Blog Updates Update

I think I will summarize Rollie & our "doings" once a month for this year. There really isn't any reason for us to showcase Rollie each week and it is hard to think of things to write. :)

So... this past month, you ask? Well it was a lot of resting up for Christmas and being inside due to weather. Here is a photo summary of family time:

Getting Our Tree at the Cabin!

Decorating the Tree

Hanging Out

Week 52: Rollie's First Birthday!

Please click link video below to see video and take part in all things Rollie & his First Birthday. Thank you, Caleb, for the footage and for putting this video together.

What a great day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Q_fu1SYVU&feature=youtu.be

Week 51: Bears Are Back on TV

It was a chill week last week when the Bears were not on TV. My husband REALLY enjoys them and when they don't win, it is a tragedy over here. It was a calm day still filled with Football but not yelling at the Bears.

In other news: Rollie got a hair cut! It is not much different but the grand reveal will be for his birthday shots over thanksgiving. Until then, here is a preview:

And then just an extra that I love to stare at and laugh:

Week 50: Rollie Tackles the Cabin... Again.

Hey folks. This past weekend we took one last trip up to the cabin with Rollie before the snow flew. It is never like it was before Rollie but it was fun to see him enjoy it, for the most part. 

24 hours is long enough for Rollie to not be able to crawl (he hates the feeling on the grass and loves to crawl towards to fire) and to sit in his seat. He did a lot of sitting in his seat, ha ha.

We enjoyed a long walk down the path and also were able to use the weed wacker on all the overgrown mess of the path. It is hard keeping the cabin up to how it used to be before my dad and grandpa passed. They really manicured that place well and we just don't have the equipment to do that anymore.

Rollie did not sleep an extra hour like daylight savings time was supposed to allow. He was bright-eyed at 4a ready to party.

Alas, we enjoyed a nice night with the propane heater and packed up shop early in the morning.

SIDE NOTE: Our family voted secretly and confidentially for our president-elect. We voted correct, whatever interpretation you have on that is up to your discretion. 

Week 49: Chicago for 4 Years of Marriage

This past week we celebrated four years of marriage. This man of mine has been such a beautiful thing for me. Each year we grow deeper as one but this past year we have had to focus harder on "us" more than any other year. This is so obvious but was so evident for me as I looked back on the year. We focused more on being connected than just besties with each other. We still have "it" though and that will never get old. Ever.

To celebrate, we took the day off work to go to lunch and to... KAYAK. Caleb surprised me with a trip to a lake to have hot cocoa and paddle our way around the lake. It was so fun to do something so different than what we normally do and to be LITERALLY just us talking and laughing.

We left straight after work on Friday and headed down to Chicago. Nathan and Kelly took Rollie for us and we had an overnight of reminiscing the "good days of Chicago". We walked a total of 6 miles for the day, spent a lot of time in Wrigleyville celebrating the World Series with the rest, ate deep-dish pizza, drank local brews, and had bfast at Baker & Nosh. All things awesome and "us".

We also were able to celebrate Halloween together as a family of three. It was so fun but oh so last minute. Ha Ha.

"strawberry", "Up" man, and "Broken"

Week 48: Rollie 11 Months

Rollie encountered a stomach virus this past week and boy did it knock him down. He had a TERRIBLE diaper rash due to all his diaper loads and their consistencies. I have NEVER seen something that terrible before. He had a rough belly ache for a couple days and his appetite was VERY basic and slim. I did take him to the doctor but they all but laughed in my face because I am sure they felt I was like all first-time moms. I am in case anyone wants to be reminded. I am SO glad he is feeling better.

On a happier note, my baby turned 11 months old and that means he (almost) done with being an infant. I cannot believe where the time has gone!

He isn't walking yet but loves to cruise the furniture and make his way through the house via walls, furniture, and his walker. He has added "boat" to his vocabulary. He says "Hi!" to anyone who will listen stranger or not. 

His appetite is outrageously huge and wide-spanned. I am very fortunate that he eats all things but only wants to do it himself and only if he licks new foods before devouring it. 

He climbs up and down the stairs like a champ. He has found his scowl when we tell him no BUT he obeys us well which I never thought babies did. I am so pleased when he stops what he is doing what is wrong and chooses to obey. 

He will practice his "tricks" in the mirror whenever he is in his carseat facing his mirror and it melts my heart. Rollie has chosen to clap JUST recently and he is so proud of himself. "Peek" is his favorite thing to do in the all places. 

He LOVES books and just recently started reading to himself which is just presh. He will come from across the the room to come hear his favorite books if you start to read the first couple pages. My lil man smiles all the time. 

He is just a happy baby and I cannot get enough of any part of him right now. Well, other than his annoying whine when we don't pick him up on demand. That can go away at any time. Ha.

:

Week 47: Culver's & Family Time

This past weekend was bittersweet for the Culver's family. Our CEO, Phil Keiser, passed away on Saturday. It really hit my mom hard, obviously, being that she has worked beside this man for the last 19 years. I was saddened to hear the new for my mom first and foremost but also for the brand. He breathed in so much of what Culver's is today and he will be greatly missed. 

