August 30th - Weeks 20 & 21 - Bears game, first flight, Jenna

Mom has quickly realized that it isn't as easy to find time to get her updates in on a weekly basis now that she is back at work so we're going to include 2 weeks with this update. I continue to become more in turn with my surroundings and my sensations and have even become ticklish. When mom and dad tickle my stomach or wash I around my neck, I break into laughter.

On Thursday, I experienced 2 new 'firsts' - mom and dad took me on my first ride on the El on the way to my very first Bears game. It was a pre-season game and the starters only played for a short time but it was still a good time. I sported the new Bears hat mom had bought for me and helped entertain everyone in the seats around me when the game got a little slow. I was so cute, I even had the 40 year old men that were sitting behind us talking like cookie monster to get me to smile and laugh.

On Friday, it was finally time for our long awaited trip to Memphis to meet my cousin Jenna. Mom was a little nervous about taking me on my first plan ride but I did pretty well. Dr. Norwood had said to make sure I was eating during take-off and landing to keep my ears from hurting. There were a few minutes on the way up and coming back down where I was fussy but otherwise I just rode on mom and dad's lap. I even got a compliment from the people sitting around us about how good of a baby I was.
I had so much fun at my cousin Jenna's house. She let me use her toys and even sleep in her crib. I looked like I belonged in her room as my pajamas and swaddle blanket matched her bedding perfectly. Grandma and Grandpa took such good care of us while we were there and I was able to see Jenna experience her very first bath and see uncle Chad feed Jenna her very first bottle. Everyone tried taking pictures of the two of us but we never seemed to be looking in the same direction. Since we were in Memphis, I also got to go visit my great aunt Jane, uncle Tom and second cousin Becky.

It was nice for mom and dad to have a short work week after labor day but Monica said our schedules were pretty off after the long weekend. Luckily the weather was really nice this week and we got to go on a lot of walks during the day. Talia's mom is able to work from home so she was able to catch a few before and after shots of us in our stroller with Monica. Over the weekend, Grandpa Etcheson, Kathy and Uncle Matt came up to the city. They brought me my very first Halloween bib. Mom went with them to the BMW Championship golf tournament on Saturday and I went with dad and some of his friends to the Cubs game. On Sunday, mom and dad had tickets to the U2 concert so I had a babysitter for the second time. I was pretty fussy during the day and mom was worried about leaving me with a new sitter but after my 3 hour late afternoon nap, I was back to my normal, well behaved self. My babysitter, Lacy, said I was just perfect for her and only cried a few minutes when she first put me to bed. Mom and dad got to see a great show and it was so nice that they finally got a little time to go out with just themselves (even though they did miss me while they were gone)