I wear my sunglasses at night

This is the final stage in Brady's obsession with all things celeb! Though this picture was taken indoors Brady insisted on wearing his shades. He claims all the bulb flashing is tough on his cornea's and he can't take the chance of developing squint lines this early in life. OMG!

In reality Brady went to the eye doctor today. He will be checked annually until he is 9 (when vision sets in) for three main things: cataracts, crossed eyes and need for glasses. Today he passed all three tests with flying colors. His eyes are perfect! We are thrilled! Brady has passed another bump in the road with no problem. Next week Brady will have major blood work done to check for thyroid issues and anemia, not that we are worried about either of these, but babies with Down Syndrome often have an over or under active thyroid. He will also have an ultrasound to search for the elusive right testicle. Our boys boys have been ascended since birth so its time to bring'em home. Next week we begin the process to "fill the sack." Brady's left guy is hovering just north and the right one is a mystery, hence the ultrasound. He will have 1 surgery to bring the right one down. If there is a left one Brady will have 2 more procedures; one to first cut the blood supply and the second to bring it south. All this business has nothing to do with Down Syndrome, it was just the luck of the draw.

Just Brady

Since Brady's cinematic debut I've noticed some unusual behaviors. This clip is an example of his version of smoking. I've told him that it is NOT cool and it doesn't make him look mature. He claims it's a throw back to icons like Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando. He's really taking this acting thing seriously. He's been throwing himself deep into character work. I've seen everything from Clint Eastwood to RuPaul. He says its important not to get type casted and since he's stuck in this adorable baby facade, he's got to work twice as hard as the next guy to be taken seriously.

Cloth Diapers

Get the stink out

Wet Bag

3 n 1 and liner

Our lovely model, Brady

Many people have asked me how the cloth diapers are going. Well, they're going great (and so is Brady hahahha). I thought I would offer a little cloth diaper 101 for those of you who are curious. If this is not in your realm then bypass this post and check back later for our usual fair.

1. What brand do I use? My favorite is Bum Genius, but I also have Drybees. I do not like Drybees. They leak worse than our bathroom faucet and they are the most expensive ones I have. Bum Genius are easy to use and get this.... NO BLOWOUTS! Yeah that's right these babies keep #2's in the sack. We have been blowout free for months. I have the 3 n 1, which means they grow with the baby. You can see the adjustable snaps on the front of the diaper. Snap them all the way up and they will fit about a 3 month old.

2. What do you do with the poopey diapers? I call Jeff to come home from work and get him to wash them out. YEAH RIGHT! This part is a bit gross. I take the diaper and rinse it out in the toilet. Yes, with my hands and no there is no better way of doing this. There is a hose/sprayer available, but the less poop flying around the bathroom the better. The whole deal is over in about 5 seconds, but trust me I would rather spend the time doing something else.

3. How do you wash them? I do laundry every other day. I have 16 diapers. If you purchase more then you can spread out the laundry cycles. Fortunately the front loader washer and dryers have great cycle options for cloth diapers. I use the "heavy duty" option with an extra rinse cycle and put the water on hot. This cycle takes 66 minutes and then I line dry the diapers. About every 2 weeks I run them through the sanitary cycle and that takes 2 hours. If the diapers are becoming stained I can hang them in the sunlight and that will naturally bleach them. I use Seventh Generation detergent with no perfume or dyes. I also use a product called "Bac Out" which helps with stains and odor. I also use a odor eliminator spray made by Bum Genius. After I run out of it I think I will just stay with the Bac Out product. It seems to do the job.

4. What do you do with the diapers until laundry time? I put them in the "Wet bag." Its a nifty little bag that is water proof and it zips in the stink! When its laundry time I just empty the bag into the washer. I also have a smaller one for my diaper bag. It's great for when we are on the go.

5. Why do you use cloth diapers? Our main reasons for using cloth diapers are in this order: A. We eliminate Brady being exposed to all the harsh chemicals found in disposable diapers. B. Creates less waste C. Saves money in the long run D. It's believed to help kids potty train faster because they actually feel when they are wet.

6. How much do the diapers cost? Bum Genius diapers are $17.95 each, but you can save money if you order in bulk. The large wet bag was $22 and the small one was $15. Overall a small investment for long term benefit.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask!

Swinger

Next to milk and Bill on the favorites list is the swing. Brady loves it, and the higher the better. this picture was taken at Augusta's first birthday party. Our girl slammed down some cake and enjoyed the extra attention. We wanted to especially thank Augusta because in her short 12 months of life she has learned the meaning of giving. She graciously bypassed birthday gifts and instead, asked everyone to give to Brady's Buddy Walk. We are extremely thankful for her selfless act.

With Augusta's help and many, many family and friends we have now raised $2255! WHOA!! We are thrilled!!!! The Buddy Walk is 2 weeks away. We are looking forward to seeing many of you on the track. Next week I will email details to those of you who are walking with us. The email will include an itinerary and meeting point. If you are interested in walking with our team please email me: jen_shannon@cox.net

Thanks a million times for your support and love. We are truly grateful!

Hair

After suffering through MONTHS of hair pulling I decided to cut my hair and as you can see I really mean CUT. My darling hair stylist happily cut over 7 inches off my melon. It feels great. Brady went for a handful yesterday and got NOTHING. His little crab claws have no power over my new tresses. Many of you have experienced the power of his grasp. I am amazed at the amount of hair he can twist into his gooey little paw. It's also clear that he doesn't understand the following phrases "No, " Holy *hit," "OUCH," "Stop," "Mercy." The icing on the cake is that he uses his victims hair as a handle to pull them in while he accosts their face with love and slobber. It is a form of initiation into the Brady Club. Your not truly ordained until you have a bald spot and a chin hickey.

