xoco

One of the last things I desperately wanted to cross off on my Chicago bucket list before moving was to have churros y chocolate at Rick Bayless's xoco . . . and woodland mushroom tortas . . . and pork carnitas . . . oh, and why not . . . a shot of their classic hot chocolate, too! [Lips smacking here] So, I asked The Fella to bring Max and meet me downtown after an appointment, and that's how we spent our last Wednesday afternoon in beautiful Chicago before the movers came. We managed to snag a table in 15 minutes during the height of xoco lunch time, and waited only 10 minutes for our food. It's like it was meant to be. Although, as you can see here, in Baby time, 10 minutes is basically eternity.

A white tablecloth restaurant

This boy is fancy! Here we are having lunch a couple weeks ago at the cafe at ikram, a designer boutique in Chicago affectionately known as "The Red Box" for its shiny, sleek red square structure easily spotted from a mile away! It kinda reminds me of a glossy fashion mag.

Farewell, Chicago!

As we prepare for The Big Move (this is really happening tomorrow!), I've been thinking about all the things I will and will not miss about Chi-town.

 

Spotted: Black & white

I might have a minor obsession with polka dots. That's one reason I love this wool A/X jacket (old). Its black and white graphic print is timeless, but the cut and style with leather trimming, modern. 

Fall pumpkin carving party

It consisted of roasted fava beans, a mushroom medley and my aunt's famous Hot Asian Wings. Our neighbors downstairs brought up stencils along with their best pumpkin-carving game faces. The day was blustery, turning stormy. We even got a tornado warning text alert from the city, adding an appropriate touch of spookiness. Max and I wore themed outfits––his is from Aunt Jessi, mine an old maternity dress. The last time I wore it at 8 months pregnant, The Fella said I looked like a cute, little pumpkin––this was meant to be a compliment, but hmmm... And finally, no fall carving party would be complete without steaming mugs of mulled apple cider!

Birthday doughnuts!

Baby Max's first birthday was super! And super busy, too, as the movers invaded our home for Day 2 of The Big Move. Momma and Max went out for a Doughnut Vault birthday run, snagged the very last copy of today's Trib (something I wish I had thought to do the day he was born, so this one will have to suffice!), then looped back for Max's 12 month wellness check. Happy birthday, baby boy, you get to get shots!

He now weighs 19.2lbs (5-10%) and measures 29.5in (25-50%). This is a far cry from the tiny 6.7lbs of baby that I held in my arms at birth a year ago! Apparently, these are the big headlines in Chicago for October 19, 2012.

Happy first birthday, my sweet Maxwell!

Tonight I put Max to bed a baby; tomorrow morning when he wakes he will be a toddler. And that terrifies me to pieces. So I'm sitting here alone in the dark, our home in upheaval what with the impending move, and reflecting over this past year with Baby Max as if it was yesterday. My stomach now even hurts a little as I think about the day I went into labor, but unlike last time when it was because of those darned contractions, this time it's because I drank far too much sparkling Pellegrino since the movers packed away our Brita.

An Up-inspired 1st birthday! (not Max's)

Boy, Baby Max has so many pals here in Chicago! I'm starting to think he has a bigger social calendar me. After just attending another first birthday not too long ago, Max's other friend, Little G, also turned one. His momma, a client of mine, thew an Up-inspired birthday bash last weekend where Max had photo opps in a whimsical hot air balloon backdrop and with quirky 'staches and specs. The birthday cake was actually designed to be the house in the Pixar movie! Truly, it was an over-the-top first birthday event!

Pumpkins, take two!

When Baby Max was born almost a year ago today, my girlfriend came over to do a newborn shoot for our family. She came bearing her Nikon and props, including a pumpkin, which we were planning to use for all those sleepy, curly newborn poses. But Baby Max had other plans for us––he wasn't into sleeping or being curly during the entire shoot––so instead, we scrapped the pumpkin idea and ended up with lots of cute screaming shots :) 

So, we're making up for lost time. Max loved playing in the pumpkin patch at the farmers market that last time that we had to do it again! Take two . . .

Heirloom tomato, fresh fig, and goat cheese salad

Nothing says summer as loud and clear (and deliciously!) as heirloom tomatoes and fresh figs. I handpicked a variety of tomatoes at the farmers market to go with the plump purple figs I already had from Stanleys, and plated a rather lovely, simple summer salad, if I do say so myself.

Trenchermen

I've been dying salivating to eat at Trenchermen in my neighborhood ever since it opened its doors, I think about three months ago. The resto, which resides in an old Turkish bath house from the 1920s, is owned by chef brothers Michael and Patrick Sheerin and has received a lot of local and national buzz in a short amount of time. And that's no easy feat here in the city, where there is a wealth of foodie competition. So, we finally found an excuse to make it over there a couple Sundays ago––brunch with some friends and because Baby Max was just starting to get better––followed by a walk to the farmers market afterwards! Don't Fella and Baby look perfect here in the slightly moody, very masculine Trenchermen, like faces from another time?

