Moving on.....

Hello my few lovely and wonderful blog readers!
I'm moving on with a new blog :)
bubble tea for you and me is no longer.....

but!

I am happy to introduce -
http://thesum.tumblr.com/

My new blog!

Hope you enjoy it.
I will be posting soon directions on how to leave comments as it is a wee bit different.

<3 Becca

He has arrived...

Feeling sentimental

I think this is probably normal....
Right before a major life change....
To stop, reflect, and take in what is around you.

And what around me is this:

and this:



My first born.
Finnegan.
Just him.

and so very soon....that will simply not be the case!
There will be ANOTHER....
Imagine.
Another little BOY to add wonder, excitement, challenge and laughter to our lives.

And THIS little boy....

(Who is now FULLY POTTY TRAINED by the way - BOOYAH)

Is all I know.
And I have loved him with all my heart since his arrival.
I hope he stays the same, and doesn't lose the amazing things that make him, him.
His love of people
His friendliness
His outgoing and giving nature
His easy going disposition
His ability to play and chill and be on his own.
His willingness to say, "I love you" unprompted....all the time.

I can only hope and wish and hope that this new baby is HALF as kind and wonderful to us as you have been Finn.
(Like when you slept through the night...remember?! RIGHT away?!)

Sigh....soon soon, time will tell what changes are in store for us.
But what I DO know...is that there is a very real excitement and love already stored up for this new baby.

So come new baby!
Let all of us love you.

Testing...1...2...3

We are all about doing things at our own pace around here.
Nick and I are not big on reading books on following methods, rules, looking up studies, worrying about much of anything when it comes to milestones.
This is where our parenting styles align, and it works for us so we roll with it.

Potty Training.

It's gotta happen.
It's going to happen....right?!?!
I mean...this kid is not going to be pooping and pissing his pants in college right?!? (well unless he drinks WAY too much, but that is something we can cover a little later)

However, with this particular task, I'm feeling the last grains of sand leaving the hourglass.
I am imagining an infant. ALL the glorious infant diapers.
And the large, near man-size turds that we are cleaning out of a diaper now from our 3 yr. old.

Dr. says, if he hasn't been trained by now...don't even THINK about it....he'll regress when baby gets here....

Who knows!
We're just rolling with it at this point.

Finn asked tonight to sit on the toilet. The Big Potty and the Little Potty...
He's testing them out!

Let's start there....

Ready for baby...

Remember this?

Well!
My friend Gina sent me a link to a photo contest a few months ago...the topic of the contest was to submit a new perspective of Chicago's vast architectural offerings. I was totally flattered that she sent it to me and quickly realized that it was a ridiculous idea for me to enter, seeing as I really only have a few photos that even feature Chicago's amazing buildings.

The photo was taken on a TOTAL whim last December from the sky deck at the John Hancock Building. We were there taking Finnegan to see Santa and I remember thinking it was cool to see the skyline so flat lying over Lakeshore Drive and North Ave beach below....see the snow and teeny tiny cars?

This was the only photo I had.
I read more about the contest and laughed, deeming it a TOTAL long shot, and just decided to submit it. Why not right?

I found out today that I got an "honorable mention"!! Holy shit right?!?
My photo and byline are going to be PUBLISHED in an actual photography coffee table book.
And I got invited to this cool reception where the photo will be on display and my husband can drink enough complimentary martinis for the both of us.

I guess they got over 3,200 submissions...
I realize I AM bragging a little bit here, but with that being said, I totally feel undeserving and in shock that it got picked in the first place, for ANYTHING!

Anyway.........
Damn. Guess the lesson here is to just go for it.
Or Just Do It, as Nike would say.
:)

Visitors make us Very happy - with a capital V

The Keaty Family has been very fortunate to have had visitors TWO weekends in a row.
Last weekend! Auntie G flew in from the North and spent 3 wonderful days with us.

We hit the beach...
And also spent some time with our cousins Meghan and Emily shopping! Eating with Greta's friend Lindsay at a GREAT Indian restaurant, and sought out A/C whenever possible. We took Finn to his second movie, Despicable Me, and really just enjoyed our time together.

This past weekend we enjoyed a visit from Mom and Cathy! Mom and Cathy have been friends for a really long time....and I can remember many memories of my childhood that involve her spending time with my Mom, sister and I.

So it may not be a surprise to any of you that Chicago has a LOT to offer in the food department.
I personally have a list 60 miles long of all the restaurants I would like to try.
And people often come to visit with places to eat in mind.
Like my sister! and Veerasway...the amazing Indian spot
Cathy! Wanted the best deep dish pizza Chicago had to offer.
Mom! Wanted Garrett's famous cheese and caramel mix.
Me! I wanted to try this little pie shop that I've been reading so much about.

Everybody got their wish.
And I documented the PIE!

Banana Cream - delicious.

Cherry Berry - so FORKIN' good


Love that little boy and his coffee mug....

Don't know how I managed to not get a picture with Cathy. Haven't been taking my camera out much these days , to not add any EXTRA weight to carry around. But we also had a great time catching a Second City show, a BEAUTIFUL day at Millennium Park, dinner at Chinatown and a quiet night in watching A Girl With A Dragon Tattoo (great book AND movie by the way)

And the cherry on top of this visitor's sundae?
The chocolate mousse on this Old Town salad bar?
I get to see my family AGAIN this weekend for some wedding celebration in Milwaukee.
YES.......