It's Christmas Time, Well It Was...

It's hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  Time just flies the older you get.  

We had an amazing Christmas.  We are very traditional this time of year.  On December 23 we go to my church's Christmas Eve service.  (They have 1 on the 23rd and 3 services on the 24th!)  I love their service, it's full of amazing music and this year they told the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph, which was neat. 

On the 24th we go to my in-laws.  It's just the six of us plus a german shepherd and a cat and it's always very cozy and intimate.  My favourite part is that every year we watch Garfield's Christmas.  It's become a tradition that we can't miss out on! 

Then before we know it, Christmas morning is here!  Ryan and I start off by opening gifts from each other at our house.  

 Since my brother and sister still live at home, we then head down to my parents (who live about 30 seconds away) and continue on there.  It's just like Christmas morning growing up.  Except for it takes longer because we all try to make it last as long as possible.  One present at a time, and then closer we get to being done the slower we go.  We even stopped for breakfast in the middle of it.  

My mom goes a bit nuts at Christmas as you can see.  But we love it, we all love giving, and of course receiving isn't so bad either.  

 Oliver wasn't a fan of Christmas.  He didn't really understand what was going on and didn't want to be in the room for it.  So he took his new toy and hid under the kitchen table for most of the morning.

 This year on Christmas day we then went to my Grandma's on my mom's side for Christmas dinner.  They are what I would call the low key side of the family.  Because on Boxing Day we headed to the cottage for dinner with the gang below.

 There were 30 of us for Christmas dinner.  My grandma kept saying that it was very loud.  She was right.  But we wouldn't want it any other way.  We ate, we played the gift stealing game (I ended up with a Starbucks mug and a $20 Starbucks card!  Guess where mine and the babies first outing will be to!)  

 We stayed up for a few days and continued to eat and play games.  I had my first experience with Cards Against Humanity.  Some people thought you had to be drunk to play, well let me tell you that you don't.  But I was laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.  This is not a game for the easily offended.  Luckily I have an insanely inappropriate family and not much offends us!

So there's my Christmas in a nutshell.  6 days of crazy goodness.  See ya next year Christmas!

Bump Date: 31 Weeks

• Baby is the size of a pineapple!
• I have a midwife appointment on Monday already as we are up to biweekly appointments now
• Labour is freaking me out.  I was doing so well and now it scares me.  Everything is more real these days.
• Ryan and I discussed how we don't actually know how to change a diaper.  I know that we will figure it out, most people do.  I have changed diapers before but I'm actually not sure if I have changed a poopy diaper.
• This week was Christmas!  We had an awesome Christmas full of good times with family.  I noticed how Christmas really revolves around the little people and I'm excited to add to that tiny group next year.
• I'm still feeling so stiff all the time.  Why is that?  Maybe I need to increase my yoga!
• Now that Christmas is over it's time for me to focus on all things baby.  We're hoping to get the shelving up in the nursery this week, I want to finish decorating and start thinking about freezer meals. 

Bump Date: 30 Weeks

30 Weeks.  How did that happen?  Time is going so quickly now and I feel totally unprepared.  Baby has a nursery (that is incomplete) and that's about it.  I'm really hoping that once Christmas is over I have some time to focus on what still needs to be done.  But I doubt it.

• Baby is the size of a cucumber
• Less than 1 pound gained from my last appointment for a total of 18 lbs!  It's a Christmas miracle!  More likely I'm losing muscle.
• Exercise was basically non-existent this week.  I have been so busy with stuff on every night and it just didn't happen.  The next week probably won't have that much either since it's Christmas.  But I have to remember that so many people don't exercise at all during pregnant so I've done pretty well to this point.
• I hadn't realized that I was having Braxton Hicks until the midwife told me I was having one when she went to hear the babies heartbeat.  I don't really feel them so much but I can now tell when I'm having one from how hard my stomach gets.
• I miss not worrying about being stressed.  I've been super stressed at work and I know that it's not good for me or the baby, but that just makes me stress more.  It's a vicious cycle.
• I’m finally admitting that my belly is small.  It was really starting to get to me that everybody said I was so small.  But then this week I looked at other people’s 30 week pictures and they are so much more pregnant than me.  And I mean that in a good way.  But the midwife isn’t concerned and says I’m measuring fine.  
• I have now met both of my midwives.  For going with a midwife I sure have had a lot of different care!  I saw my family doctor until 12 weeks, then I started seeing my midwife who was pregnant til about 22 weeks at which point she went on mat leave.  I have seen each of my other midwives once.  Luckily they are both great and since appointments are becoming more frequent I will hopefully get a lot of face time with each of them.
• It's Christmas this week!  I'm so excited to enjoy our last Christmas of just the two of us and am ready to soak it all in.

