The Amazing Adventures of Baby P.

On Hiatus

2011-02-06T21:53:00.003-06:00

It has been an embarrassingly long time since I posted an update here. It's not that we haven't been doing tons of fun things or that the boys don't continue to amaze me, it's just been an insanely crazy month! I started a new job, and while it's off to a great start, I'm completely overwhelmed with tons of new faces and new information every single day. By the time I hit the sheets at night I feel like my head is going to explode. It's all good, but keeping things together at home and at work is going to take everything I've got for the next few months.

The other part of having a new job is having a bunch of new equipment. My new computer is like Fort Knox, so old standbys like Picasa and Gmail are no longer an option. I had no idea how much I loved my old Blackberry until it was gone. I can hardly make a phone call much less upload a photo on the fly. Yes, I sound like a 90-year-old, but it's the real reason why there aren't any photos with this post. Sad, but true.

We also continue to be plagued by colds and had a very rough round of the stomach flu which happened to coincide with a broken dryer. It also coincided with my first week of work, so I spent a fair share of my second day with my head in a toilet at work. Not exactly the way I had imagined starting my new job.

But on the bright side, January is behind us and winter should be wrapped up within the next two months. We've been surviving by doing lots of fun things on the weekends -- Children's Museum, swimming lessons, Stages Theater, Mall of America (MOA is actually an overpriced hell on earth, but we still had fun), and plenty of snuggling on the couch.

Elliott is starting to truck around the house with his cart and it puts a huge smile on his face every time. Sam continues to entertain with his one-liners and his elaborate imaginary games.

So all in all, life is good. Getting another two hours of sleep every night and having a photographic memory would be hugely helpful, but neither is likely, so I just keep on drinking lots of coffee and kissing the boys constantly. Both miraculously keep me afloat.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

2011-01-12T14:22:00.000-06:00

2009 ushered in lots of changes by way of a pregnancy and a new baby, but that was no match for 2010. Change was the name of the game! Steve got a job offer in early April and our move back to MN was instantly set in motion. A month later we had said goodbye to Chicago and hello to South Minneapolis. It’s been a whirlwind since then – settling into a rental house, exploring new and old neighborhoods, and just generally getting the hang of our new normal in Minneapolis.

It’s astonishing to me how little changed in the seven years that we were gone. Most days it feels like we never left! And as much as we loved Chicago, Minneapolis has it beat in terms of a place for raising kids. We love our yard, the lakes, the pools, the parks, all of the free and accessible parking and of course, the proximity to our families. On the other hand, we have been reminded that the mosquitoes definitely cut summer nights short and the snow is an all-around pain in the rear. There’s absolutely no arguing that winter is harsher in MN than Chicago.

Overall, life has been incredibly good to us in the past 12 months and I speak for us all when I say we are grateful for our good fortune.

In a nutshell, here are the highlights and lowlights:

Highlights:
--Watching Elliott learn to smile, eat, crawl and say Momma. Up next? Walking and talking!
--Starting Sam off at school in September, and watching him discover the joys of learning (he also fell in love with birthday parties and Santa Claus, which was a lot of fun too)
--Cracking the code on potty training. One down, one to go!
--Being able to pop in to see friends and relatives on short notice.

Lowlights:
--Coming home from vacation to find that the garage shelves had fallen on our newly-purchased car while we were gone. So much for saving some dough by buying used!
--Our house in Chicago was sold....for about five days. And it's STILL on the market now.
--10 ear infections that culminated in tubes on Dec. 27. So far it’s been smooth sailing, so hopefully we’re headed for a turnaround!
--Sam’s dog bite right out of the gate in February. I’m really, really hopeful that is the only time we’re forced to visit the ER.
--The six weeks between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15. We were plagued with colds, ear infections and stomach bugs. YUCK.

Here we are ringing in the new year at the Rose Bowl.

So Fun, Santa!

2010-12-27T22:09:00.000-06:00

Christmas has alrady come and gone and it's safe to say that it's been restored to its rightful place as one of my favorite holidays. Last year's Christmas pretty much imploded so my expectations for this year's celebration were not particularly high. Lucky for everyone involved, everything went smoothly and fun was had by all.

The highlight was definitely Sam's reaction to all of the hubbub. He was absolutely getty with excitement and loved it all - the candles, the music, the packages, the cookies, the countdown calendar, and especially Santa. Santa's looming arrival had him on his best behavior at bedtime for weeks, and the arrival of Elf on the Shelf on Dec. 23 made it all the more exciting.

Elliott went along for the ride. Like any other one-year-old, he was just thrilled to be surrounded by smiling faces and lots of new things to pick up and touch. I was so relieved that he was healthy for all of the celebrations, and in fact, I think he was the healthiest he's been in months.

My very favorite moment was when Sam opened a package from Santa and kept muttering, "he got my message, he got my message!" That alone made all of the prodding and planning worthwhile. What a genuinely sweet reaction.

I can't wait for next year!

Here's Sam spying the tree decked out with gifts for the first time. We knew that the wrapping paper would not withstand Elliott's eager hands, so we waited to put everything out until Christmas Eve.

Here are Elliott and Sam testing out the kitchen set from Santa. It's a big hit with both of them.

Deck the Halls

2010-12-20T21:54:00.000-06:00

Christmas prep is in full swing at our house! We trimmed the tree weeks ago and we've been counting down the days since the first snow fall. This weekend we made the requisite trip to see Santa. It was a fun outing -- Macy's auditorium that depicted a day in the life of an elf was very well done, but Santa was down-right creepy. He had a real beard, which I think is a real faux pas and he wasn't the slightest bit jolly. I think if you're going to sign up to be Santa you need to be prepared to do it all -- a big full fake white beard and a deep "Ho, Ho, Ho" are mandatory.

Lucky for us, Elliott is too young to know the difference and it happened too fast for Sam to get a good look (they ushered us out in record time when they saw that we brought our own camera).

Nevertheless, the big day is drawing near and I think it's safe to say that Santa (the real Santa) will be good to all the boys in our house (and Mommy too, I hope!)

Birthday with a Side of Yuck

2010-12-09T19:58:00.000-06:00

Elliott's first birthday came and went, and unfortunately it was marked by yet another ear infection. He was diagnosed with his ninth by 10 a.m. and spent most of the day in bed. We postponed his celebration until Saturday,which worked out well because Sam started puking at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Illness aside, Elliott (and Sam) were thrilled to dive into the cake and rip into the gifts. The celebration was smaller and quieter than anticipated, but still very fun and memorable.

Now that Elliott's ear infection is on the mend, he has been hit with his second bout of the stomach flu since Thanksgiving. He and I spent much of the day covered in puke, which pretty much says it all when it comes to how much I love this kid.

Staring Down at ONE

2010-12-01T21:47:00.000-06:00

I just read a story about a journalist’s accidental home birth and it has me thinking about Elliott’s first birthday on Friday. I can’t believe a year ago we were scouting locations to buy a bassinet so he’d have a place to sleep when he arrived home from the hospital. It was such a crazy time – I was completely anxiety ridden about becoming a mother of two and every time Sam had a tantrum I’d burst into tears too. Thank goodness those days are over!

As it turns out, the first two days of Elliott’s life were by far the most peaceful. Delivery was a breeze and I remember thinking that our time at Northwestern felt like a vacation. In retrospect it truly was! Since then it’s been a complete whirlwind of a year. It’s been chock full of ups and downs including 8 ear infections and a big brother who can’t grasp the concept of personal space. Elliott has been a real trooper throughout and I’m not-so-secretly hoping that his even-keeled attitude over the past twelve months is a window into his temperament overall. We’ll see.

So our baby days are quickly coming to an end. In no time at all, Elliott will be walking and talking and the teeny-tiny diapers and the miniature clothes will be a thing of the past. I’ve come to peace with that, but I keep finding myself trying to soak up all of the “babyness” he has left. I kiss his squishy cheeks incessantly and I’m constantly touching his perfectly soft hair. He still has a yummy scent and at least a few times a day I catch myself trying to breathe it in and commit it to memory.

But I’d be totally lying if I didn’t say that a part of me is a little relieved to see the treacherous first year come to an end. I just love to sleep, and the first six months in newborn land are brutal. But for all of the angst I had about having a second son, Elliott has been nothing short of magnificent.

Here is Elliott at 11 months as well as a couple of other good shots from this month...

THREE

2010-11-19T20:46:00.000-06:00

Sam is three! We spent last weekend celebrating – when all was said and done, he had five birthday celebrations! It was great fun to watch him revel in all of the attention, but by the time all was said and done, I was exhausted. Three year olds really know how to party!

We had his well-baby check on Wednesday and he checked out as a completely normal kid. He’s growing just fine, and he’s now in the 60th percentile for height and 75 percentile for weight. Potty training is the only major hurdle we still need to overcome on his road to becoming a little kid. We’ve owned a potty since he was about 20 months old and we’ve been talking about it for what seems like forever. We started training in earnest this week, and so far, it’s been ups and downs. A couple of big accidents (including one in the doc’s office), but a couple of big victories too. I’m focused on making it work and will have five celebrations of my own when we finally crack the code.

Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter

2010-11-14T21:06:00.003-06:00

Before diving into celebrating Sam's birthday we said goodbye to fall and hello to winter. In typical MN style, we were in the upper 60s at the beginning of the week and making snowmen at the end of the week.

Sam was ecstatic about the whole thing - when we noticed the snow on Saturday morning he immediately starting jumping up and down and yelling, "I get to build a snow man!" I felt like crawling deep under the covers, but I couldn't help but get swept up in his excitement. That's the beautiful thing about children. Seeing the world through their eyes gives almost everything (even a wet and soggy blanket of unseasonable snow) a certain amount of wonderful.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T20:48:00.000-05:00

Despite Elliott's ear infection and Steve's cold, we eeked out a decent Halloween. Quieter than I would've anticipated, but there was plenty of sugar-induced fun. Elliott was the cutest creepy crawly thing ever and Sam was all too happy to bring his monkey costume to life.

Boo

2010-10-24T20:18:00.000-05:00

Preparations are underway for the big day. Just a week to go. Here's hoping Sam is more interested in trick-or-treating than pumpkin carving. After the first five minutes he was ready to move on to a new activity. That left Steve and I on our own, and quite frankly, I had forgotten how much muscle goes into pumpkin carving. Obviously I need to get to the gym.

Elliott at 9 and 10 Months

2010-10-18T22:07:00.004-05:00

I have really been falling down on my monthly Elliott updates! I just realized that I missed his 9 month update all together! OOPS! It's not for a lack of action. Elliott is growing and changing every day. Last month was marked by a bunch of new teeth and a newfound love of waving. Every morning Elliott sends Steve to work with a hearty wave and a smile -- and I'll speak for Steve and say it's a great way to start the day!

Now that he is 10-months-0ld, he is crawling and climbing like mad! He's up and down and in and out, and keeping us on our toes. He started clapping yesterday, and couldn't be more pleased with himself.

He's a real doll!

Waving at 9 Months:

10 Months

Teeth!

A is for Apple

2010-10-03T21:00:00.001-05:00

We topped off a glorious fall weekend with a trip to the apple orchard with my mom. We were there the moment the doors opened, which is the way to go on a picture-perfect fall day. By the time we were leaving the place was crawling with people. We loved it all - the hay, the hayrides, the tractors, the goats, even the apples. We didn't notice the wine samples until we left - next year that might be the first stop.

Como Town

2010-09-26T20:23:00.000-05:00

Today was a glorious fall day so we decided to check out Como Town before it closes for the season. It was a big hit all around! Elliott was in awe of the rides, the music and all of the lights, and Sam enjoyed testing out his driving skills on a few of the rides - each a take on a different moving vehicle.

The adjacent Como Zoo left us missing the expansive and meticulously maintained Lincoln Park Zoo. I found myself actually looking away from a few of the exhibits, but I suppose the kids don't know the difference -- looking up at the giraffe still got lots of ooohs and ahhhhs.

Can't wait to go back in the spring when Elliott can really get in on the action!

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

Sam started preschool today. He couldn't wait to get out the door and was all smiles on the way to school. It really went unbelievably well. He hit the sand table as soon as he got there and was busy playing when it was time for Steve and me to leave. It was all I could do to get him to tear himself away for a quick hug. I had to ask three times! I am delighted that the transition went so well, but I think a little piece of my heart is sitting on that sand table.

Sam My Man

2010-09-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

I’ve been writing a lot about Elliott, but Sam deserves a moment in the sun too. We’re nearing his first day at preschool which has me reflecting on how much of a kid he’s become. I like to say that he’s wonderfully rambunctious! I swear, he’d run everywhere if he could, and recently, he’s started to really let loose in the dance department. He used to clam up a bit, but now he unleashes the dance moves at the first sound of music – and there are some interesting ones. Fist pumps, kicks and lots of jumping. You can’t help but join him when he gets going.

Sam has this tiny sing-song voice and if I could bottle it for later, I would. He’s very verbal and some of the things that come out of his month leave me astounded (in a good way). Funny things come out of every kid’s mouth, and I understand why parents sit around rehashing everything their kids do. It’s hilarious, and Sam matches his words with priceless expressions which makes him all the more entertaining. He’s assured us that football players have elbows, pointed out that the baby orangutans look just like Elliott and declared that he has “a lot if important work to do on the computer.” The “whys” have also begun in earnest and I find myself talking about things I stopped noticing eons ago (why do trucks have mud flaps? Why do we need a sewer?)

He’s just this amazing little guy – very lovable. He pulls hugs “out of his pocket” and gives “magic kisses.” The joy he gets from eating a bowl of ice cream or a lollipop is enviable, and seeing him hold Elliott’s hand on a recent stroller ride is one of my all-time favorite mom moments.

So I’m obviously a proud mama, but it’d be totally misleading if I didn’t say he’s also stubborn as hell and has a knack for whining, but I think he probably gets both from me, so I can’t really blame him. His procrastination skills are second to none and he can throw a mean tantrum. But if he wasn’t difficult at least part of the time, I’d probably smother him to death with my kisses.

Elliott's Baptism

2010-09-01T16:28:00.000-05:00

Elliott became an official member of the catholic church this weekend. It may have been the hottest baptism on record -- temps soared close to 95 degrees, and we were all left thanking the good Lord that the church was air conditioned!

Elliott was a real champ. He made it through church without so much as a peep and had plenty of smiles for the congregation during the ceremony. Sam and his cousins didn't fair quite as well -- by the time Elliott was being blessed, Claire, Charlotte, Sam, Grandpa, and Aunt Angie were outside trying to keep the peace.

All in all it was a great celebration and we were reminded once again how lucky we are to live closer to family.

Elliott at Eight Months

2010-08-11T21:21:00.001-05:00

Elliott is eight-months-old and what's notable now is his newfound ability to sit up for longer stretches and crawl around. He doesn't have the hang of picking his butt up off the floor, so he relies on the army crawl, but it's pretty amazing how quickly he can get from point A to point B. He squeals a lot and has learned to make a stink when someone leaves the room without him. But overall, I'm still amazed at how well-natured and easy going he is in general.

Beat the Heat

2010-08-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

It was blisteringly hot yesterday and we succesfully beat the heat while having some fun. We were at the pool and the park in the morning and then we logged some serious time in the kiddie pool and sprinkler in the afernoon.

Grandview 2010

2010-08-06T14:52:00.000-05:00

We’ve just returned from a week at Grandview Lodge (our return was actually a week ago, but the days following vacation are grueling)! Our trip was great fun, and in true Clark Griswold-style, filled with lots of ups and downs.

Sam and Elliott loved it – between the lake, the pool, the beach, the boat, the playset and the constant swirl of cousins, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, what’s not to love? We’ve been doing this for a few years and Sam gets into it more and more every year – I get a smile on my face just thinking about it, and I can't wait until Elliott can really get in on the action. We fed the ducks every morning, indulged in lollipops, looked for pirates on the lake and ventured out for a very short, nail-biting canoe ride. And it didn't stop there! We hit the pool about 10 times, celebrated Charlotte's first birthday and went on a wildly popular scavenger hunt. Really fun and so great to truly unplug for an entire 7 days (I didn’t turn my computer on once and Steve owes me $10 for it!)

On the flipside, Sam battled a heat rash for the first few days and Elliott ended the week with a couple of sleepless nights and an ear infection. We also returned home to find that a garage cabinet had fallen and dented the hood of our new car. Not really the homecoming you dream of, but I figure it wouldn’t be a true family vacation without a few hiccups.

Grandview 2010

2010-08-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

Chugga Choo Choo!

2010-07-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

Before another weekend gets underway, I wanted to post some snapshots from last weekend's adventure. After selling it in as Sam's first real train ride, we checked out the Harriet Calhoun Streetcar Line. Sam was tentative at first - he's used to his Thomas cars and the trains in his imagination, but after we settled in, he loved it. Elliott was a real trooper, just like always, with a smile on his face the entire time.

I love this picture -- Sam and Steve have the exact same expression on their faces!

Elliott at Seven Months

2010-07-06T22:15:00.000-05:00

Here's our not-so-little guy at seven months. He spends most of his time on his tummy and it's easy to see that he really wants to get moving. I find myself cheering him on and holding him back at the same time. I know our lives will get even crazier the minute that kid's on the go, but crawling is one of my favorite stages and I can't wait to see him get going.

He also watches Sam like a hawk! He literally studies his movements all day long! Sometimes the two of them will look at each other and burst into laughter. It brings a smile to my face every time. I think it's safe to say that the two of them are going to have a lot of fun growing up together.

Someone at the coffee shop the other day described Elliott as the "big little guy." That pretty much hit the mark as evidenced by the 12-18 month onesie and 6-12 month shorts Elliott's wearing in these photos!

Happy Father's Day?

2010-06-25T16:44:00.000-05:00

A Father's Day post seems a little silly a week after the fact, but I have to share a story that will be told every Father's Day for as long as Steve and I are around.

