Monday, October 20, 2014

Back in Action, Aug-Oct 2014

It's been a long time... again. Aaaaarrrrgh (shakes fists in air)! We've had a lot going on and I wish I would have kept up. Maybe I'll go back and do a couple updates on the last few months later. But I'm back now and hope to keep up. We'll see.

We moved back to Chicago at the very end of July and are living right around the corner from Matt's parents house. It's a great place, but it's a rental, so we'll be moving again sometime soon. Can't wait for that. Here's what we've been up to since August....

Brady started Kindergarten! He is going to the same elementary school that his Daddy went to and they are both thrilled about it. I'm just happy that it's in walking distance to our house, well, until the snow comes!

He is getting so big! (5 years, 8 months)

We waited to have Cole's 2nd birthday party after we settled into our home, so we could celebrate with family. He was so happy to have his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents there!

 Big slugger trying to bust open the pinata

Hanging with a bunch of friends (and all their little boys!) Watch out world, Cole learned how to cheese it up for the camera.

We went apple picking with the cousins (Aubrey, age 4.5)

Brady gets ready to run at his school's fundraiser (he did almost 3 miles!)

Cole playing cars in our new basement

Lounging before nap

Watching Bubba play on the iPad

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Post-Nap Cole

Cole isn't the... cheeriest of folks... when he wakes up. Not in the morning, not after nap. I go in his room every day oozing sunshine and rainbows and he just cries and tells me, "no!" But I keep trying, hoping one day he'll break out of this post-sleep funk.

Today I decided to sneak in the camera to capture the fun. There weren't any tears, but I got the usual stone face, covered with his paci and blankie.

I have a hard time with lighting in his room, so I had to use the external flash, but I just love the way the walls bring out the blue in his eyes. This one and his eyes. Certainly doesn't get them from me (the grumpy thing yes, eyes no).

7/365: Post-nap Cole



He looks so snuggly, doesn't he?! I'm just glad this isn't a video project :)

Weekend Recap: Aunt Amanda Was Here!

So I'm not quite hitting the "post a day" mark, but I have posted more in the last 7 days than I have in the last 7 months. That has to mean something, right?! :)

My sister Amanda was in town visiting this past weekend, so we were very busy playing and talking about wedding stuff (she's getting married in June, for those of you who don't already know!) It is always so wonderful having her here. She is my very best friend and I miss her with all my heart. Having her here always brings out the best in me, and the boys.

4/365: Brady & his Aunt Amanda. Reunited!

4/365: Playing "Steal the Blankies" 

4/365: Love on Coley!

Amanda cared for Brady when I went back to work after maternity leave (way back in 2009), for months 3-6, so they created a very special bond that no one can match. Despite the distance, they have always been extremely close and Brady really cherishes the time he spends with her. He gets so sad when she leaves, it's hard for this Mama to keep it together...

6/365: Last dinner with Amanda

I am looking forward to the day when we are all back living in the same state, and saying goodbye will really just mean, "so long for now!"

***

I have been really good at getting out my DSLR every day to take a photo for this Catch the Moment 365 project. I even took my camera to dinner at a pizza joint the other night, just to capture our last meal with Aunt Amanda. But sometimes, a day goes by and I don't get a chance to use it, so I have to rely on the trusty-dusty cell phone photo. Here is a shot I took on Sunday during the SF 49er's game vs. the Green Bay Packers.

5/365: Cheering on the 49'ers vs. the Packers

As a die-hard (ok, sometimes fair-weather) Chicago Bears fan, I wanted nothing more than the Niners to crush the Packers in the first week of the playoffs. And while it wasn't a full-on spanking, per say, the Niners were victorious in the end and I was one very happy lady. You know what they say, "when in Rome..."

Friday, January 3, 2014

Brady: Name of the Game is "Sports"!

On New Year's Day, it was the Stanford Cardinal. Yesterday, he was "rolling tide" with the rest of the 'Bama fans. Tonight? He's all decked out in Missouri black and gold (thanks to Grandpa Steve!)

For the record: We live about 5 miles from Stanford, and Matt's parents, brother, sister-in-law, cousin, and cousin-in-law all went to Missouri. I have no idea where the Alabama thing came from.

3/365: Waiting for the field goal.

Brady eats, sleeps, and poops sports right now. Football. Basketball. Hockey. It's 24/7. If he's not watching a game, he's checking scores on his "sports apps" or talking about yesterday's games. Or last week's games. Whatever he still has on his mind.

Or watching Sports Center, for the love of Pete.

Currently his favorite teams include... Denver Broncos, Miami Heat, Chicago Blackhawks, Alabama Crimson Tide, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Stanford Cardinal, Missouri Tigers, and Michigan State Spartans. I've tried talking to him about loyalty a thousand times, but he just cannot put all his eggs in one basket. He's a bandwagon fan, at it's finest. And it's just fine by him.

In one breath he can go from talking hockey highlights, to BCS standings, to a bad call on on the Chargers on 3rd and 8. I'm a sport-loving kind of girl, but I have sports whiplash most days with this one. Is this a normal thing with boys?!

But he's passionate about it and it makes him happy (well, mostly happy. Boy had a MAJOR BREAKDOWN when Alabama lost to Auburn a few ago. Oh maaaan....) I have to say, what I love most about his sports addiction is how educational it has been for him. When he talks scores, he always includes, "they're winning by 7!", or "they lost by 22", or "they're ranked higher because they have 2 more wins". I am really amazed at how his math skills have soared in the last 6 months.

