Its A Boy (At Least It Will Be)!

Erica and I are happy to report that by October 1st, Brady will have a new brother.

Adventures in Fatherhood: Building a Swingset

A swingset can't be that hard to assemble, right? Wrong! This past weekend, Erica and I took advantage of a deal at Toys R Us and bought Brady a swingset. After bringing home all the boxes on the flatbed trailer, we quickly got all the pieces out of the box and spread out in our garage. Then, we started to look at the 40-step manual. Amazingly, none of the 10,000 wood pieces are marked. In the directions, it is referred to as the "front/back swing side support", or the "sandbox front". It is up to you to find the dimensions of that piece in the glossary, and then serach through all the wood until you find that very piece. Needless to say, it is a time-consuming rpocess. The result of our seven hours of work on Saturday can be seen in the picture, and we are only in the middle of step five. I included a picture of what it will look like when we are finished...thirty years from now. Oh the adventures of parenthood!

The Moss Just Got Greener for the Pats!

With the addition today of Randy Moss to the receiver corps, Brady should have plenty of talent to throw to next season. Nice pick-up, NE!

Try Something New: GRILLED pizza

Yep, you too can use your outdoor gas grill to make pizza. I had heard of this being done, but now I am on a quest to perfect this pizza cooking method. I tried it tonight for the first time. My experiment produced an ok pizza, although it was a little burnt on the bottom. The following is my revised recipe (I'll put up any revisions after I test them).

1. Pre-grill prep: Start with a pizza dough (store bought is fine...Shaw's makes a great one). A baseball-sized dough ball, when stretched out, will yield a perfect personal-pizza size (and make it easy to flip). Brush both sized of the stretched-out dough with EVOO. Get all your toppings together, and take everything out to the grill.

2. Grill the dough: Start with a ripping-hot grill, but make sure you only light part of the grill. Put the dough down on the hot side of the grill. In a couple of minutes, the dough will be cooked enough for you to flip it. When you flip, place the dough ont he cold side of the grill. Now, add all of your toppings, cover, and let cook for about five minutes.

3. My favorite toppings always start with a simple red sauce, a four cheese blend (mozzarella, jack, parm, and romano), and oregano.

Enjoy!

Summer Tease!

For the past two days, we have been enjoying 80+ temperature days. It has been a great break from winter, and it is hard to believe we had a snow storm just two weeks ago (not even). I made the most of the weather....and my yard is ready for the season. I got the grass dethatched, raked, mowed, and fertilized. All of my planting beds have been edged and I just spread 8 cubic yards of mulch in various beds around the yard. I sprayed for ants, and I rebuilt all of my stone walls. Yep, I was busy. I wonder how many calories I burned....

Biggest Loser

I know you have all been waiting on the edge of your seats to find out how I'm doing in Sanborn's Biggest Loser Competition.

Well, I'm in first right now, down 14 lbs. 22 more to go to reach my goal!

18 Months Old Today!

Brady is officially a year and a half today. My my my how the time flies by! Every day, he is adding new words to his vocabulary, and he is learning to do many new things. He is recovering well from his operation. We go in next month for his kidney test, and that will tell us what happens next as far as his kidneys go.

Update on Brady and baba 2 (by Erica)

So it has been one week since Brady's surgery and he is doing fabulously! Although it still looks really sore he is doing so well. Pretty much by the day after the surgery he was down running around. He has had some days that we can tell he has been in a little pain or possibly itchy but he has been such a trooper! Brian and I count our blessings every day because Brady is such a laid back kid. he just goes with the flow! I wonder where he gets that from. Certainly not from me!

As for me I have entered the second trimester. I'm 14 weeks along today. I have had a little more nausea this time around and possibly a little more tiredness (however last time I wasn't chasing around a 1 year old either) I still find it hard to believe that we have a second child on the way. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time, but I guess that's normal. I can't wait to start to feel movement. I remember with Brady how active he was, we'll see if this one is as active.
That's all for now. Both kids are doing well and we hope will continue to!

Biggest Loser

So I've decided to join Sanborn's Biggest Loser competition. The winner takes home $250 and bragging rights for the whole year. People from all over the School District have joined in.

So far so good, after two weeks I've lost a total of 8 pounds. My goal is to lose 36 pounds between now and the end of the competition, May 29th. It may be a bit ambitious, but who knows, right?

My strategy is really not to make too many drastic changes. I'm running two miles every morning and eating better, that's it.

A Painful Recovery

Erica and I had to bring Brady to MGH this morning at 6:30am to get a circumcision. Without it, the doctor won't be able to run all the necessary tests next month to see if his kidney reflux has corrected itself or whether or not we have to operate on it.

It was a long day for all three of us. The worst part for me was having to watch my son go under in the operating room. It has not been easy to watch him in pain this afternoon.