When Sam woke up for the day, Steve was out on a walk with Elliott, which gave me a chance to explain to Sam that it was a special day for Daddy and we had to be very nice to him all day long. I told him that he should say "Happy Father's Day" when he saw him.

I called Steve and agreed to meet him and Elliott at the coffee shop. When they walked up, Sam gave them a big grin and said, "Daddy I have something to say to you." He paused, and then right on cue said, "Happy Mother's Day!"

Parktacular!

2010-06-20T15:27:00.000-05:00

Sam and Elliott got their first taste of a hometown parade this weekend at the St. Louis Park Parktacular. We went with a big crew of other Bennies and Johnnies and had a ton of fun. Sam was transfixed and Elliott was pretty into it too. It's hard to beat a morning of firetrucks, school buses and marching bands!

Elliott at Six Months

2010-06-18T22:09:00.001-05:00

I just started a post about Elliott hitting seven months and realized that this has been sitting in my "drafts" for a few weeks. Oops! Shame on me because these pics are too cute to go unnoticed!

*********************

Elliott passed the six-month marker a week or two ago, and in honor of his half birthday we had a little photo shoot following bathtime. These pics are certainly a window into his personality -- to say he has a sunny disposition is an understatement! He's also a blondie through and through - from the hair that's finally starting to come in to his bright blue eyes and fair skin.

Elliott's been hitting his milestones right on time and as he becomes more sure of himself, he has started to explore Sam's toys. We're already hearing Sam say "no Elliott!" and it's a reminder to enjoy this stage when they can't really get into it. That said, big brother Sam has lots of hugs for Elliott or "baby" as he likes to call him.

It seems impossible that little Elliott has been in the world for six months -- it's so short and so long at the same time -- and I can't wait to see what's in store for him in the days and weeks ahead!

Bedtime

2010-06-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

You know what they say --- good things come to those who wait. Well, that's the case with Sam's transition to a big boy bed. We tried to make the transition before Elliott was born. I went out and bought a fancy bed with lots of over-priced bedding. Sam loved it as a trampoline and a place to read books, but when nightfall came, he was all too eager to get into his crib. Unlike most kids, he never started scaling the sides of his crib, so after losing the battle the first time, we decided to ride it out and let nature take its course.

Nature came calling last Friday night when some neighbors were hosting a yard sale. We went over to check it out and Sam spied the big boy bed right away. He was immediately taken by the red and blue plastic! I saw the opening and took it! I explained that we could take the bed home, but he'd have to say a permanent good bye to his crib. He was very open to the idea, so when Steve got home, I sent the two of them back to fork over $10 and carry it home.

Steve deconstructed Sam's crib while we cleaned it off and talked about how much we loved the colors. Then we carried it into his room and set it in its place. For the next 20 minutes he picked out stickers and chose the perfect places to put them. That's the beauty in a $10 bed....stickers make it even better.

He jumped right in, and we haven't looked back since then. I still think about the expensive bed that's sitting idle in the basement, but I figure if I wait long enough he'll be ready for that too.

Happy Birthday to Meghan!

2010-06-11T20:28:00.000-05:00

Meghan turned four today! She's turning into quite the little lady! We were so happy to be at her party to help her celebrate.

Horses and Teeth and Food. Oh My!

2010-06-02T15:13:00.003-05:00

I have been really dilinquent about the blog lately. It hasn't been for a lack of fun. There's been tons of fun. And it hasn't been because Sam and Elliott haven't done anything noteworthy lately. There's actually tons to report, but time is precious and firing up my computer outside of office hours has been at the bottom of my list!

We are loving life in MN. Lots of people to see; lots of things to do. It's been a pretty smooth transition overall and I think I speak for us all when I say we've hardly looked back.

Here are a couple of pics from recent weeks. Sam rode a horse; Elliott got a tooth and tried out food for the first time. Life is good (now if I could just catch up on some sleep!)

Elliott at 5 Months

2010-05-11T16:11:00.001-05:00

Elliott is 5-months-old! He's still a baldy for the most part, and I still have my money on him being a blondie when his hair finally starts to grow. He drools like mad -- just last night I bought three more bibs because he soaks at least three a day. And in what may be the cutest thing ever, he loves falling asleep hanging on to my finger. Speaking of sleep, he's still not on a regular nap schedule and he wakes up at least once or twice a night. I take the blame for both, and I intend to get him into a routine now that we're finally settled in our rental house.

In honor of Mother's Day...

End of an Era

2010-04-24T14:27:00.003-05:00

We’re going to Minneapolis today. Forever. It’s hard to believe the day is already here, and to say I’m unprepared is a vast understatement. It’s also an understatement to say we’re going to miss Chicago.

Earlier this week I took the el to work and it reminded me of how much I love this place. I zig-zagged through our neighborhood, which was looking all shiny and bright in the spring sunshine. After I got off the train, I made my way up Lake Street toward the Aon Center. It was 8 a.m. so the streets were packed and the crush of people put a little spring in my step. All day long I looked out from my desk at the Hancock Building and a stretch of bright blue Lake Michigan and thought about how much fun we’ve had here. It’s just such a great city! I’m going to miss the endless rows of restaurants and shops, the corner bars, the el train rumbling around, and the hustle and bustle of all the people. Thinking of Wrigley on a sunny summer day, walks along Lake Michigan and visits to the Lincoln Park Zoo will always make me nostalgic.

I’m already looking forward to our first trip back, but I’m also looking forward to having the move behind us and finally settling into our new life in Minneapolis. It’s going to be a whole new chapter, and I know it’s going to be a great one.

Bucky Rules

2010-04-17T21:24:00.000-05:00

Today was the annual spring football game in Madison and before the game, UW hosts a great family event that gives kids a chance to meet players, coaches, cheerleaders and even...BUCKY BADGER! We sold it into Sam by telling him we were going to Bucky's party, so it wasn't a huge surprise when he wanted to do nothing other than watch...BUCKY BADGER! I think these photos are classic, and if you ask me, we can stop referring to the 529s and start referring to the Badger funds.

House Guests!

2010-04-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

Cousin Meghan and Auntie Kristine paid us a visit last weekend. The weather was perfect and we had tons of fun! We hit the Field Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Took Meghan to Bubbles and grabbed lunch at RJ Grunts. Throw in a couple of trips to the park and three late nights in a row and we were all left thoroughly exhausted!

Elliott at Four Months

2010-04-08T15:13:00.002-05:00

Elliott was four-months-old on April 3. At his well-baby check the doc confirmed what we already knew -- Elliott is thriving; gaining lots of weight (he's nearly 17 pounds) and growing inch by inch. She said he's the size of the average 7-month-old, which makes sense considering most of his pants are too short.

Elliott is still a really happy little guy. He smiles a lot and has become more social in the past few weeks. He likes waking up at night for a quick cuddle, and try as I may, I can't bring myself to cut it off. He drools non-stop and loves using those little hands. All pretty typical, but it's still magical to watch him change right before our eyes.

Hippity Hoppity

2010-04-04T09:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter! We hope your day is EGGciting as ours!

Imagination Station

2010-03-27T21:01:00.003-05:00

I am absolutely astounded by Sam's imagination. It has gone from zero to sixty in what feels like a matter of weeks (I think it's actually months, but time whizzes by around here). Tonight before I said goodnight we blasted off into space, played catch and flew an airplane. Earlier today we were popping popcorn, and he just loves to play his guitar with the band. It's totally hilarious and very endearing. I also hope it's a sign of a kid who will always be comfortable letting his creativity flow.

Elliott's personality is blossoming too. He totally soaks in attention and is smiling like mad. He's also learned that when he whines at night Mom and Dad come running, so there have been a lot of long nights in the last week or so. I'm hoping we can put an end to that soon! We'll see.

Green is Great

2010-03-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

The Latest

2010-03-15T21:03:00.000-05:00

We're trying to make it through these last few final days of winter. The snow's gone, temps are starting to rebound and spring fever is hitting a high. When we got home tonight Steve didn't even have a chance to set down his bag before Sam had him running around the yard. Here are some other things of late:

Sweet: On Sunday morning Sam was on the stroller's riding board, which puts him eye-to-eye with Elliott. I watched him lean forward so he could take Elliott's hands in his. He rode like that for a good minute or two. It was perhaps the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Not So Sweet: Sam threw a box of books at Elliott's head on Friday leaving the poor little guy with a cut right above his hairline. Thank God it didn't get his eye! Needless to say, I had to have a very serious conversation with Sam and he went straight into his crib for a nap. No storytime for him! The funny thing is, the entire time it was happening I just kept thinking, "welcome to the world of raising two boys." I have a feeling there will be days in the future when I am hoping for something as minor as a little cut on the head.

