Holidays Galore

This years holiday season was even more fun than last year becuase Anna "sort of" knew what was going on and could sense the excitement in the air.

We spent Thanksgiving with the Dorn's, had numerous holiday dinners with friends, attended the Whelan Family Christmas and spent Christmas Day back with G. G. Dorn before we left for Marco Island.

Once again, Anna was showered with gifts from all of our friends and family...and I can't thank any of them enough for their love and generosity. She (and our family) is so blessed to have all of these wonderful people surrounding her and loving her so unconditionally. It's very humbling to see it all as a parent.

Enjoy various pictures from the holiday festivities as well as a video of the "highlight" of Christmas for Anna...Katie and Steve's doggie bed for the beagles. That definitely was her favorite toy. I'm considering picking one up for her.

One and FABULOUS!

Please enjoy some of Anna's One-year-old Photos. Thank you Maureen...We love you and your camera!

A little time for US!

Well, Billy and I did it...we left Anna for a full week to officialy celebrate our five-year anniversary on a cruise!

We left early on a Saturday morning (Aunt Mags and Uncle AJ watched Anna for the weekend and then handed off to Grandma and Grandpa) and headed to San Juan, where we stayed one night. On Sunday, we boarded the ship and off we sailed to the British Virgin Islands and the West Indies (St. Thomas, St. John's, Tortolla, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados).

We had the time of our lives...soaking up the sun, eating, drinking, doing excursions, sailing, snorkeling, etc. We really enjoyed the "alone time" and just having fun with each other. I'm not saying we didn't miss Anna everyday, but it's so nice to know that Billy and I haven't changed much when it comes to "us." We have fun, laugh, love and truly enjoy eachother's company...Anna is just an added bonus!

In addition to befriending a fabulous German couple (and partying very hard with them), Billy and I experienced so much on this trip, including hiking a 17 century sugar plantation in St. Lucia, swimming and climbing through the amazing baths at Virgin Gorda, jet-skiing off the shores of Barbados and drinking a lot of Carib and Rum! :)

My Spooky Little Skeleton...

Well...It's the MOST wonderful time of the year (for the Whelan family)! Yes, to a Whelan, Halloween is ranked right up there and may even surpass the tradition and excitement of Christmas. I fit right in...I love Halloween and I love Fall in Chicago!

Although this past month was the 9th rainiest October of all time for Chicago, it didn't slow us down from enjoying every minute. We prepared for Halloween with thrill just like any other year, except finally this year Bill retired his Dee Snider costume (I'll post some pictures of that as well).

Last Halloween Anna was only three weeks old and we weren't able to fully observe the holiday because it was my sister's wedding. This year was great because I was finally able to dress Anna up in a fabulous costume and enjoy the Whelan family Halloween party. My Bear was a little pink skeleton...she was SO cute. The best part? The costume was glow-in-the-dark!

In addition, the three of us headed up to Lake Geneva the weekend before Halloween to take part in all the great fall festivities. We went to the Elkhorn Apple Farm and picked out pumpkins, apples, wine and more.

I've posted some pictures for all to enjoy!

Happy 5-Year Anniversary, Billy!

I'm posting this blog a little late due to "technical problems," but I just had to have a post dedicated to my husband and Anna's Dad, Billy Whelan.

Ten years ago (just about exact), Billy and I officially met at a bar (Flanagan's) at UD. Our mutual friend, Liz Haas introduced us and as far as I can remember (we both were a few drinks deep) we both knew this was different. We clicked. We got eachother. Right away we made eachother laugh like no one else we'd met. I'll never forget that night or the weekend or the many weeks, months and years we spent building this incredible love for eachother.

Five years ago, Billy and I sealed the deal and got married. We made our love, best-friendship and complete respect and adoration official. It was a spectacular weekend and night. There is no other time in your life when everyone you care about in your entire life comes together from around the country to celebrate you. It was magical and I'll never forget it.

