You Give Me Fever.

It's late. I'm awake. My right ear hurts.Can't breathe through my nose. Sinus pressure. Snuck out of bed to clean up Jack's toys in the living room and start the dishwasher. See? Productive even with a fever. Glancing occasionally at Sixteen Candles on TV in between browsing blogs and online shopping sites. Waiting for this week to pass so this sickness will pass. Jack has been home from school all week- he is the little monster who got me sick. But I don't mind. In the middle of the night, when your baby is coughing and crying for you, you hold him. You let him cough and breathe in your face. You don't even care when he sneezes on you. You repeatedly wipe a stream of snot away with something called a "boogie wipe." (i didn't think i would ever buy those things but i swear, they're pretty handy when you have sick babies.) Things that sound disgusting before you have kids are things you don't even think twice about once you have them. 

Jack started on medicine yesterday and today seems to be an improvement. Even though Jack is my best buddy, I think we both need to see a little sunshine and get out of the house. Maybe spend a little time apart even. We need adventure.

Jack was happy when Aunt Hannah came to town! 

We took Jack to Local for the first time a few weeks ago and he loved it. We checked him into "Localville" and it was a HUGE hit. Local is one of our favorite places to eat and/or drink here in Norman, Oklahoma. Localville is a fun place the kids can play and eat (supervised of course!) while you enjoy dinner with friends or a date night or whatever. It's the most brilliant idea. 

Husband had a birthday recently. We stayed in a suite at The Mayo in Tulsa. Can I live there, please?  My mom told me a sweet story about how my grandma and grandpa stayed there once when she was a child and they brought back stationary for her. She loved to look at it- there was a picture or drawing maybe? of the building on the paper. Thinking about my mom as a child (Baby Susan as I like to call her) is so adorable. I need to scan some pictures of Baby Susan so you can see what I mean. I swiped the notepad from our room to give to her but- there is no picture of the building. 

Also, I'm pretty sure that place is haunted. 

It's been a few weeks but I went on a little trip with my dad. We flew to LA to visit my brothers and sisters-in-law. We didn't rush around. Didn't stay out late. We didn't even get drunk once. We ate delicious food, went to a cemetery that smelled like dead people, took a tour of Paramount, drove to San Diego, and saw Django Unchained at Q. Tarantino's theatre. It was awesome. Of course I missed my boys- this was the first time I've been away from both of them at the same time for longer than a day. I will say- it was pretty relaxing not having to take care of anyone else though. I appreciate the little things, folks.

Ok, I think maybe I got a little buzz from drinking a flight of beer at this place.
(Pathetic, Brooke. Get your shit together, girl.)

This is my dad. His favorite things to talk about are art, traveling, history, and death. And his grandchildren.
And Facebook.

Ok. Time to raid the medicine cabinet for something that will make my fever go away.

Toodles.

♥ jp

little stream.

My chicken is growing up.  He tells stories, he's picky about clothes, he saves money in his piggy bank.  He's also a lot taller than other 2.5 year olds so he just looks grown up.  Sometimes I get sad about it but then he runs through the door, all sweaty and sticky, and he throws his arms around me.

"Love you, Momma." 

Life is brilliant when you have a chicken who loves you.

A few things.  

I want to get my hair cut.  What do you think?

I dyed it dark brown again.  

My dad has been texting me so maybe we're on our way to talking again.  Jack misses him a lot.  I do too.  I learned he had dinner with Wes Studi and his wife.  

Jack knows how to play Angry Birds all by himself.

Husband is bringing Pepe Delgado's vegetarian tacos to me for lunch!  I'm very excited.

I'm playing a big show tomorrow night in OKC.  It will be the first show in 3.5 years that Husband has missed.  My boys will be enjoying wedding festivities all weekend but I've got band stuff to do.

Should I wear gold shorts to the show? 

I wish I had a massage appointment today. 

I thought about getting a manicure this afternoon but I'll just wreck it at practice later.  Guitars and manicures don't go well together.

I saw Crazy, Stupid, Love.  It was funny.  Ryan HOLY HOTNESS Gosling.  There's a scene.  He's fine.  You'll know what i'm talking about when you see it.  And his wardrobe is pretty cool too.  I love a guy in a v-neck.  I love Husband in a v-neck.

Jack just brought my guitar to me so I have another show to add to the list.  A very important show.  