Just Plain Unfortunate: Sam has picked up on the breastfeeding vernacular and has started announcing, "I'm going to pump now." I can't wait to tell him that story when he's got a new baby of his own. ;)

Elliott at Three Months

2010-03-07T20:57:00.000-06:00

Elliott was officially three months old as of Wednesday. Here are three notable things about him right now:
1. He drools like mad. I was holding him today and my entire arm was soaked.
2. He has discovered his limbs and LOVES to kick his little legs.
3. His face lights up when you put your nose near his and talk and laugh. He gets a big grin on his face and lets out a few little yelps to show his appreciation.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2010-03-03T20:46:00.000-06:00

We celebrated Steve's big day in style tonight -- pasta and homemade cupcakes, compliments of Sam. Here's to the birthday boy!!

Good as Gold

2010-02-26T21:12:00.000-06:00

I went back to work earlier this week, but before I did, we took some time to make our own Olympic medals. Sam's been doing some "speed skating" around the kitchen, so I thought it was only appropriate. Elliott wasn't exactly sure what to make of the whole thing as evidenced by the look on his face in this picture.

Speaking of the Olympics, I will always view the winter games as a bit of a measurement tool. I was in Torino in 2006, so seeing all of the coverage out of Vancouver has brought back a lot of memories and made me think about all that's changed since then. In the past four years, we've lived in two houses and driven two cars, I've held two jobs and had two kids. A constant? I still spend my workdays thinking about fast food!

Love is in the Air

2010-02-17T21:10:00.000-06:00

In the last few weeks Sam has taken a renewed interest in Elliott. There are still some fits of rage when Elliott steals the spotlight, but there are more and more unprompted kisses and he's picked up on some of my favorite phrases: "Look at him!" and "He's so cute!" He also consistently calls him "Baby Elliott" or "my brother," and in his innocent little two-year-old voice, it's the sweetest thing you've ever heard. We're still trying to teach him what it means to be gentle and he hasn't quite grasped that Elliott doesn't like to be pinched or poked, but we're making strides.

What a Week!

2010-02-10T15:51:00.000-06:00

Sunday: Sam gets bit by Baxter the dog five minutes after we arrive at our Super Bowl party. Baxter is a sweet dog (with VERY nice owners), but when Sam went running toward him and his bone, Baxter felt a bit threatened and made it known to Sam. We went straight to the ER where three nurses and two doctors checked him out before disinfecting his wound (via syringe!!) and sending us on our way. I think the whole thing was scariest for Steve and me. Sam was as brave as I've ever seen him. Me? I had to look away and fight back the tears in my eyes!!

Monday: All is well. We take Elliott in for his two-month check up and learn he 's the average size of a 5 1/2-month-old baby. Whoa. No wonder nothing fits him! I also asked the doc to investigate Elliott's little belly button because I had noticed that there was something black lodged in it. Could it be dried blood? Should we be concerned that it isn't healing properly? Nope. Just belly button lint.

Tuesday: Sam wakes up puking and Steve and I learn that being doused in puke isn't so bad when it's your own little guy that has a tummy ache. Poor kid threw up all morning before taking a long nap and waking up a new man. Phew!

Wednesday: We wake up to the biggest snowfall of the season. Sam and I shovel us out and have some fun doing it!

Here's hoping the rest of the week is a little quieter. I'm a little tired.

Elliott at Two Months

2010-02-05T21:13:00.001-06:00

February 3 marked two months for young Sir Elliott and he's still entirely too sweet. He hardly ever cries, and when he does, it's short-lived and simply means he's tired or he'd like some milk. Even at night he just wakes up and lets out a couple of squeals so I know to feed him.

He's getting more and more expressive all the time. There are big grins when he's happy, furrowed brows when he's unsure and wide open eyes when he's surprised. It makes me so anxious to learn more about his little personality.

Right now he's sleeping on our bed beside me, which is pretty much how it goes. He sleeps on and off all day long and occasionally takes a real nap for a couple of hours at a time. Bedtime is between 10 and 11 and he consistently sleeps until 3 or 3:30. Not bad considering his brother didn't do that until he was about 5 months old.

The other thing that's notable about Elliott is his gas. There isn't really a polite way to say it, so I'll just put it out there. He farts. A LOT. And it stinks. A LOT. I woke up to it this morning at 6:30, and if I wasn't still sleeping in the nursery, I would've sworn I was sitting in one of the dorms at St. John's. The good news? It makes me laugh every time, and I figure he's just breaking me in for a lifetime of raising boys.

Check out the round tummy in these pics! I'm pretty sure he's getting enough to eat! And for the record, I take back my comment about Elliott being a blondie. Now that his hair is starting to grow a little, I'm certain he'll have dark hair.

Sleeping Beauties

2010-02-04T14:24:00.000-06:00

Naptime is such a wonderful time of day! I'd be a liar if I didn't admit I breathe a big sigh of relief when Sam finally settles down every day around 1:30. And sneaking in to peek on him always reminds me that he's still just a baby. Elliott is still a pretty good little snoozer too. Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly he can go from being alert to asleep -- this picture is a case in point. I set him in Sam's crib so I would have my hands free...two seconds later he was dead asleep. I wish I could pull that off!

Busy Bees

2010-01-30T11:22:00.000-06:00

It was another busy week around here! We tried to cheer our Vikes to victory on Sunday night (we failed), and spent the rest of the week cooking, dancing, singing, building forts, and trying to stay warm. Uncle Art blew through town on Thursday so we were lucky enough to spend a few hours with him. We also made our first trip to the Children's Museum. A great destination, but you better be prepared for sensory overload (i.e. tons of screaming kids running everywhere). Sam also built his first fort and Elliott fell into a nice little pattern of sleeping for 4 hours, waking up to eat and then falling back to sleep for another 2 or 3 hours. It's bliss and the more he sleeps at night, the more I fall in love with him!

My Favorite Parts

2010-01-25T15:39:00.000-06:00

I love all of Elliott's little parts, but there are three that I love the most. Number one: I love his feet. I wish they would stay this size forever. Number two: His tiny little belly button looks like a smile...if that's not a sign of a happy lifetime ahead, I don't know what is. Number three: his cheeks are delectable! I want to kiss them right off of his face!!

The Boylan Sisters

2010-01-21T15:24:00.000-06:00

Our trip home afforded us the rare opportunity to spend an entire day with Art, Angie and their girls. With the exception of the few times Sam tackled Claire to the ground, they were pretty good playmates. Charlotte was a doll - hardly making a peep and leaving me to wonder who's a more content baby -- her or Elliott. Must have something to do with having very talkative older siblings.

Bennies Big and Small

2010-01-21T15:15:00.002-06:00

Our trip home to Minnesota included a morning with the Bennies. Leah and Rob graciously offered up their house and we all piled in to enjoy some togetherness. The kids got along surprisingly well and I loved having a couple of hours to catch up with the gals and see their kiddos in action. Thanks to everyone for making time for it, and especially to Leah and Amy for the yummy food. (what would a Bennie gathering be without our fair share of food?!)

Busy, busy, busy

2010-01-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

Despite the snow and frigid temps, we were busy this week! We hit up story time on Monday and drove circles around Wrigley Field on Tuesday. We literally drove around the ballpark about 6 times, so if you’re ever wondering where the Harry Caray or Ernie Banks statues are located, talk to Sam. He’s also very adept at pointing out the red marquee, the rooftop bleachers and the corner of the scoreboard.

On Wednesday we met Scabbers the rat at the Nature Museum and we had our first Wiggleworms music class today. Elliott continues to sleep away most days, waking up at about 4 p.m., just in time for Sam's bathtime.

My ability to power through the sleep deprivation continues to amaze me, and I’m just waiting for the bottom to fall out. Little Elliott gets really congested in the early morning hours, so while he typically sleeps from midnight until 3, after that we’re up for at least a few minutes every hour on the hour. With Sam ready to rock and roll by 7, it can make for some rough mornings (and anyone who knows me will tell you I’m not generally a morning person). The pediatrician has assured me the congestion will get better as Elliott grows, so I’m just trying to take it one night at a time.

Stay warm this weekend!

Elliott at One Month

2010-01-05T20:03:00.000-06:00

We hit the one-month marker on Sunday. It's nice to have the first month behind us and it was even nicer to get a clean bill of health from the pediatrician today. Elliott is another tall one. He measured 24 inches, which puts him at the 95th percentile. He's also been gaining some weight - he clocked in at 11 pounds!

2010 Here We Come

2010-01-01T17:12:00.000-06:00

I just took a look back at what I wrote a year ago – funny to see how much can change in 12 months. When I wrote that post, I was just hoping we could get Sam to ditch his pacifier and sleep sack. We were successful with one of the two…the pacifier was put to rest last spring, but Sam has stayed true to sleep sack. In fact, I’ve been thinking about buying a larger size. I never dreamt at the time that we’d have a newborn by the time we closed out 2009. It’s making me wonder what in the world will come along and surprise us in 2010.

As we look forward to a new year, here’s a snapshot of where we’re at. I’m pretty confident that I’ll look back at this in 12 months and marvel at all that's changed.

