Welcome Angelica

Our friends Julie and Dennis welcomed their first Child, Angelica, into the world last Friday December 18th. Congrats guys she is beautiful.

A visit to Daddy's Office

Here are a few shots of Gretchen and I at the Kindlemart in Chicago before heading to dinner at the Italian Village.

Here is Gretchen at Nathan's office. He had fun showing her off at the office. She really enjoyed the low placed light switches and turning everyones lights off.

Pig tails

Letters without help

Here is Gretchen saying all her letters by herself. Nathan even mixes them up at the end and she gets them.

Weekend fun and new hair do's

Here we are with Gretchen's Bonus Grandparent's Jim and Sandy. We went to the zoo for the festival of lights.

Gretchen would not sit on Santa's lap but she would blow him a kiss.

Her first ponytail.

My first attempt at putting her hair up.

Business casual

Cuddles with Daddy

Getting ready for Christmas

I think this picture is cute but also a little creepy. Her head is tilted just a little too far.

Learning about Santa!

Decorating our tree

The mantel

Here we are at our towns tree lighting.

Thanksgiving

Gretchen loved playing with her cousins. It had been a while since she saw them but she remembered them.

Gretchen showing Grandpa her books.

cousin love!

Does that bird look good or what?

I can not believe how tall Michael is.

Well I got all four to sit for a picture, we will try for smiles another day.

Lovies and another Zoo Trip

Gretchen says "Oh No" and grabs her cheeks when she drops something. I was lucky to catch her in action.

Gretchen does not like to sit and cuddle, but she is really good about giving hugs and kisses.

I realized we go to the zoo a lot. I guess that is what happens when you live 40mins away and you bought a season pass. It has been a wise investment for us.

The face of intensity as she watches the sea lions.

She got a kick out of getting so close to the "kitty cat." She was mad at the bears for sleeping and she kept yelling "wake up bear!" I wished we had got that on tape, it was to cute.

Julie's Baby Shower

Here are a few shots of the places after we decorated.

Here is a shot of the shower organizers.

Mommy and Daddy

Opening presents

Julie and I

Happy Halloween

We took Gretchen trick or treating the weekend before Halloween in downtown Downers Grove. The weather was perfect and she loved being able to put things into her bucket. She had her first piece of candy, a dum dum. She loved it to say the least.

Here are a few shots from our housewarming/Halloween party. I actually forgot to bust out the camera for the majority of the evening. I know crazy Jen forgetting to take pictures.

The Great Pumpkin!