)

Hamilton Upon Return

I just wanted to show how well decorated some of the other "floats" for the parade were. (You are welcome to refer to Hamilton's picture above for a comparison. These girls really put some time into making their bikes beautiful. He wanted some streamers that would fly in the wind--and he was off!)

Although Veronica did not seem interested in the actual parade, she was dressed for the occasion and thoroughly enjoyed the picnic lunch afterward.

Between the Capri Sun and the Strawberry/Blueberry/Marshmallow Kabobs that another mom brought, Hamilton never wanted to leave!

I am not so sure there was much about our nation's history communicated through this activity, but it sure was a fun way to spend a morning.

We ❤ Family

2011-06-09T20:53:00.011-05:00

Blessed to have LOTS of family love these last few weeks (plus we got the fabulous news that the Waits are making their way up from TX at the end of July--yee haw!).

Pics in no particular order.

Uncle Sharif!

Veronica-initiated hug with Cousin Kadin

Tanta Mariam

"Oompah, I'd like some more of that yummy chocolate, please!"

Uncle Wan is the only man brave enough thus far to let Hamilton play baseball using his hand as a T while giving him a piggy back ride.

I think her pleas were heard. Can you tell she has him wrapped around her finger?

Checking out GrandDad's watch while at a super yummy dinner at Uncle Julio's.

Too much fun with Grammy and GrandDad.

Hamilton and Sweet Lady Paloma on the tire swing.

Sweet Autumn with Uncle William

Saraina and Joshua exploring the Lincoln Park Zoo climbing structure

I love this picture of Freeman and William talking with Hamilton and Paloma catching rides. We should find a picture of them talking as kids and put it next to this one...many years and children later.

Autumn and Veronica planning their escape

I just thought this one was funny. While Auntie Kia was getting a fabulous picnic spread ready, Freeman was off to the right trying to keep the kids occupied. Hamilton and Paloma were listening intently, but Saraina was skeptical of whatever he was saying. Of course, Kadin was being sure to pose for the photo. Love those kids!

Water!

2011-06-09T20:12:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was super hot--in the mid 90s even by the lake (and after some awesome thunderstorms last night, we're in the 50s today, but that's another story).

We celebrated the summer weather by wearing swimming clothes to the Children's Museum and then running around in the fountain in front of Navy Pier.

We rarely go in the Waterworks Room because, well, Momma's mean and doesn't want to have to change clothes before heading out into the snow. This time, I didn't even insist on the raincoats! By the way, can you tell they are related?

I was a little nervous about how the fountain would go over. Hamilton's in a phase where he doesn't like water in his eyes...but he didn't seem to mind.
Water would intermittently spray from holes in the sidewalk. When they would stop, Hamilton would coax, "Spray again!"

"Oh look--a stick!" (Jayme, that one's for you).

The stick was then used to "tag" the water as it shot up from the ground.

Veronica made the mistake of standing above one of the holes and got a surprise spray of water. Between that and being a bit tired from all the excitement at the museum, she was happy to lounge. No fears, though, we strolled through some of the spray and stuck to the shade while watching water boy.

Oh, I didn't mention the best thing (momma-wise) about this fountain. Navy Pier is the last stop on the #29 bus, which takes us straight home. That means that the bus parks for a few minutes right across the street from the fountain. I was able to see a bus coming and know we had plenty of time to catch it--or just wait for the next one.

What They Look Like Right Now

2011-06-02T15:06:00.005-05:00

...literally.

I haven't posted too much about Hamilton's sense of style, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Giraffe costume top, orange/blue/white (arguably too small) pajama pants, new biker sunglasses, and hand-me-down galoshes for sister that's she's still too small for (on the wrong feet, of course). Going on 3 hours of this outfit now.

Veronica also wanted a picture donning her new sunglasses. Then she pulled them right off and asked me to put them on. Then she pulled them right off and asked me to put them on, again. Then she pulled them...well, you get the idea.

Picnic!

2011-05-19T20:57:00.009-05:00

Oh, the fun summer brings. Just not having to get two little ones bundled up makes it so much easier to be spontaneous. Like deciding to have a little picnic!

On our way out, I noticed that all of the tulips along the driveway to our building were blooming--and what amazing colors! So, I asked the kids to hop off of the stroller and take a seat for an impromptu photoshoot (so glad I did, we got a cold front the next day and many of the petals were blown away). Please forgive the fact that Hamilton is out of focus in all of these. You think after taking a college course on photo stuff, I'd have figured out the depth of field/aperture by now--but apparently not!

Brother and Sister

Something funny going on--I don't think I was in on the joke.

I just love the look on her face in this one.

After a quick workout, we headed to Grant Park for a picnic. My children have heard all about these "picnics" and thought they were the coolest (well, at least Hamilton did). Unfortunately, I am not the momma who's gonna take them out for a Chicago winter picnic, so they had to wait. We kept it simple, PB sandwiches with grapes. We ended up picking a shady spot close to the pathway home (and bathrooms, in case that became a necessity). So, yes, we were pretty close to Michigan Avenue, which is kinda an odd setting for a picnic. Oh well!

This boy loves finding sticks--and they were all around!

Excited to be eating outside.

Then Hamilton announced that he wanted to climb the "mountain." Veronica followed for a while, but got distracted by a squirrel (or maybe a bird).

Then she came back and decided to play ball with me.

We all climbed the mountain, er hill, together.
At the top, I tried to get another couple of shots in. Here, I asked Hamilton to hug Veronica. I think she was skeptical.

At this point, I made a mental note that although our stoller no longer needed a stash of extra gloves, scarves, etc., I'd probably get some sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats to shade these little toeheads. So I popped Veronica into the stroller and announced to Hamilton that we were stopping for his birthday ice cream cone (Marble Slab sent him a coupon for a free one).

Despite that offer, Hamilton didn't want to pass up a chance the Agora structures as we exited Grant Park. Shortly after taking this picture, he excitedly announced that he had found a spider web.

We did eventually get the ice cream (after realizing that Marble Slab wasn't open--eek!).

Unfortunately, by then, little girl was out.

A Puggle No Longer

2011-05-14T19:06:00.007-05:00

Hamilton has been enjoying participating in the Awana/Puggles program at our church this year. He's enjoyed it so much that he's actually dubbed our entire church "Puggles." As in, "Where are we going Hamilton?" "We're going to Puggles." (whether or not it is Sunday, Wednesday or some other day in between).

But, alas, all good things must come to an end. As of the awards ceremony this past Wednesday, the year of the Puggle came to an end. Such a momentous occasion deserves its own post, surely!

The bus ride up was particularly long and warm, which could put anyone to sleep. (That bruise was a week old at this point and looks a bit worse now than when he originally took a tumble).

Fortunately, he awoke in time to accept his certificate of participation. Here he is waiting next to the stage with Freeman.

But in actuality, he wasn't 100% back and ready to go, because when Miss Cynthia called his name, he yelled out, "No!" Freeman helped him to save face and accepted the certificate on his behalf.

After returning to our seats, he became more interested in his "Puggles Paper" and asked Freeman to read it for him.

But really, the highlight was the celebratory chocolate chip cookie at the end!

Sunny Days...Where Have You Gone?

2011-05-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

*Bonus points for anyone who can name the song that contains the lyrics from the title of this post.*

Actually, now that we're into May, we've had some more sun and temperatures above 50. Hooray! If this year in Chicago is like the past, we'll all forget that winter lasts through April and be mesmerized by the beauty of the city in the summer.

The kids and I are really looking forward to days at the parks and walks along the lake, but on the first warm day, there was no doubt about where we were headed: the Zoo!

A friend clued me into a great indoor climbing area and since Veronica was napping in the stroller when we arrived, we headed there first.

The entire structure is about 2 stories high where kids can climb from "leaf" to "leaf" from one end to the other. Hamilton wasn't quite sure as he started off.

And this is the point where he was looking down and asking me to help him--which was pretty much impossible given Veronica sleeping in the stroller and, well, I am not sure I could make it quite that high without getting stuck. Fortunately, a very kind 4 year old, Elliot, took Hamilton under his wing and helped him all the way through.

