Baby Cael

Finally, I've found a few minutes to post about our family's new addition--Baby Cael. He's a sweetheart and just about the cutest little baby I've ever seen (but then again, I might be a little biased)! Cael was born on November 6, 2008 at 5:10 a.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs. 9.5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He's been a very hungry kid from the very first moment and I think he'd eat 24/7 if I could accommodate him. :0) We're working on figuring out the difference between day and night, but we still love him even when he's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3:30 a.m.

Here are some pictures for those of you who have been asking for them.

Three Weeks in the Windy City

So, I've finally returned from a long three weeks in the Windy City. I did come home one weekend and Shaun was able to join me for another weekend in Chicago, but it felt like I'd been gone for forever. It's funny the things you start to miss about home--my pillow, eating a snack before bedtime, chocolate milk. You expect to miss some things, but others sort of take you by surprise. Anyway, it's good to be home.

Shaun and I had a great time when he came out to visit. He had to keep himself entertained for the first day and a half that he was there because work was a little hectic, but I think he survived. His first night in Chicago found him at the ESPN Zone, sitting in a recliner in front of a huge wall of televisions, alternating between watching the Olympics, the Cubs game and some sort of a slam dunk competition. The next day Shaun visited the "Space Museum," as he calls it (otherwise known as the Adler Planetarium). That evening we enjoyed some delicious Indian food and on Saturday we took in the Chicago Air and Water Show and the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was completely crazy in Chicago that weekend--who knew the Air and Water Show is so popular? On Sunday we visited the Art Institute and just wandered down Michigan Avenue a bit before enjoying a yummy steak dinner and some particularly incredible white chocolate raspberry gelato at Harry Caray's. It was a great (although short) trip!

Shaun in Lincoln Park

Shaun and I taking a picture of our reflection in Cloud Gate (otherwise known as "the Bean")

Wishing I Were an Interior Decorator . . .

So I'm getting ready to decorate my nursery and am trying to decide what bedding to choose. Just ask my cute sister-in-law and she'll tell you that I have a difficult time making any sort of a decorating decision without help. So tonight I'm hoping all of you with an opinion will chime in and let me know what you think of these options. Ironically enough, one has circles and the other has squares. Thanks all for your help!

It's a . . . .

BOY! We're so excited. I had an ultrasound on Thursday morning and, after a lecture from the ultrasound technician about the fact that ultrasounds are not performed to determine the gender of the baby but to determine the baby's health, we found out that we will be having a bouncing, baby boy joining our family in November. Everything looked good in the ultrasound--he is quite the active little guy. It's fun to start feeling him move around. Last week Shaun even felt a kick or a punch! We'll keep you posted with any new developments.

My BELLY

I finally broke down and told everyone at work that I'm pregnant a few weeks ago. I had been putting it off because I felt a little awkward about it and I didn't want to make a bid deal about it, but when I was having a hard time fitting into my work clothes I decided I'd better do it sooner rather than later. I ordered a cake with some cute baby blocks on top and had the bakery include the following message: "Announcing . . . Baby Squires Coming November 2008." (Thanks, Chelsea, for the cute cake idea!) It was quite the hit and a lot of fun to listen to people's reactions as they saw the cake. I didn't get much work done that morning because I had a pretty consistent stream of well-wishers coming in to congratulate me and ask me how I was feeling. :) It was lots of fun.
So back to my belly . . . . I was having quite the dilemma getting dressed for work every morning. I'd try on half of my closet before finding something that fit without pulling in uncomfortable spots, so last weekend I did something about it. I went shopping, of course! I found a bunch of cute dresses at Motherhood Maternity and stocked up. I am so excited. Now I don't mind my belly bump nearly as much because I don't look like I've just gotten fat. I'm finally starting to look like I might be pregnant.
And in commemoration of that thought, I took a picture yesterday. I realized that I haven't documented anything in my pregnancy yet, so I though a belly shot was well over due.

Moving Day

OK, I'm back. At least for today. Things have been a little hectic this last month. We finally moved into our new house (pictures to come later) on May 3rd. It was a VERY long day! I think that we may just stay here until we die because I don't know if I can handle the moving process again. I really can't imagine how much more awful it must be to move a family/house full of stuff than it was to move from our one-bedroom apartment. Although, I must say that it is amazing how much stuff Shaun and I had crammed into that little apartment. When we had everything boxed up and ready to move, it filled almost the entire front living room.

I meant to take pictures to memorialize our big move into our first house, but that plan went out the window within the first hour or so that day. Too much to do! So let me just say a big "Thank You" to those dearly beloved family members who helped us move. THANK YOU!!!

Flying Solo in San Francisco

So, it's official. I really dislike traveling by myself. I dislike sitting alone in a crowded restaurant where everyone is sitting and talking with friends or family and having such a good time. And it's just not as fun to do stuff solo. There's no one to talk to or laugh at something funny with. After awhile I just start to feel lonely.
I'm in San Francisco for a few days this week for an Environmental Law Conference (a very BORING Environmental Law Conference, might I add). The first two nights I was here I stayed in my room and ordered room service because I didn't want to go to a restaurant by myself. Also, in my own defense, it was cold and rainy outside. Well today I figured out how to get to Union Square (thanks to a very nice guy I've been sitting next to at my conference), so I decided to take a trip down the VERY big hill to get some lunch. It was great to get outside again and do something other than sit in my hotel room. The walk back up the hill was also a great workout. And based on how completely out-of-breath I was by the time I reached the top, I realized just how badly out-of-shape I am. Later, one of our classes was cancelled and I ventured back down the hill to visit a maternity store we don't have at home (yes, my clothes are already starting to get uncomfortably snug). After a fruitless shopping trip (why do they have to make maternity clothes so unattractive and so expensive?), I hiked back up to the top of the hill. The good news--it wasn't nearly as difficult the second time. Then tonight our classes ended a little late, and I almost wimped out and ordered room service for the third night in a row . . . BUT, I decided to be tough and head back out on my own. I ended up having a delicious dinner at a yummy Vietnamese restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed my cable car ride back up the hill. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though I'd rather not travel alone, I'm glad I got out and did something that was outside of my comfort zone. Hopefully, I won't have to do it again for awhile. :0)