Happy 4th of July!

Happy fourth of July, everyone! The Stack family spent the day by having a cookout for friends and family. Camon was, well, being Cameron, and Brady helped Dada fix the front door by replacing a door handle.

Nine Month Update, by Cameron Stack

Well, I've now spent as much time in the outside world as I did in Mommy's belly. I can't believe how old I'm getting. Here are some of the milestones I've reached so far:

Food: I have now moved almost completely to solid foods, although Mommy still tries to sneak some fo that baby food in when she can. I love eating crackers, Cheerios, goldfish, watermelon, and anything else I can get my hands on. I'm still learning how to use a cup liek Brady uses.

Locomotion: No, I'm not crawling yet, but I'm pretty close. I can sit up, in fact I love sitting on the floor and playing with my toys.

Other: This weekend, Mama and Dada finally put my carrier away for good. Now I get to sit in a big-boy car seat. When we went to Lowe's this afternoon, I got to ride in the blue race car right next to Brady. We each had a steering wheel, and it was lots of fun!

Everyday I'm learning more and more. I can't wait to start walking so I can play with Brady all day long!

Brady the Ringbearer....Take 2!

Brady can now say he has been in TWO weddings... both times as a ringbearer. Yesterday, my cousin Cassandra was married to her high school sweetheart Scott. What a day for a wedding, the weather was perfect! The ceremony was at All Saints in Haverhill (the same church Erica and I were married at) and the reception was at Brookstone Park in Derry. The night was capped off by a 30 minute fireworks display....what a way to end a wedding.

Brady did AWESOME as a ringbearer. Erica and I were so worried that he wouldn't walk down the aisle, but as always, he never disappoints us.

Congratulations to Scott and Cassandra!!!

He can swim!

Brady LOVES his new "wet suit". He's a natural swimming in the water this summer!

Three Summers in the Pool

It is really hard to believe, but this is Brady's third summer in the pool. I thought I'd post a picture from 2006, 2007, and 2008. Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be too many differences in the past two years.

The weather is 90+ and it should stay this way most of the week. I guess summer is officially here!

What's It Gonna Be?

My brother Jason and his wife Christina are expecting (if you didn't know). They are due sometime in late October...I think.

Anyways, they had their first ultrasound today. I'm happy to annouce I will again be an uncle, but I still don't have a nephew.

Yep, they are having a girl. Congratulations Jay and Christina!

Now....the next stop is guessing their name...hmmm......

Brady's Famous Pancakes

Brady says his pancakes are easy to make. Here's what he said you need to do:

Combine 1 egg, 2 cups pancake mix, 1 1/4 cups milk, and some vanilla extract in a bowl. Spoon mixture over a hot, buttered griddle and cook until bubbling. Flip and cook the other side 30 seconds more.

Stack them high and cover them in maple syrup for a yummy meal, anytime!

Cameron Vision

Daddy's OCD

You know it is Springtime because Dada's OCD has returned. His OCD comes out in two major ways:

1. He is obsessed with having a crystal clear pool. We opened it this weekend and Dada has been working tirelessly to get it cleaned and ready for the summer season.

2. Dada is VERY obsessed with his lawn. Do you see the picture of me standing between the criss-cross lines from the tractor? Dada and I cut it twice a week, and he is always putting down fertilizer and watering it. He says he has to make it look good now because by August, everything will be brown and dead. Oh, I hope I don't turn out like him!

That's all for now!