Two years ago he was so into guitars and Joe Bonamassa that I thought for sure he had found his true calling, but now... he can barely recall the words to his old favorite song, "John Henry". So, who knows what the future will hold for this one, but right now, sports is the name of his game!

A boy and his dog.

To say that Cole is obsessed with Tinley would be an gross understatement. Brady was definitely into Tinley when he was very young (and sadly, his interest has faded over the years), but Cole, man is he all over this dog.

From the minute he wakes up, 'til the minute he goes to bed, he's always looking for "Tin-la" (the phonetic way he pronounces his name, so adorable!) He wants to give him water. He wants to give him (his) food. He wants to give him bones and his rope. He also wants to give him random things like cars, his paci, his blankies, and his... hat?! Nothing surprises me anymore.

Poor Tinley. He's getting up there in age (7.5 years, that's crazy!) and sometimes he just looks at me like, "really lady?!" But Cole is really very gentle with him and wants nothing more than to make him happy. So I let them be. After all, Tinley is very capable of getting up and running away if he's had enough, right?!

Yesterday, I was busy taking shots of my Holiday Card Holder, as part of my Catch The Moment 365 project, when I turned around to see this exchange between a boy and his dog...

2/365: A boy and his dog.

Cole is saying "hat? hat?" and Tinley is (clearly) saying, "no hat, no hat".

So Cole says, "that's okay Tin-la, I still love you."

And he does. No matter what.

For the record... here is the shot I was capturing when I got distracted with the cuteness on the couch. Now that the holiday cards have stopped coming in, my card wreath is complete. And it's so beautiful, I just can't bear to take it down with the rest of the holiday decor.

2/365: Blessed with wonderful family & friends.

I love looking at the faces of all the people I know and love. It might just have to stay up a little longer!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Back From A Break. Welcome 2014!

A few months ago I decided I was done with writing on this blog. At the time, I was throwing myself into work and my other blog, and I felt that this one had (sadly) run its course. But then I realized that giving up on this blog meant giving up on chronicling our family's lives, and that didn't settle too well.

Over the years, I have shared so many details of Brady's life on "Everything Eatherton", but have talked so little about Cole and his development over his first year and a half. Such is the life of a second child, I suppose, but I need to try and give him as much attention as Brady received. So I decided I would breathe new life into this blog in 2014 and that's what I'm here to do!




1/365: Just like his big brother-- this boy LOVES to read.

Fave books: Little Blue Truck, Going on a Bear Hunt, My Truck is Stuck, Big Red Barn

I've decided to participate in a new project that will (primarily) live on this blog. It's called Catch The Moment 365 and it's a photography challenge that encourages us to take a photo every single day of the year. Ideally with your DSLR, but if that's not possible, a phone will do. I decided to do this for 2 reasons... 1) I need to practice more with my DSLR and 2) I was recently at a friend's house who did a similar Project 365 then printed a book with all the photos. It was so incredible to see their life unfold and I knew immediately that I wanted to do it this year.

So, without trying to capture everything that's happened over the last 6 months (maybe I'll do that another time), let's just agree to move forward from this point together, m'kay?!

Keep checking back every day for a new photo, and maybe, just maybe, I'll write from time to time. And if you can't come every day, peek in on Mama Dish every Friday for a week in review.

Happy New Year! Here's to a fantastic 2014!



Monday, June 10, 2013

Another School Year in the Books!

I've said it before and I'll say again, I can't believe ANOTHER year has gone by. Friday was Brady's last day of Three School (I know it's confusing, especially since he's 4 1/2, but it's called that because he was 3 when it started) and I find myself just shaking my head...


The physical change isn't all that dramatic. Only a little taller, but definitely more mature looking. His smile is definitely getting... more natural looking. In the photo on the left, he's wearing 2T shorts, 3T shirt, 2T jacket and size 10 Nikes. On the right, he's wearing 3T shorts, 4T shirt and size 10/11 Crocs.

He continues to be extremely comfortable at school and very outgoing. Everyone (including parents) knows who Brady is and he is always being asked to attend birthday party and playdates. We often joke that he's the "Mayor of Montecito" (his school) because when we walk on the property, everyone calls his name and waves. It's crazy!

His teachers say is a joy to have in class. He is always welcoming the new kids and wants to include everyone in games and activities. He's very good at sharing and has learned that he doesn't have to be the first one to stand in line, answer questions, and share during Show and Tell.

Brady has developed a love for writing and drawing this year. The amount of "art" he brings home every day is overwhelming. He can write his first name clearly all by himself, and can write pretty much anything else if you tell him how to spell it. His drawings have really taken shape as well; his bodies have arms, legs, hands and feet, and his faces even have foreheads!

He continues to play with his best friend Lyla at school, but has also become a "boy's boy" and has started playing more with his buddies Lucas and Logan. And he really enjoys staying for the after-school enrichment program, where he gets to play with the bigger boys from the 4 and Pre-K classes. His favorite older friends are Robert and Calvin.

Brady & Lyla

Brady & Lucas

Brady performing at his Year End Sing-Along



Next year, Brady will be returning to Montecito for his 3rd and final year of preschool before he goes into Kindergarten. It's going to be a tough year because Lyla will be transferring to a school closer to her home and most of his other classmates are going into the 5 day program (Brady is staying in a 3 day program again next year). But because he's shown that he can adapt to any situation, I know he will do just fine.

Way to go buddy, Mom & Dad are so proud of you!

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