The Mall...or are we bad parents?

We needed to get a new tire for my car and had a gift card from sears (from the whole furnace fire debacle), so we headed to the mall, and had a few hours to kill. 

hanging out with Daddy 

playing with the toys in Sears

 Then, we saw this thing where the kids jump UP and down on a trampoline, aided by bungee cords...we watched how it worked long enough that Josh really wanted to do it.

waiting his turn

climbing up

getting strapped in

ready to go

up...

up...

up...

up...

up!

He was high enough to talk to the people on the second floor of the mall.

In case, you can't see his smile, I cropped the picture.  He loved the experience.  Both our parents were surprised we let him do this...that they would never have let us do it.  I guess we figured he would be fine.

Josh the photographer

Josh grabbed our camera again and started shooting...his favorite subject seems to be his sister.

 eating breakfast

 Hanging out with Jared

 Playing with Mommy on the couch

Aquarium!

Jared took a day off from work and we went downtown (on an actually slow day) to visit the Shedd Aquarium.

waiting to get in

Divers cleaning the tanks

they have a cool glass floor, below which sting rays swim around. Caitlyn wasn't really aware that anything was below her!

I know this is hard to see, but this was a dolphin; they named the new baby that morning!

Caitlyn and Josh loved watching the dolphins

One of the few interactive exhibits was the penguins...Josh could put on a costume...

and waddle around like a penguin.

Caitlyn enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror!

Of course the interactive submarine was the most favorite part.  

It was a bit windier than last time, but still a lovely day!

Caitlyn 9 month Stats

• Height: 26 3/4 inches tall, 25%.  Grew 1.75 inches, Yeah I can see that...she grew out of her 6 month clothes, especially footed PJs early.
• Weight: 18lb, 9 oz, 50%.  Put on 3 pounds 7 oz.  Yeah, because she wants to eat EVERYTHING!
• Head circumference: 17 inches, 25%  1/2 inch bigger

Uncle Carl's Wedding

My brother Carl got hitched!

Brett and Josh at the Rehearsal Brunch

Mimi, Caitlyn, Papa Ben with their bloody Mary's and mimosas!

 playing back at the house later

Belly!

Trying to take care of two kids, one who was the ring bearer and Jared was an usher, we didn't have a chance to take many pictures ourselves.  But luckily Natassha's mom was able to capture a few, before the official pictures from the photographer come in.

playing during the pictures

Caitlyn and Josh eating string cheese and chatting with Natassha during the pictures 

Swings

Caitlyn really likes the swings a lot more than Josh did

Happy Fall!

The leaves were just at the right point of changing...lots of color and not too much had fallen yet, so we quickly stopped at the forest preserve to try to catch some pictures of the kids in the afternoon light.  

This is what happens when Josh stops looking at Caitlyn, but doesn't want her to fall off the bench. 

Josh photo

cozy coupe and scooter later

She loves riding in this and I love to put her in it because she can play outside and I don't have to hold her squirming body!