Our last days in Chicago...

Leaving Chicago is something I have been dreading almost since I began my PhD. Unlike a regular ole job, a PhD is a finite thing. And even though it may seem endless to our friends and family, it actually does end. And each year a few more of your close friends and colleagues trickle away as they complete and get jobs. And, as you know by now, this year Terry completed his PhD and got a wonderful super impressive tenure track position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

And so it was the fast and furious end to our time in Chicago. Bleary eyed from baby-induced sleeplessness. Terry working frantically to put all the final touches on the dissertation and defend it. Erin working overtime to finish up an article and draft a new chapter, with two conferences to attend this summer.

Even so, we tried to make time to do a few of those beloved Chicago events that we've always done. We went to Ravinia with Liam and some friends. We went to two Cubbies games, and made it to our first ever White Sox game. We never did make it out for another day at Arlington racetrack (horses). And all along the way, there were our friends.

Liam enjoying his evening out of CSO music (Mahler) and entertaining Ian and Sian with his antics.

The last few days in Chicago ticked down so time was distorted, and felt both too slow and too fast. I'm a sucker for endings and beginnings, so I began to count all the little "lasts": Liam's last bath before it was packed away, his last nap in his crib in Chicago before they packed it up, his last day with his babysitter.

Packing is tough work, so Daddy and I are taking a little nap together. You can't see well, but we are both sleeping the exact same way.

One more meal of homemade peas before we hit the road. And boy is he enjoying food!

I got one last bath before packing up my little tub. And while playing (naked) afterwards, I showed off a new trick: playing with stuff in my hands while doing tummy time.

Having my last sleep in my little crib in my little room in Chicago. Wearing the super cute elephant sleeper from Grandma Nyse and Auntie Bri, with elephant trunks up for good luck.

This is what my room in Chicago looked like just before the movers packed everything away (that's what that big blue stuff is). Goodbye first little baby room.

This is me with my friend (and babysitter) Katie. We did all sorts of fun stuff, like reading stories and taking walks and playing on my mat. Goodbye Katie! We will all miss you!

The movers picked up our stuff on Wednesday. We spent Wednesday night at Rachel's house. She graciously watched our sleeping Liam so Terry and I could sneak out to see the new Harry Potter with Sian, Ian and Kieran. Then on Thursday we cleaned and Terry fixed up some small things around the house and then it was off to Wisconsin to say goodbye to my family.

We had planned a little get-together with some of my family on Friday night. My Aunt Lori came over the night before, and my sister Robyn came by earlier in the day on Friday. But then Friday night it was just a wonderful gathering of folks who don't get together every day.

This is me with both my Great Grandmas, GG Metz and GG Pfingsten.

Big kiss from GG Metz.

With Grandma and Grandpa Schultz in front of their house in Wisconsin, just ready to head down to Chicago and then on to Nashville.

Whatchou lookin' at?

I look dapper in my new hat!

We drove off from Racine Saturday morning mostly on time and I managed not to totally break down and sob my eyes out, which was unexpected. From there we stopped off in Chicago for a few hours for a planned going away party in Loyola Park, just blocks from our (soon to be former) house. Pictures and story coming up...