-Brady

Prayers Needed

On Thursday morning my father went in for a heart cathaterization due to an irregular stress test, about a half hour into his test I got a call from my mother telling me that my father was going to be transfered to Catholic Medical Center as he needed a quadruple bipass. Needless to say I was in shock! Brian and I went up to the hospital after he got home from work and from the hospital my sister and I stayed at our mother's house so we could be with her to go to the hospital in the morning. We went to the hospital for 9:00 saw my father and they took him into surgery at 11:30. Then the waiting began. We were told to go to the family waiting room in ICU because that is where he would be comming out. We had brought things to keep us occupied, carsd, word searches, magazines, snacks. We took walks, went to the chaple and said prayers. We tried our best to keep things light for all of sake. None of us wanted to broach the subject that he wouldn't make it through the surgery. We reassured our mom that no matter what happened we would always be here for her. At about 4:30 a nurse came out and called the Clarke family, our stomach's dropped, surely he couldn't be done already, it had only been four hours, we had been told this surgery could take up to 8 hours! The nurse saw the nevousness in our eyes and quickly told us he was done and doing great! We would be able to see him in about an hour. We waited and went into ICU when they called us. The image of my father laying in that hospital bed with tubes comming out of every part of his body and a tube going down his throat keeping him breathing will forever be burned into my memory. He was covered in blankets, even his head, all we could really see was his nose. I had all I could do to keep my composure, I almost felt as though I was looking into his casket. I quickly brought myself back to reality and tried to stay strong for my mom and sister. I went over to my dad, held his hand and told him he did great. I told him he had come through the surgery in record time we were told and he only needed a triple instead of a quadruple. My mom and sister both said a few words and we shed many tears, The hardest part was leaving him with that image in our heads. They told us he wouldn't wake up until the next morning. The next morning my mom and I went up first thing in the morning. The breathing tube was out and he was doing better. Although a few oxygen concerns kept him in the ICU for an extra day he was finally moved to the CCU and is doing so well. We're hoping he'll be off the oxygen tomorow and coming home on Wednesday. I can't tell him how proud of him I am, He has taken all of this in stride. Many men may sit and play the why me game,but not my dad! He's looking at this as a new lease on life! He can get himself healthy so he can see all of his grandchildren graduate from college and get married and see their children, and one day be called great pappa!!!! We're cheering for you Pappa, you are forever our hero and we're your biggest fans!!!!!

New Pictures of Cameron

A couple weeks ago, Erica and I took Brady and Cameron to get some new pictures. As you can see, the two-year-old is noticeably absent from ALL of the pictures. Why, you ask? He thought when we got to the studio that he was at the doctor's office, and he wasn't going to sit on the table without a fair amount of kicking and screaming. We all know he doesn't exactly have a good history with doctors. So, we cut our losses and got some nice pictures of Cameron instead. At least the trip wasn't a complete waste!

Solid Food...Its About Time!!!

Cameron has gotten the chance to experience some "real" food this past week. It all started last Sunday with my blueberry pancakes. This week, Cameron got his first taste of Sal's Pizza crust. Brady used to love it, and Cam does too.

We know this is an important milestone for us, because once Brady started eating this food, he was less and less interested in baby food. We fully expect Cameron to be the same way.

Great job Cam!!!

I Love Smiling, Smiling is my Favorite!

Hi guys, its me, Cameron! Mama and Dada think I am sleeping up in my crib, but little do they know, I snuck a laptop upstairs and I have now decided to blog.

Do you see me in my go-around toy? I love walking around the table playing with all of the toys. I can get some good "air" in my jumperoo too. Sometimes Brady comes over to play with me. Sometimes I think it is funny to scare him by yelling in his face when he isn't expecting it. He usually runs away. Hahaha!

Today, Mama and Dada took Brady and I to KidsFest in downtown Haverhill. Brady and I sat in our stroller together. Brady likes to sit in the back, which means I get the front seat to look out at all the people. We had pizza, we walked through Candyland, and we saw lots of cool things.

This week I have FINALLY gotten the chance to eat good food just like evryone else. For breakfast this morning, I had some of Dada's famous blackberry pancakes. They were great!

Tomorrow, I think I might teach myself how to walk. Just kidding!

So long for now!

Cameron

Getting to be big boys!

The other day I was looking in Brady's baby book and saw that we had started giving him a sippy cup and cheerios by about 7 months. So I pulled out a sippy cup and put water in it and gave it Cameron. He immediately took both handles and started using it as a cup. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of sucking the water out, but he knew what to do with it. This is the same child who refuses to hold his own bottle. when I bring his hands up to hold his bottle he lets the bottle fall out of his mouth, maybe I need to get a bottle that has two handles like the cup. Do they even make anything like that. He also Loves the freedom of being able to 'run around' in his go around table!








Our other Big boy is certainly holding his own. We go outside whenever we can and we are proud to say that at 2 and 1/2 Brady has mastered the rock wall! He's such an athletic kid. We hope this will mean college scholarships, because with the price of gas we just may have to pick our favorite child and that's the one that will be allowed to go to college! (Just kidding)

No More Crib!

Today, dada turned my crib into a big-boy bed because I was playing on top of the railing after my nap. So now, I can climb in and out of my bed when ever I want. Mama and Dada explained to me that I need to stay in my bed when it is time to go to sleep. The ball is now in my court to show them that I can do it.

I'll let you know how it is going on a future post. Bye for now!