It was sweet, Elliot said (several times), "I'll tell you where to go! Because I've done this lots and this is your first time."

Elliot's mom called up, "You are doing great!" Hamilton responded (very empathetically), "Yes! I am!"

After that adventure, we checked out the animals in aquarium-like containers in the same room. There were several of Hamilton's favorites: snakes, turtles, toads, and owls. The one that he brought up several days later, though, was the stick bug. Those are some pretty cool creatures!

Veronica woke up, so we made our way outside to check out the black bear, polar bear, rhino, giraffe, and sun bear. Veronica did say "Hi!" to each of the animals, but I think she was more excited that she was able to walk around outdoors and didn't have to wear restrictive winter wear.

Hamilton did enjoy all of the animals and seems to remember more about them now than he did in past years (I still get questions about what rhinos say and what polar bears eat). Even with all of the animals, he didn't miss some of the smaller creatures the zoo "contained." Here he is excitedly checking out the ants. Then he noticed his shadow. Whoa, the excitement never stops.

Well, the zoo excitement did end up stopping when it was time to meet Freeman for dinner and then head to church for Awana. Even then, though, the Team Whitney party went on.

Oh, we love the warmer weather!

What can I say...

2011-05-07T13:01:00.001-05:00

...the girl likes her salsa!

Favorite Outfit and Favorite Activity

2011-05-02T15:31:00.005-05:00

Hamilton's into clothes. He loves dressing up, wearing layers, changing clothes, trying on Veronica's clothes...you name it. Until recently, he had a hard time with the decision making process on getting dressed. I'd pull out two shirts and ask which one he wanted to wear; he would choose both and layer them on top of one another. More recently, though, he's been picking outfits before I have a chance to get him dressed and this one seems to be a favorite:

Notice the blue belt (yes, he picked that out, too). Please don't notice the need for a haircut--that's on the schedule for this week.

Veronica dresses up, too. I think her favorite activity, though, is climbing. She will climb on top of whatever she can find, though most often it is the kitchen table. This little expedition was in an effort to play with daddy's bike (Sorry for the photo quality. I was trying to capture the moment and then quickly stop her!)

From a couple of months back...

2011-04-30T20:26:00.005-05:00

I won't be going back over the past 3 (!) months since I last posted and recount all that's happened, but as I was going back over photos today, these two stood out and made me smile, so I thought I'd share.

This is really the only time I've seen Veronica fall asleep this way. I didn't dare move her for fear of waking her, but the next time I checked on her she had sprawled out in a more comfortable position.

Hamilton decided the best way to help me at I cleaned out the fridge one day was to place all of the eggs in the space that the produce drawers usually take up (I was washing them). He was so pleased with his work (and I was pleased he didn't break any eggs).

Whales go SPLASH!

2011-01-30T19:13:00.007-06:00

Freeman and I suspect that, at some point, somebody is going to tell Hamilton and Veronica that it is not typical of most childhoods to spend several days a month at an aquarium or museum. But, seriously, it would be hard not to take advantage of the free days, library passes and memberships since the Museum Campus is about 2 miles from our front door. Even us car-less city people can pull that off!

Usually, when we plan to visit the aquarium, we head out in the morning and get there just as the fish are being fed and the tanks are being cleaned. There is usually almost no one there on a weekday at 9 am, which makes taking a toddler and an infant there much easier.

But the other day, it wasn't 9 am...it wasn't even noon...but 2 pm and we needed to get OUT, so we packed up and jumped on the 146 and were at the Shedd right before their last whale/dolphin show of the day. We got to the amphitheater with 5 minutes remaining and were able to sit in the third row!

Here's Hamilton waiting for the show to start. You can't tell from this photo, but he's several feet away from me. He wanted to "sit by myself, mom."

Veronica, on the other hand, was happy to sit on my lap and enjoy the show (well, really, enjoy the audience enjoying the show).

Hamilton's summary of the show: "Whales go SPLASH!"

After the show, we headed down to the Polar Play Zone. Unfortunately, it's not very well-lit and flash isn't allowed, so I have yet to get any pictures that really show what a great area it is for little ones.

Veronica's learning about the climates of different species of penguins' habitats.

Hamilton and Veronica both very intrigued by the boy dressed as a penguin coming out the of "cave."

Usually Hamilton refuses to go through the cave tunnel...you can't see the end and it makes him a little nervous. This time, though, he worked up the courage to follow this penguin boy in on his next round. Maybe it was the penguin costume that helped him get through to the other side (or maybe it was the fact that someone else entered the tunnel after him and he had no choice). In either case, he was pretty pleased with himself.

Veronica, on the other hand, was quite happy to adventure on through the tunnel several times.

After touching the starfish, driving the submarine, sliding down the iceberg, and saying hello to countless sea creatures, it was time to head home.

As we walked to the bus, Hamilton let me know that next time he'd like to go to the dinosaur museum (Field).

Where is Thumbkin?

2011-01-29T09:15:00.003-06:00

We love, love, love our Thursday library class. Hamilton's been enrolled in most sessions since he was 6 months-old so all of the librarians (and the security guard) know him by name. Veronica's actually got him beat, though. She's been sitting in on his sessions since shortly after she was born. The librarians are so great to include her (and other siblings) in the activities, and she is happy to clap and shake away with everyone else.

The librarians rotate the responsibility of leading each 6-week session, and each of them brings their own flavor to the class. Miss Katie is leading this session, and she is great! This round, she is bringing back some of the classics, including "Where is Thumbkin?" Hamilton was a little thrown at first that so many people knew this song that he had never heard of (Gasp! It's true--I didn't include this one in our repertoire at home.)

Well, we took care of that at Veronica's next nap. And Hamilton's been belting this out ever since.

And She's Off!

2011-01-28T17:15:00.005-06:00

Veronica is a super-mobile little girl. I suspect this is because of how highly she regards her brother. Anywhere he is, she wants to be (sometimes to his dismay, but often to his delight).

Hamilton has a lot of energy--big surprise for a 2 1/2 year-old boy--so Veronica's crawling was not cutting it...

This second video is actually from a couple of weeks ago (pre-walking days) showcasing two of Veronica's favorite things to do: 1) putting things in her mouth and 2) climbing onto the dishwasher door. For the record, neither of these are "allowed" but for these 30 seconds, I just focused on capturing the moment.

I've got....

2011-01-06T13:21:00.002-06:00

... TEETH!

(they actually popped through around Christmas, but I hadn't been able to catch a photo of them)

Where else would they live?

2011-01-05T11:50:00.003-06:00

Freeman spotted a container of farm animals on clearance at Target the other day and picked it up thinking of our would-be-farmer-living-in-the-city. It was a huge hit, including the clear plastic cone that was included in the packaging. Hamilton pulled it out and quickly announced that is was a 'cano (volcano) and off he went to play. A little later...

Me: Hamilton, do you like playing with those animals?

Hamilton: Yes.

Me: Do all of those animals live on a farm?

Hamilton: No!!!! They live in the 'cano.

Sure enough, he was packing as many of the animals into his little volcano as he could.

Sidetracked

2011-01-04T15:55:00.002-06:00

I was just sitting down to try (again) to write about how much fun we had with Freeman last week when I noticed something that completely sidetracked me. Hamilton and Veronica playing a game of peek-a-boo. I quickly tried to maneuver the webcam without being too noticeable. Unfortunately, I didn't catch the peek-a-boo, but I did capture the fun that ensued.

Please notice that although Hamilton isn't particularly gentle with his sister, she repeatedly only crawls a few steps away and turns back towards him to get his attention. As sweet as she is, she's a tough cookie (and she loves her big brother)!

Apologies for the views of my jeans and the chair legs. Remember this was a covert video taping. The fun actually continued for several minutes and evolved into a game of Monkey in the Middle (Veronica was in the middle and Hamilton was throwing to...himself). Then they both realized I wasn't paying attention to them.