Bump Date: 29 Weeks

• Baby is the size of a large butternut squash
• It is around 3 lbs but is within 3 inches of it's final birth length.  Sounds more like a string bean to me!
• Baby is kicking up a storm in there some days.  Other days it seems a bit lazier and I only get light kicks.
• I looked it up to see if there's a point where you should stop exercising in pregnancy, because I'm tired.  That was just wishful thinking though, as long as I'm able I can exercise until delivery.  I'm still physically able to do it, I'm just feeling lazy.
• I took Thursday off to go Christmas shopping in Toronto with my mom.  We drove into a snow storm to do it, but it was worth it.  I finished up my shopping plus got a bunch of stuff for the nursery at Ikea.  It was a very successful trip.  Although not a relaxing day off at all.  I was exhausted at the end of the day and was so sore from all of the walking and standing!
• My belly button is getting a bit flatter but I'm not sure that it will ever pop out.  That's ok with me.
• Feeling more and more anxious about birth and breastfeeding.  Labour just looks bad, I know I can do it, and everyone says it's so worth it and they would do it a hundred more times.  With breastfeeding everyone says it kills, I had to give my baby a bottle, it hurt for 6 weeks straight, yikes!
• We're in the third trimester.  Craziness!
• I miss being able to bend over and having a body that works properly and isn't sore all the time.  I have a massage next week (or this week since I'm a few days behind posting) so maybe that will help.
• It's almost Christmas!  Just a week and a bit left until our last quiet Christmas as a family of 2! 

Ways to Destress....At Christmas....When You're Pregnant

This time of year is amazing, but it can be super stressful as well.  As much fun as all of the parties and events are, it makes life extremely busy.  Add in to that having to shop and get all of the gifts that you need.  It can get stressful and so I personally need some ways to relax.

Number one on my list would be to enjoy a glass of wine when you get home from work.  Of course this is not what I am doing at the moment, but if I could, I would!  There's something about a nice glass of wine after a long day that is so relaxing!

Get a massage.  Ok so I'm super busy and the last thing that I need is to add another appointment to my plate, but yet I have a massage next Wednesday.  But I think that it will be worth it when it's done.  And my body hurts, so I really need it. 

Make time for crap TV.  I love junky TV.  The Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, whatever floats your boat.  They are ridiculous shows, but watching these mindless shows can be very relaxing.  

Be prepared.  If you have a lot of gifts to buy, being organized and prepared is key to being less stressed.  Make a list of who you need to buy for, what you have purchased and what you still need to get.  I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the gift buying until I wrote everything out and realized that I was actually doing pretty well in the gift department.  I only have a few more small things to get, or I generally know what it is that I need to buy people.

For you preggos out there, sit back, relax and feel baby kicks.  Nothing is more calming than feeling that little guy or girl kick you in the stomach, funny enough.  (Except when I was trying to sleep in this morning because I have the day off and the baby decided I should be getting up!)

Don't book yourself too solid.  For me, as an introvert, I need some me time.  So if we have an event on a Saturday night, I don't make an effort to make plans on the Friday because I know it's too much for me.  I would rather sit in on the couch, with a hot chocolate, my husband and a Christmas movie.  
 
Enjoy the season, it only comes once a year!

