Welcome to the Monkey House

We've moved! This move has been a long time coming. Tini was a great name for Brady before he was born but we never got around to changing the name of his blog -- until now. All future posts (and all past posts) are now at our new blog: http://theshipes.blogspot.com/ Check it out!

Pre-Bath Brady

Brady loves the freedom of no clothes right before his bath. He
squeals and giggles like crazy. What a funny boy :)

Sophie

Teething sucks but Sophie is awesome. One of the mothers in my playgroup recommended Sophie the Giraffe and she has been a huge hit. So much of a hit that I think I will be buying every new mom one in the future. Brady just lights up when he sees her and hears her little squeak. Plus he just loves chewing on her legs. The best part is that she is made with natural rubber and food paint so I don't have to worry about it spending endless hours in his mouth.

Don't mess with dragons

Our friends Britt and Justin gave us this adorable outfit at our shower and I've been dying to get Brady in it. It finally fits him but unfortunately it is 30 degrees outside so he can't go out in it. He still has some room to grow in it so hopefully we'll get him out in it before it is too late. If not, I guess we're just going to have to move south for the second baby so s/he can get to wear it!

Go Steelers!

Watch out for aliens

5 months!

We can't believe that Brady is almost half a year old. It's been such an amazing journey with him and we are so excited to see what each new day brings - because it seems like he does something new and amazing each and every day. We love you little guy!

Christmas at Home

Christmas #3! And we finally made it to Christmas Day! We got back from Pittsburgh on Christmas Eve, just in time for Brady to be all snug in his crib when Santa brought him his third and final load of presents. We're trying to start some Christmas traditions with Brady, and it helped to be home this year for Brady to "write" a letter to Santa and leave out cookies. It was a great Christmas, Kristin came over for the day and we played with the AWESOME train that Suzi and Brady got for Jim. It was one of the best Christmases ever!

A classic story before bed

Christmas morning!

The happy boy ready to go downstairs!

We don't remember what he was looking at , but he's cute!

The train!

Woo hoo!

We can't wait to get more trains and little houses and trees and...

Mommy and Brady :)

Paris is pooped

Christmas in Pittsburgh

Christmas #2! This Christmas was also before the 25th (just barely, it was the 23rd), but it was especially fun because we got to introduce Brady to a bunch of new people: his great-grandmother Marge, Aunt Betty, Aunt Patty, Jennifer and Dave. There were many of the typical Decemberween events: Cheese O'Clock, MarioKart and Wrapping Paper Diving. We had a great time, and Brady was a champ at spending 4 nights away and at the 5 hour drives.

Presents!

Brady loved his dalmation from Great-Grandma Pearl

We have your baby surrounded, come out with your hands up.

Brady and Aunt Patty!

Brady and Great-Grandma Marge!

Aunt Kiki and Brady!

Brady and Amah :)

More smiles from Brady!

The Bradybean and Aunt Becky!

Brady being cute

We're Back! In Time for... Christmas!

Sorry about the long delay since we last posted, the holidays and a few bouts with the flu have kept us pretty busy. Also, we had three separate Christmas celebrations, so get ready for multiple posts!

First up, Christmas in DC with the Jackmans! This particular Christmas happened a little early because the Jackmans were out of town over the 25th, but it was festive nonetheless. We started the holiday season shopping for a Christmas tree and found a great little 4 footer at the local elementary school around the corner. Here we are with the tree and Brady (a little sleepy in the first picture):

The Tree! Now let's take a nap.

Jim looks a little crazy here, but what's new?

We had a great time celebrating Christmas at our place, and the tree looked great. Also, we may have broken a record by taking it down only a few days after New Year's Day. Here we all are (except Jim, probably taking the pictures):

Kristin, David and Brady

Santa (or Dad), Mom and Suzi

Santa Baby

I finally got Brady's picture with Santa this week. We tried last weekend but the line was 2 1/2 hours long and we aborted that attempt. That's what we get for going to a busy mall on the Sunday morning two weeks before Christmas. Since we live in the city and it isn't very convenient for us to get out to the mall, I had pretty much written off getting the shot. Luckily while my mom and I were out on Tuesday we ended up at the mall and there was Santa with no line!