Sam – Sam’s two. There’s no other way to explain it. He’s really busy with his toys, books and puzzles. Running, music class and cooking are his favorite activities. He jumps from one task to the next every couple of minutes and a cloud of snacks, milk and general messiness follow him along the way. He wants to do EVERYTHING himself and there is no task too large for Sam. He frustrates easily and isn’t scared to say NO. His newest thing is to take off all of his clothes as a protest to bedtime or a chilly way to welcome the morning. He is delighted by his new-found autonomy and given that getting dressed and undressed is a pretty critical life skill, Steve and I vacillate between being proud and completely annoyed.

Elliott – I am still holding my breath, but I think that Elliott is a pretty mellow little guy. He still sleeps a ton, and for the most part, just takes it all in while he’s awake. He rarely makes a peep and when he does, it’s a sure sign that he just needs some milk. His eyes are a gorgeous blue and I’m really hoping they don’t change much. I just noticed the other day that his eye lashes are starting to sprout, and if I had to hedge my bets, I think we’ve got a blondie on our hands. We’ll see.

Here are a few snapshots of what's been keeping us busy this week, and here's to a year of happiness ahead!!

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa:

Sawing Logs:

Baking:

Winter Wonderland at the Chicago Botanic Garden:

Christmas in Chicago

2009-12-26T14:52:00.000-06:00

Christmas has come and gone and while it won't go down as the best Christmas we've ever had, we did have some fun. There were plenty of presents (there are STILL some left under the tree) and a trip to Old St. Pat's for mass on Christmas Day. I can't really say there was good food -- our Christmas lunch resembled the scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when Clark cuts the turkey, which has completely disinegrated except for the bones. Our pork loin was similar and we're blaming it on Whole Foods.

Sam loved all of his gifts and especially enjoyed the ice cream Santa left behind. Elliott did a lot of snoozing, but it was nice to have a cuddle buddy.

It was tough to be away from home on Christmas, but we're thankful for each other and all of the good fortune 2009 brought our little family. Grandma and Grandpa are headed to Chicago as I type, and we can't wait to give them both big Christmas hugs. After that, I'm tearing down the tree and putting away the decorations....call me Scrooge, but we need the extra space!

Shriner at 40

2009-12-23T19:41:00.000-06:00

We helped our good friend Shriner celebrate his 40th birthday over the weekend. We welcomed the babysitter with open arms and I've never been so pleased to put on makeup, a dress and a pair of heels. Before the festivities officially began, Steve and I even managed to squeeze in a margarita at Frontera Grill -- something we did all the time pre-Sam, but have only done once or twice since then. The brithday celebration was befitting of the birthday boy - a room full of close friends, plenty of wine and a belly dancer to boot. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the tale. Happy birthday, Uncle Shriner!

Sam, meet Santa

2009-12-19T14:13:00.001-06:00

We went downtown earlier this week to meet Santa. Sam wasn't exactly sure what to make of him at first, but quickly warmed up to the idea. We were there on a Monday and without any lines, we had Santa's undivided attention for a good 10 minutes. He was an interesting fellow - a Vietnam vet and a Cubs fan. Sam's one and only request for Santa was (and continues to be) ice cream, so we capped off our visit with a dish of the yummy stuff. All in all a great outing and definitely the highlight of the week.

These Boots are Made for Walkin'

2009-12-11T14:49:00.002-06:00

Ahhhh! The thrill of new boots! Makes you want to go internet shopping, doesn't it?

Put this one in "there's still a lot to learn" column: we decided to go on a walk last night, and that means getting two kids and two adults bundled up and out the door. It's not as easy as it might seem, which was made all too clear when we hit the sidewalk and Sam said "ouch, my feet hurt." I looked down and to my surprise Sam was standing there in his socks. Oops.

Speaking of feet, is there anything cuter than baby feet?

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

2009-12-10T15:56:00.002-06:00

The Good:

--Sam has mastered the ABC song. He was randomly belting it out yesterday – and today he logged about 50 laps in the hallway while he shouted it out at top volume.

--We've been singing a lot of Christmas carols around the house. I think Grandma and Grandpa got Sam started, and now he loves Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It's pretty much intstant happiness and makes me look forward to Christmas.

--My recovery is 100 percent easier than it was with Sam. I won’t go into details – wouldn’t want to scare off any would-be moms!

--I'm not pregnant anymore! No more leg cramps, no more heartburn! I can bend over, drink wine and sleep on my back. LOVE IT.

--Elliott is sweet as pie. He's still in the sleepy stage, so he just snoozes on and off all day long. He's a great little cuddler.

The Bad:
--I miss our routine. We're all over the place right now trying to keep Sam and Elliott happy, the refrigerator stocked and the house picked up. Add some Christmas shopping and a new nanny search to the list and it just feels like everything's been turned upside down. Not my favorite.

--Breastfeeding is a bigger time suck than I remember and with a baby who’s content to sleep on and off between slurps, it’s been stressful trying to figure out if he's eating enough, and carving out time to really engage with Sam in between feedings.

--I think Sam is definitely harboring some resentment towards me for having the baby. He's sweet as can be toward Elliott, but rejection is the name of the game with me. It's a bit heartbreaking to be honest, but I'm hopeful it will pass soon.

The Ugly:
--Steve and I are showering about once every other day. Gross.

--The high temp was 16 degrees yesterday. Brrr! Winter’s officially here and it’s going to be a long one.

--Sam is terribly two. If things don’t go exactly as planned, all hell breaks loose. Steve and I have been on the verge of poking our eyeballs out a few times. We finally resorted to the TV yesterday, plopping him down in front of Rudolph (see above). Thank God he's cute and lovable most of the time or we'd have a real problem on our hands! ;)

Still Standing

2009-12-06T20:59:00.000-06:00

We've been home for more than 24 hours and we're still standing. Sam was delighted to meet his little brother. There's really no other way to describe it -- he was all smiles and said "hi baby Elliott" over and over. He continues to be curious about the baby and shows grave concern any time Elliott begins to cry or whine. We're trying to teach Sam about being gentle -- so far there's only been one major infraction - a book landed on Elliott's head -- other than that, it's been all head pats and hand kisses.

The over night was a little hard on me, but a long nap today has me back on track. Here's hoping for a couple of decent stretches of sleep tonight. Elliott's first appointment at the pediatrician is tomorrow at 9 a.m., so there won't be any time for lounging around!

Ready Or Not

2009-12-05T09:14:00.003-06:00

We just got a thumbs up from the pediatrician, so we're headed home later this morning. Grandma and Grandpa have been holding down the fort since we left and deserve gold medals for keeping Sam standing. I just checked in and they were headed out the door to music class -- definitely fodder for the Grandparents of the year award.

Here's hoping the transition home goes well. Of course I'm super nervous, but hopeful that it will go better than expected. We'll see.

Easy Does It

2009-12-04T10:12:00.004-06:00

It’s absolutely true what they say: it’s much easier the second time around. My delivery with Sam was horrendous – after pushing for three hours he was delivered with help from a pair of forceps, which required two docs to maneuver. There was a team of pediatricians waiting for him in the wings because he’d been in so much distress, and even though Sam was just fine and I eventually recovered, the experience was seared into my memory (and not in a good way!)

Needless to say, I had some anxiety about going through labor and delivery again. It kept me up at night and became painfully clear when I burst into tears after learning our induction time was moved up by five hours.

Well all my worry was for not. Elliott’s delivery was smooth sailing all the way. I loved my nurses, really loved my epidural, and in spite of some nervousness, pushing was pretty easy too. Elliott came roaring into the world after just 15 minutes!

Now we’re resting and relaxing in room 1164. Between the nurse call button and four hours of uninterrupted sleep last night I feel like I’m at a five-star resort. The only downside is how terribly I miss little Sam. Given H1N1 concerns, they aren’t letting anyone under the age of 18 in the hospital, so Sam’s at home with Grandma and Grandpa. It will be so great to see him tomorrow and introduce him to baby Elliott.

Our last night with the bump:

My first glimpse of Elliott:

Proud Papa:

Big yawn...

Gobble Gobble

2009-11-26T21:50:00.000-06:00

Our Thanksgiving celebration kicked off last night when Sam helped me cook up the pumpkin pie. He wasn't a big fan of the mixer (too loud!), but he LOVED the pie filling! Today was quiet, but nice. Sam and I napped while Steve slaved over our Thanksgiving feast, which was really delicious. Sam was pretty pumped about the spread, but refused to taste any of it with the exception of the ice cream that was served with the pie.

We went around the table so everyone could share what they are most thankful for this year:
Me: "Daddy, Sam, and being at the end of my pregnancy instead of the beginning."
Steve: "A healthy, happy family and a football team that's 9-1"
Sam: "Santa Claus"

Hope your day was delicious and fun.

T Minus Seven Days

2009-11-25T22:17:00.001-06:00

With just a week to go until my scheduled induction, we are officially in the homestretch. I haven't written a lot about my pregnancy, mostly because I haven't had a whole lot of time to really focus on it. Like most second-time moms, the books I poured over the first time around have mostly sat idle on my nightstand and many of the weekly emails I received from babycenter.com went unread. Don't get me wrong, I still find the process incredibly amazing and intriguing, there's just only so much I can do in any given day!

