Wagner Farm

On the way back from the doctor this morning, I drove by Wagner Farm in Glenview, which I had learned about from our realtor during one of our many outings over the past year. I decided to stop, since Ben had been a real trouper over the weekend (trip to Wisconsin) and this morning what with having to get in and out of the carseat, which he hates. He LOVED it. We spent an hour and a half and he was totally interested and immersed the entire time. We got to see animals, climb on farm equipment, ring a dinner bell (very exciting if you are one -- even though I did the ringing), tour a 1920's farm house -- the tour guide was totally cool with Ben lunging onto the hand-made quilt on one of the beds to try to pull off the flowers -- and visit the indoor museum that featured such amazing things as a life-sized horse-drawn produce cart that you can climb on, a 1930's store and an old-fashioned type writer. You can touch just about everything. Ben did a lot of typing. ,

Ben's favorite part of the whole experience?  The chicken coop wire. He was really interested in the fencing around the vegetable garden, too.

Ben, I had such a lovely morning with you out on the farm.  I can't wait to go back again.

Love,
Mama

The Bromance Continues

2 months

1 year

Father's Day!

Today was Ben's second Father's Day. Continuing our (now) annual tradition, we started the day at a breakfast place of Dad's choosing. Last year was Over Easy in Ravenswood; this year, in keeping with our northern migration, we visited Walker Brothers' Pancake House in Wilmette. While Mom and Dad ate sugary treats, Ben got busy with some grapes and string cheese. As a treat, he even got a little jelly toast, joining yogurt and oatmeal in his arsenal of sticky things with which to paint himself and his surroundings.

Pancakes were followed by a walk around the soon-to-be new neighborhood and a stop at Egleston Park. Lots of smiles, especially when we got to try the very exciting new slide.

In good Midwestern fashion we finished the day back at home with brats boiled in beer. Ben took the opportunity to show off a new trick -- toasting. Note: Although the sharp-eyed viewer may (correctly) see that Ben is toasting with a shot glass, it was used for milk only -- the rule in this house is no booze until you're 3, and we're sticking to it!

We call the picture above "Bread head."

Happy Father's Day everybody!

Much love,
Noah

First Birthday

Happy Birthday, my beautiful, darling baby boy. I love you more than you could possibly know. You delight and tickle my sensibilities. I think you are so clever, so smart, so funny, so kind, so generous, so loaded with personality and endless potential. I enjoy every day with you (even the very challenging ones). How lucky I am to have such a loving, hilarious, life-changing, precious little you.

All my love,
Mama

Here are a few shots from your Hebrew Baby Naming and First Birthday party.