Christmas in Chicago days 1 & 2

So we FINALLY got to spend Christmas in Chicago after I think 5 years.  Being a Nurse rocks but having to work Holidays STINKS !!! So we packed up the two cars, Dad, Tim and Lanier in one and Mom, me and Marrin in the other and headed north.  The 9 hours in the car are probably the most boring 9 hours of any car ride.  I did manage to make it look kind of interesting by snapping a couple cool shots. 

 So maternity leave got us to the Windy City this year to spend some much needed time with my family.  And now that Jon and Ash are up there we actually got to say in the City as opposed to the suburbs.  On our way up Jon told me he was running a 101 fever and had been sick with a stomach bug the night before... we opted for a night in a hotel... Did I say HOTEL... well if we weren't staying with Jon and Ash, I told Tim we were staying where I had always wanted to. Jon had stayed at The Palmer House a couple times and raved about it. I had been to its lobby but never stayed. So The Palmer House we went.  I could have stayed up ALL night taking pics !! We ordered room service and just enjoyed our first night in the City.  Tim LOVED it by the way.  He thought ohh a Hotel.. I said ohh NO this is not just your run of the mill hotel honey.

He had no idea it was built in 1875  and then rebulit in 1923. Its known for its peacock theme as you can see in the doors. BEAUTIFUL !!  The two pictures on the right we not the same picture, I added these two and it just so happened to place them on top of each other and it looks AWESOME !! almost lined up perfect !



 look at these two waiting on our floor for the elevator. Or was it that Tim was waiting on ME to get the kids up from a photo opt to catch the elevator... We ate breakfast and headed over to Jon and Ashes

To the Shedd Aquarium we walked.  It was about a 6 min walk from Jon and Ashes place and although in looks freezing outside, I thin kit was only in the 30's.  It was BEAUTIFUL and the lake looked awesome all frozen. The picture on the top left is of my Uncles building, which sits on Lake Shore Drive and is the Huge Tall building that can be seen behind Solider Field when the Bears games play.  He is on the 62nd floor. The TOP FLOOR with the most stunning views of Chicago you will ever see !!! 



You might have just though POSTCARD... well .. I might could just sell it for one !!! I am pretty happy with this shot I captured.

Ok so into the aquarium we went.  It was seriously the coolest thing ever.  Tim and I were in awe ! Here are some of the fishes and or mammals we saw.

 Beluga Whales.  Jon and Ashe actually swam with these cute little guys a while back, this one came over and wanted me to get a good pic :)

AND... one of my favorites :)  Just shot this in time and captured my little 21 month old doing what I love best...Taking it ALL in

hopefully I'll get days 2 & 3 up tomorrow.  Hey I only took 1000 pics over 8 days... not bad

a little early Christmas

Yesterday we went to Germantown and have lunch with Santa and our cousins too. We got a family pic...seeing as Lanier did not want to sit on his lap... and then since I have a pic of just Lanier with Santa at Enchainted Forest ( will have to scan in at my parents), I made poor Marrin sit with him.

 we decided to go ahead and have Laniers Christmas last night so she could actually play with her gifts before we depart up to Chicago :)

hoppy holidays from Lanier

we thought it cooler to stand on the presents rather than opening them

ohh and about those boots I mentioned last post that were missing. Well, I guess Lanier decided they needed a little wash cause washed they were ( with my "colors" pile). At least I got to them before they hit the dryer

i love my oops shots :)



and we now have a Minnie to keep Mickey company

playing before bedtime

hair... what hair...

today lanier got her "hair done" as opposed to haircut, which may sound to harsh for little ones. I had no idea how this was going to go...seeing as we had just gotten out of gym and nap time was fast approaching.  She did great with my mom holding her, thus allowing me to get some cute shots.  Ohh did I mention, that Oreos played a role in this happy ending too !! I kept going back and forth as to whether or not I REALLY wanted to get this done. Then I kept remembering my friend Courtney, who finally got her little mans hair cut and we all said " WOW... why didn't you do that 3 months ago."  I guess its just that initial... first hair cut dread.  Well my little girl doesn't look so little anymore. She's got a textured bob and looks just as I envisioned she would... ADORABLE !!