I gotta say, I absolutely love seeing the beginning of this brother/sister relationship develop.

Caught!

2010-12-31T23:37:00.005-06:00

Can Veronica pull the towel off of the oven door? Yes.
Can she open the drawer? Apparently.
Can she rearrange and remove the contents of said drawer? I should think so.

Ask me how I know.

Cookies, Cookies, and More Cookies

2010-12-31T22:48:00.003-06:00

Hamilton loves being in the kitchen (which in our open-concept place is pretty much part of the living room and dining room...we call it all "the other room"). He also fancies himself an amateur chef. He will confidently declare that we need "1 cup flour and one egg" for pancakes--which is actually correct, though incomplete.

My sister Mariam, who also loves being in the kitchen, had the brilliant idea of bringing over some cookie ingredients on a recent visit. She and Hamilton mixed, rolled, and cut to their hearts' content.

...and of course someone needed to do some quality control on the taste. Please don't ask why he's on the counter. I really don't know. I do know that he has been crossing his ankles like that since he was a baby. It's his trademark move, but not really relevant here, so let's move on.

Fast forward a few weeks...and Hamilton gets another chance to perfect his cookie making skills. This time, his partners were Emily and Allison (cousins from Texas). Hamilton was intermittently interested, mostly towards the end when there was opportunity for sampling.

Checking the progress

Hands-on Time

"I think I can get that bit of frosting, Mom. Please don't wipe my face."

The finished product

Semantics

2010-12-13T17:46:00.004-06:00

Hamilton is very much into categorizing the new words he's learning (and he's learning a lot of them!). It's really fun to hear him process and get a peek into how he works. For example:

Freeman (on the way to the bus stop Sunday morning): Hamilton, check out that snow plow!

Hamilton: That's not a snow plow; that's a dump truck.

Freeman: It's a blue snow plow.

Hamilton (insistent): That's not a blue snow plow; that's a blue dump truck.

Jenny (who's been a part of a few of these conversations): Hamilton, it's a special kind of dump truck that's called a snow plow.

Freeman: Yes, it's a dump truck until they add that plow to the front.

Hamilton: Okay...it's a snow plow dump truck.

He then proceeded to let several people on the bus know, "I saw a blue snow plow dump truck."

I think we have a scientist on our hands.

And, because there is no picture to go with this post, enjoy a fun one from Thanksgiving...

Stickers, Hats, and Why we don't have more video of Veronica

2010-12-10T13:55:00.010-06:00

Hamilton loves stickers. In fact, on a bus ride home Wednesday evening, he spotted some stuck to a window sill across the way and was set on peeling them off so he might have them (that is until Freeman nixed that idea).

So you can imagine his delight when he turned the page in a coloring book and discovered an entire sheet of stickers...right there for him to play with. This is what I find after leaving for a few minutes to take a shower.

Then, this past Wednesday at Puggles (the 2-year old AWANA program) was Crazy Hat Night. I knew that this would be hit or miss with most of the 2 year-olds, but thought we should be prepared. So we found a crazy ball from Oompah and safety pinned it to his stocking cap (which he'd be wearing anyway...it's COLD out there).

And here's Veronica donning the cap.

And you may be asking why there aren't more videos of our sweet Veronica. Well, one reason is that most videos end up looking something like this:

Or, there's this version, which I think looks a little more like a commercial (maybe for insurance?).

The Vacuum

2010-12-05T17:53:00.006-06:00

Our children are very similar in many aspects. They both are not afraid to let you know what they want, they seem to like and dislike the same foods, they enjoy music and dancing, and on and on.

One way we can tell them apart, though, is by turning on the vacuum.

Veronica's response looks something like this:
Yes, she scurries to catch up with the vaccum and pulls herself up, sometimes stopping to taste test. She seems to really enjoy the blast of air that exits the back of the shop vac (what is the technical name for that; exhaust sounds so bad). She's actually gotten some practice "walking" while I vacuum lately.

You can see a bit in this last picture the waves of air hitting her sleeper.

Hamilton, on the other hand, looks like this:

In fact, he informed me this evening that vacuuming, "is not kind, mommy."

He also wanted me to share this photo with you...it's of his soup.

Skipping Rocks

2010-10-23T21:16:00.005-05:00

Uncle Wan spent some time teaching Hamilton how to skip rocks today. I don't know that Hamilton picked up the fine art, but he was inspired to sing "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by the stones hitting the water and seemed to very much enjoy the attention.

Veronica was not inspired to sing, but enjoyed the trip to the park in her own special way.

Where the Whitneys Go When It's Cold

2010-10-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

If we could harness Hamilton and Veronica's energy, we'd never have to pay ComEd again. But, we can't turn it into electicity, so the best I can do in the cold weather is take them to a place where they can crawl, climb, run, jump, and MOVE to their hearts' content.

The Children's Museum--just a bus ride away--fits the bill. And Wednesdays are great because the art studio is geared towards kids 5 and under. So, if it's Wednesday and it's cold, you can pretty much guess we are at Navy Pier enjoying the bright colors and crazy mirrors.

This mirror was cool enough to set down the stainless steel mixing bowl to check out. (Have I mentioned that Veronica is complete mobile now?)

Meanwhile, Hamilton is examining the way things work.

You may recall Hamilton's time in the garden (at about the same age as Veronica is now).

She also seems quite interested in agriculture.

Another Hamilton/Veronica moment.

She seemed genuinely surprised and pleased to see me.

Yup, little girl is pulling up to standing now.

Hamilton fishing.

Fall Outing

2010-10-09T15:58:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we headed to a pumpkin patch/petting zoo/working farm with Oompah, Amira, Syazwan, Mariam, and (a surprise appearance by) Sharif.

Hamilton was a little starstruck to see "Ming Ming," the duck from The Wonder Pets (shhh....don't tell him this duck's name is really Quackers). Veronica was also quite interested, but was being held firmly in place by Amira.

We did see chickens, turkeys, pigs, sheep, ponies, horses, a donkey, and rabbits, as well, but Hamilton went from fascinated to concerned when the animals were larger or faster than him.

So, onto the next bit of fun...a sandbox made of dried corn kernels. I think Hamilton could have stayed in there all day.

Syazwan played with Hamilton, even though it meant his black shirt would turn grey...what a cool uncle.

Uncle Sharif opted to stay clean and swing our motion loving little girl around.

After a quick climb on the haystacks,

We enjoyed some freshly prepared fruit from Amira.

Veronica even got in on some cantaloupe.

Hey, Uncle Sharif....where'd you put the rest of that 'lope?

But the real treat of the day (as much as we like fruit), was some homemade ice cream from the Plush Horse. Hamilton couldn't decide whether he wanted a cookie or ice cream until Mariam told him about cookie dough ice cream. He could not have been more pleased with the discovery.

Yes, the ice cream is almost as big as his head. And, yes, I did let him eat as much of it as he wanted. But, in my defense, I ordered the "Baby Size" (and he didn't finish it). My pumpkin pie ice cream, on the other hand, was all but gone and I had the normal adult size.l

Pictures and Captions...Plain and Simple

2010-08-29T07:39:00.003-05:00

Dimples and Drool

Double Dimples

Hmmm...what is this "walker" thing?

Whoa, I think the ground just moved.

Uncle Wan and Foofa's blocks

At the Zoo with the Whitney Kiddos (July 5)

2010-08-26T00:00:00.002-05:00

Ever since we took a day trip out to Aurora, Hamilton knows who his Whitney cousins are (he's getting to the age where it's sticking). In order to identify them, though, he says all of their names in a row (even when just talking about one of them), "Joshua-Saraina-Kadin-Paloma-Autumn." (whew)

We were thrilled when the Aurora Whitney's (aka Whitney Kiddos) drove into the city for a little zoo and pizza excursion. We so enjoy seeing them and always have such a nice time.

Veronica loves her Auntie Kia

Checking out animals

and more animals

and big boy Hamilton joining his big cousins to check out even more animals.