It was a pleasure to see my mom unexpectedly and to see my grandma take care of Rollie once again. We never know how long we are going to have our legacies with us in this world so we have to cherish the moments we have. Rollie brings a lot of joy to his grandma and great grandma so I love to bring him around them.

Other than that... we have just been cheesing it up over here.

Week 46: Hard Week

I am not complaining, there were some changes in our lives this week. Rollie got a BAD diaper rash which is new for me being that I usually have a happy kid. He was NOT happy to make contact with the floor and his butt. Nope.

On top of that, Caleb was out of town this week on a job function so I was in charge of the home and child all week. This was a bad week to be gone but who was to know that I would need some TLC this week? Not me.

On top of that, Rollie fave sitter had to be done with care for Rollie due to her baby needing to be on extreme bed rest. This was totally understandable but threw me into a tail spin as I know little people here who are able to take on a kiddo three-days a week. Luckily, my mom was in town for the following day and was able to keep my mind off the chaos of reality. It was so fun to have her here and to just hang out.

I was able to fill in the gaps with committed friends this week, one being Alex who has a GINORMOUS GoldenDoodle, Boomer. Rollie loved him and repeated "Hi!" on a consistent basis towards him. 

I have found care thanks to a desperation plea on facebook for those who may know someone. Her name is Jen and she is an actual nanny of two kids, has a daughter of her own, and just added Rollie to the madness of her ever-so-chaotic life she loves. I am so appreciative of her and so is Rollie. He sure misses Lacey though. Those two had such a bond and she really understood my kiddo and his cries/mannerisms. 

I will leave you with yet another Dad and His Boy time:

Week 45: Rollie is 10 Months & MN Here We Come!

This past weekend we packed up the family and headed to MN. Caleb bought me Cirque du Soleil tickets a while back and this was the weekend the show was scheduled. It was a very good weekend full of friends and parental time.

We started off the day by meeting Gabe & Naomi for breakfast at Buttered Tin. People, Caleb and I were literally their first guests and we pride ourselves on this. We returned after a couple years away and it did not disappoint. I was able to indulge in the breakfast sandwich and there was also Banana Foster French Toast, Huevos Racheros, and a sausage skillet ordered at the table which we all partook in. Wow, was it good conversation too. Those two will forever be a staple to Caleb and my life as they have been apart of it from the beginning and they just really get us which makes time together cherished and easy.

We continued on the journey as we headed to IKEA for some "musts" (not!) and headed toward our FAVE restaurant for Fish & Chips, Anchor. That place knows how to make some mean cod and fries, we try to go there every time we are in town.

We proceeded on to grab a shared-brew at Dangerous Man. Yes, please feel free to judge us, we brought our son into a bar and didn't think twice about it. Rollie hated it, mind you, so we stayed for about 10 minutes and were on our way.

After our Northeast experiences, we headed to my friend Jenna's to chat and drop Rollie off for the night. We left just after he fell asleep to go on our hott date. We loved being with Rollie in our city but leaving him and heading out for a night out, was delightful.

We arrived, parked, and searched for a (very) fast food, this is where we lost our cool and were unable to eat until 4 hours later... We left to find an Arby's that was listed on Google Maps only to find it was closed already at 7p in the evening so we settled for Panera. We waited a literal 20 minutes for our food only to find out they gave our food away and had to remake it. We did get our money back but had NO time to wait so we LITERALLY ran 6 blocks to the show and sat in our seats 2 minutes before lights, camera, action.

The show, Toruk, was subpar and not the best one we have seen BUT I loved being in the middle of excellence and entertainment that I honestly could not have care that it wasn't the Cirque du Soliel level of performance.

After the show, we headed over to my staple piano bar, The Shouthouse. I loved that place, yes past tense. This time around, I decided I am pretty over the scene and atmosphere of it and think, really, I grew up a little. I will not be demanding to go back anytime soon but we make sure it is a every couple years excursion.

That is all the party we had together and the next day was spent with friends as Caleb took Rollie with him so I could have undivided attention with my home people.

As for Rollie being 10 months old, can you just please pinch me? My baby is 10 months old. I am shocked by this statement and honestly, do not love the idea of him being one. He is my baby and when I bounce him before bed each night, he falls over the edges of my arms like a big boy. Sad Face. He is no longer small enough to just pick up and trounce around, I know need to take breaks with him.

He does say mom, ball, and hi though and when he does, I melt. He climbs stairs like a true champ and scales the furniture with utter ease. He eats almost all foods except strawberries and hot dogs. My boy still has acid reflux and just increase dosage contrary to the goal, to be weaned. He sleeps fantastic and naps are existent. His favorite toy is his walker and loves to go as fast as he can with it. He is truly growing up so fast. My baby.

I will leave you with Rollie and Dad Time tradition: