Happy birthday Jack!

Two! He's two! My little guy is two! How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little person in my life? Here he is, all smiles, after aqua therapy.



And yes, he sure did enjoy that Frankenstein birthday cake at his party....

Treasure of the day

Vintage horse saddle mirror ('65) from the Kane County Overnighter Flea Market

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Treasure of the day

Or should I say treasures...all from today's Kane County Flea Market:



Working vintage art nouveau/deco-ish anniversary clock, sans glass dome and in need of a cleaning



Print of Henry Harris the boxer, Chicago, 1900




Beautiful and unique 100-year-old stained glass window from a demolished church in Salem, Ohio




With light shining through it

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Oh, the irony

Not much you can do when you wake up at 5 a.m. with a migraine. I like to give the Excedrin an hour to kick in and for me to try to fall back asleep. But if that doesn't work, then I just say to hell with it and get up for good. And write a blog post or something.

I must laugh a little at today's migraine episode though, because I actually woke up with the migraine after having a dream about...having a migraine. And looking for Excedrin. Very original, subconscious, very original indeed.

(Photo via flickr; posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Treasure of the day

From several weeks ago...







Vintage 6.5" wooden letter "e" from the Kane County Flea Market (about $8)

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Treasure of the day

This one dropped in my lap unexpectedly today—for free! Thanks to my brother Steve for this lovely vintage find (I'm not sure what his source was). The lithograph is from 1942, but the frame totally looks 1960s Mid-Century Regency.










Vintage lithograph by Roger T. Peterson titled "Baltimore Oriole No. 6," lithographed by the Quaker State Lithographing Company, U.S.A., 1942.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

New feature: Treasure of the day

I've become quite the magpie lately, or should I say, I'm just continuing the tradition. I have hunted around antique shops and flea markets since I was in my teens, and back then it was considered more dorky than hipster cool. I've been finding some really cool things lately, most dirt cheap or relatively inexpensive (I'm not one to willingly pay loads of money for something just because it's old or cool).

Anyhow, I figured I'd share my finds with you, since part of the joy of finding such treasure is sharing the experience. And there's lots to share, since, as I mentioned, I've been doing this forever. Plus, I've become much more skilled at finding and unearthing these cheap vintage and antique treasures.

So, here's today's treasure of the day:







A vintage pair of brass duck bookends for $3 from the local resale shop.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Summer update!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to pop in and post an update/pic of Jack. As you can see, he's doing great. He's almost walking already, and literally climbing the walls (or trying to, anyhow).




Things are very busy as always. Jack is in six (!) different therapies right now. I'm still freelancing on the side, as well as working on a BIG project of my own. I'm also still unpacking/decorating from our big move in late October. Yes, still! I mostly have the basement left, but I also still have tons of art to hang. Sigh...




Anyhow, I keep saying I'll blog more but I never do. Well, I just downloaded a blogging app, so we'll see if that helps. Since I'm never without my trusty iPhone, it should make blogging quicker and easier for me—I hope!

Well, time to put the little guy down for a nap. Hope you all had a great holiday, and I'll be back soon!

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone)

Santa Jack!

A new beginning

Well, I hope this time of year finds everyone in a happy place, both literally and figuratively. As for me, it's a mixed bag, as always. But overall things are good.

I've been absent for a while due to being busy with a recent move. We just purchased our first home, and while it's small and humble, it has lots of character, and it's ours. The yard is enormous, and Jack even has his own room (finally!).



I'm glad I can give Jack the opportunity to grow up in a home of his own, and we can finally put down roots. I love being able to paint walls, plant flowers and veggies (once the snow is long gone), and establish a presence here in our new local neighborhood. Granted, we moved all of three blocks, and you'd think that would make it so much easier, right? Oh no! I think I'll be unpacking for months to come. It's frustrating not being able to decorate yet, or just relax and have everything done, but as everyone keeps saying, we have the rest of our lives to worry about that.

As for Jack, he's doing marvelously.



He is finally off of all his medications, and only takes a daily multivitamin. He's still quite delicate, and we must continue to worry about CLD, RSV shots, and a variety of other issues, but he's a very spunky and energetic little baby. Jack's been eating table food for a long time now, and is rapidly putting on weight after a long dry spell where he was stuck in the 15-lb range. Although he still has developmental (physical) delays and is still trying to crawl and master sitting up, he's sharp as a tack, and has a quirky sense of humor (with a goofy laugh to match). Jack continues to get various therapies, with more being added soon, but he is a strong and determined little soul.