Brady

Update by Dad the next morning: Brady was a little confused by the lack of a crib, and at one point, made one attempt to leave the bed and open his door. He was quickly ushered back to his bed and told he needed to go to sleep, which he did. Eat your heart out SuperNany!!!

A Tale of Two Different Kids

Brady couldn't give up his pacifier (aka binky) until just a few months ago. When he was a baby, he just couldn't calm down without it. Other parents always used to tell us that their child never really used a binky, and we just couldn't figure out what we did wrong.

Now we know....it was nothing. Cameron never really took to a binky, ever. We've finally decided to get rid of all of his since he doesn't use them, so our house is officially binky-free. Perhaps this is a case for nature over nurture?

Our Trip to the Museum

Yesterday, Erica and I took Brady and Cameron to the Boston Children's Museum. Check out our pictures:

7 Months

Cameron turned 7 months old this week. The time is absolutely flying by. He can now sit up with very little assisstance, eats 3 meals a day, sleep a good 12 hours at night and takes 2 good naps a day. He loves to go int he swing outside , and is now big enough to go in the go around toy that lets him walk around his table of toys! Next Monday both boys will be going into Boston for kidney check ups and we'll probably be able to schedule Cameron's surgery. we'll keep you posted on that one.

Brady's first sleep Over

Friday night we took Mackenzie for Shanna and Dave because they were moving (Congrats on the new house) Brady and mackenzie had so much fun together. It's so nice that they get along so well. The had pizza for dinner and had cupcakes for desser, took a abth, watched the doodlebops and then went to bed. In the interest of everyone getting a good nights sleep, Mackenzie slept in our room on the futon and Brady slept in his own bed. A fun time had by all!!!

Congrats to you Shanna and Dave on your beautiful new house!!! We couldn't be happier for you!

Family Update: April 2008

We are getting to be really bad at blogging...not because we don't like it, it just seems as though we never have the time. Last night, Erica and I sat down and went through old posts....it was fun to see what Brady was doing at Cameron's age...and it gives us at least some sense of what is next for Cameron. We have to be better about blogging!

Anyways, here is the latest news on each member of the Stack clan:

Brian just returned from a four-day NEASC visit to Raymond. He had to stay at a hotel in Manchester for those days, and it was really difficult to be away from the family!

Erica is recovering from a strained back, this put her out of service for a week. Thank goodness Alyssa and Shanna were able to come to the rescue and help out, otherwise Brian would have been out the entire week from work!

Brady got a really short haircut today (I'm not sure you can really see it in the picture). It looks great...and it is amazing how much older he looks as a result!

Cameron seems to learn new things every day. He now eats three solid meals a day, he loves to play in the go-around toy, and he LOVES spending time on his belly (which he always has). Before we know it, he'll be crawling. Ahhhhh!!!!

New Cars!

This will be the first of many "double" purchases for toys! We are so excited that the weather has finally gotten nice!

Happy Birthday

Okay so I'm 2 days late but I wanted to wish my hubby a happy 29th Birthday!!!!! We are looking forward to night out tomorow night with no children. We are looking forward to actually sitting and enjoying our meal and then we're going to the movies to see 21. We haven't been to the movies in I can't tell you how long! So Happy Birthday Brian/dada, We love you!!!!!

Happy Birthday Kenzie!

It is hard to believe that today, my niece Mackenzie turned 4! In my life, Mackenzie's birth ushered in a new era, that of "parenting." Erica and I used to take Mackenzie overnight so we could "practice" parenthood. I remember taking her to stores, restaurants, and even the Portsmouth Children's museum. A year and a half later, we had Brady. Then it was all down hill from there. Hahaha....just kidding!!!

6 months

weighing in at 18lbs (50%) and 90% for height is Cameron Stack! He got a clean bill of health from the Doctor the other day when he went for his 6 month check up. I can't believe that he is already six months old. He rolls both ways, is VERY close to sitting up, sleep about 12 hours at night, eats 2 "solid" meals a day and takes 2-3 naps a day. He loves to blow raspberries and chew on his hands. He really doesn't take a binki, he would perfer to suck on his index and middle fingers.

Brady and Cameron seem to have this brotherly bond that Brian and I don't quite get but are thrilled to watch. Brady loves the fact that cameron will reach out and grab his face and take his hand. It is so wonderful to see the interactions between the two of them. We hope their brotherly love lasts a life time.

Fun in the tub

Cameron is now big enough to sit in the tub (his small tub that is) ,But we put it in the big tub so Brady and Cameron can take baths together. As you can see from the pictures Brady decided to join Cameron in the little tub.