Break a leg, me.

♥ jp

a real wedding.

I think my hand is broken. I've got 2 new songs almost completely finished. The Baby is hurting my spirit this week with his bad behavior. My dad is taking my little brother to Paris in a couple of weeks. My dad didn't call me on my birthday. I minored in French in college. Had dinner with my best friend the other night and remembered how much I love and trust her. Baby starts swimming lessons next week, 3 times a week. Baby needs a nap RIGHT now.
Flew to Alabama for Husband's cousin's wedding. Baby's first "airpane" ride. Husband read magazines while I baby wrangled. Not sure I'll ever travel with both of them at the same time- EVER AGAIN! I'm not sure who whines more.

above: I took this picture of the beautiful bride, right before she walked down the aisle.

above: Baby's wedding outfit was cute but he really needed a belt. His pants fell down and his shirt came untucked every 10 seconds. He was so amped up during the ceremony that Husband and I had to chase him around in the church hallways and I missed my favorite part! The reception was in a gorgeous location and the food was delicious.




We visited this awesome place outside of town. There's a bar, a chapel, cabins, and hunting. The chapel is the most charming place I've ever seen. If we had something like that here in Oklahoma, I would definitely get married there. So darling.


Back to Oklahoma, laundry, the dog and cats, the internet. Back to my own fluffy, comfy bed with clean sheets and Baby is back in his own bed, sleeping through the night. I love to travel but I also love, love, love Oklahoma.

xo ♥ jp

the easter bun bun.

Baby is getting taller, skinnier, louder, bossier, and more independent everyday. Some days he's sweet, some days he's in a bad mood. Goes with the 2 year old territory I guess. This weekend we had egg hunts, a birthday, a wedding reception, and a friend in town. It rained. We ate red curry and pra ram. I drank a little wine, Husband drank a few beers. We watched an obscene number of Friday Night Lights episodes on Netflix streaming. Ohmygod that show is SO GOOD. If I talked about how great it is, it could have it's own blog. I'm sure there's one somewhere. Oh Tim Riggins, you are beautiful.
Baby was sick last week so he missed school and I didn't get to visit my Grandma. As nice as it is to have the baby around all day, everyday- this mommy needs a little break. We have several friends who offer to watch him every week but then can't ever actually watch him. I know how it is though, people have lives. I'm guilty of living in my little bubble with Baby and Husband and dismissing everything else. That's something I need to work on. But... if you are a friend and can watch Jack this evening or tomorrow evening, that would be awesome and I will owe you a huge favor. Like, if you're ever stranded in a nearby state, I will totally come and pick you up. Or if you leave your wallet at home, I'll buy your lunch. Or I'll just take you out for dinner sometime. Babysitter's choice!

What's going on- Tonight Mates of State play a free show at OU. It's rainy outside so they've moved it inside. BOO! We thought about taking Jack but I think it'll be too crowded inside so we probably won't go. Water for Elephants opened in theaters this weekend- i loved the book so i'm excited to see it. Wednesday we have The Oh Johnny! Girls' rehearsal. Thursday we play the opening day of the Norman Music Festival. Bill and Dee's at 11pm. Saturday I play twice with my other band, Bulletproof Tiger. 1:30 at the Opolis and 3:30 at the Blue Bonnet Bar.
above: My dad cut a piece of birthday cake for Jack (my niece's sweet 16) and the birthday girl wasn't even there yet! There was a big hole cut out while she blew out her candles. Jack was appreciative.

above: The early works of Jack H. E. Brady. Baby Jack's school/church had an art fundraiser for a new playground and art center. Jack's painting sold for $30. The kid has art in his blood- i can actually hang it up! I love it. Some of those other kids have questionable art skills. Jack, once again, you rule.

above and below: Saturday night we had a casual sort of wedding reception to attend. It was nice to see old friends. We stopped by The Library and The Garage before the party. The Garage is new and I like it. Last week I went to Blackbird Gastropub and liked it too. Feels good to have some new places in town to go to.
Baby Jack calls the Easter Bunny "Bun Bun" and is terrified of him. I never knew he could hold on to me so tight. I don't blame him though- Bun Bun was pretty creepy looking. Sunday we had lunch at The Trails. Bun Bun was there and we went on an egg hunt in the men's locker room because of the crazy rain floods. Jack had fun, I had a mimosa. I went casual with gap jeans and a white banana republic shirt, a trench, and heels. A pastel dress just seems weird to wear when it's dark and crappy outside. I LOVE Easter dress hunting so it was disappointing but there's always next year.