Words cannot describe how much I love my little boy.



And yes, I'd love to have another soon, but we will have to meet with high risk doctors months before we even start trying. To say that I'm scared is an understatement. But we'll go in to it knowing what can happen, how to prevent it, and do our best.

Pete and I are doing well too. The economy has continued to affect us both in our careers, but we're making due. And as I keep pointing out to Pete, we were able to buy a house this year, despite everything, so that's saying something, right? We even got out for some mommy and daddy alone time recently at a coffee tour downtown (that's a rarity!). Here we are with my sibs and niece at the Intelligentsia coffee tour (Pete rarely smiles in photos). I still have some baby weight to lose, but once I unearth my treadmill and get back to exercising, I hope it'll start to melt away.



Anyhow, just wanted to pop in here and say hello, post some pix, etc. Hope you are all well, and I miss being a regular in blogland. But I know everyone is busy too, and you just have to take life as it comes.

Happy holidays!

Recent pix

Chris here...I'm not going to say for the millionth time that I'm going to be blogging again! And take pix! And make my own bread! And run a marathon! And...and...and...phew. Life is super, duper busy. Can you tell? I'm lucky to do much beyond care for my special baby, keep the house functioning (note that I did not say "clean"), and squeeze out the occasional freelance project (they're few and far between these days). And there is big news on the horizon that I will be sharing soon (I hope).

In the meantime, I managed to grab five pix of Jack (who else?) to share with you all. The kid is tiny, but he's growing like a weed these days! So without further delay, here's Jack-Jack:


With dada and Lamby (about two months ago)


With his beloved Mr. Duck during bath time


Rock on!


Hanging out with dada in bed


With grandma (this past weekend—photo courtesy of Nic)

Littlest Beatles Fan

Taken by Nicole, a true talent

Isn't my sister-in-law Nicole super talented? She inspires me so much. She is part of the reason I want to get back into photography again, after an absence of several months (due to obvious reasons—see previous post).

These were taken in Savanna this weekend...we both went out to play with our cameras while grandma Claudette watched Jack. I almost felt awkward at first, not knowing where to begin, but Nic helped me relax and get back into the artistic groove.

I love her work.

I've got a ten pounder (plus) on my hands!

Mama and Jack (pic taken by Nicole)



I've been busy, busy, busy...but here are some pix for you of you-know-who.

I'm getting back into photography and exploring my artistic side, now that Jack is home and healthy (despite a recent cold) and the weather is so beautiful. I've posted some pix at vivid of recent Savanna trips, and I'm participating in Lens.Us.Together again. It feels good to pick up the camera again (and not just the iPhone all the time).

Hopefully I'll be posting regularly again as time allows...I hope you are all doing well too!


Watching the carousel with mama at Blackberry Farm


Dapper sailor


Bath time with grandma Claudette


Tiny tiger


With grandma Carol at Blackberry Farm (pic by Sam)


Shirt-hat


Hanging with dada and watching video games


Tiger Jack

March for Babies—last call

Don't forget, tomorrow I'll be walking in the March for Babies walk in Naperville, IL. If you are interested in donating to this very worthy cause, please visit my fund raising page to make a donation on behalf of Jack's team. Jack wouldn't be here if not for some of the great research and advances in science supported/funded by the March of Dimes.

Thank you!

Jack-Jack

Some ShakeIt-enhanced photos of Jack....

Thanks to everyone who still stops by to check on his progress. I have my hands VERY full at the moment, as you can imagine, but hopefully things will eventually quiet down. I miss blogging and all of you!

And yes, as you can see, his feeding tube is long gone (he pulled it out weeks ago) and better yet, he's home! Has been since March 7th. He's still dealing with feeding issues, mostly due to reflux, and still receives therapy. But otherwise he's doing great. I think he's aound 8 lbs, which we will confirm at his pediatrician appointment next week.

He has just started socially smiling, and I love it!

Hope you are all doing well....


Happy Jack


Goofy Jack


For Uncle Matt...


Monkey boy


Another smile


Baby toes (yes, they're crooked)


Full of wonder


Scary Jack


With his froggy Wubanub