Autumn enjoying the ride

Then we went for some pizza, and these three love pizza.

Sweet cousins

Little Miss Veronica

2010-08-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

At almost 6 months, our little girl is certainly showing a lot of personality. She is adventuresome and inquisitive and doesn't mind a little rough housing (that's what you'll get with a big brother, I suppose).

She is happiest in the upright position and will do this...

...if you try to convince her that reclining is also a good option.

She's got some strong legs and seems to think that we're holding her back.

Notice that I am holding her arm for balance while she holds her weight in the first picture. I had to grip a little more tightly in the second picture as she tried to get away from me.

Of course, she does have her calmer moments.

We love our sweet Veronica so very, very much!

What's new with the boys?

2010-08-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

Can you spot the changes? (answers at the end of the post)

That's right, Hamilton's got on underwear now (ok, ok, if you read carefully about our roadtrip, you already knew that...that's what I get for doing these all after the fact). You will notice that he still likes to wear as little as possible.

And, with Freeman...yup, no glasses. After wearing glasses since third grade, he's giving contacts a go. What brought on the change? Well, our little one's kept hinting (not-so-subtly) that they wanted the glasses off of his face...and they're strong!

Congrats to AbdelRahman and Mehreen! (June 24-26)

2010-08-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

My youngest brother is married to a lovely young woman, Mehreen. We attended the marriage celebrations this summer in Memphis. There, we had the pleasure of meeting the Khan family, who are the picture of Southern (and Bengali) Hospitality.

(Note: None of these pictures are my own--even though I had a camera, I was enjoying the festivities too much and knew there were much more capable people doing the photo-documentation. Thanks, Sharif and Mehreen.)

The first event was the Gaye Holud. We had the pleasure of meeting Mehreen's family from all around the world. We also participated in putting tumeric paste on Mehreen's face and feeding her. Both of these acts signified our well wishes for the upcoming marriage (and we learned that the tumeric gives a beautiful glow to the bride's skin on her wedding day).

The next evening, Mehreen's mother hosted the Mehndi at their house. This was a more informal gathering where the bride (and anyone else who wanted) had their mehndi applied in preparation for the big day. It was an evening of lots of laughing, dancing, eating, and intricate designs!

And, of course, the Waleema (wedding celebration) where we got to meet so many, many people who love the couple very much and take in all of the fabulous colors (and delicious food).

The beautiful couple (and this was AFTER all of the celebrations)

I know this wedding isn't at all about Team Whitney's kids, but...this is our blog, yes?
(Isn't the outfit that Veronica's wearing adorable? Mehreen's grandparents brought it from Bangladesh. Hamilton's got one, too, but he dressed like daddy instead for this occasion.)

The whole family (minus Team Whitney)

My mom and I

What was going on on the guys' side

What was really going on on the guys' side
(All kidding aside, you can see Hamilton was loving some time with Oompah and AbdelRahman. Freeman got to talk with Mehreen's lovely grandfather, who's wife coincidentally carried Veronica for part of the evening, allowing me to eat with both hands.)

Memphis Botanic Gardens

2010-08-22T00:00:00.015-05:00

We enjoyed a (very hot, very humid) day with Oompah, Taita, Amira, and Mariam at the Memphis Botanic Gardens.

There was a very cute kids area,

complete with a giant worm.

We thought it best not to try out this area.

Some Oompah time.

He's always been really good at this trick.

Hamilton loving the attention from his Aunts

Isn't this such a serene picture...just reflecting on the beauty...

...or marveling at the ruthless (kinda creepy) Coi fish.

And here's Hamilton deciding that he'd like to be a goose rancher using nothing but a squirt bottle and bird calls.

Road Trip to Memphis (June 22-28)

2010-08-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

My younger brother, AbdelRahman, had his wedding celebration in Memphis on June 26, so we took a little road trip down. The thought of traveling with two little ones for almost 600 miles nerve-wracking enough...but what made the idea a little crazier was that we had just started Hamilton's potty training on June 4. Yes, really. We obviously need some lessons in planning.

In any case, there were certainly some things that we were very thankful for on the traveling part of our adventure:

The rental company didn't have our Impala in , so we got upgraded to a mini-van (with electrical outlets!).
We were able to stop in Chatham both ways to help break the trip up (thanks, Grammy and Granddad).
NO ACCIDENTS! Really, we've got to give it to Hamilton. He alerted us a couple of times and we had to find rest stops, but mostly, he just waited until we were stopping anyhow. We were prepped for anything, with plastic and towels galore, but they sat unused.

At one stop on the way back, Hamilton used the restroom with Freeman while I waited in the minivan with Veronica. While in, they stopped for some ice cream for the road. After Hamilton helped me to finish mine, he stated matter-of-factly, "Pee pee in the toilet." He had just gone, so I guessed that he had more on his mind. I explained to him that we would stop, but there would be no more ice cream. He then even more definitively declared, "No pee pee in the toilet."

Here are some pictures from the stop-overs in Chatham.

Veronica's Eating (August 15)

2010-08-20T00:00:00.002-05:00

Some of you may remember that Hamilton was none too subtle in letting us know that he wanted food. Veronica held off a bit longer, but has now entered the world of avacados, bananas, applesauce, and green peas. She seems to enjoy the whole eating process (we didn't take pictures of her first meal!), but wasn't too impressed with her first exposure to green peas.

For the record, she was a bit more enthusiastic a while later, when she was hungrier.

Photo Shoot in the Park (June 30)

2010-08-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

The kids and I went for a walk to the Museum Campus on beautiful summer day. After a stop into the Shedd, we hung out on the lawn for a while. Hamilton ran around in circles (one of his favorite pastimes) while Veronica enjoyed the light dancing through the trees. They both love being outside!

Going down the Penguin Slide.

Touching the (fake) sea urchins.

Climbing any and everything in sight.

She loved talking to him (but I had to give him something to keep him still)...

...otherwise this is all I'd get.

Loving the breeze

Happy to be exploring

Where we've been....

2010-08-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

So we came up with this blog over two years ago to update our friends and family about what's going on with us (and by us, I mean the children). We are so touched by all of those people who want to keep up with us and have enjoyed sharing with you all.

What we didn't anticipate was that, when sweet Veronica was born, we'd barely be able to get pictures onto our computer let alone compose a post. So here it is, what you see on so many blogs, the "sorry we haven't written" and "we'll try better" post.

It's been a super fun and busy summer as we've potty trained, rolled over, reorganized our place, seen LOTS of family and even taken a roadtrip. Now, just to get those posts together.

Tummy Time

2010-05-09T18:30:00.004-05:00

Hamilton didn't care much for Tummy Time. I tried to make it more fun by singing the words "Tummy Time" to the tune of Lollipop, but I think that only made it more fun for me.

Veronica, on the other hand, loves the challenge of lifting that head and shoulders up high to check things out.

Lovin' It!

Look ma, one hand.

And after several minutes....face plant!

Siblings

2010-05-05T16:04:00.005-05:00

I am thrilled to report that Hamilton and Veronica are getting along swimmingly. Well, more accurately, Hamilton is quite fond of his little sister and Veronica is learning to survive Hamilton's expressions of "love."

But, let's start at the beginning. Here is "The Meeting." (Warning: It might make you a bit dizzy.)

Hamilton's reaction went from indifference...
to curiosity ("Yes, those are her eyes...but let's not put our fingers there!")...
to frustration (confused by her perpetual horizontal state, he would ask Veronica to "wake up!")...
to fondness. He will now wake up each morning and look in her crib. If she's not there, he will cry out, "Sister go?" He's been known to say, "Love you, sister."

Hamilton wasn't used to the idea of things in the house not belonging to him, so he presumed this was HIS new chair.

Taken about a month ago, this picture shows him watching in fascination as she cries.

And one day, while I was getting Veronica to sleep, he climbed into our bed to get some attention, only to fall asleep before she did.

If Hamilton gets this excited about a little sister who (no offense, Veronica) doesn't do much yet, I am very much looking forward to what the future holds for these two!