Bump Date: 28 Weeks

• Baby is the size of a head of lettuce and weighs about 2 1/4 pounds
• This week the babies hair is growing.  But according to my heartburn that started weeks ago I'm pretty sure it's been growing for awhile!
• I miss being able to exercise hard and really push myself.  I feel like I could push myself more, but at the same time I don't want to push to hard.  
• Some of my maternity pants felt tight this week.  I don't like that.
• I was really tired this past week.  Especially last Sunday I could barely function and then got emotional, or hormonal or maybe I was just over tired.  I have no idea!  But I've also felt kind of off all week like I'm fighting off a flu or a cold.  'Tis the season I guess.  
• I thought maybe I had low iron, but since i had blood work last week for my glucose test they tested my hemoglobin as well.  Both tests came back fine!
• Baby kicks so much these days and I'm loving that the kicks are higher up in my belly. 
• This week I have my ultrasound to check whether my cervix is far enough away from the placenta.  At my 20 week ultrasound it was pretty close to where it needs to be so I'm pretty confident that it will be fine.
• This week we were at the bank and asked if we had any dependents.  Ryan said no.  And then said "Well just one in the belly."  I thought it was the funniest way to describe it!
• I watched a birth video this week.... like it showed everything.  I was scarred and I kind of wanted to never have to do that.  But I guess it's too late for that.  I thought the video would prepare me since I feel completely clueless, but now I'm just scared!
• It's crazy to look back at what I looked like at 8 weeks and 18 weeks and how much I've changed.  I look at what I looked like when I first got pregnant and it's hard to believe that my body looked like that.  I'm kind of used to this Buddha belly now.  

December

Three weeks from today is Christmas morning.  Isn't that crazy?  Where has the time gone?  Oh and four weeks from now we are in a whole new year.  

This past weekend we went to our local Santa Clause Parade.  We have a night parade and I absolutely love it.  It's so much fun to see all of the floats lit up with Christmas lights.  We met up with some friends there, who have a 6 year old and a 2 and a half year old.  The younger boy was so excited to see Santa.  He got up on his dad's shoulder and just kept looking for Santa.  Finally he saw him and just started yelling "Santa! Santa!" and waving.  I had forgotten the magic that is Christmas for children.  Kids fully believe that Santa Clause is real and that the one riding on a local float is the real deal!  And the look on his face when he saw Santa reminded me of that. 

For adults the magic is different.  Unfortunately I have come to the realization that there is no Santa Clause. Although some days I try really hard to believe it.  But for us it's the feeling that we get this season.  There's something about it that just makes me happy.  Giving to others, being with friends and family, and just the general joy that seems to be in the air.

The other night as I was driving home from work, it was snowing lightly.  The road was so pretty.  Then I had a baby start kicking me from inside, and I felt truly blessed.  There are so many things that I'm thankful for.  But this year, I'm mostly thankful for what I'm experiencing right now.  There are some days that are harder than others, but a year ago I was questioning whether I would ever get to experience pregnancy.  And I'm truly happy that it's something that happened for me.  What I went through to get to pregnancy is nothing compared to what some people are going through trying to start their family.  And that little kicking 2 pound ball of baby is a daily reminder that I have so much to be thankful for.

Bump Date: 27 Weeks

On Friday, I was 27 weeks and exactly 3 months from my due date.  Craziness!  I'm feeling totally unprepared.  I mean I have all of my nursery furniture, so baby has somewhere to live.  But this actual parenting thing, it's not going to be easy.  But then, is anyone ever really ready?

And this picture is what you get when you have a grumpy, tired, pregnant lady who barely did her hair but luckily put on a presentable outfit to go to church.  I hate it, but what can you do.

• Baby is the size of a rutabaga.  What's a rutabaga?
• Or to make it easier, baby is about 2 lbs.
• People are still saying I'm small.  I think they think they are complimenting me, but I don't really take it that way.  I think honestly that people forget what size they were at certain stages in pregnancy.  I would say I'm on the smaller side, but the midwife isn't concerned and my uterus is measuring pretty much exactly the right size.  
• Bending over is a bit uncomfortable these days.  That's probably not going to get easier any time soon!
• Ryan felt the baby for the second time ever this week, and the first time was weeks ago!  My belly also moved when it happened, which was pretty cool.
• I just lay on the couch with my shirt pulled halfway up waiting for my belly to move.  But it's like the baby knows what I'm doing and refuses to kick as soon as I start looking.
• I had my glucose test for gestational diabetes this week.  The drink wasn't bad, just like flat, warm, orange pop.  And it got the baby moving!  Then I had to sit at the lab for an hour and wait for the blood test, but I just brought my book at it went by pretty quick.  Hopefully I pass because I really don't want to do the two hour test!
• I'm feeling mentally exhausted.  Not sure if that relates to pregnancy.  I think it's a combo of the pregnancy, Christmas and just being generally stressed at work about getting everything done, training a new contract and going into our busy time of year.  I come home at the end of the day and just don't want to think about anything.
• Baby got the hiccups the other night.  It was a really weird feeling and I don't know how to describe it.  Actually it has them again right now.  It's much lighter than kicks, but it's rhythmic and constant for a few minutes, so it's kind of more uncomfortable.
• I hope to make my crib mobile this weekend.  It might be a pinterest fail, we will see.
• I just realized that my date calculator is calculating based on a February 27 due date (which is what my midwife says my due date is, but I'm still going with February 28 because I think I know better).  So really my week changes on Saturdays not Fridays.  Close enough.

