chicago -- day two

Today Santiago and Mom went to the Shedd Aquarium while Dad went to the University of Illinois at Chicago to make his presentation to the urban planners conference. Santiago loved watching the dolphins jump out of the water at the dolphin show, but he found that there was too much blah, blah, blahing by the announcer and not enough jumping by the dolphins. A BIG hit was the Beluga Whales. Just watching them swim in their tank was a pleasure, no tricks needed. Mom and Santiago ate lunch in the food court at a table with a group of chubby Girl Scouts from Arkansas. Afterwards, they watched fish pass by in a few large tanks then headed back to the hotel for naptime.

Santiago is rather a neat fellow. He puts things into the trash, wipes his face when eating (mostly with a reminder but sometimes on his own volition), and wipes up spills. He enjoys bubbles at bath time (and can say both bubbles and bath). However, he did NOT enjoy the bubble bath Mom prepared the night before their trip.

He continues to be a big flirt and has an M.O.: eye contact, acting shy, peaking out, hiding behind Mom, then dogged attention getting. Restaurants are a favorite flirtation spot because there is ample time to run through the entire flirting sequence. Few have been able to resist his charm.

One of the photos is from yesterday afternoon's visit to downtown Chicago.

Millennium Park -- Chicago -- Part One

This morning, after dropping Dad off to write his presentation, Mom & Santiago went to Millennium Park. What a beautiful urban park! The fountains, sculptures and buildings were stunning, and the gardens were gorgeous (see photos).

There are a few pictures outside the park: at the Chagall mural _The Four Seasons_ and lunch at La Cantina Enoteca where Santiago completely charmed the maitre d' who checked on Santiago repeatedly and sent him ice cream.

Millennium Park -- Chicago -- Part Two

Millennium Park -- Chicago -- Part Three

Chicago -- Arrival

Today, Santiago flew with Mom and Dad to Chicago. Seeing so many airplanes was exciting, as were the bumps of take-off and landing. Santiago got quiet proficient at pronouncing "airplane" and weathered the two and a half hour flight to Chicago well. The drive from O'Hare to the hotel downtown was another matter. That was made bearable by the excitement of seeing commuter trains running down the center of the highway.

A Note from Mom

Thank the heavens above and the earth below, Santiago sleeps through the night.

More Food, Words, Music & Motion

Santiago is now pretty comfortable with moving from Mom farther than a body lunge away. He still needs a direct line of sight in public places (much to Mom's relief). In the right environment he enjoys showing off his ability to walk backwards, spin and dance. Dance is a very serious thing for Santiago. He gets very still, listens to the music and then carefully sways to the beat. He has begun to climb things. He can climb into bed and up the stairs

His spoken vocabulary is increasing. Here is a list of some of his new words. Water, bulldozer, apple, Volvo, bath.

Santiago and Mom started a new session of the music class series they have been taking. Though it is in the same room, there is a new teacher! Santiago sat in Mom's lap and stared at the new instructor though half the class. Shaking his head at any question and refusing all movement which wasn't scaring at the instructor. He warmed up to the situation when the shakers were brought out for a rendition of Vengan a Ver.

Santiago's favorite food continues to be Spanish rice. He also loves peanut butter and banana smoothies. Club soda is a favorite and is met with shouts of "bubbles". Santiago likes to assist with breakfast preparation. He stands on the stair Mom slides up to the counter and adds raisins to the cereal. He enjoys pouring things into other things which can sometimes lead to spills of milk and of cereal and sometimes of both.