But Brady is a trooper. He's taking Tylanol with Codine every four hours, and has pretty much sat in his recliner most of the afternoon watching tv. I'm glad to see that he has been eating and drinking. We also gave him a warm bath, which helped.

It will be a slow recovery, but hopefully it will be for the better.

The moral of this story: If you have a baby boy, just get him circumcised at the beginning. It is much easier that way.

Congratulations Mike & Tara!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Racano, who were married on St. Patrick's Day 2007. Erica and I were so happy to share your day with you!

17 Month Update

Hi everyone, its me, Brady! Can you believe that I turn 17 months tomorrow? Do you like my picture? Dada and I have been busy working on the bathroom upstairs. He was tearing down wallpaper, I was busy painting.

Anyways, I'm growing up in a lot of ways! My vocabulary is growing everyday. Now, with Mama and Dada's help (mostly Mama's), I can say small sentences, like: "Mama, more please!" I still use signs, but I'm using real words more and more.

I know how to turn a door knob and open a door, I like taking my shoes off, and then saying, "Shoe?" I like watching tv. Just today, I picked the remote up off the floor and started flipping through the channels. When it got boring, I changed the channel again. But, I was getting very frustrated because I couldn't find the Wiggles (which has to be the best show on tv right now, don't you agree?), so I had to run in the kitchen and ask Mama to put the Wiggles on.

Mama is having more morning sickness with this baby than she did with me, so she says. All three of us are going to be going to the doctor's in a couple weeks to get the baby's first ultrasound done. I can't wait to see what it looks like. Dada would like to have a little girl, Mama isn't sure, but I know what I want, a new brother!!!

So long fro now,

Brady

Brady's New Bedroom: Before & After

So, Brady has officially moved into his new bedroom, right next door to his old one, which will be used again in October.

We decided to go with a Red Sox theme. So, we pianted the top of the room gray and the bottom a deep blue. Then we put up a nice Red Sox wall paper border. We still have to get some more decorations, but its a nice start!

We also finished the walk-in closet that is in the room, which was never really done. Now it has a nice light, a closet shelving system, and a hard-wood floor.

Happy March!

March has been a busy month already. Both Mama and Dada were on school vacation. Dad has been working on my new Red Sox bedroom, as well as the upstairs bathroom. Yesterday, we went to the Children's museum in Portsmouth. I had a lot of fun exploring all kinds of things there.

Do you see me using a fork and spoon in the picture to the right? I'm still working on this, but it is fun to bang them on my tray. Dada had made southern style pork ribs that night. Yum yum.

I'm also happy to report that I am expading my vocabulary every day. In addition to being able to sign eat, more, all done, please, and bye, I also know how to say and understand Mama, Dada, hello, bye bye, binky, shoe, night-night, oh-oh, fish, and all done. Every day, I seem to be learning new words.




So long for now!

Brady

Time Outs, Tantrums, and Terrible Two's

Brady isn't two yet!

But every once in a while, we get a taste of what is to come.

We use time outs from time to time when Brady doesn't listen us. Usually, he warned first. We don't have to use it often, Brady is generally good.

But tonight......that was not the case at all.

We decided to go to dinner at a local Chinese buffet with Erica's sister. Brady started acting up int he restaurant, throwing his cup and his food. He was mad because I wouldn't let him play with my fork (he was banging it loudly and wouldn't stop). Despite our pleas, Brady continued to act up. Erica tried to take him to the bathroom to give him a time out, but there were too many people around. She brought him back to the table hoping he'd be better, but he wasn't. We actually had to get up and leave. That was a first.

On the car ride home, Erica and I kept asking ourselves, was it us? Are we bad parents? We had to keep reminding ourselves that we weren't, but sometimes these things just happen. Ohg well, better luck next time.

Find Your Path, Give Back, Make Good Choices

Dear Brady,

I'd like to share something with you. Although you are probably too young to understand, one day you'll be able to look back at this blog and learn from what I am about to tell you.

One year ago today, I was getting ready to leave Andover High School for the weekend. I stopped by my friend Peter Arthur's classroom. He was busy setting up his new projection system to run his power-point presentations. Peter was always looking for ways to make his history classes interesting. He was known int he school to be one of the best teachers because he was always challenging his students to "find their path, give back, and make good choices." When I walked in, he asked me: "Hey Stackman, how's Brady doing?" "Not bad," I replied. ""He's getting so big, before I know it, he'll be crawling everywhere!" Peter replied, "Just wait until he starts walking. That's when it gets really fun, just ask my wife!" Peter had a little boy of his own, not even two years old. His name was Jeffrey. We talked about how we needed to get together again. This wekeend Peter was going to be busy, but we made some tentative plans for the following weekend. I waved goodbye, and walked out the door.