Veronica at 8 weeks

2010-04-27T21:26:00.003-05:00

I've found the video of Hamilton meeting Veronica (yay!), but I still have to format it. So that post is coming.

But...I got a little photo shoot in with Veronica today while Hamilton was taking a (increasingly rare) nap. The photo quality isn't the best, but you'll see that she's got quite a few expressions going at this point.

Also, we went for a fruit run today (yes, a grocery trip just for fruit--it's kind of a necessity around here), and Veronica insisted on facing away from me. She really wanted to take in what was going on. She didn't give any smiles away, but she was intently watching anything that moved for quite a while before snuggling for a good nap.

Lost in thought

"No way!"

"That was funny."

"I love you!"

Videos from Today

2010-04-07T13:38:00.003-05:00

I know we still haven't posted any "Hamilton and Veronica" pictures or the video of them meeting. Hopefully, those will be coming. Today, though, I thought I would post videos of each of them from this morning doing what they like to do.

Here's Hamilton giving a little performance to himself. He announces the song at the beginning and then ends by telling me that it's a "tar" (guitar).

And here's our sweet Veronica doing what she does best. I didn't catch a whole lot of her neck strength, but she loves tummy time, so she gets quite the workout several times a day.

Hamilton in Action

2010-03-05T16:57:00.001-06:00

In case anyone's been wondering what Hamilton's been up to now that Veronica is at the house . . . it's a lot of climbing, talking, and playing with some cool new toy cars. He's doing great as a big brother so far!

Safe at Home

2010-03-03T21:34:00.008-06:00

All of Team Whitney is now safe at home. So much to be thankful for: God entrusting this little life to us . . . the support of our families . . . the tremendous staff at Northwestern Memorial . . . having a big brother like Hamilton for our sweet Veronica. We are thankful for God's amazing grace.

Day #2

2010-03-02T14:11:00.000-06:00

Day #2 has involved a lot of this.

Veronica's Names

2010-03-02T12:00:00.002-06:00

A note on Veronica's names.

Her first name was chosen in honor of our dear friend Veronica Melnyk. Veronica now lives at Turvey Abbey in England, where she's known as Sister Johanna. She is the person we went to visit last May on our Ireland/England bicycle odyssey. There are a lot of negative qualities presented to young women as ideals--we want our Veronica to know that faithfulness, modesty, graciousness, prayerfulness, and godliness are what we hope she will aspire to. We pray that God will help us as parents model these things for her, and we are glad to know that our little girl can look to our sisters in Christ such as Veronica as examples.

Her middle name was chosen in honor of Jenny's grandmother. She was from Egypt, and Safiya was her first name. This was Jenny's "Taita" (or grandma), and she passed away in 2005. We wanted to remember her in the life of our sweet baby. If you watch the video below, you can hear how it's said.

First Day and First Guests

2010-03-02T11:46:00.006-06:00

Veronica had her first guests on her very first day with us. Aunts Mariam and Amira stopped by yesterday with Taita Murphy to meet our little girl. They brought some very nice new clothes for Veronica and tasty chocolates for us and the staff.

Thank you for stopping by, Murphy family!

Veronica!

2010-03-01T14:30:00.001-06:00

Veronica Safiya Whitney

2010-03-01T04:38:00.003-06:00

Veronica Safiya Whitney was born tonight at 2:24 a.m. She's 20.5 inches and 7 lbs, 4 oz. She's healthy, Jenny's healthy . . . praise to our good and gracious God for what he has done.

While We Wait

2010-02-10T20:06:00.005-06:00

Hamilton and I have been having some fun while we wait for #2's debut. Chicago in the winter with a toddler presents some challenges, for sure...but we've been trying to find ways to get those little legs tired without freezing. The Children's Museum has helped (and it's a few blocks from the doctor's office and a single bus ride from our house--bonus!).

Here he is at the building station. He takes the hard hat requirement very seriously (you can't see this, but he insisted that I wear one as well).

This is currently his favorite station (and I love that it minimizes my cleanup effort). He could seriously paint the entire time and be completely content. He also doesn't seem to mind the paint on his head or clothing. Shortly after these pictures were taken, he leaned forward to reload his brush and added a little color to his forehead as he leaned against the glass.

The museum has an indoor "ice" rink (linoleum with pledge). Hamilton was quite impressed with the speed of these kindergartners, and was happy to be spinning in place amongst them.

We didn't make it out Monday of this week, but Hamilton found plenty to do anyway. He discovered the joy of stirring. Here he is stirring some pancake batter.

...and here I am in the only "belly picture" I've taken this pregnancy (only took one during Hamilton's, as well...so no first-born preference there). This was right as I hit 8 months. Notice little dude in the background in his chair at the table. He really loves being a big boy. We are excited to see him as a big brother!

Getting ready for Baby #2

2010-02-01T22:45:00.006-06:00

Things have been noticeably quiet for the Team Whitney blog, not that life has been quiet. The main news, as I suspect anyone looking at this blog knows, is that we're now just weeks away from the expected arrival of Baby #2. The due date is March 1, so the time is coming close. Please pray for the health of the new baby and Jenny.

In the mean time, our Baby #1 still continues to delight his parents. Jenny and I never know what to expect from our little man Hamilton. Jenny caught this picture the other day of our little guy having fallen asleep during nap time . . . in our bed.

Why that was preferable to his own bed? Got us.

In any case, he does sometimes sleep where he's supposed to be. He's actually taken to his big boy bed very well . . . having gotten the boot from the crib to make room for his new brother or sister. He's done an admirable job of adapting to the change--and there's more to come.
His other new passion is opening and closing doors, particularly when he can knock on the door and then respond with "come in." Here he is trying to work on the front door. Of course, the very stool he uses to reach the handle is the same one that prevents him from actually opening the door. He hasn't figured out a way around that one yet.

A Little Under the Weather

2009-12-12T16:07:00.003-06:00

We are super thankful for being healthy so far this winter...and after a really good stretch, we've all come down with a little cold. Thankfully, staying home when the temperatures are below 10 degrees isn't too hard to do.

Today was a pretty lazy Saturday...and although Hamilton fought his nap during naptime (he read the entire time, instead), he decided to doze off while chilling with his daddy.

Dinner at the Whitneys

2009-12-02T20:24:00.002-06:00

We've moved Hamilton to the big boy table to eat right in between Freeman and me (he previously sat in his booster seat on top of a stainless steel bar chair since his eating and the feet on the seat really messed with our wooden chairs). He loves it and gets really excited to climb into his chair at dinner time.

Of course, as with many toddlers, his eating habits can be...inconsistent (but, Hamilton, you loved [insert food name here] the last 10 times we had it!). Plus, dinner tends to be his lightest meal, but tonight he surprised us both by really taking a liking to his daddy's hot wing sauce.

He had already taken a couple of bites before I got the camera going--and I obviously didn't stop to adjust the lighting (sorry).

Oh, and see that bowl of oranges. That's what he wanted for dessert.

Last Night's Performance

2009-11-09T13:39:00.002-06:00

Usually right after dinner, it's "Shower Time" in the Whitney household. Last night, however, Hamilton wanted to provide a little post supper entertainment. Hope you enjoy...

...and the encore...

Driving My Tractor

2009-11-03T14:59:00.008-06:00

We recently received an email from our friend Veronica from Turvey Abbey (you may recall we visited her in May for her Final Profession). Sr. Goedele, who had so kindly set up a play area for Hamilton during our visit, came across a video that she thought our little animal-lover would enjoy.

She was right on! Thank you, Sr. Goedele!

Here's little dude clucking like a chicken (actually, that was a first and you can tell he was pleased with himself). Then he finds the "moo" and exclaims "oh no" when all of the animals fall out of the tractor trailer. He can't really pretend to be sad like the farmer, though, because he knows all of the animals make it safely back to the farm.

If you'd like to watch the video without the Hamilton commentary (or our dishwasher in the background), check it out here:

Our Little Zebra

2009-11-02T11:52:00.004-06:00

Hamilton was invited to his first birthday party on Saturday--a costume party for his friend Mira. Hamilton absolutely loves it when he gets to see Mira. They can chase each other and down our hallway for a VERY long time.

