Happy 7th Birthday

My little guy turned 7 today. He's so far from being a little boy anymore, but he'll always be my baby. I asked him this morning how 7 felt, and he replied, "Awkward." Yes, he uttered those exact words. Then he said that he can spell encyclopedia, which I said he could do when he was 6. But he said that now that he's 7, he can spell it much faster.

What can I say about this precious boy? Within the past year, he's tried his attempt at basketball, which he loved, but the poor kid was by far the shortest on his team. He actually had a 2nd grader who was a full head taller than him. He also played soccer in the fall, and scored many goals. We put him in a hockey skills class just to get him on the ice, and he skated circles around the other kids. We're so proud of him.

As for school, he is an unbelievable reader. I volunteered a week ago for his class, and his classmates came out in the hall to read to me. He was flying through the pages, whereas some of his other classmates had problems. I really don't remember Riley reading as well at this age. But he doesn't share her passion for reading, at least not yet. He'd rather do it and get it over with.

He's a very loving boy, and he and Riley actively fight over their cousin, Jack. It's times like that which make me regret not making him a big brother. But at the same time, he has a temper, so maybe it's for the best! :)

He lost his top two teeth within the last week, and he looks so much older. It's hard to believe that 7 years ago he entered our family. I knew very early on that we were having a boy--I just felt it. And at 1:20 pm he entered the world (and of course Riley pointed out that Jeremy wouldn't be 7 today until 1:20...says the girl who was born at 12:44 am!). We went out to our favorite breakfast place this morning to have "birthday bacon," and he even received a piece of chocolate cake. 

Riley drew him a birthday card, in which she wrote that he's the best brother ever. So sweet.

I love this little guy more than I could ever imagine. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for him. I will cherish the times he wants me to play goalie for him out in the driveway. I will let him twirl my hair when he feels shy. I will do my best to make him the best boy he can be in whatever capacity that may be. I love you, Jeremy. Happy birthday, buddy. 

And now for Jeremy through the years:

At the hospital

3 months

6 months

9 months

1 year old

18 months

2 years old

2.5 years old

3 years old (and sick)

3.5 years old

4 years old

 

5 years old

6 years old

7 years old and wearing his birthday party crown

Broadcasters

Most everyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge sports fan. Huge. And again, that's something I owe to my dad. And perhaps the two biggest Chicago sports personalities who had an impact on my life were Harry Caray and Pat Foley.

I was in awe yesterday when I heard it was 15 years ago that Harry Caray passed away. I remember I was at college, and that night I had a column due at the school newspaper. I decided to dedicate my column to Harry. (Side note: I Googled myself and the article I wrote and found it here. On another side note, did I ever think that picture I had taken looked like something that should be in a newspaper?!)

Anyway, like I wrote in my article, he was the true epitome of what a Chicagoan is. He was a hard worker, yet he made time for his friends and knew how to have a good time. And he reminded me of my childhood. The times I spent with my grandmother listening to him tell tales and lament about his poor Cubbies. (Side note: I have since changed allegiances and am now a Sox fan. I'm not quite sure how my grandmother would take that news now.)

I've attended my fair share of Cubs games. Probably five times more than Sox games, because Cubs games were easier to get to (the Blue line to the Addison bus), and tickets were cheap. Plus, who actually paid attention to the games? Well, I did when I was younger.

I also read that if alive, Caray would have been 99 today. Wow.

And then Pat Foley, the announcer for the Blackhawks, is by far my favorite announcer in any capacity. The Hawks announced tonight that next month the team would honor him for his 30 years of service. To me, he is hockey. He makes it entertaining, he provides facts, and he has such a distinct voice that makes you want to pay attention. Plus the repoire he has with Eddie Olczyk is phenomenal. 

I remember listening to Pat and Dale Tallon on the radio while I was at college. See, back then, Hawks home games weren't televised, so us die-hard fans were forced to listen to the games via radio (the Internet wasn't even that prevalent back in my day...). 

I think my dad turned me in to listening to both men, although I can't pinpoint the exact times. My dad is very particular about announcers--there have been times when he's muted games because he would rather listen to nothing than the announcer (ahem, Marv Albert). It's cute to see the kids already recognizing when Pat and Eddie are announcing games. They get upset when Hawks games are on NBC and we don't get to hear those two. 

They are/were Chicagoans at their best.