Chicago, Chicago

We did it! We had a big, grown-up weekend away! Ryan and I headed to Chicago Thursday afternoon and ate our way through to today, when we returned home to our precious nugget! Before I even get into the details of our fabulous adult weekend, I have to say I can't say thank you enough to my parents for watching Adelaide. Though I know they completely enjoy the opportunity to play doting grandparents for days, Ryan and I are so appreciative that they are willing to spend their days off and time and money traveling down here to spoil little Miss A.

So, Thursday when we got into Chicago, we were starving and near giddy with the thought that we had days ahead of us on no one's schedule but our own. We checked into the awesome, art deco Palmer House, and then headed straight out for some Chicago deep dish stuffed pizza at Giardano's. Afterwards, we walked off the lard by doing some shopping on Magnificent Mile. (Including a stop in American Girl Place, which both scarred me and excited me for a future trip with Adelaide.) We had a rest in the hotel, and then went to a late dinner at Indian House, which has won best Indian food by Zagat's and others for the past 5 or so years. Indeed, it was. Ryan went out and met his friends, and I went back to the hotel.

Friday Ryan and I walked over to Intelligentsia for coffee, and I was SO excited. We had some yummy coffee, and went back the next morning as well for cappuccino. We walked the whole way to the Navy Pier, and walked around there for a while. Then we hopped a cab over to Wrigley and scalped some cheap Cubs-Phillies tickets. We had a beer at Gooseneck, a local brewery, and then went into the stadium for an Italian Beef sandwich. Oh heavenly glory. After the game, we walked to a cupcake bakery that had been featured on both Food Network and Ellen called (what else?) Cupcakes. Ryan had a Chocolate Merlot, and I had a Raspberry Custard. Lovely. After a long rest back at the hotel, I had a drink in the lobby bar, Potter's, waiting for Ryan to get ready, and then we headed to Morton's for an 8:30pm reservation. We ate surf and turf, and had the full, famous Morton's experience, including the disgustingly large tab. After that we enjoyed a comedy show at Second City called "No Country for Old White Men," and it was a riot. I wish I had followed my calling into Improv. ;-) The most amazing part of the day is that we didn't get in until 1:30am!!!

Saturday we went to the swankiest part of the city and browsed Gucci and L.V. before inhaling the yummiest brunch ever at LuxBar. Ryan had the famous Bloody Mary, while I opted for the mimosa. After a bit more shopping, we got ready for the wedding. We attended the ceremony and then the reception at the Union Club, some members-only digs. It was a great wedding catching up with all of Ryan's friends. I did miss Adelaide terribly when I saw that most of his friends had brought their babies. In fact, I even cried a little in the church! Ryan enjoyed himself, more than he should have perhaps, after the reception, and I took a cab back to the hotel.

This morning we very gladly caught our plane home and could NOT wait to see our crib midget! Even though Ryan and I were both exhausted from going nonstop in Chicago, we had a blast playing with our baby the rest of the day today.

Again, thanks Mom, Dad, and Jenna for allowing us to have such a wonderful weekend away. We LOVE Chicago!