Our little dude got all decked out for the party as a...

...zebra with a mohawk.

Hamilton quickly found his friend from the savannah.

Here are a couple of Hamilton's other friends: Megan and Ella. They were decorating and enjoying cookies. Maybe it was because this activity left all of the toys free...Hamilton decided to forgo this activity.

Later that afternoon, we met up with John and Carolyn and went to (where else?) the Farm at the Zoo. Although a zebra doesn't quite fit in, Hamilton was excited to be back at his favorite place.

Did you know zebras hatch from eggs? I didn't, either.

Finally, we stopped by church to check out the Fall Festival. Our ever practical son went to a game station where the prize was candy, but decided to skip the "game" step.

We got home with a tired little boy who stopped next door for one piece of candy, then dinner, bath and bed. Whew!

Yup, He's a City Boy

2009-10-19T16:02:00.005-05:00

Hamilton is completely fascinated by two things...farm animals and dogs. In fact, the first really discernible word he ever said was "dawgy" (which he now says no less than a dozen times a day, thanks to the canines of our building, in his books, and on his clothing).

He gets particularly excited when he sees a cow--which he calls "moo." His favorite spot to do this is the Farm at the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a chance to go there with Ooompah today--and I finally remembered to bring the camera.

He spots them when they are near...

...and when they are far...

...and when they are animated (I missed getting him pointing, but you'll see the tiny cow at the top of the page--yup he spotted it and wanted to tell us all about it).

He also likes chicks, though he is convinced they are ducks.

All in all, he is definitely an animal person. It's a little ironic given where we live. Though as Freeman pointed out, it's one of the places where the squirrels and bunnies won't run away from him (but that's a different story for another time).

More Sleeping with Books

2009-09-29T12:51:00.003-05:00

This is a shot of Hamilton after we went to the aquarium and library today. He found a book on farm animals and wouldn't let it go for the entire hour we were there (even through the storytelling class)--and was very concerned when I handed it to the woman at the Circulation Desk to check it out.

Hamilton Right Now

2009-09-22T13:18:00.002-05:00

After a morning at the library, lunch with Freeman, and running around outside the Art Institute...

Fun in the Sun

2009-08-15T22:17:00.009-05:00

The three of us spent the day taking in the Chicago Air and Water Show from the roof terrace at Moody Church. Our Sunday School class hosted the event, so we saw lots of our friends from there, plus a former coworker of Freeman's and her fiance also stopped by (Kelly and Jason). Taking pictures of the planes never really works out so well as they're moving very, very fast, but the show was spectacular. Hamilton seemed to enjoy it all, at least until the collective roar of six US Air Force Thunderbirds sent him running to the door to head inside from the terrace. This picture of the Thunderbirds is from the Tribune (they flew over the beach, across Clark Street, directly over and heads at the church, and off into the late afternoon sun).Most of our time was spent visiting with our friends from class and watching Hamilton run around the terrace. He was very interested in examining the food and beverages everyone else had brought . . . quite the little scavenger!
His bare feet got kind of dirty after awhile!
Kelly and Jason (Freeman's former coworker at DePaul and fellow HSC graduate).
And Jenny and Freeman (fresh from having water dumped on him by Hamilton).
And Hamilton seeking sonic relief from the roar of the jets.

Waits Family Visit

2009-07-29T23:35:00.013-05:00

Team Whitney got some bonus Waits family time both before and after the all-family get-together in Aurora. The festivities began, as one might expect, with stuffed pizza enjoyed by all. In this instance, we took some tomato and cheese stuffed pie from Giordano's over to Millennium Park and got our grub on.
Allison took on most of the Hamilton watching duties for the night and did a great job (we tipped her in pizza).
We all returned to Chicago from our time in Aurora and spent the next day working our way to the Chicago History Museum. Along the way, the girls got their introduction to the squishy world of sushi.Allison made a valiant effort and seemed to enjoy some tuna.
Emily was equally valiant, although noticeably less enthusiastic about the overall experience.
We had no doubt about Hamilton's excitement, however, when he was offered some whipped cream by his Aunt Cristina at the Cheesecake Factory.
When we got to the museum, we enjoyed seeing the latest in cutting edge racing bicycle technology.
Allison finally realized what it would be like to actually be an Oscar Meyer wiener (a reference about twenty years before her time, I fear).
Hamilton found some hex screws holding together a display and thought it would be best to disassemble it.
We ended the day playing Dance Dance Revolution back at the house and then saw the Waitses off to the airport the next day. A good time was had by all, but a lot of energy was spent!

Family Weekend

2009-07-29T23:17:00.013-05:00

Team Whitney had a good time this weekend with lots of family around for a family reunion/get-together of sorts. The Waits family (Tim, Cristina, Emily, and Allison) came up from Texas and John and Carolyn came up from Chatham to converge on William and Kia's house in Aurora. Team Whitney headed out from Chicago, and this is what it looked like when we got together.
Of course, we also spent much time hanging out, watching children run around, and enjoying being together.
William showed us how he motivates the praise band at Sovereign Grace Church in Aurora. This is for sure: he's seen at least a hundred faces . . . and he's rocked them all.
As always, Hamilton found his own brand of fun (off by himself climbing stairs).As always, we thank William and Kia for their hospitality in welcoming us into their home.

Hamilton's Dedication

2009-07-22T23:24:00.006-05:00

This past Sunday was a big day for Team Whitney: it was the Sunday when we dedicated Hamilton to the Lord at church. Many of you know what this entails, and the event at Moody Church is very similar to what's done at many other protestant and evangelical churches. Each family with a child to dedicate introduces themselves and the child to the assembled church congregation and then responds to several questions about their intention to raise the child in accordance with scripture and in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. After affirming that intention, the pastor the prays for the family. Here we are prior to the morning service which included the dedication.
Unfortunately, Hamilton was not feeling well, so he looks less than thrilled about his presence at the dedication. Also, our church is very big on the wearing of name tags so we learn the names of those we see on Sunday--you may notice the one I got from the church in the picture.

Despite being called baby dedication, the event is really about what the parents vow to undertake in the raising of the child. Jenny and I cannot determine what Hamilton will embrace in the future or who he will be at our ages, but we can ensure that he is raised with the knowledge of God's truth and seeing that following Jesus made a difference in the lives of his parents. We don't practice baptizing infants at our church as we believe that every person faces a decision about how he or she will bridge the limitless moral gulf that exists between sinful people and a holy God. Hamilton has not faced that moment (he can barely decide if he wants to eat his bananas or drop them on the floor), so we cannot say right now that he is a Christian, and thus ready to be baptized. Jenny and I both faced that gulf and decided we could do nothing in ourselves to build a bridge from our sinfulness to God's holiness. Instead, we stopped trying and took up Jesus' offer that he is uniquely able to serve as the bridge between us and God . . . and that faith is what makes us Christians.

William, Kia, and their children came in for the dedication, and they did their best to grab some pictures in the (somewhat underlit) sanctuary. It was great to have them with our family for a Sunday. Here we are as Pastor Lutzer got the dedication started.
Here we are being prayed for.
We later picked up the children (such as little Paloma) from nurseries and classrooms . . .
and headed to Boston Market for a full-on Sunday after-church feast. A good time was had by all!

Watermelon

2009-07-09T09:30:00.004-05:00

So, I know that those of you who are friends with Freeman on facebook have already seen these, but they are too funny to keep from the rest of the world!

Sharif came by with a watermelon and he documented the feeding frenzy that ensued.

Yes, I think I like this.

Can't get it into my mouth far enough!

Whew, don't know if I'll be able to finish...

...but I'll persevere.

Oh look, another one!

This is not a staged shot.

And our favorite---what can't be turned into a telephone?