Christmas To-Do List

Last Christmas

Christmas is exactly 4 weeks from today.  Less than 4 weeks really because our official Christmas traditions start on December 23.  I feel like I have to much to do and not much time to do it in!  Plus my head has just been so full of baby, work, Christmas and just general life stuff lately that everything is getting kind of jumbled in there.

So I need to make a list so that I can remember what I have to do:

Buy presents.  I have a really good start on my Christmas shopping, but I still have lots to do.  It's amazing how getting married multiples the number of gifts you have to buy by about 100.  (Ok maybe not that many).  I have booked a whole day off work just in hopes of getting my shopping done.

Decorate my house.  This might happen this weekend.  I don't think it's too early anymore, we are in the full swing of Christmas.  The streets have been decorated for weeks, so my house might as well be decorated too.  Since we get a real tree, that will have to wait a bit longer.

Wrap presents.  Buying them is just the first step.  If I was smart I would start wrapping them now....Ya right.  I will frantically try to do it all at once the week before Christmas.

Go to a million Christmas events.  There are Christmas craft sales, Christmas Parties, 2 Santa Clause parades (one is this Saturday!), family Christmas' that takes place before Christmas, work dinners.... It's a busy time!  I'm glad I'm only this busy at Christmas and in the summer because I love it, but it's exhausting.

Watch Christmas movies.  This is a very important part of the season!  I have already watched the Santa Clause 1 and 2, but that doesn't mean I won't watch them again!  Then we have Home Alone and of course The Holiday, and Ryan wants to throw 8 crazy nights in there.  We need a movie schedule I think.

I know I should have more on my list, but my brain is stopping there.  Basically if I remember the presents I should be good, right?

Bump Date: 26 Weeks

• Baby is the size of a head of lettuce and is around 2 lbs
• I have my glucose test for gestational diabetes next week.  Basically I drink a sugary drink and then sit at LifeLabs for an hour until they take my blood.  The test itself doesn't bother me, but sitting there for an hour in the middle of the day might be kind of annoying.
• I had a bit of a freak out when I thought I saw stretch marks earlier this week.  I think I had just scratched my stomach though because I can't find them anymore.... but it started me up with the slathering nasty belly butter on my stomach again
• My midwife confirmed that the tightness is probably round ligament pain
• I'm so happy to be this far along in my pregnancy.  Now that baby is moving around a lot it's so much more comforting.  I don't have to wait for an appointment to hear a heartbeat and make sure that there's still a baby in there!
• We got so much snow this week and the driving was not fun.  I normally don't like driving in it, but can usually push through.  But this year it's slightly more stressful and I'm hoping that the next 3 months aren't like this.
• Only up a couple of pounds at this appointment for a total of around 18 lbs!  That's pretty good considering that the baby has probably grown at least a pound since my last appointment.  Maybe I can stay within the 25-35 lb range after all.
• So much was accomplished this week!  My glider finally came in and we picked it up.  The nursery is definitely cramped, but at least we have all of the furniture.  Now I just need to put stuff on the walls.
• I also bought a boy and girl going home outfit.  Ryan thinks that's ridiculous.  I want at least one cute gender specific outfit to put the baby in.  
• I have bought 15 used cloth diapers and 6 new ones.  I went back and forth about cloth diapering but when I found the used ones for an amazing price I just went for it.  I know a lot of people think I'm crazy for wanting to do this.  Hopefully I will post about my reasoning behind it sometime soon.  I think that poor cloth diapering is very misunderstood!  I haven't invested a ton of money in it so that makes me feel much better about it.  

Bump Date: 25 Weeks

I was a bit behind this week.  We went on a girls shopping trip on Friday and didn't get back until Sunday night.  So the bump picture was really taken at 25 weeks, 3 days.  But now I have people on my case to blog about it so I'd better get it done!