To the Farm

Brady's reaction to realizing the difference between Chics and Chicks!

The Chicks, not chics!

When we told Brady we were going to Thistle and Clover Farm to check out some chicks these weren't exactly the chicks he was imagining. He was hoping for females, but more of the human kind.

Many of you know that Jeff and I are particular about the food we choose to consume and now that Brady is eating more and more food we have taken it to another level. We understand more than ever that what we put into his little body will have short and long term effects on his well being. Brady is more susceptible to things like leukemia, hyper/hypothyroidism, obesity, cataracts, Alzheimer's and to top it all off he has a short life expectancy (about 50-60 yrs). Jeff and I of course think most of this research is based on studies of individuals with a poor diet and lack of physical activity. From day 1 we have emphasized the importance of a healthy diet for us and for Brady. We feel this is the key to giving him every advantage possible. We loosely follow a Paleo diet that includes no more than fruits, vegetables, meats, some nuts and berries. So in an effort to make sure some of these items are sourced from a healthy environment Jeff and I began buying our eggs, meat and dairy from local farmers. Each week we go to the farmers market and buy our eggs and chicken from Lucy, our bright eyed, like minded farmer. She and her family work on a healthy farm and truly believe the health of the animal equates a healthy consumer. We asked and they graciously obliged to let us visit the farm. It was exciting to see the hens roaming around the land "free as a bird" and munching on whatever their hearts desired. As I was cooking our morning eggs I thought to myself "I wonder if this egg was from the black and white one." It is an amazing feeling to know exactly where the egg I was holding came from. We also got to see cattle out to pasture, wagging their tails and taking in the beautiful day. The idea of them ending up on my plate next summer is still something I'm warming up to, but as Jeff says "that's just life." Jeff and I feel confident that the food we purchase from Lucy and Adam is quality food that is raised in a sustainable way and we know it is exactly the food that will help Brady thrive.

If you would like more information on Thistle and Clover farm check out their website:

http://www.thistlesandclover.com/Home_Page.html

Final Destination

This is our final film in the "Tri-Brady Film Festival." Brady sets out on a journey to capture the object of his affection, a plastic wonder. The adventure ends quickly due to his advanced skills and determination. In a matter of seconds Brady has detained the elusive rattle.

I hope you have enjoyed our cinematic journey, available soon on DVD. Brady would like to mention that he will be offering autographed copies for some of his biggest fans. Now that he is a big star he has created a list of contractual requirements. Here's the short list: 1. His "dressing room" be upgraded to include a flat screen TV 2. A bowl of green M&M's place on the lower right corner of his nightstand 3. A fair maid to fan him on days the temperature reaches above 83 4. We are to address his as Mr. Shannon.

The only thing I have to say to Mr. Shannon is "That's a wrap."

Action Thriller Part Deux

This is the longest feature of our three part series. You will find 1 minute and 38 seconds full of suspense and awhhh! The film opens with some impressive creeping by our lead. He inches his way to the pot of gold and then POW in comes protagonist BILL! Brady's attention is suddenly diverted by a wirery cat. Brady throws in a few sidewinders to intimidate his opponent, but is outwitted by his furry nemesis. Where is this going? Are they going to dual? Not so much! Bill escapes another encounter without any fur loss. He better watch his tail, Brady is getting faster by the day! To show his sportsmanship, Brady ends the summit with a smile and clap session. Defeat never looked so good.

Tri-Brady Film Festival

It's been awhile since I posted a video so I thought I would feature a film festival of "Brady Digital Shorts." They are a lot less Andy Samburg and more "ahhh cute kid." Today's film is Brady doing his "Soooo big" trick. I know I have posted about this before, but words can't do it justice. You must see it in cinematic magic. Please note the width of Brady's cheeks when his arms reach full extension. They spread out like peanut butter on bread.

This bit has all the makings of a time honored classic. You have the lure of an incredibly good looking main character, the excitement of a climatic event and the mystery of why Brady hurled himself to stage right at the end of the film. The answer can only be found in the directors cut.

The R Word

Lately, it seems like I have been hearing the R word a lot. Obviously since Brady's birth the word rings a bit louder than it used to. I am amazed at how casually people throw it around, and I'm ashamed to admit that I used to be one of these people. I know that they are not using it to deliberately offend anyone, but that's what the word does. It's interesting when someone uses the word in front of Brady and I and then realizes what just fell out of their mouth. Their attempt at a recovery is humorous.

So in an effort to create more sensitivity and awareness of this dirty little word the Special Olympics has created a campaign called "Spread the word to end the word." I have made a personal pledge to never use the word again and I hope that you will choose to do the same. I typically leave "agendas" out of this blog, but I feel this is important. Take the pledge if you wish, but at the very least be aware of what you are saying and the impact it can have on others.

http://www.r-word.org/

How big is Brady?

Sooooo big!

Jeff and I began teaching Brady the "so big" trick back in May. We had given up on getting a response from Brady and then prest-O, the little guy did it......again, and again, and again. He can't seem to keep his arms down now. As much as he is flapping those arms he might fly away. He wants the whole world to know how big he is. Plus, he gets a pretty big reaction from anyone within 100 ft. The boy demands attention!