Park Trip wih Oompah, Mariam, and Sharif...in Photos

2009-06-29T08:36:00.005-05:00

"Walking" to the park

Oompah to the rescue

Love the sand

Don't know about this slide

Cheer leading from Mariam

Don't like the slide

Okay, maybe not so bad

So What's Been Going On in June???

2009-06-28T23:30:00.010-05:00

Lots of stuff, that's what!
Hamilton's continued his work with randomly connecting audio cables to places where they do not go.

We took a trip to central Illinois and saw Ryan and Tricia.
And went out on the boat with Uncle John.
And Hamilton tried to give strange gifts to Aunt Tabby's dogs.
And had a much-belated birthday cake with Grammy and Granddad.
And walked around Millennium Park while Mama did a Pilates work out.

And expressed his love of hummus after going out for bike rides.

Last Day in Turvey and Back to Home

2009-06-28T22:54:00.009-05:00

Our final day in Turvey was spent with Veronica and her old friend Sherry in the village of Olney, a few miles away. Veronica was allowed some free time to spend with us, something for which we were very thankful.

We walked around a bit and saw the town.
And visited the church where John Newton served as a curate in the eighteenth century. As any good evangelical knows, Newton was the author of Amazing Grace and really was a slave-trading wretch before he moved from being lost to being found.

Unfortunately, the church turned out to be emblematic of the Christian faith in Europe right now . . . rich in historic curiosities, but strangely empty on a Sunday.

After Olney, we headed back to Turvey for a final night. The next morning saw us Veronica driving us into Bedford to catch a train to Gatwick airport in London. From there, we went to Dublin, then on to Chicago to find Jim and Sharif waiting for us at O'Hare--a very welcome sight indeed.

The Big Day in Turvey

2009-06-28T22:13:00.014-05:00

The several days we spent with Sr. Johanna and the other sisters and guests at Turvey were peaceful and relaxing (especially after the hyperactivity of our time in Ireland and London). We were not quite sure what to expect of our time there, although we were sure that if the community received the Veronica Melnyk seal of approval, that it must be all right. While we did manage to catch up on our rest, the days went by quickly and enjoyably.
Jenny, Brian, and Amie put together party favors for the guests.

Hamilton, of course, chilled out and made sure he looked good while doing it.
Veronica took us on a tour of the grounds.
Saturday was the morning when Veronica took her vow of solemn profession . . . an event we had been told about years ago that marked her full entry into the community. While we did not take any pictures during the ceremony, you can be assured that it was carried out with reverence, solemnity, and great depth of feeling. Freeman was privileged to be asked to help out by reading Genesis 32:22-31, the story of Jacob wrestling God and receiving the name of Israel. A highlight of the occasion was the bestowing of a ring and garment upon Veronica.

A reception followed the ceremony . . . .
And a lunch followed the reception . . .
And a visit into town to the pub followed the lunch . . .
We did some final catching up with old DePaul friends, knowing that some people would depart the next morning.

Turvey Abbey: Arrival

2009-06-24T20:31:00.005-05:00

Freeman has known Veronica (aka Sr. Johanna Marie) since his freshman year in college. In fact, they were in the same group for their first college project. So several years ago, after Veronica decided to pursue her vocational calling to monastic life at Turvey Abbey, she asked us to be at her Final Profession. We are so excited that we were able to join her for the event, and visit with her for a few days.

(So, the original purpose of this trip was to visit Turvey Abbey for Veronica's ceremony. How we ended up biking across Ireland--who knows!?)

We arrived at the Abbey on Thursday afternoon and after settling in, joined some fellow Blue Demons for dinner.

Hamilton and Jenny called it a night pretty early...but Freeman wanted to check out the town before turning in. He discovered that Turvey is a very pretty town that looks like this...

At the edge of town, there was a field of cows who were very interested in Freeman. As he went to take pictures of the sunset (at 9:30 pm), they got closer...

...and closer......and closer.

London Sightseeing: Days Two and Three

2009-06-24T11:16:00.006-05:00

On Day 2 in London, we aimed for three of the biggies: British Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London. What we learned is that we could have been in London for a week and still not seen all three of them thoroughly. (p.s. I am not posting all of the great photos Freeman took of the cool artifacts, etc. but you can trust that he saw some pretty cool stuff).

Hamilton enjoying a ride after the British Museum.

Hamilton getting his "nappy" changed on the lawn of St. Paul's Cathedral.
Tour Guide at the London Tower.

Hamilton napped while Freeman toured the London Tower, but woke up just in time for a photo op before heading back to the Lams.

For Day Three, we opted to stay in the Lams' neighborhood, since we were heading up to Turvey that afternoon (more on that soon). We took a little walk through Hampstead Heath and ended up at a cafe for lunch with Janice.

We got off of the bus at Kenwood House, which is a beautiful old stately home built in the early 17th century. We arrived too early to take a look inside, but really enjoyed the grounds.

We continued walking through the Heath (asking for directions several times, since we kept getting turned around).
It was all very picturesque.

By the time we got to Golder's Green Park Cafe, Hamilton was ready for a snooze. We enjoyed a nice lunch and then...

...we were off. Here we are on our way to Turvey on the First Capital Connect line.

London Sightseeing: Day One

2009-06-24T09:51:00.006-05:00

We spent 2 1/2 days sightseeing in London. We really enjoyed the city and all felt a little more "at home" with getting around by public transportation and walking. It was very nice, after full days of sightseeing, to have time to catch up with the Lams (thanks, you guys, for everything)!

Heading to the Golders Green Tube Station from the Lams' for the first day of sightseeing.

First stop: National Gallery. Perfect timing, too, since it was beginning to rain.

All of the excitement put little dude to sleep. We were then able to catch lunch at the Lams' recommendation, Pret a Manger. We enjoyed it so much that we had lunch there the next day (and in the airport on the way back).

Then we did a bit of walking...down by Parliament and Big Ben...

...across the river to check out the Eye...
...then we looped back over the Golden Jubilee bridge and back towards Westminster Abbey (if you are familiar with London, yes, we did pretty much do a double loop).

After Westminster Abbey, we headed to St. James Park where we did some grass therapy. I am happy to report that Hamilton doesn't seem nearly as scared of grass anymore!

Family photo op at St. James Park.

We went to the front gate of Buckingham Palace...
...where Hamilton tried to find his way in.

We pried him away and took a stroll through Green Park and ended at Piccadilly Circus.

All in all, a very enjoyable day.

Day Nine: Wrapping Up Ireland and on to England

2009-06-11T23:32:00.006-05:00

Day nine was our last morning in Ireland . . . we flew out of Cork to London that morning. Jenny and Hamilton took a taxi over to the airport, but Freeman completed the airport-to-airport challenge by riding up to the terminal at the Cork airport. As you might guess, it was at the top of a hill. A mile and half long hill that we had been warned about since at least Cashel. Thanks for the goodbye kiss, Ireland!

The final miles tally for the trip was 236.49 and our top speed was 31 miles per hour.
We then got the bikes prepared for the flight, checked in, and took off for London. We arrived in London and Jenny set about figuring how to use London's numerous systems of buses and trains to get into the city and where our friends Phil and Janice Lam live. After several transfers, we finally arrived in Cricklewood and found the Lam's house. It was good to catch up with Phil and Janice along with their two boys, Christian and Sebastian. Unfortunately, we forgot to take any pictures, so you'll have to use your imagination for this day!

Day Eight: Onward to Cork

2009-06-11T21:53:00.012-05:00

Day eight saw us heading south out of Mitchelstown to Fermoy and then on to Cork City, around 30 miles. We had noticed that the mornings had less rain than later in the day, so we hit the road earlier than usual hoping to make it into Cork without too much trouble. As was the theme, we were warned about one particularly nasty climb right outside of Mitchelstown, but our determination to get on with it helped us blow right through over the ridge.
As usual, Hamilton was very excited about the whole enterprise.
We made our way to Fermoy and crossed a long bridge over the River Blackwater.
We were now in County Cork (where Jenny's Murphy family traces its Irish roots from) and some names started to look very familiar.
Ireland was coming up on elections for something or another, and we kept seeing signs for this guy. He easily had the best haircut of any Irish politician.
The weather ended up getting pretty bad between Fermoy and Cork . . . lots of rain. Thankfully, there are plenty of trees in Ireland, so we took shelter a few times and did our best to wait for a break in the weather. We eventually made our way into Cork.
Yes, there are palm trees in Ireland.
We made our way through the city and on to the hotel, the nicest of the whole trip. We brought our swimming suits and headed to the pool . . . something Hamilton enjoyed.

