Week 21 (take 2) - Her Father's Nanner

True to form, this Father's Day Nanner post is a week late.  It was probably standing by the door either telling a story or watching a tv commercial instead of putting its shoes on and getting ready to go.

But our intentions were good.  Last week, for my first Father's Day, Aimee and the Nanner and I went to Wishbone for breakfast - a place that we have avoided for the last couple of years because it is large and loud with lots of kids around.  Perfect (now) for family brunch.  Anna was very good, but even when she started squawking towards the end of my crunchy french toast, her squeals just blended in and faded away with the ambient roar of every other table.  It was nice.  

The rest of the day was a lot of relaxing around the house.  I cooked ribs in the oven all day and threw them on the grill right before dinner to give them a nice crust and add the bbq sauce.  Audrey came over for carrot cake dessert and ended up going with me to Cubs/RedSox at Wrigley that night.  One of Aimee's friends offered us two tickets to bring Anna to the night game - her first baseball game.  But Aimee pointed out that the 7pm start was Anna's "witching hour" and suggested I take Audrey instead.  Very sweet of Aimee - and I know Audrey had a great time.  And (I think) more fittingly, Anna's first game will be at Camden Yards next month when the Orioles take on Aimee's Tigers.  Nanner is a Chicago girl, but she's daddy's girl first and daddy is an Orioles fan.

Before the Cubs game, Nanner had a photoshoot.  The history behind the shoot goes back 31 years when I was 5 months old.  Consequently my mom says it was on Father's Day that she took the iconic shot of my as a baby.  Belly down on my blanket, I had my stuffed giraffe (see week 7: http://nanneroftheweek.blogspot.com/2012/03/week-7-field-trip.html ) in front of me and only a diaper cover on that hot June day.  My mom caught a low-angle picture of me staring back at the camera.  So I decided to reenact that shot with Anna - with her very own giraffe (Baby G) that her Great Grandma Barker made for her.  There were soooo many cute shots, it was tough to pick only one.

It was a memorable first father's day, I am very proud to be Anna's dad and so lucky to have a loving wife that made my day special.

When I can dig up that photo of me, I'll update this post to include it too.

(July 23rd)

Here it is...!

Week 20 - Weekend Tourist

Aunt Audrey showed up this afternoon and met Anna for the first time, but too late to make the blog this week.  Sorry Audrey.  

at least her hair is starting to stay down

This weekend Anna rubbed elbows with the weekend festival crowd - we took the train downtown to Marshall Fields so Aimee and Mom could go dress shopping for N&K's upcoming wedding.  It was her first trip on the train.  Brown Line Nanner for life!

This weekend was Blues Fest, Old Town Art, Wells Street Art, Midsummer, and Rib Fest.  We, of course, took Anna to Rib Fest.  I felt her squirm with excitement every time my saucy hands moved past her little nose.  BBQ sauce is of course, the first food her lips ever tasted.  

Week 19 - Nannerniece

Uncle Nate and Aunt Kate came to visit this weekend.  We went for lots of walks for icecream.  Aimee brought Anna out to the suburbs (I mean, waaaaay out to the suburbs) on Saturday but made sure to dress the Nanner in her 'Chicago Girl' outfit.  

By the end of the day, she was soooo distressed by the cul de sacs, soccer fields, and new urbanist town centers, that she could not contain herself any longer and cried and cried for mama to bring her back to the city.  

On the way home Aimee realized that Anna was actually crying because she had forgotten her beloved Baby G (aka mr giraffe) and had to turn back and get him**.

**baby g was found on the floor of the suburban playroom and was rescued before his fur was contaminated by runny noses and cheetos.

She was all smiles though when she made it back to the 2112.