Mocca

Nona goes to Mocca everyday for coffee and lunch. When we are in San Francisco it's a highlight each day to sit outside with the pigeons and enjoy a latte and a tuna nicoise. It's located on the chicest alley in San Fran: Maiden Lane. It shares the block with such venerable retail establishments as Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermes. Pretty swanky, eh?

Sunrise Over the Bay

Good morning San Francisco! We are early risers here on the Pacific coast. Dad and I watched the sky turn bright while checking in with the office. Thanks to Colette, Barbara and Marley for holding down the fort!

Smokey Apartment

They say ex-smokers are more sensitive? Just Kidding...

Here's Nona and Josh sharing the couch at the apartment. Everyone is smiling this trip.

Hat Brothers

Keeping toasty warm in San Fran...

It's warm in the sun and cold in the shade. If you're heading uphill, it's hot hot hot! Here are the famous Hat Brothers in front of the wedding chapel.

San Francisco Treat

I'm in San Francisco with Sasha, Mom, Dad and Uncle Josh visiting Nona and Uncle Mike's family. It's sunny and beautiful here! This is the view from the Mandarin Oriental, aka the place where Mark and I said "I do." Still gorgeous.

Baby Shower!

Thanks to everyone for coming to my shower yesterday! It was so much fun to celebrate and catch up with you all, and especially to open the presents and coo over the massive cuteness! I had such a great time!

A special thanks to Susan for hosting! Your home was the perfect place for this shindig and it couldn't have looked better! The food was fantastic! I had so much fun, I really didn't want to leave. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

Also, thanks to Bethany for taking so many great photos! I'm so grateful to have them! To view all the photos from the party click on the picture above.

Goodbye Love

Coco Chanel Grodzins Woodall
February 8th 2003-December 18th 2008

My beloved friend passed away. My heart aches for him. He was such a good boy and we should have had many more years together. I loved everything about Coco and I will always treasure the many happy memories I have of him.

It was love at first sight for Coco and me. He taught me a lot about love, friendship and responsibility--lessons I badly needed at the time when we found each other. He was a loyal and constant companion who went everywhere with me. His company brought me joy, peace, comfort and laughter. He was such a silly puppy who always made me smile.

Coco had a well developed appreciation for fine foods that I admired. He had the rare gift of being both pretty and smart. He enjoyed shopping with me. He liked getting a bath and having a fluffy blow out. He was always game for cuddling and kissing. He could run very fast. He followed me everywhere--even into the bathroom, whether he was invited or not. He would have been a devoted and loving big brother to our baby girl. His presence was human to me and I miss him more than words can describe. But Coco never wanted me to be sad or angry. He is not here anymore to cheer me up-now when I need him so badly- but I have to remember the lessons he taught me, and focus on the time we had together. I am grateful to have known him and honored to have called him my best friend. I love you, Coco. You will always be a part of me.

Christmas Time is Here!

We are not doing a tree this year, since we'll be out of town for Christmas, but I wanted to put up some decorations to get that festive holiday feeling.  I think it turned out pretty cute! What do you think?

Lazy Coco

While I was Christmas shopping, getting windows installed, making appointments and reservations, buying books to help me figure out a game plan for raising a kid, lunching, grocery shopping, sitting in traffic and desperately trying to make it to yoga (and failing) Coco lounged in bed like the Queen of Sheba. In MY bed. He looked so cute, I just had to take a million photos. Is that a maternal instinct?

Hole in the Wall

We are making sure our soon-to-be-nursery will be just as snug as a bug in a rug which means today a window is being replaced.  At the moment there is nothing separating the inside of my house from the 22 degree Chicago morning outdoors...its freaking cold!  Note to self: next time you buy a house, make sure all windows not up to standard are replaced BEFORE you sign contracts, pay money and move in...Duh!