Wheeee!!!!!

Brooks loves to swing. This is a new discovery in the last month, as we don't have an indoor swing for him. On Father's Day we tried out the kiddy swings at the playground in Lincoln Park and OH BOY! Did he ever have fun! Last week when he stayed with my folks, he loved swinging in a Brooks-sized swing on their back porch. And then Saturday, we strolled back to Lincoln Park and he enjoyed the playground once again.

These pictures are from Father's Day. (sorry there are so many, too hard to choose!)



It was so cute watching him touch everything and try to figure out how it all worked.



Eventually he realized that he just had to hold on and enjoy the breeze! :)



These are my favorite ones... I love that we were able to capture that gleeful expression.



I can see us spending lots of hours at a London playlot with me pushing the little guy up and up and up, while he squeals "higher, momma, higher!" What a joy!!

A Nice Break

Last week we spent several days in Culver, IN with some of our good friends from Park. There were lots of things to celebrate while we were together, but we mostly just enjoyed playing in the quiet lake (mid-week seems to be the ideal time to go!), shooting fireworks at night and dodging afternoon thunderstorms. The time to catch up with our dear friends was a gift.

This week we headed to Colorado to see the Rice Crew. This is a group of eight friends, six of whom graduated from Eric's alma mater (Elisa and I married in!) who have vacationed together once a year or more since 1999... This year we switched from New Years to July 4th and it was perfect timing as two of the couples are expecting a baby within a month of New Years 2008! We hiked, played rummikub, watched the hummingbirds, dipped our toes in the (FREEZING) river just outside our Bed and Breakfast, and just enjoyed the scenery in the shadow of CO's tallest peak. Eric and I really enjoyed the car rides to and from Denver and the time to cover lots of conversation topics.

That was also our first two or three days sans Brooks since his arrival last November. While it was fun to have grown-up adventures with our friends, I really missed him and thought several times "I wish Brooks were with us!" But it was probably good for us to have a couple of days without the kiddo, especially while we have eager Brooks-sitters just a quick SWA flight away. My family in Nashville had a great time hanging with the little guy - thanks so much!

But when I sat down to write this morning, I titled the post based on my feelings today. It was such fun to see everyone and do everything we did in the last two weeks, but I've had a lovely morning of low-key time at home and I'm so thankful for it. As I sat down to write, through the monitor I could hear Eric reading Brown Bear and A Very Hungry Caterpillar to Brooks. It's moments like these when I'm so amazed by joy. I love hearing Brooks and Eric play together. Before parenthood, just a year ago, we definitely would still have been asleep at this point on a Saturday morning. But I've been up for several hours already... and I don't even mind! The quiet weekend days seem longer when they start before 6am! :) Just really sweet times, and so very different that hiking mountains or jet-skiing all over an Indiana lake with a crew of friends.

Today I'm thankful for all of these moments...

His perfect timing

Great news! We think we have sold our condo. We're really pleased that we have an offer on it just 2 weeks after we listed it in the MLS, especially at this season in the real estate market. Lots of back and forth negotiating with the buyer, but now that it's sorted, we're both happy.

Also, Eric finally got his offer for the UK position from his employer. There are several elements of the offer that still need to be discussed, but it's great to (finally!) have it in writing.

And what's really amazing?! They've requested a start date for Eric of September 3. That date is 10 years to the day of when I arrived in London the first time. I haven't been back since I left in the summer of '98. I had been praying that we could enjoy the summer in Chicago and take off in early fall... and now that's exactly our plan. How perfect is this?! :)

Thank you, Lord, for orchestrating even the logistical details in such a way that I can KNOW that You're paying attention, and that You care about our lives. Please give me everyday the faith I have in You tonight.

Cuter every day...

I just uploaded 100s of pictures of our little guy from the camera. Here are some favorites.

This is mid-May... This is one of my favorite of his little expressions. My translation - That was so fun! I'm so happy! What's next, Mom?!



This is the Friday before Mother's Day... Brooks and SWS were helping me in the kitchen, and I think Brooks was a little surprised that we let him make as much noise as he wanted with the measuring spoon and the small mixing bowl. He had such a serious expression as he was banging them together. "Really, are you sure this is okay?!"



This is late May, just about 6 months old... He's tasting his first bite of homemade baby food (sweet potatoes) and licking up every bit! Later on that evening we had bathtime, played with baby Erin and then gave Mama lots of kisses (and chewed on her chin a bit too!)







He's pretty well out-grown the "I can nap anywhere" stage, but this day he just passed out in the car. He was six months old to the day here and so tuckered out! (My family swears that he looks like a different baby when he's sleeping, but I think it's because his eyes usually take over his face when he's awake!) Note the Auburn burpcloth... He looks so BIG to me in this picture.



"When Daddy feeds me, sometimes I get a little messy..."



Sitting at the big people table... (during our "last supper")



Bath-time, with a strategically placed ducky.



So clean!!



"Thanks for the sweet potatoes, Aunt Sissy"



And these are from about a week and a half ago, when we confirmed that Brooks is now an "independent sitter"... so funny to see his concentration in that second shot. He loves his Daddy.

So Big!

Happy 7 months, Brooks! What a BIG Little you are becoming.

I love you so much and your kisses just make my day!

I can't believe how much fun such a young one can be.

Being your Maa Maa is such a joy!


(Thanks to Mary Holstine for the fantastic photos!)

Lovely Chicago weekend in pictures

We're on the way, decked out in our Cubs apparel... (our adopted NL team)



Brooks loves sleeping and playing in his mom and dad's laps!



Okay, Dad, you gotta explain this whole baseball thing to me...



PLAY BALL!



Wow, this is so much fun!



Hmm, I can't seem to see around my cheeks...



Are you finished taking pictures yet, Mom?



See? We're on the last row! Perfect seats for a cool breeze on a hot day.



Outside after the game. The Cubs didn't win, but two of us are still smiling!



Our tired little Cubbie bear slept long and hard later that afternoon.

A Lovely Chicago weekend

This past weekend was so incredibly satisfying. Not our most social weekend, to be sure, but filled with things we love and loads of downtime in our fair city...

We had a showing on our condo first thing Saturday morning so we took Brooks and strolled down to our neighborhood Starbucks for a shared mocha frappuchino.

That afternoon, Brooks saw his first baseball game at Wrigley Field - Cubs vs the Padres, perfect for Father's Day weekend. We had seats behind home plate on the very tippy-top row under the overhang - shaded from the warm sun (7 innings) and a short sunny downpour (1 inning). The Cubs lost but the game offered some big excitement in the form of a fight that cleared both dugouts. Brooks was a champ from the 2nd inning, when we arrived, to the very end... He charmed the other baseball fans around us in his little Cubs onesie and hat, either playing in our laps or sleeping in a baby bjorn on Eric for almost three hours. What a good little baseball fan! :)

That evening we enjoyed some Art of Pizza and then strolled a few blocks to say goodbye to some friends who are moving. The husband was in our first Park small group and was there the night that I met Eric. We have lots of history with him and are sad to see them leaving Chicago for good, but are excited for this next step for them.

Sunday included Eric's yummy french toast and then late church. Brooks made it in the nursery through most of the sermon, so it was great to sing and worship at our church again - it feels like I've missed church a lot in the past few months.

That afternoon we curled up on the couch for an hour-long nap while Brooks slept in his crib (for 3+ hours!) and then I got some time at my favorite tea house with my journal. Eric mowed the grass and went for a late afternoon run while Brooks and I strolled in the park. On our way back from the lakeshore, we stopped at a playground and Brooks took his first ride on the baby swings. Ohmygoodness... He loved it! His face registered surprise and confusion at first and then just adorable glee! I can't believe my child is big enough to play on a playground. We'll be starting kindergarten next week.

That night after a lovely meal of Eric's perfectly grilled burgers out on our back porch, we watched a movie rental (on my computer, as we no longer have a TV in our place) and then hit the hay to start the new week...

After all the craziness of starting the purging and packing up of our home and of trying to get our condo ready for the market, it was so nice to just enjoy a very low-key couple of days, just the three of us. Photos coming in the next post...

A Family Wedding...

A family wedding is a great thing. It's so fun to know both the bride and groom as well as half the other guests in attendance! Drs Matt & Sarah got married over Memorial Day weekend in Eric's hometown and the wedding was fantastic! An assortment of thoughts...

Brooks was a much more managable 6-month old (at Molly's wedding in December, Brooks was itty-bitty and I was a nervous, exhausted new mom!). He cooperated very well - we had to slip out during the wedding message and some of the dinner toasts, but he was calm at most of the right moments. Here he's enjoying time with his great-grandparents before the ceremony.


Brooks made it through the whole day with the bubble that his TN Grandma made for him in honor of the occasion. Atta boy!


My in-laws are really good at hosting a beautiful wedding! The bride and groom did a wonderful job planning and researching. Plus Bonnie & Warren did a great job of executing all the details there at home. Even the day before the wedding was pretty low-key. Well done!


I so enjoyed the church ceremony (great trumpet!), the lovely reception location (where Eric told me he loved me for the first time at Steve's wedding 5 years ago), the wonderful band (what a fun mix of music!)... The photographer got some beautiful shots, the food was yummy, the cake was rich and chocolatey, and the happy couple seemed to really enjoy the night.

Molly gave an awesome last-moment toast at the reception. You rock, my dear!


Steve sang "The Lord's Prayer" wonderfully. Best I've ever heard him sing... (loved this shot of them at the rehearsal dinner!)


Yoshimi wore a fabulous dress that I had ALMOST worn to the wedding myself. I think it would have been funny if we'd been matching sisters-in-law for the photos! :)


Howie, once again, was glued to his "bampa"... it's adorable to see how devoted those two are to each other.


And at the end of the night, after dancing with his dear Aunt Janet...


Brooks got in his jammies and fell asleep in his car seat... What a sweetie!


Congrats Matt & Sarah!