Day Seven: Dark Times in Mitchelstown

2009-06-11T21:30:00.002-05:00

Day seven of our Irish odyssey was the roughest day we had. We did not start the day planning to finish it only twenty miles from where we started. As it was, an unexpected cold snap, rain that was starting to get slick on the road, and a very miserable Team Whitney ended up seeking shelter for the night in Mitchelstown at 2:30 in the afternoon.

The day started with the prospect of going up and over the other side of the Glen of Aherlow--that is to say, a long climb.

It ended up being not as bad as we expected, although still a nice climb for a team of midwesterners. As was the norm, we also came across a picturesque and long-abandoned abbey (apparently no one in Ireland believes in demolishing stuff they don't use anymore). This was is called Moor Abbey just outside of Galbally.
We made it up and over the pass and descended on a sweet downhill into Mitchelstown, where stopped for lunch. As we ate, we discussed heading onward to Fermoy (our intended destination) and decided to stop for the night and see if the morning would hold better weather. We found a hotel, found some dude who worked there who tracked down some pizza for us, and watched several hours of the Eurovision song contest on TV while Hamilton slept. The winning country for 2009 was Norway, and the song is catchy.

Day Six: Happy Birthday to Hamilton!

2009-06-11T20:32:00.014-05:00

Day six of the trip coincided with Hamilton's first birthday! We started the day in Cashel by touring two historic sites within walking distance of our room. The first site was Hore Abbey, dating back from at least the thirteenth century.From there, we walked over to the Rock of Cashel, which is, appropriately enough, a large rock that stands alone. Here's what it looked like from inside Hore Abbey.

The Rock of Cashel was the fortress home of old Irish kings of Munster and was later visited by St. Patrick before becoming the site of a cathedral. Like many things we saw in Ireland, it really went downhill after English troops in the seventeenth century showed up with torches and swords. Needless to say, getting to the good stuff involved a climb.

From Cashel, we hopped back on the bikes and headed southwest on the road to Tipperary, turning off of at Golden on our way to the Glen of Aherlow.

The Glen lies between two ridges of mountains (or hills as the Irish prefer to say) and was very pretty--the pictures don't really capture it. Plus, it was raining and uphill, so photography was not the first thing on our minds!

We arrived at our bed and breakfast and decided we would have dinner at the restaurant housed there. We were eight miles outside a tiny town by this point, so trekking around for dinner did not make much sense to us. As it was, we had a lovely time and they prepared a special birthday treat for Hamilton.

Happy birthday to our precious boy!!!!

Day Five: Sightseeing and Biking in the Rain

2009-06-02T19:56:00.003-05:00

We started off Thursday with a little sightseeing. First we walked up to Kilkenny Castle and did a self-guided tour.

Then, we grabbed our bikes from the hostel and headed over to St. Canice's Cathedral, which was built in the 13th century. It's a very pretty medieval style church that's still in use with a 9th century tower on its grounds. Unfortunately, because Hamilton was too young, we weren't able to climb the 110 steps to the top for the panoramic view of Kilkenny. Two notes about that:

Yes, we would have climbed it just before a 35-40 mile bike ride in the rain that day...we're just that crazy.
Anyone who has seen Hamilton climb stairs knows he would have made it to the top with no problem!

There aren't a whole lot of pictures from the ride today because it really was pouring for a good bit of the time that we rode. In fact, here's the only one, from a water break as we entered Tipperary County (yes, Hamilton's asleep).

We arrived in Cashel and completely shocked the owner of the lodge where we were staying. We must have been quite a sight--covered in grime from the road with a sleeping baby on the bike! Fortunately, he allowed us to hose off our outerwear and gear in the shed and moved them to the boiler room to be dry by morning. He also drove Jenny into town to grab food for dinner in breakfast (not far, but who wants to walk in the rain). In fact, he was so kind, he completely assembled a crib for Hamilton to sleep in that night before it was time for bed!

We slept so well.

Day Four: The Scenic Route to Kilkenny

2009-06-02T11:54:00.010-05:00

Wednesday's route, from Carlow to Kilkenny, was about 25-30 miles on relatively flat land. So, we anticipated an easier day. In fact, Freeman found a river path called the Barrow Way advertised in a pamphlet in Carlow that would take us most of the way there. So, we agreed, let's avoid the big roads and take the scenic route.

Let's Go! It was time for a ride on Jenny's bike.

The path was very scenic. (Notice the decidedly grayer hugh to the sky--that will come into play later.)

What we discovered, though, was that the path went from this...

...to this...

...to this...

... at which point our plans for a leisurely ride turned into a bit of a hike. (But, as with other points on the trip where it didn't go quite as planned, we did notice that is was quite beautiful!)

Anyhow, by the time we hit the next road, we decided to take it, which led us to...

...this cool old church where (if I remember correctly) the date for Easter was reportedly set.

It was at this point in the journey that Freeman and I had to pull out our rain gear.

We also decided it was time to stop for lunch and at the advice of several locals, we ended up at a nearby hotel, where we were definitely lost in translation. Every question we asked was answered by the phrase, "No, it's carvery." Although I am still not positive, I believe carvery is cafeteria-style. Anyhow, regardless, Freeman and Hamilton shared some yummy chicken and I enjoyed some brown bread and soup.

After lunch, we decided just to take the largest, straightest, quickest road for the rest of the trip and were quite happy to arrive in Kilkenny. You can catch the full effect of our rain gear in our arrival picture.

Even with the delay, we arrived at our hostel early enough to clean up and walk the streets of the town centre.

And get some Indian/Nepalese food for dinner--yum!

Day Three: The Long Road to Carlow

2009-05-28T21:47:00.014-05:00

Day three was the longest ride of the whole trip--60 miles from Annamoe to Carlow. The original plan was to go only 40 miles, but to do so by climbing over high point of the Wicklow mountains, a pass tough enough to have been included as part of the Tour de France in 1998. Instead, and upon the advice of a local, we went around the high point, but took on some more miles by doing so. We started the day off by riding from Annamoe into Glendalough to see the ruins of a monastery founded in the 6th by St. Kevin.
After our time at Glendalough, we got back onto the bikes and hit the road south to Rathdrum and then towards the west and Aughrim, where we stopped for lunch and Hamilton actually had a chance to play for awhile (the restaurant had a play section).
We headed further west on to Tinahely.

And then on to Clonmore, where we came across this ruined 12th century castle.
With the shadows around us getting longer and longer, we picked up the pace and finally got into Carlow just after 6:00.

The ride was a long one, but the weather was fantastic and the scenery was amazing. We ended up having Indian food for dinner that night and then off to bed.

Day Two: The High Road to Annamoe

2009-05-26T22:24:00.015-05:00

May 11 saw us heading south out of Dublin into County Wicklow to the town of Annamoe, a ride of 25-30 miles.
We knew before we started the day that it would involve a lot of uphill climbing as we were headed into the Wicklow Mountains, but this view from the south end of Dublin helped us get a better understanding of what was in store.
Despite the long climb ahead, Hamilton and Freeman were resolved to look cool and in control.

We got to the town of Enniskerry in time for lunch.The area was really pretty.And steep enough to make us walk the bikes up some of the hills--whew!We were glad to get the views from being up above the valley . . .

but could have done without an old-timer standing by the road pointing out the road down below us that we could have taken instead.

Eventually, we arrived at the town of Roundwood to be greeted by this sign:
Yep, we had climbed a lot!!! We stopped in Roundwood for a snack . . .
Before descending towards a river and Annamoe.

A long day of riding for sure, but a very good day!