• Baby is the size of cauliflower
• Still feeling stretchy and sore this week, especially if I don't drink enough water
• Acid reflux hasn't been quite as bad, or maybe I'm just getting used to it
• The belly is definitely getting bigger, time for some more maternity shirts!  The non maternity ones are getting  a bit short in front.
• Exercise has definitely slowed down.  I tend to get that stretching feeling more when I'm working out, so on days that I'm feeling it anyways I don't want to work out at all.  I can usually only do 20 minutes on the spin bike or elliptical before it gets too uncomfortable.  
• Baby is still moving lots in there, but just for me.  
• I'm looking forward to the Christmas season!  We have something on every weekend from now until Christmas, which is crazy but exciting.  It's probably good because otherwise I would be hibernating. (Which is what I will be doing in January and February.)
• I have a midwife appointment Thursday.  I enjoy them except for the weighing myself thing.  I know I've gained weight, I don't want to know how much! (I'm going to estimate I'm at 20 pounds now.)

Bump Date: 24 Weeks

• 24 Weeks already!  Well over halfway with only 16 weeks to go.  Craziness
• Baby is the size of an ear of corn
• Mom is much sorer these days.  Back pain, side pain, stomach pain, I’ve got it all. 
• Feeling some major tightness in my lower belly, sometimes just randomly, if I stand for a long period or if I’m exercising.  It might be Braxton Hicks, I don’t know.
• Baby is still moving lots, still fairly low down.  I need to get Ryan to feel it more often, but baby kicks when it wants to kick and I don’t really want to sit on the couch with his hand on my stomach for an hour!
•  I miss sleeping well.  I can’t get into a comfortable position and wake up lots during the night.
• Still trying to exercise, but I find I get sore a lot quicker so I've definitely slowed down.  I've had a few weeks off from my yoga class but will be starting back up next week
• I can’t wait to go away Christmas shopping next weekend on our girls trip!  And maternity shopping too of course
• Best moment this week was hitting 24 weeks.  The baby is now viable and chances of survival outside the womb will get better by the week!  But stay in there for a while longer please baby!
• Last Wednesday was our 3rd anniversary.  We're definitely excited for what this next year will bring us!

3 Years

 

Today marks 3 years married to this guy.

He's a really really good husband.  Much better than I am a wife.

Last night he made me ice cream with smarties.  It's the little things.

He turns my heated mattress pad on if he gets into bed before me.

He puts up with me telling him I'm growing a human.  It's one of the useful things I've done since we got married, so I need to tell him once in awhile so that I feel less lazy.

He builds me stuff.  Marry a man who can build you stuff, it's a useful quality.  

He lets me plan vacations.  I love planning trips and he just lets me do my thing and then goes along willingly.  

He cooks me mac and cheese.  He cooks me a lot of delicious things actually, but last night it was mac and cheese and it was so good.

He makes me coffee on Saturday mornings before I get out of bed.

I'm a lucky lady and this wee baby is going to have the most amazing father.  He knew he wanted a baby long before I did (I mean I knew it, but he was really ready).  The baby is going to be spoiled rotten and will probably get way more ice cream than it should, but it will be so loved.  

Happy Anniversary Fella.

Bump Date: 23 Weeks

Week 23 already!  Time is flying. At my one yoga class I asked the girl how far along she was and she said 23 or 24 weeks, I've lost track.  And I wondered how you could lose track.  But I caught myself this week forgetting how many weeks I was!  

And I know for non-preggo people the weeks thing is confusing, but I find the months so confusing!  So I'm pretty sure I'm 5 months pregnant, I'm now on my 6th month.  But talking in weeks involves much less thinking.

• Baby is the size of a papaya
• Last week was our babymoon.  We had an amazing time in Chicago with just the two of us.  We love travelling together, so adding a baby will definitely change the pace of our trips.
• My mom and I made a crib skirt this week.  I love it and can’t wait to keep working on the nursery.
• I’m hoping to get a lot done in November.  I already feel like Christmas will be here before we know it and not only do I have Christmas to prepare for, but a baby too!
•  Some people who were resistant to the fact that I’m showing are finally starting to say that I look pregnant.  Thank goodness, I thought that would never happen. 
•  I do feel smaller than I thought I would at more than halfway through my pregnancy
• Ryan hasn’t felt any more kicks.  They aren’t consistent enough yet, but do happen frequently throughout the day.
• Baby is almost viable.  Of course I want to make it to at least 37 weeks, but it’s nice to know that with each week the chances of survival outside of the womb increase.
• I did a gender predictor quiz and used a predictor tool and they both said girl.  Those things are 100% correct and scientific, right?  Better start buying pink.