At this point, I'm feeling pretty terrible and looking forward to crossing the finish line. I don't mean to complain -- complianing about being pregnant is like winning an Olympic medal and complaining about the training. Pregnancy is certainly a privelage and a blessing, but I've had enough! At this point - given the sleepless nights, back aches, leg cramps and uncomfortable clothes, I'm ready to get the show on the road!

Here are a few snapshots that document my growing belly. The first is from June. I remember feeling prematurely huge. Ha - I'd kill to look like that again!

September:

November:

Turning Two - Part Two

2009-11-16T21:43:00.000-06:00

Saturday brought more nice weather, so we actually celebrated Sam's special day outside on the patio. A real rarity this time of year, which made it even more special.

The guest list for Sam's party was small, but distinguished -- Grandma and Grandpa Boylan, Kristine, Meghan, Shriner, Karen and Mom and Dad.

At Sam's last birthday party, he wasn't very interested in his cake, but this year was a whole different story. He was all too eager to blow out the candles and dig right in to the icing. Never mind the cake -- the icing was pure sugar, something Sam has come to LOVE. I figured you only turn two once, so I looked the other way and hoped that the sugar buzz would fade in time for Sam's nap (it did!)

Turning Two - Part One

2009-11-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

Sam really lived it up for his second birthday. The weekend started with a bang when Aunt Kristine and Cousin Meghan rolled into town on Thursday night. Friday was warm and sunny, so we took in the zoo, the park and RJ Grunts for lunch. After carrying Sam from the Primate House all the way to Grunts, I thought I was going into early labor. No such luck, but needless to say, I was ready for bed by 9 p.m. that night.

Bust a Move

2009-11-08T21:33:00.000-06:00

Sam busted out a new little dance about a week ago. He was in the bathtub the first time he did it and it had me in hysterics. He just stood up and started to groove -- never mind that there wasn't any music on. Now it happens a couple of times a day and the best part about it is his expression while it's happening. He flashes a huge grin and opens his mouth. Sometimes he'll add in some screaming at the end. We get his happy dance anytime he does something noteworthy, like using the potty, and when he's really excited. Case in point: we spent a sunny morning at the zoo and after a quick snack break, he busted a move before checking out a few more animals.

"More Houses!"

2009-11-08T20:04:00.000-06:00

An overdue and quick update on Halloween: it was a huge success. Despite Sam's initial trepidation about his costume, he wanted in on the action as soon as he saw the other kids in the neighborhood dressed up, . We took some photos with the neighbors before trick-or-treating. Again, once Sam got the hang of it, he couldn't get enough. He loved knocking on the doors and putting candy in his pumpkin. He kept saying "more houses," and we made the rounds for about an hour before he started yanking at his costume to take it off (it was admittedly a little bulky, but perfect given the chilly temps).

I'd say it was the best Halloween I've had since I was a kid, and I'm pretty sure Sam will be looking forward to it again next year.

Going Bananas!

2009-10-30T16:37:00.000-05:00

We're going bananas for Halloween around our house. Hope your day is spooktacular!

The Great Pumpkin

2009-10-25T22:02:00.000-05:00

We carved pumpkins this afternoon - a first for Sam. He wasn't very excited about reaching in and pulling out the goo, and come to think of it, he wasn't that excited about anything but tasting it (ick). Steve did most of the heavy lifting, and we were both surprised that the entire project only took about 40 minutes. We both had memories of it taking hours.

Next up: getting Sam to wear his costume. We've sold in the idea - when you ask him what he's going to be for Halloween, he'll tell you, but he refuses to put the costume on. We're cautiously optimistic that the tide will turn by next weekend, but you never know!

Baptism Day for Charlotte Grace

2009-10-25T21:49:00.000-05:00

Now that I've started to get out from underneath my bronchitis, I can finally post about our weekend in Minneapolis. It was filled to the brim with friends and family and the highlight was being there in person for Charlotte's baptism. It was a perfect day and Charlotte was a perfect baby. She hardly made a peep the entire time we were in church (Sam and Claire made up for it) and seemed to relish the house full of people for brunch.

I only walked away with a couple of snapshots. I'm learning that it's not exactly easy to pull out the camera when there are a handful of toddlers at play!

A Few of Sam's Favorite Things

2009-10-05T21:20:00.002-05:00

Here’s a list of Sam’s favorite things at the moment. It changes a lot, but it’s still worth noting because as he nears his second birthday he is getting more and more passionate (read: temperamental) about his likes and dislikes. I didn't include cars, trucks, trains or diggers since those were covered in a previous post, but they would still be close to the top of the list.

· Running back and forth in the hallway – This has quickly risen to the top as one of Sam’s favorite activities. He likes it best right after bath time. He also enjoys it a lot when Mom and Dad get in the mix.
· Walking – remember that really fancy stroller we bought for Sam? I can’t remember the last time he wanted to ride in it. He walks everywhere – including Target and the grocery store, which makes for some very slow-going errands
· Mr. Monkey – Sam’s stuffed monkey doubles as his best buddy. We feed Mr. Monkey, change his diaper and put him to bed. Steve and I have learned exactly what we say and do by watching Sam take care of Mr. Monkey.
· Reading – the other night we were at a friend’s house when Sam suddenly disappeared. When we called his name, he yelled from upstairs (with a somewhat impatient tone), “I’m reading!”
· Cooking – we make waffles almost every weekend and Sam’s a great helper. We made Pumpkin Bread last night and he was the greatest sous chef ever
· The Cubs – despite the Cubs not-so-stellar season, Sam still became a die-hard fan. He loves his baseball bat, pretending he’s pitching and reading his Cubs books.
· Bathtime – this one is a perennial favorite and I can’t really see it going out of vogue anytime soon. The kid’s face totally lights up when it’s bathtime and it’s all we can do from keep him from jumping in with his clothes on. I suppose that’s a sign that I should get him back into swimming lessons pronto!

VROOM!!!

2009-09-12T21:25:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if it's part of being a kid or part of being a boy, but Sam truly loves moving vehicles. And the bigger the better! From bikes and buses to tractors, taxis and dump trucks, he can't get enough. Just today we went to Celtic Fest and what interested him most was a semi truck that was parked nearby. Thank goodness we live near a fire station that's filled with some of the nicest fire fighters around. They always invite us in to take a close look at the fire trucks and occasionally they even let Sam sit in one of them. Sam got lucky a couple weeks ago and Steve snapped these pictures. The third one is from our trip to the Farm in the City last weekend. Again, Sam was surrounded by cows, pigs, sheeps and chickens, but the tractor was by far the biggest hit!

2009-08-30T20:33:00.000-05:00

I've been really bad about keeping up with the blog. Sorry! I've been busy trying to keep everything afloat and still make it to bed by 10 p.m. every night. Not an easy feat.

In the last few weeks Sam has been transformed into a little boy. He's been growing like mad, his vocab is exploding and he has two scraped up knees -- testaments to how much he loves running and playing in the park. He loves helping us in the kitchen and can't get enough of the 18 million balls we have laying around the house. He runs "bases" in the backyard while yelling, "home run, home run!" To say he's all boy would be a serious understatement.

He's also learned how to assert himself and throw a well-timed tantrum, but those are the less than glamorous details that aren't worth focusing on (at least in this medium)!

Introducing Ms. Charlotte

2009-08-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

The newest member of the Boylan clan, Charlotte Grace Boylan, made her way into the world on Friday, July 31. Art, Angie and Claire welcomed her with open arms, and when we arrived at the hospital on Saturday, we did the same. She's a doll. Steve and I had fun holding her and delighted in all of her teeny tiny features. Sam was curious enough to give her a pat and then promptly moved on to bigger and better things like the buttons on Angie's bed.

More to see here: http://art-angie-boylan.blogspot.com/

A big, huge heart-felt congratulations to Art and Angie. We're so lucky to add another cousin to the mix.

Active Endeavor

2009-07-30T22:31:00.000-05:00

We're nothing if not active on this vacation. Biking, golfing, walking, swimming and stroller rides have kept us busy. Even getting the kids to sit on the couch to read a book is nothing short of a gymnastics routine. Quite frankly, if I wasn't pregnant, I'd probably be losing weight.

So Far So Good

2009-07-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

Road Trip

2009-07-24T21:38:00.002-05:00

Our summer vacation is officially underway. We were in the car ready to rock and roll right on time, but had to abandon ship when we realized that Sam had a dirty diaper. Ten minutes and a diaper change later, we were back in the car and on the Kennedy. The first 100 hundred miles were marked by a thunderstorm and a steady stream of construction, but now Sam's asleep and we're smack-dab in the middle of Wisconsin. Things are definitely looking up.

BP II

2009-07-21T11:32:00.002-05:00

If the bulging belly, insatiable appetite and constant fatigue didn’t prove it, yesterday’s ultrasound did. BP II is well on his way to making his big debut in December. Yep, you read that correctly, we’re having another boy.

