Greetings from Chicago....uh, Kalamazoo...I mean Detroit

Greetings from Detroit!

The airline flight into Chicago was fairly uneventful despite the fact that we had to PAY FOR OUR FOOD. What's up with that, United?! Absurd, I tell ya. And after the sleep pattern annihilation due to the daylight savings time change last Saturday, we were a bit SCREWY with the added Illinois time change, and now the added Michigan time change. Sleep is SO GOLDEN to us, and these constant changes has left us in a bit of a time warp.

Before I bore you to tears with the minutae of our trip, here are some of the highlights:

• We met up with several Chicago friends, including GIAO (more on this below).

• We were SUCKED into the EMPIRE that is AMERICAN GIRL PLACE. Just imagine a three-story building filled to the brim with DOLLS, doll accessories (every accessory imaginable...brushes, shoes, glasses, hair curlers etc...you can even take your doll to the salon and pay an arm and a leg to get it "styled" by one of the beauticians). After our hour long tour of the place, we left with a $90 doll for Alison. *Gulp*

• We gorged on Comfort Cake, a company owned by a family friend. Yum.

• The gorge fest continued as we feasted on Chicago Style Pizza at Giordano's. Oh lawd was that good. *Burp.*

• We explored the backyard pond and lake of Hank's aunt and uncle, and saw creatures big and small. Here see the beauty for yerself:

• The kids raced through the premises of AIR ZOO (Hank's uncle is a retired volunteer there who gave us the behind the scenes tour). So much fun.

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Now back to Giao. Despite their hectic packing up and moving out chores, Giao and hubby David, met us at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Now the Chicago weather had been rather kind to us wussy SoCal wimps so far, but on our meeting day, the wind decided to pick up and the temps decided to drop. So! We spent the first 5 minutes of our meet-up piling on the clothes before we delivered a proper greeting to the cute pair.

The first stop of our tour was to the café to warm up on hot cocoa, and shortly thereafter we strolled the various gardens (the grounds were amazing and so beautiful....). It was fun hanging out with Giao and David, and there were moments when I was astounded at the idea of an on-line friendship turned real-life friendship. I've been reading Giao's blog for about a year now, and it was so WILD that we were able to reference past posts and comments as part of our casual conversation. Our friendship had so much background knowledge that when we finally met in person, it was as if we just continued along with the conversation so to speak.

In person Giao is as cute as a button, and she and David compliment each other quite well. Alison and Henry were quite the active duo (I hope they didn't scare you off, Giao!) running and frolicking through the gardens (even in the cordoned off, "do not enter" areas of the garden.......geez). After lunch in the café and continued conversation, we headed towards our cars to bid adieu. Despite a short, but so worthwhile meet-up, we enjoyed the company of two new friends! This makes me eager to meet more online pals....who's next? Kathleen? or justJENN?

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Before I head off for more exploration, I'll leave you with this 28.5 week belly photo:
You can see the belly progression over at my album too.

As you can see, I'm still wearing that belt (oh how I love my belt!) -- but, er, there's only an inch or two left before my girth dominates, making the belt unwearable (for now!). My sweater, as you can see, is getting a tad short in the belly. And my jeans are getting snugger by the minute. I've had to add a few maternity pieces to my wardrobe (why are maternity clothes so....so....so.....YUCK?), and I'm grateful that Old Navy and the Gap are now offering more stylish options for this phase in life.

Well, I'm off for now, folks. Will update at a later time. Hope you all have a grand weekend!

Comments

[ani]

Hi Leslie. Glad your vacation is going well! NYC also has an American Girl place. Always packed too. Hmm did I see a feature on Comfort Cake on the Food Network?

[ani]

Hi Leslie. Glad your vacation is going well! NYC also has an American Girl place. Always packed too. Hmm did I see a feature on Comfort Cake on the Food Network?

[ani]

Hi Leslie. Glad your vacation is going well! NYC also has an American Girl place. Always packed too. Hmm did I see a feature on Comfort Cake on the Food Network?

[ani]

Hi Leslie. Glad your vacation is going well! NYC also has an American Girl place. Always packed too. Hmm did I see a feature on Comfort Cake on the Food Network?

[ani]

Sorry computer went a bit nutty.