·      

Chicago Babymoon: Top 10

Last week we went on a 4 day babymoon to Chicago.  We took the train there from Port Huron, which is about 2 and a half hours from our house.  If you are from Canada, that's honestly the way to do it.  The train was cheaper than what it would of cost us to park our car at the hotel, and once in Chicago you really don't need a vehicle.

We stayed at the Chicago Essex Inn.  (By the way, I'm a deal finder when it comes to trips and booked pretty much everything in advance through Group On, including the hotel.)  The Essex Inn was right on Michigan Ave, close to Museum Campus.  A bit further away from the Magnificent Mile, but still walkable.  We walked multiple times!

So here are my top 10 recommendations:

1.  You need to try Chicago deep dish pizza.  We went to Lou Malnatti's, but I have heard good things about a number of chains.  There was a Lou Malnatti's 2 blocks behind our hotel, but they are all over the place as well.

2.  The Shedd Aquarium.  This is probably personal preference, but this is the one museum that I would highly recommend you do.  They have dolphins, belugas and penguins and a total of 32,000 fish and other animals in total.  

This Beluga was chatting away

3.  Second City.  We did their Dinner and Show where you book a dinner reservation with a price fixed menu through them.  Dinner was great and very filling.  However, once at the show, you can order a variety of appetizers and small plates and their prices are very reasonable.  So I would suggest you go early and just order food and drinks at the show.  The show was hilarious and we both had a great time.

4.  Check out the view from the John Hancock Building lounge.  You can pay to go up to Chicago 360 observatory right on the Magnificent Mile.  It's $19 per person.  Or, you can wait in what is probably a shorter line and go to the lounge or the restaurant.  We literally walked right in (to the elevator of course).  You could go to the lounge and not order anything, nobody is checking that you actually get a table.  But we ordered a beer for Ryan, a smoothie for me and an appetizer.  They were expensive, but it was still cheaper than going to the observatory, plus we were able to relax and enjoy the view.  Oh an check out the view from the women's washroom.  Sorry men, apparently there aren't windows in your washroom.

My Strawberry Smoothie

5. Take a Chicago Architecture Cruise.  People say that if you do one thing in Chicago, this should be it, and I 100% agree.  We went with Chicago Line Cruises because I got a Group On and it included free coffee, tea and muffins and cookies.  I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be as good as the Architecture Foundation cruise, and of course I can't compare the two, but our tour guide was extremely passionate and knowledgeable.  She talked for the entire hour and a half!  Our cruise also wasn't full, so it was nice because you could wander freely around the deck without getting in anybody's way.

The Sears (or Willis) Tower - from the river

6. The Lincoln Park Zoo.  This zoo is a bit further north and takes longer to get to, but it's free!  And it's actually a decent sized zoo.  I was very impressed with the wide variety of animals they had there.  The gorillas are always my favourite!  The kangaroos were a bit lazy that day.

7. Food, food, food.  Besides the pizza, there is lots of other delicious food in Chicago.  I suggest Al's Italian Beef, for huge beef sandwiches that are dipped in gravy.  We also had a sandwich at Potbellys, which are all over the city.  I had chicken salad and it was unbelievable!

8.  You need to get some Chicago Mix at Garrett's Popcorn.  You know when you mix cheese popcorn with caramel popcorn?  That's called Chicago mix and it was created at Garrett's.  I think the line ups can get pretty long, so we were there right at 10am when it opened.

9.  Walk out Navy Pier.  Ok so we didn't walk all the way to the end.  But that's because we stopped to play a game of mini putt (I lost badly) and by the time we were done we had to get moving because we had places to be!  

10.  Go to Cloud Gate, aka The Bean.  However silly and overly touristy it is, you have to do it when in Chicago.  We went twice, and I suggest going on a weekday if you can.

We had an amazing trip and it was so nice to get away with just the two of us before the little one comes.  I can't wait to travel with kids, as it will be a new and exciting experience, but Ryan and I really enjoy travelling with just the two of us as well.