Brady was so good. He had been fussy just a few minutes before, but as soon as he sat on Santa's lap he just relaxed. I'll be curious if he's that good next year...

Brady & Santa

Sporty Boy

Just some cute pictures to share of the growing boy. I know I'm biased but he is just so darn cute.

Oh, hello

Brady's "Whatchu talkin 'bout, Willis?" face

More pictures?

Playtime is Exhausting

The Tree From Brady's Perspective

Brady Brunch

In honor of Jim's 30th birthday and Brady's 4 month birthday we had a Brady Brunch to celebrate. It was so much fun to have everyone over to take part in the festivities. We have the best friends and we don't get to see them as much as we used to, so every time we get to is so special. As always, Brady was so good, minus the fact that he would not go down for a nap in his crib knowing that everyone was downstairs having fun. He just loves being around people so we decided that a nap in the bouncer would be our present to him on his 4 month birthday.

On Thursday we had his pediatrician's appointment and he passed with flying colors. He now weighs 15lbs 5oz. Almost 10lbs over his birth weight! I can't believe he is so big now given how small he was when he was born. Well, I guess I'm not that surprised since he still eats 8-9 times a day!

It also seems as if his development is in hyper-drive. He laughs and smiles all of the time now, he studies everything with such curiosity, he loves to sit, jump and stand, anything he can get his hands on goes in his mouth and he is starting to grab at things with purpose and intent. I know this is just the start but it is so incredible to watch this little person develop and grow. Every day we fall in love with this little boy more and more.

Malena, Lindsey, Brady & Jameson

Jim, Mike, Josh, Justin & Britt

Me & Brady

Happy Birthday Jim & Brady

Birthday boy

Popsy Day

It has been a year of firsts for me and Jim. Some amazing and some not so good. You see, Jim's dad passed away, after a valiant fight against cancer, in January. So, as we celebrated Brady's first smile we also cried through the first Father's Day without Popsy.

Yesterday was Popsy's birthday and while we took time to celebrate his wonderful life, we couldn't help but be overwhelmed by sadness that he isn't here with us - in person. I truly believe Popsy is here with us and is looking over Jim with such pride. Jim is the most amazing husband and father that I could ever imagine and I completely attribute that to the wonderful example that he had in Popsy. It breaks my heart that Brady will never get to meet him but I know that Brady has the most amazing guardian angel looking out for him.

We love and miss you, Popsy.

Popsy & Baby Jim

Popsy & the Sibbies

Morning Jump

Here's Brady during his morning jump session. He's yawning every 5
jumps, so it's probably naptime soon.

Brady's First Thanksgiving

This is a week late, but we wanted to post a few pictures from Brady's first Thanksgiving. We went down to Woodbridge to Brady's grandparent's house and it was a great day of family and food. Brady was very well behaved during the big meal, he slept in his bouncer at the foot of the table the whole time. And he was kind enough to give everyone a Jumparoo show before and after the meal (he still LOVES the Jumparoo - best gift ever. Thanks again, Amah!)

The week of Thanksgiving was especially nice because I was able to use the last 3 days of my paternity leave that week, giving me the whole week off, and my mom came down to visit for the weekend on the Friday before Thanksgiving. It had been about 7 or 8 weeks since she had seen him and he had packed on quite a few pounds, so it was a slightly chubbier (and more alert and giggly) Brady that she got to see. It was a great visit and Brady can't wait to see his Amah again!

Getting the dinner ready

Gravy! Surprise!

The little turkey boy

Playing with Kiki-Doog!

Brady and his parents

Tummy time in his Gobble Gobble pants

So tired.

Mommy saves Brady from tummy time :)

Brady and the turkey-man!