[Kathleen]

It's so fun that you have internet access when you're traveling!
You're finally showing, look how cute the little bun looks in stripes. :)

I'm so happy you were able to meet up with Giao and David while you were in Chicago, how crazy to have to re-adjust to all of those weather and time changes.
Can't wait to meet up sometime soon with you too, if Just Jenn doesn't steal you for a Tito's taco meet-up first, that is! ;)

[hannah]

wow you are super mom! vacation with two kids!! glad you had fun. lucky you meeting cutie giao! i have always day dreamed about having a bloggy ladies weekend somewhere, how fun! and cute, cute bun! but you are right, maternity clothes STINK! hope you warm up soon in soCal!

[Amanda]

You look so cute! Glad your vacation is going great with the kiddos!

[jes]

What a blast! LUV the belly shot!

[Yvonne]

Maybe we should design some funky maternity clothes ;o) We have a Swedish department store over here and their maternity clothes are fabulous. But why should you care ha ha ha ha. I think the stripy sweater and the cute bun are looking gorgeous!

I'd so love to meet all you girls and can't wait to the day we'll meet :o) And the doll place doesn't sound like a store but like heaven.

[justJENN]

My, my.
Brave is the woman who wears horizontal stripes, who's not that big, and therefore could possibly be mistaken for a FAT woman, rather than being pregnant.
*wink*

[violetismycolor]

It sounds like you are having a great time...and how fun to meet the fabulous Giao. You have been so busy. Thanks for all the great links, too...

[Cassi]

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your vacation - it's fun to read your notes from the road :) I think it's so cool you got to meet Giao, the internet is just the best!

[hope]

ooooh, I am so jealous you met Giao! Sounds like you are having fun!! And look at the belly! How exciting!!

[myra]

We ate at Giordano's when were in Chicago too. My husband (the pizza freak) loved it. Thanks for posting the link, gotta look into if they mail order to Hawaii.

Glad to hear your vacation is going well. Enjoy!

[Valerie]

Your belly is so cute!

[Marie]

It's great that you got to meet up with Giao. She seems like she would make a great offline friend. And American Girl! I'm glad my li'l girl is not into it yet even though my sister gave her a Bitty Baby last year.

Maternity wear is getting better. Have you checked the Liz Lange Maternity line at Target? I haven't but they should be comparable to her high end stuff.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

[Linda]

Hey! Glad your vacation is going well :) Very cute belly pic by the way!

[jenn]

you are still so small! for all my kids I looked like someone was hiding a vw bus in my belly from the 8th week on! it felt that way anyway! you are so lucky...

[Giao]

Aww, it was such a treat to meet you and Hank and Alison and Henry (they are such joyful little people! I hope when we have little monkey-gnomes they are as vivacious and fun and well-behaved!)!! I'm sorry it's been so long before I could visit your blog (all our pc's are packed up and in some warehouse in west-suburban Chicagoland....I am sneaking in some time on Monkey's work laptop!), but it was such a treat to meet you and can't wait to catch up again. Hope you're enjoying your time in MI!! I hope the weather's been better than that visit to the Botanic Garden brought you... =) Take good care!!

[alexis]

Ooooh... sounds like you are having fun. I think it's awesome that you and Giao got to meet. Did you two take any pics?

By the way, with all the trips to your favorite taco shack, how is that you and Jenn have never met? LOL

[sweet pea]

Ok Ok... I couldn't even finish reading...YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR FOOD ON FLIGHTS NOW? crazy. ok, back to fin reading.

[Lark]

Hey, just visited your blog for the first time in such a long time. It was so nice to catch up w/ you and hear that I'm not the only one who has had major brain damage due to pregnancy, child birth, mothering, etc. When you guys get back from your trip we have to get together. Also, you mentioned something that about names and I remember discussing a girl name years ago that we both liked. I'll e-mail it to you privately so Hank doesn't freak out about a possible leak. Anyway, I was kinda counting on calling your new little one by this name, so I hope it is still in the running! Have a great time on the rest of your trip and call us when you get home.

[Lark]

I just went into my not-up-to-date address book and realized I have your old address in there. Due to severe brain damage I can not remember your latest one. Darn! When you get a chance, can you e-mail it to me? I really want to e-mail your future daughter's name and I'm worried I might forget it by the time you get back to me. Hurry!@#%#@^$%&%&^

[kathreen]

your site is too cute. love your illustrations and belly pics and all the craft stuff too

[Island Girl]

awwwww cute belly!! I bet you are adorable!

[yvett]

Hmm, I didn't post a comment last time I visited. I'm glad your vacation is going well. I'm shocked you had to pay for your own food!!!! As if the flight ticket doesn't cost enough.
Your picture is really cute!