Visit to Chicago (2)

We embarked on our second plane trip to Chicago, this time it was Mommy and Dana only.  Gigi Hilda (Mommy's Grandma) asked my mom a few months ago when Ellen and Dana were coming.  When your 97 year old Grandma asks to see you, you find a way. Thanks to a free ticket on Southwest, we made it happen.

Dana and I left on an early Saturday morning Southwest flight. She was great from Dallas to Kansas City.  The plane was completely empty and Dana would have slept the whole time except the for the boy in the row behind us started crying.  We did find a new favorite toy for Dana, plastic airline cups! She did okay on the Kansas City to Chicago flight.  We had an empty seat next to us, so it made it a little easier.

Once we arrived in Chicago, we were greeted by Auntie Bethie and Baubie.  Yeah for a girls weekend. Once we collected our luggage (which we had a ton of) we headed to Portillo's.  As delicious as always. Then it was off to the hotel to let Dana take her afternoon nap.

For dinner that night we went to Auntie Jeri and Uncle Joel's house. Dana was excited to spend dinner with her cousins and aunts and uncles, and most of all Gigi.  Cousin Michael really took to Dana.  Maybe it was the glasses or his quiet nature.  Who would have thought he would do so good with her :)  We enjoyed Lou Malnati's and visiting with everyone.  Gigi enjoyed playing and singing with Dana.  Dana even tried to get up on all fours for everyone.  No crawling, but hopefully soon.

While having a fun breakfast with Baubie and Auntie Bethie, Dana flirted with everyone at the hotel. After her morning nap, we headed to Liberman Center to visit Elta Baubie. Dana enjoyed looking at Elta Baubie and playing with her velcro shoes.  We sang some songs and helped get Elta Baubie ready for lunch.  We then headed to the Bagel for our required deli meal with Auntie Laurie.

While at the Bagel, we noticed that Dana was staring at all the men there.  She watched one of the bus boys for a good 15 minutes as he worked around the room following him wherever he went. Was she missing her Daddy?  We'll never know what she was thinking.

Sunday afternoon Dana (and Mommy, Baubie, and Auntie Bethie) got to meet our new friend Harry Hirsch.  Harry was born on 08/09/10.  How cool is that!  Harry was all excited for the Bears game and even let us watch part of it with his family.

Monday morning, Dana and Mommy stayed at the hotel while Baubie and Aunite Bethie went to visit Elta Baubie.  Mommy had to get everything packed up, which was quite a chore.  Once she was packed up, we headed out to the airport.  The girls spent their last few hours together enjoying lunch and taking pictures of Dana.  It was a wonderful weekend visiting with everyone.