Billy and I have been through quite a lot in our 10 years of knowing and loving eachother. Two-years living apart, births, deaths, cancer, travels, pregnancy, a recession and so much more. However, we've never waivered, never doubted and always loved. We are best friends. We're our biggest fans and even bigger competitors. We're eachother's support system and we call eachother home. And still to this day, no one (and I truly mean no one) makes me laugh like Bill Whelan.

I love you so much, Billy. I always knew you were special and I always knew that you would turn into the man you are today...an incredibe husband and father. With all the surprises life can throw your way, I know that what we've built together is unbreakable. I'm truly excited to discover what the next five, ten years will bring. Whatever it is, we'll thrive and our love will grow.

Happy 1st Birthday Anna!

Yes, it finally arrived. Anna's 1st birthday and her HUGE party on Saturday, Sept. 26. It was incredible...so much fun. All of our closest friends and family celebrated this enormous milestone with us and I wouldn't have done it any other way. In total, we had about 65 people attend the party, including the Whelan's, Dorn's, Dayton and high school friends and lots of kids and babies!

Anna was definitely the bell of the ball. I typically don't like very "girly" clothes for Anna. In fact, I sometimes like anything that's not pink just a little bit better. However, for her birthday I went as outrageous and "girly" as you possibly can. Anna wore a fabulous tutu!

One ofthe many highlights (for me) was watching the video we made of the many pictures we've taken the last year. It just reminded me of the unbelievable transformation Anna has made in just one short year. When you see a video like that, it just reiterates how precious these first years really are and how (as a mother) you have to appreciate every second.

Thank you so much to all of our friends and family that came to the party, brought gifts and continue to support, especially this year. We are certainly better for all of your love.

I've posted some pictures and a video of the big day.

A Letter to My Daughter

Hi baby girl -

I just put you down for your (very predictible) morning nap and felt the need to write you a note. We're quickly approaching the end of the summer (your first summer), the beginning of your second fall and your 1st birthday. Even though the thought of you being one already is making me sad (because I love you so much), I wanted to let you know how happy you've made me this year.

Anna, I've had the best year of my entire life. You've brought nothing but happiness and joy into our lives each and every day. I've never loved mornings so much. Your Dad and I sometimes fight over who gets to go into your bedroom and get you from your crib. Everytime we sneak into your room, you look at us with the biggest smile. It's like you're the most excited you've ever been to see us...every morning! I love that you love me (us) so much. It's a magical feeling.

I've loved our mornings playing and our breakfasts together. I've loved our runs in the stroller and walks in the neigborhood. I've loved our picnic lunches at the park and playdates with friends. I've loved our discoveries (grass, flowers, ducks, water fountains) and our quiet times and cuddle sessions. I've loved our trips to the Lake and swims in the pool. You've made each little moment special when I wouldn't have thought twice about it. This has been the best summer because of you. You've made it possible to slow down, take it all in, enjoy little things and moments and get excited about everything again. You're soaking everything in, and in the process, have made me soak it all in, again. I feel refreshed, rejuvinated and, in a way, reborn

I look at pictures and I can't believe how much you've grown. It seems like your face changes every day. You now have a dimple on your right cheak, five beautiful teeth, I slight ridge in your chin, wonderfully crazy blonde hair and the cutest, fatest legs on earth.

Just this past week you started to pull yourself up on all our furniture and "cruise" around our room. It was the glimpse into your life as a walker. With that, I saw you for the first time as a little girl and not just a baby. It was wonderful and I'm so thankful I've been here to see all of it.

I love you so much, my Anna Bear, my Missy May, my Woman, my Anna Sophia. You're the light of my life and the most fun I've ever had. I'll never, ever forget the amazing summer of 2009, when my baby girl became a beautiful person right before my eyes. I love you and I look forward to a hundred more summers with you.

Just in case I should ever forget, I'm jotting down the song I've sung to you everyday since the day you were born:

Anna Sophia, I love you
Anna Sophia, yes I do
Anna Sophia, I love you
Oh yes, Oh yes, yes I do
I love you so very much
Oh yes, Oh yes I do
Anna Sophia, I love you
Oh yes, Oh yes I do