I didn't know it at the time, but that was the last time I would ever talk to Peter. By 3:00pm the next afternoon, he was gone. Peter had told his wife he was going to go upstairs to finish putting in some grades into his computer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. His wife found him an hour later. At 32 years of age and in great health (he was an athlete and a coach), Peter left behind the ones he loved. He also left behind a legacy for the rest of us in Andover to learn from. Later that week, two thousand people attended his funeral mass, which was held in the Collins Center at Andover High School.

On the anniversary of his passing, I'd like to share some of the things I've learned, because you never know when your time will come. Please keep these things in mind as you grow up.

1. Never say "if." Say "when". Set goals for yourself, and stick to them. I always knew I would go to college, become a school administrator, get married, and have a family of my own. I never doubted myself.

2. Don't stop dreaming. I still have dreams. I'd like to get my PhD. I'd like to build my own house. I'd like to travel around the world. When you stop dreaming, you stop living.

3. Make time for the ones you love. Tell them everyday how much they mean to you. You never know when they'll be gone.

4. Find a positive role model to inspire you. I have many. Peter is one of them. He always made time for everyone else.

5. Enjoy giving. Its much more rewarding than receiving.

6. Take chances. I learned early on that you won't get anywhere if you don't take a chance on something.

7. Learn to take everything in stride. Once you get your life going the way you want it too, you'll be able to ride out the highs and the lows without much effort on your part. I could have a very stressful job if I ever let it get to me, but I don't. I always keep an upbeat attitude no matter what comes my way.

8. Find something to be passionate about, and do everything you can to do that "something" for the rest of your life.

9. Keep laughing. You have the best laugh, and it is contageous.

10. Don't ever become a Yankees fam or a BC Eagles fan. They are both part of an "evil empire." Remember, Patriots, Sox, and Terriers forever!

I hope you will keep these things in mind as you grow up Brady. Everyday I look at you, I'm amazed.

Love Always,

Dada

Sixteen Month Check-In, By Brady Stack

Hey guys, its me, Brady! Can you believe that I am sixteen months old today? Time flies! As you can see, I'm getting really big. How do you like my new recliner? There is nothing quite like kicking back with an ice cold cup of milk in your favorite chair and watching soem Wiggles, don't you think?

So, other than that, I have lots of news to report. My tube operation went well, and now I have to wear these bright orange ear plugs everytime I take a shower. Did I mention how much I love to climb now? I drive Mama and Dada crazy because I liek to climb onto the couch, stand-up, and turn the light on and off int he living room. Haha, I could do that for hours!

Mama keeps telling me about my new sibling. Every week, she reads to me about how the baby is growing.

Dada and I have started working on a new project: my new bedroom. We are planning to make it a complete New England Patriots / Boston Red Sox shrine, with a little Boston University Hockey thrown in for fun. Dada even told me he would try to find some BC or some Yankees diaper wipes, just to finish the room off. Yup, I'm going to be moving into the other bedroom pretty soon. Its even going to have a walk-in closet with hardwood floors! I can't wait.

Well, I'll talk to you all soon.

Love,

Brady.

Brady II: The Sequel!

We've had so much fun with Brady, we figured what the hell, let's have another.

And have another we will.

Actually, he/she should be arriving on or near October 2, 2007 (which for those of you that pay attention, is just ten days shy of Brady's second birthday.)

Names? Well, right now we are leaning towards either Megatron or Optimus Prime, but its early yet.

Check back soon for more details...

Terrier Hockey Trip

Friday night, Erica and I made our annual trip to Harry Agganis Arena to watch the mighty Boston University Terriers. BU played U Mass Lowell. The two teams decided to thank us for attending by scoring zero goals. Yep, it ended in a 0-0 draw. Oh well. It was fun to see them play anyways.

My Adventures in Surgery (By Brady Stack)

As most of you know I was going to the hospital today to get tubes in my ears. We had to get to the hospital for 6:30 am. I don't usually even get up until 7:00! Anyways, they took me and mama and dada into a room where I had to put on a gown that opened in the back (it was chilly) They also gave me a pair of pants that were WAY TO BIG! I couldn't walk around because I would trip on them. Then they told Mama that she could come to the operating room with me until I fell asleep. She had to put on a funny white suit and booties and hair net. She walked with me to the operating room then put me on the table. I was not thrilled with this but I was okay. They put a mask on my face and about 5 breaths later mama said my eyes rolled back in my head and they told her she could leave. 20 Minutes later Mama and Dada were told they could come to recovery. At first they couldn't find the room, then they heard me screaming at the top of my lungs. I was scared and shaking, but once mama held me for a little while I was okay and we went home! I loved being home today, I got to run around and play with mama and my toys all day! and you know what I hear alot better. The doc said that my hearing was definately being affected. I hear so much better already! all in all it wasn't too bad and if this stops my ear infections It was all worth it.