The news was quite shocking to me as I’ve been convinced it was a girl for months. Apparently my gut isn’t exactly accurate – especially when you look at the undisputable proof in this picture!

So there is some good news and some bad news here (although I’ve decided the bad news can be turned into good news):

Good news:
· We can recycle all of Sam’s clothing and toys
· We’ve already mastered (?) how to care for a newborn boy’s special needs (read: circumcision). · Sam will have a younger brother and given the proximity in age, they’ll likely be playmates for life.

Bad, but good, news:
· I’m destined for years of wrestling and rough-housing, but Steve will have to carry the burden of really trying to keep up with them (we’ll just need a bigger house).
· I’ll end up hauling around stinky boys and their stinky athletic equipment, but I like sports and I’ve got a bunch of nieces who can help me get my fill of gymnastics meets, dance recitals and prom dress shopping.
· As the only female in the house I should be adored and pampered for the rest of my life. :)

So bring on BP II. Only 19 ½ weeks to go!

Gross

2009-07-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

There are lots of things about being parents that are pretty gross. A petting zoo that pops up in the middle of the city is right up there. I’ve never been much of an animal lover, but there’s something about a herd of sheep, a couple of geese and a hog shoved in a 15 foot pen that puts me over the edge. Needless to say, when we stumbled upon one at a neighborhood street festival, I looked at Steve and said, “I’m not going in there.” Thank goodness Steve is more open minded because Sam was perfectly happy with the whole scene.

Made in the Shade

2009-07-16T12:59:00.000-05:00

Fourth of July Fun

2009-07-06T20:45:00.003-05:00

These pictures speak for themselves when it comes to our Fourth of July weekend. A couple of speed bumps, but all-in-all another outstanding weekend.

Steve and I were all ready to enjoy an adult afternoon at Wrigley on Friday, but a miscommunication with our sitter meant giving up our date to take Sam. The outing was equally as successful as our Father's Day trip, so it was actually a big win for all of us.

We dodged the rain on Saturday morning and made our first trip to Millenium Park. We scored $6 parking downtown (totally unheard of) and discovered that there is free live music for kids and families every day of the week. We'll definitely be going back soon.

On Saturday evening we stopped in at a friend's barbeque. They happen to have a dog, Baxter, and Sam fell in love instantly. He couldn't get enough of playing catch and getting doggie kisses. Too bad I forgot to bring a clean diaper and we had to depart early!

We spent Sunday afternoon at Ravinia for another outdoor concert. This time the sun was shining brightly and there was absolutely no downside to the outing -- it was a perfect way to end the long weekend!

Aquaman

2009-07-01T21:31:00.003-05:00

Now that summer is officially underway, you're going to see a recurring theme: water. Sam loves it -- always has -- so we're indulging him every chance we can get. The sprinkler is a big hit -- especially after Steve showed Sam that sticking your whole head in the stream of water is really refreshing. We've also been hitting the neighborhood pool. It's just a couple of blocks away and there's a great wading pool that's perfect for Sam. I didn't take any photos at the pool, but his hairdo after a day or sunscreen, sweat and chlorine was definitely a photo opp not to be missed (don't worry, we took him in for a haircut this week!)

Daddy-O

2009-06-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend. If I could, I’d bottle it up and put it on a shelf so I could pull it out and savor it again years from now. It was THAT good.

Sam’s nanny had a vacation day on Friday, so I scheduled a day off and spent the whole day playing with Sam. It was rainy and awful outside, but we still found plenty to do and I was secretly a little sad to see the day come to an end. Saturday was even better than Friday – the sun came out and the temps soared and after music class, we spent most of the day outdoors. There was a little block party at the corner bar and we caught a three-piece band that had Sam enthralled. Then we came home and broke out the sprinkler for some fun in the sun, and after Sam hit the hay, some friends joined us for dinner on the patio. It was an ideal summer day.

Sunday really took the cake. After waffles, fresh fruit and an early morning trip to the park, we celebrated Steve as the best Dad ever at the Cubs game. You probably wouldn’t believe it, but Sam is truly a Born Cubs Fan. He yells “Cubs” whenever he sees their logo, loves looking at his Cubs books and relishes the moments we let him watch the games on TV. It’s not entirely surprising given Steve’s love of the Cubs, but it’s still super fun to see him become a full-fledged fan.

Sam loved being at Wrigley. We were a little nervous going into it, but Sam was an angel. We checked his stroller at the gate and then he hung on tight to Mom and Dad. He alternated between our laps, waved to our neighbors and clapped for his Cubs. I swear I could’ve sat through 10 more innings just watching him take it all in.

A belated Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there. Hope your celebrations were just as good as ours!

Summer Fun

2009-06-14T20:53:00.004-05:00

Another fun weekend has come and gone. We took in the Cubs/Twins game on Friday with my parents and a few other relatives. The highlight: sunny skies, temps in the 70s and great seats. The lowlight: having ketchup splattered all over me and watching the Cubs let the Twins walk all over them. Still, not a bad way to spend a gorgeous summer day.

The rain came back on Saturday, but the sun pushed its way back into the picture today, so we spent the majority of our day outside. We started out with a walk along Lake Michigan and then cut back through Lincoln Park and the zoo on our way home. I forgot the camera, so I have nothing to show for the adventure, but we did snap a few photos at the end of the afternoon. It doesn’t capture any of our fun activities, but if a dirt-filled, ice cream-stained face doesn’t prove you’ve had a fun day, I don’t know what does.

Party Animals

2009-06-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

We welcomed Grandma, Grandpa, Meghan and Kristine to Chicago this weekend. We did lots of celebrating -- we started with Meghan's third birthday party on Saturday night and moved to the Boylan family reunion on Sunday afternoon. Meghan's birthday party came complete with balloons, party hats, pizza making and candle blowing. All in all a really great night and so refreshing to see that the little things in life (balloons, cake, ice cream and pizza sauce) can still bring such great joy.

Crabby Pants

2009-06-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

You'd never know it from these pictures, but Sam was super grouchy all weekend long. It was the lethal combination of a cold and a couple of new teeth creeping in. We were totally amazed by how many times he was able to use the word "no." I think he said it 25 times within the first 30 seconds of me greeting him on Sunday morning. Needless to say, we felt a little bad for the poor kid who was clearly not his usual self. We also rejoiced in the happy moments (and quickly pulled out the camera!)

We're hoping things shape up before Saturday when the Boylan clan from MN arrive. I'm optimistic -- it's amazing the impact Grandma, Grandpa and cousin Meghan can have.

Memorial Day in MN

2009-05-30T13:18:00.002-05:00

I've been terribly delinquent about blog posts lately. Sorry! It's been a whirlwind both personally and professionally, so it' s been hard to even find time to get the camera out.

We were in Minneapolis for Memorial Day weekend. It was a fun-filled couple of days, but with all of the running around, I never reached for the camera. Thank goodness Art and Angie are more on top of things. It gives me an opportunity to steal great photos from their blog (thank you!!)

I promise to get with the program and post more often. We have lots planned in June, so there should be no lack of new news to report.

Pancakes!

2009-05-10T20:26:00.000-05:00

There are many, many things I love about my mom, and her pancakes are right near the top of the list. Not kidding. They are the absolute best, and considering how many I ate as a kid, I should weigh about 2,000 pounds. When I was pregnant with Sam I made pancakes almost every weekend and I actually came close to turning out some that rivaled my mom’s. I figured it was good practice for becoming a mom myself and let’s face it, if you can’t drink beer, you may as well indulge in pancakes.

About a month or two ago I cooked up some pancakes for myself and Sam. Sam had become a pretty accomplished eater, so I figured it was high time to introduce him to what was sure to become his favorite meal. It went over like a ton of bricks. He took one bite and pushed them away.

I gave it another try this morning. Just in time for Mother’s Day, the worm turned and Sam devoured the pancakes. He couldn’t get enough. He actually started grabbing them off of my plate. Ha! A kid after my own heart.

So tradition lives on. Thank God. I’m looking forward to serving (and eating!) pancakes every weekend for the next 18 years.

Hope all the mommies out there had a great day.

These are just two cute photos that we took in the yard (our new living room).

Fast Friends

2009-04-26T19:43:00.001-05:00

After another rainy weekend we are counting the days until the May flowers arrive! The temps soared, but the rain was relentlass, so we were home bound for much of the weekend (AGAIN!!). The silver lining? We had a special visitor straight from Minneapolis who found some time to hang out with Sam. They were fast friends, which is no surprise considering Sarah was one of the first visitors we had after Sam was born. My how times have changed!

Easter = Exhaustion

2009-04-12T19:43:00.003-05:00

The Easter Bunny really hit one out of the ballpark this morning when he surprised Sam with his very own car. Sam spied it from a distance, ran for it and once he sat down, he didn't want to get up. After lots and lots of laps around the kitchen we finally distracted him with his Easter basket, which was full of more goodies (but let's face it, a new book doesn't really compare to a new car).

The Egg hunt went off without a hitch too. Sam is going through a stage where he thoroughly enjoys picking things up and putting them away, so he was all too eager to find the eggs and squirrel them away in his basket.

