Barkapalooza 2011

Most posts are about our kids, Mikey and Katie, however we do consider ourselves to have a 3rd child, Bailey (our dog).  She will be 5 this December and if it wasn't for her constant shedding, she'd be the perfect dog.  Each year we do something specific just for Bailey.  We took her to Barkapalooza 2010 (only a few months after we moved to Chicago) and vowed to take her to Barkapalooza 2011.  She had so much fun walking/running/pulling with all the other dogs and Mikey was talking up a storm.  He especially enjoyed the puppies.  We took him out of the stroller so he could get a closer look at the puppies and he wouldn't get back in the stroller, so he ended up walking the ENTIRE way around Lisle Community Park.  Impressive.

Here he is checking out the pups up close.

Cute pups!

During the walk.

He did great walking with Daddy and the Dog.

Lake Geneva

The last weekend that Daddy had off before going back to work, we decided to take a day trip to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.  It's a scenic 90 minute drive from where we live.  It was a picture perfect day to let the little munchkin run around.

Mikey with Lake Geneva behind him.

The boys enjoyed looking at the boats.

Katie slept the entire time.

Quick pic with our little guy.

Taking a rest from running around.

It's Potty Time!

We just recently purchased a potty.  Not just ANY potty but an Elmo Potty.  We want the potty to be as enticing as possible for our Mikey, who is almost 2 by the way.

We have begun potty training.  Most days he sits on the potty three times a day.  After nap time, while we get his bath ready and after he gets out of the bath.  (We decided to throw him on the potty after his bath, after watching him pee on himself within 2 minutes after getting out of the tub.)

He does a pretty good job and the potty speaks too.  He hits Elmo's hand and it will say "Way to Go", "You're growing up like Elmo", "Great Job!".

Mikey is ready to start potty training.

Pushing Elmo's hand.

First time on the potty.  "Humph, it's not so bad."