Max's BFF turns 1!

There's so much to catch up on when you have a sick kid to take care of. I consider us lucky since Baby Max has only had one other cold––a minor one––at 10.5 months, until now. So I guess I shouldn't complain. Anyhow, Max's first friend in Chicago turned one a couple weeks ago; unfortunately Max couldn't attend the birthday party since he was busy being sick with, not one, but two viruses at the same time! But Momma reported back: it was a fun, intimate shindig in the South Loop, with Jaz's signature colorful touches everywhere! 

Style.ly

I learned about Style.ly when I attended a media breakfast with the company's head of marketing a couple weeks ago. Style.ly is like eBay––for fashion only––offering a more curated selection of new, lightly used, and vintage clothing from individual sellers and boutiques. Style.ly operates on the unique platform that it is integrated directly into Facebook, so you are conveniently tapped into Style.ly whenever you are logged into your social account. Which is always, right? 

Fall fun: pumpkins & farmers markets { + video } !

The Fella dressed Max in his best fall-forward outfit last weekend––a little plaid-on-plaid flannel action topped off with a Baby Patagonia vest––and off we went to the Wicker Park farmers market. It's not anywhere near as big as Green City market in Lincoln Park, but it's got everything you really need or want. And it's just down the street from my house, so easy-peasy! Max was probably just on the cusp of getting sick with his cold, in hindsight. But, at the time, he seemed to enjoy the brisk fall day that it was, first eating fancy tacos here, then playing in the pumpkin "patch" before hitting the swings. Clearly, judging from all these pics of the boys having fun together, Baby thinks Dadda is the bees knees!

Antique tacos

Antique Taco in Wicker Park, a branding genius and wayyyy tastier than Big Star just up the street. Mmmmmm. That's all.

Several weekends ago, succinctly

Before Max got sick with a really bad case of the cold and confirmed roseola on top of it!), we did many things around town. Like hang out with my lil sis who surprised us with an impromptu visit to Chicago, just in time for Max's "Almost 1!" birthday. In my opinion, the best kind of stay-cation is discovering the city's neighborhoods with low-maintenance guests. True to form, we mostly lazed around the house and played with the baby, sipped early morning tea and window shopped in Lincoln Park, and explored Wicker Park. We even cooked a meal or two. She may have little idea how to hold a baby, but she's one cool aunt! Reference this cute pumpkin outfit gift!

Max and The Bean { + video }

An old friend of mine offered to babysit Max one morning while I attended a media breakfast for work. I wasn't too worried about Max now that he's over his stranger anxiety, and I trusted her baby-entertaining skills implicitly. Sure enough, she texted real-time iPhone photos of Max being busy with his blocks, totally not noticing I was gone, and FurFur laying down next to them, bored. Leaving the dog alone with a stranger and the baby was my biggest concern, but luckily it was no sweat for Melissa. We went out afterwards to lunch at my favorite gourmet Mexican place in the neighborhood. Max ate whole black beans for the first time, all the while doing his signature "Is it good? Is it good?" head bobble thing. Sure, it's adorable now, but what about when he's older? I'm starting to think I should never have taught it to him! See the video below, or this one here. 

"Almost 1!" Birthday: At the circus, part 3 { the woopie pie smash + video }

There may or may not have been a Woopie Pie. A Woopie Pie birthday cake smash. Something Baby Max is very good at doing. In fact, when we're not joking about how he's going to join the circus, we're thinking he might become a demolition man. Remember his first taste of sweets here? Yea, he still likes it. Happy Almost 1, my birthday baby!

"Almost 1!" Birthday: At the circus, part 2 { the show + video }

The Midnight Circus is more of a performing arts troupe than your typical circus with clowns and elephants, and in my opinion, wayyyy cooler! Think aerialists, beatboxers, and even a live DJ working pop tunes like "Call Me Maybe" into the performances. It was all very high-energy and Baby Max has never been more joyous, or in awe, in his entire "Almost 1" year of life! He couldn't stop doing that little head bobble thing he does when he's really into something. It was here at the circus where Max took his first unassisted steps! As in, he tried to walk on stage! We're more convinced now than ever that our boy is going to run off and join the circus when he's older.

"Almost 1!" Birthday: At the circus, part 1 { the details }

Max's "Almost 1!" birthday bash was two weekends ago––though he may have officially been 11 months and 3 days, and unofficially one, he will always be my baby! At last minute our original plans to co-host a joint party with a good friend and her son of the same age fell through. Boo. But luckily for us, Chicago is never lacking in options. Yea! 

After entertaining various ideas like hosting at a playroom or bake shop, and even our cramped condo, or setting up a picnic at the park across the street, I stumbled upon an awesome birthday alternative . . . the big top!