After that excitement wore off Sam literally asked for a nap. I said, "Sam do you just want to go back to bed?" He shook his head vigoursly and started climbing into his crib. I gladly obliged and he went down for a nap at 8:35.

We spent the afternoon at the Damasks who were gracious enough to host a group of us for lunch and another egg hunt. Sam was thrilled to join the other kids (and the Easter Bunny) and after a few hours of running around like mad, it was time to head home for another nap.

All in all a really great day full of fun and laughter.

Hop To It

2009-04-11T19:49:00.002-05:00

Our Easter celebration started early tonight when we went to Bubbles for an Egg Hunt. We joined what felt like a thousand other kids, parents and grandparents for singing, dancing, cookie decorating and a good old-fashioned egg hunt. The Easter Bunny made an appearance too, and after some initial hesitation, Sam gave him a big wave goodbye as he was leaving.

The highlight of the event -- at least for me -- was when Sam came running across the room to give me a flower. Absolutely, positively adorable and something I'll remember whenever I see big, fake flowers.

Tomorrow will be even more jam-packed with Easter fun. Sam's been sleeping for more than an hour now -- time for me to hit the hay too.

Easter's On Its Way

2009-04-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

My parents came to babysit Sam for the weekend and brought this amazing Easter basket with REAL GRASS! We've been watching it grow all week, running our fingers through it and dreaming of summer time. The Easter bunny has a tough act to follow, but I'm confident he'll live up to the challenge!

Giddy Up

2009-03-29T20:28:00.000-05:00

We discovered The Right Start about two months before Sam was born and it was instantly our favorite baby store. It's about five minutes away from our house and there is free, no-fuss parking (virtually impossible to find in the city). It's also has a perfectly-edited selection of everything from strollers and car seats to bibs, blankets, books and toys as well as truly knowledgeable salespeople. It is pretty close to perfection, so when I discovered they're closing due to bankruptcy I was super surprised and disappointed. But the upside is there are good deals everywhere, including Paco the Rocking Pony. It required some minimal assembly, but we let Sam take a quick, first look right before bedtime. Needless to say, it was a big hit. Giddy up!

Days Gone By

2009-03-25T21:16:00.003-05:00

A colleague at work had a baby boy a couple weeks ago and she writes a terrific blog all about her foray into parenthood. It’s made me think a lot about the first few weeks after Sam arrived on the scene. It’s amazing how quickly the details slip away – blame it on sleep deprivation -- and hearing her talk about labor and delivery, their hospital stay and the first night at home has brought back a flood of memories.

The early days are amazing, and looking back they really do set the tone for parenthood. You revel in the small victories and you can literally feel a fountain of love springing up inside you. At the same time, the exhaustion is so overwhelming, it’s sheer will that gets you through some of those first days and nights (I’m told the teenage years will be another test of our will).

I guess I’m just suddenly struck by how fast you go from perfecting a swaddle to chasing a toddler! I wish I could press pause for a little while.

For those who haven’t seen enough of our vacation, here’s more (apologies about the music choice).

Life's Not a Beach

2009-03-17T16:36:00.003-05:00

Our vacation is over and we've been welcomed back to reality with a hectic work week and a flu bug. But good memories abound and I keep finding myself glancing back at our vacation pics. What a great time we had!

I hope the luck of the Irish is with you today - it's not with me. I spent 21 of the last 24 hours in bed. As I'd say to Sam, "that's yucky."

Life's a Beach

2009-03-10T18:59:00.006-05:00

Our vacation is just about half over and sun and fun is definitely the theme. Actually, the first day was cloudy, but it gave us a chance to get acclimated to the heat before the sunshine showed its face.

There have definitely been some "key learnings." Here's what we've learned:

1. Watching airtran.com like a hawk pays off. We bought a seat for Sam about 12 hours before take off and it could be the single best decision we've ever made as parents. Sam had his own seat, we had ours and everyone was happy.

2. There are still nice travelers in the world who are more than happy to accomodate families. Who knew? Some day I will be repaid for all of the dirty looks I gave kids while traveling for business. Luckily I was not repaid during this trip.

3. Kids hate sunglasses. Spend the $7 on something else. Sam ripped his off his head immediately and they are now lost somewhere on Barefoot Beach.

4. If your shaker expands while mixing up margaritas, do not check Google for tips on how to get it unstuck. Tips like, "try a propane torch" are not helpful.

5. Vacations are SO MUCH FUN and make working our tails off worthwhile!!!

On Our Own

2009-03-01T20:31:00.002-06:00

Sam and I were on our own this weekend and we took it upon ourselves to have as much fun as possible! Saturday started with a bang with music class at Bubbles. Sam thoroughly enjoyed the songs and the parachute, as always, and we stayed after so he could burn off some extra energy. After his nap, Sam and I hit the stores to look for a new bathing suit I could wear on our trip. Not an easy task with a 15 ½ year-old -- when he burst out laughing, I took it as a sign that I really did look as bad as I thought. We promptly left and I’ll be wearing one of the suits that are in my closet.

We had more fun today, in spite of the awful weather. We hit Target first thing and then went to the Nature Museum. We spent loads of time in the indoor playground and then visited the butterflies. When we’re in the butterfly haven, Sam now points and says, “But.” I’m not going to lie – it makes me very proud.

I broke all the rules and let Sam watch Sesame Street tonight. We both loved it. Sam kept looking over his shoulder at me with a huge grin on his face. Turns out he loves Big Bird, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch and Grover as much as I do.

We’ll be very happy to have Steve back tomorrow night. Bath time wasn’t the same without the Bubble Master and in general, life’s just better when we’re a threesome. But I have to admit, Sam is the best sidekick a girl could ever want. We had a great weekend.

T Minus Two Weeks

2009-02-22T19:38:00.005-06:00

The countdown to vacation is officially on! We have less than two weeks to go until we're basking in the warm, sunny weather (phew). The prep is underway too - we're testing out life jackets and investing in a mound of summer clothes, including the teeny tiniest little sandals! It definitely helps as Old Man Winter paid a visit to Chicago again this weekend and it no longer has the allure it did in December. Although with Sam's excitement about snow boots and shoveling, it's hard not to enjoy it a little bit.

Side note - I had a birthday this week and it was one of those fabulous days that left me thinking, "I love my life!" I didn't do anything extravagent, but I definitely fell asleep with a smile on my face. Thanks to everyone who reached out with well wishes.

All is Well

2009-02-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

Steve and I were lucky enough to have a three-day weekend in honor of President's Day (bliss). Sam has been fighting a cold, so we took it really easy, but having a Monday off makes life so pleasant. Lots of hanging out, reading books and chasing Sam with Kleenex.

Sam's 15-month Well Baby Check Up was tonight -- all is well. He's still super tall (avg. height of a 21-month-old) and super thin (between 25 and 30 percentile). All in all it appears he's a pretty normal kid, although I would argue that he's exceptionally cute!

Have a great week.

Be Mine

2009-02-14T09:01:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Have a LOVEly Day.

Happy Trails

2009-02-10T20:48:00.004-06:00

Sam and I made the long journey home to Minneapolis this weekend. I describe it as long because when you have a 15-month-old child on an airplane, 30 minutes is a long time, an hour is an eternity.

But we were blessed to have the whole row to ourselves and some very friendly strangers behind us who were open to playing peek-a-boo with Sam. The window shade also provided a few minutes of entertainment. So did the seat-back pocket and seatbelts.

We went home so I could help celebrate my friend Jen's upcoming nuptials. It was great fun to hang with the college gals on Saturday evening and it gave Grandma B some alone time with Sam.

On Sunday we gathered and Uncle Art and Aunt Angie's for lunch and some playtime. Sam was pretty excited to see his cousins, which was evidenced by his shrieks of joy. I don't normally steal content from other blogs, but when I saw Angie's post this morning, I knew I had to. The hot property on Sunday was cousin Claire's ride-on toy and Sam felt like it was his manly right to perch on it all day long. Poor Claire was a little taken aback and Meghan, after pushing Sam around in circles, wanted a turn too. No such luck.

After the weekend I've decided a couple of things:

--Before we head home again we need to teach Sam how to be a gentleman;

--We're booking Sam his own airplane seat for our trip to FLA next month.

The Bubble Master

2009-02-02T21:03:00.001-06:00

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that Sam lives for bathtime. The thrill hasn't worn off over time, if anything, he has grown to love it more and more. At this point he begs to get in the tub whether there's water in it or not.

Christmas brought some good enhancements -- a boat, a wind up whale, some suction cup ducks, a set of floating turtles -- but we took it to a whole new level this weekend when we invested in some new bubbles. We've always blown bubbles, and Sam's always loved them. In fact, "bubbles" is one of the few two-syllable words he can pronounce. BUT, the new bubble- blower is totally awesome. It shoots out tons of tiny bubbles all at once, and they magically stick around longer than most. I'm not sure who's happier, Sam or Steve (a.k.a. "The Bubble Master").