 finished project... and a little bath to get those extra little itchy hairs left behind

 busie and her girls, lanier our horder ( and I wonder why I can't find a pair of her shoes)



a little lovin' from daddy goes a long way

happy 2 months to my little Marrin. As you can see... I couldn't pick just one

our little super hero. Lanier loves to walk around with her glasses... that I PROMISE she didn't get out of a happy meal :)

this past weekend we had some friends over for some chilli, well they brough us chilli, and we had them over. We had a great time but I forgot to whip out the camera.  However, lanier loved the leftovers !!

waiting for "busie" (my mom)

if from today...

if from today...

http://threedoodles.blogspot.com/

i will squeeze a little tighter and love a little longer.

 enjoying all the screams and cries that fill my house with a little more patience

please keep the harrisons in your thoughts and prayers

8 week old check up

Marrin Elizabeth
8 weeks old
9 lbs 9 oz ( 25th percentile)
22 1/2 inches ( 50th percentile)
14 1/2 head cir. ( 5th percentile)...yes i make small headed babies

notice lanier watching mickey mouse clubhouse on my phone.. she was ready to go. Marrin got her shots and did fine, we are still keeping her on the prevacid and special formula. She is smiling and cooing up a storm :)
As i sit here and type this I am squeezing my little Mer Bear tight and thinking and praying for a sweet family today. My thoughts are with you.

winter is here :)

Hangin' round the house today.  Dressed so sweet. Lanier has about 8 christmas outfits/dresses so i thought we would make use of them... so here the girls are all dressed up today.

here is my attempt to capture a picture of them together.  I had to bribe Lanier with an oreo to just get this.. :)

Bathtime fun

 so the picture of marrin has her wearing one of Laniers diapers.  I was talking to my mom as i was changing her and i went to button her up, i realized, then, that she had the wrong one on ( my brian obviously wasn't working that day)

 Zoo lights with Court, Webb, Carter, Courtney and Lance.  It was chilly but the kids enjoyed it !!

recap of our last 2 months !!! TON OF PICS

So folks... I guess i need to stop wondering why its taking me weeks to upload pictures to an outside source.  These have just been taken in the last two months, not to mention that I had to pick and choose which ones to add. WOW !! so my girlfriend and I are going to hold each other accountable for updating our blogs at least 2 times a week.  Hopefully more !!! So yall help me out too !! So to recap the last 2 months, we have welcomed into our family another Beautiful baby girl. Marrin Elizabeth Treadwell entered the world on October 15th 2010 @ 2:37 pm.  We are overjoyed and she is such a blessing to our family.  I had another super, quick, easy delivery.  However, i had some bleeding and had to get an extra bag of pitocin and a shot of methergine after delivery.  Then 4 weeks after delivery I had to go back in the hospital for a procedure called a d&c due to bleeding.  I had to have the exact same procedure 3 weeks after Laniers delivery.  I won't go into detail but now all is well and the doctor said she has never had anyone have this happen TWICE.  Its is a routine procedure ( outpatient), however you are put under general anethesia...so NO fun and no fun at 10pm @ night either, with a sick husband, new baby and toddler. But I am fine and who can say it isn't all worth it when you look at that face :). My mother-in-law was awesome and came and stayed the night with us. My parents were in florida, last time my hubby was out of town.  Its always something !! Just FYI you can click on the pictures and it makes them bigger and better able to see.

Isn't she a doll !!

Our family e-mailed Christmas card !!  Didn't want to spend my last weeks of maternity leave addressing cards so.. this was the next best thing and it saves trees !!!

She has been a somewhat easy baby...@ 3 weeks I stopped breastfeeding and we put her on the Similac Alimentum formula that we had Lanier on.  She was exhibiting the same colicy signs Lanier did and we weren't about to go through that again so... as much as I hated not breastfeeding anymore, I sacrificed that for the comfort of my child and the sanity of my family.  She has done well, but is now on Prevacid ( as was Lanier). The last couple days she has been projectile vomiting but it has since subsided ( i hope).  She is in 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers and eats every 3 hours during the day, as this is best for reflux babies ( dr Cat says " less more often."  She sleeps for a 6 hour strech at night, thank goodness !!! Big sister Lanier is a big help with the Paci and always is concerned when Marrin cries.  She has yet to hold her and I haven't really pushed that, I fugure in due time.  I hope u enjoy the pictures and I will write soon.. Ohh and i still have more pics to upload from my camera  ha ha I know I am nuts !!