I erased all contacts in my phone yesterday. Yay! I'm such a mess already this week. If you're around, let's get a glass of wine or something. I need to get out of the house, even if it's for an hour.

♥ jp

Oh my darlin'

Hearing other people's relationship problems makes me very thankful for my Husband. So, thank you, darling Husband. Went to see Sherlock Holmes today. It was good. Sherlock is super hot but not as hot as Husband.

Baby's first birthday is in less than a month! We have so many people to invite that we have to rent a place to have it. Working on getting a guitar cake from my friend, Christie England, at Sugar custom cake shop. http://www.oksugar.com/ Her cakes are awesome and delicious! Baby got so many toys at Christmas that we're going to ask people not to bring any. He could use more books but that's about it. What do you get the boy who has everything anyway? Tomorrow I will find invitations.

Trying to open the front door. Wearing baby Wrangler jeans and a lumberjack shirt from Baby Gap.

I like to rearrange the house. This is in our bedroom.

My grandparent's 1960's dresser that I had refinished and painted white. Grandma also gave me a series of Lionel Barrymore etchings that hang above the dresser.

Baby Jack's room! My dad gave him a soccerball chair for christmas. The other side of his room is filled with toys.

Green tea to go. I painted the kitchen green. Got new orange cookware that matches my orange Le Creuset stuff.

It's getting late and Baby is crying in his crib. He's trying so hard to fight going to bed. He quit eating vegetables this week. He's been waking up in the middle of the night, not wanting to go back to sleep. Sigh. He must be going through some phase. Hopefully it doesn't last years.

signing off.

♥ jp

Where the waving wheat (and indian tacos) , sure smell sweet...

Ok. So lots of things have been going on lately so i haven't quite had the time to post anything new. Baby is crawling- he is very fast. He is very impatient. He is teething. He cries and wants Mommy to hold him all the time. He is also a 25 lbs!

The Oklahoma State Fair started a couple of weeks ago. The Husband and I went on opening night with some friends. It was fun. There was beer, cheese on a stick (my fav), the smell of cinnamon buns and funnel cakes, and rickety old rides with crappy techno music playing in the background. We brought a flask of whiskey. It was a good time. I went back the next week but this time- during the day and brought The Baby, no flask. His nap seemed bothered by the sunshine and he caught a glimpse of a weird looking dude and a rather hefty black woman. He screamed bloody murder for absolutely no reason. I felt a little embarrassed, apologizing to those poor people, but then again, after all of the things I went through during pregnancy, not to mention actually giving birth- I decided it wasn't embarrassing and i'd better just get used to looking around at people in public, giving them a nod with a slight smile and mouthing "i'm sorry" because, after all, I am the person with the screaming baby. The photo above is from our first Ok. State Fair day together. The photo below is The Baby wanting me to hold him during our entire State Fair day together. He wore a red, white, and blue print baby hoodie from Old Navy, Ralph Lauren baby polo jeans, black shoes with gray stripes, and a baby mohawk.

A week and a half ago, my dad had knee replacement surgery. He has 6 kids and no wives. (he's been married 4 times and divorced 4 times) We've been taking turns taking care of him and let me tell you- it isn't easy. There are lots of things to remember! Meds, leg machine dealie, meals (he's diabetic), nurses, lots of doctors, etc. Not to mention, he just moved to Norman. (which is where i live, thankfully!) And we've all been busy unpacking his house, buying things he needs, taking care of bills, and hanging his massive art collection.   The doctor asked my sister and I a question about something and we said the other sister probably knew- i told him that there are 6 of us and he had us so we could be his little post-it notes. 

I know The Baby always has this look on his face in these photos i post, but trust me- he's a VERY happy baby. He just also happens to be very serious. Here's a funny photo to round out this post. We went out to eat mexican food later than our usual dinnertime and he was already in his jammies. I brought along a furry blanket for him to cuddle up in while sitting like a big boy in his highchair!

Well, i've been taking care of my dad all day and i'm so ready to get that Baby, get home, get in the shower, and then sit on my back porch with a glass of wine and my trusty old acoustic. Baby willing of course.

♥ jp