Sonoma & the City!

For those of you who remember my post, "Sonoma and the City," from last year, this post will make you realize how much Sonoma has changed in a year! Although we try to go into the city as often as possible, every once in a while we get a hotel and spend an entire weekend downtown.  I packed up our little family on Friday morning and once we finally got into the city later that day, we immediately started enjoying the  beautiful weather! We really lucked out with the weather - it wasn't too hot or humid, and it wasn't cold or rainy.  The sun was shining all three days and we couldn't have asked for a better time together.

 Sonoma loved our window seat that looked out onto Wacker Drive

"Hello Chicago!"

Can you tell this little toddler is happy? =)

 We took Dixie to the Lake Shore East dog park so she could get some play time in before she would be stuck in the hotel all night.

On our way to dinner!

 Marcus taught Sonoma how to color!  

 She loved it!

Maybe she will be an artist like her Da Da!

We were pretty nervous about how sleeping in the hotel would go.  Unfortunately there were not any suites available, so the four of us were all forced to sleep in the same room.  It took Sonoma quite a while to fall asleep in the hotel crib, but once she did, she did alright....until around 4:30 am she heard Dixie rustle around in our bed (even though her collar was off) and all of a sudden Sonoma popped up in her crib and started SCREAMING "Di + EE!" "Di +EE!"  Marcus and I couldn't help but crack up because it was the cutest thing ever. She did manage to fall asleep but every time Dixie moved around she would wake Sonoma up.  

 The next morning we went for a long walk around the lake shore and then had breakfast outside.  Sonoma loved taking in the buildings, the birds and of course, all of the busy people in the city.

 Early in the morning is definitely the best time to go to " the bean," aka Cloud Gate ( Marcus hates when I refer to it as the bean! )

 Sonoma looks so grown up here just walking around by herself.

We cleaned up after our workout and headed to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  I was so excited to finally take Sonoma to the zoo now that she recognizes and loves so many different animals.

 Tigers!  It's so funny to hear Sonoma growl like a tiger.

We LOVED the monkeys.

 We both agree that this view above is probably the best view of the city.  So pretty.

 Zebras!

 Of course we had to look at the ducks for a while

We kept thinking Sonoma would nap in her stroller, but that definitely was not going to happen.  She was having way too much fun.

 We bought her a little monkey that she could wrap around herself.  She carried it everywhere.

 Sonoma is NOT shy.  She went right up to a little boy playing ball and joined in on the fun.

Sonoma kept wanting to go smell the flowers in the garden.

Sonoma finally took her nap back in the hotel and woke up just in time for our dinner reservation at The Rainforest Cafe.  I knew Sonoma would love all of the animals and noises at the Rainforest Cafe and it was definitely a good idea to take her there.  It took her quite a while to calm down though.  She kept wanting to go look at all of the animals and the fish tanks and was more interested in what was going on around her than what was happening at our dinner table.

The snake was the one animal that completely freaked her out!  Me too!

After dinner we took a long walk back to Millenium Park and then grabbed Dixie and took her out to play for a while.

 I love my little family!

 Sonoma loved Da Da's Harvard hat.

Heading home!  Yes, all of this luggage for one weekend away.  What a GREAT weekend downtown with beautiful weather!