Week 17 in Review: Happy 4 Months, Lil Man! (Spring Baskets, too!)

Schedules change and so does thinking I would have time to post this. So... here it is on a Monday instead of a Thursday. Two posts in a week, I dont think you will be upset by this news. 

Rollie made out like a bandit at Spring Baskets in Waverly the weekend before Easter. 

Every year while Caleb was growing up, they would leave Easter to Jesus and the first day of Spring for candy-filled baskets hid amongst the outer banks of their childhood home. Well, now the grandkids get in on the fun and so do the younger siblings. It was great to go back and see the family, Anna was even able to chime in via Skype so that was so fun. 

Miles held Rollie! This is a huge step for our eldest nephew being that babies are not that cool and especially if they can't play sports yet. That being said, Miles was in the right mood and LOVED holding Rollie. I think he secretly loves Rollie and can't wait to show him how to be utterly awesome in the next coming years.

This was Rollie's first time being able to play with his cousins in Waverly and let me tell you... he was so overwhelmed. It takes a brave person to not get overwhelmed after walking in the door to the Klinge's but for a lil peanut, he was in over his head. I had to save him only a couple times and place him in the crib to come back to terms so all in all, it was a very successful time for my baby boy.

What is Rollie up to these days? 

He likes to sneak in a lil TV

He is getting the hang of a nook, sort of.

He just got his bike helmet for his seat
on Dad's bike.

Happy Four Months of Life, lil lovely. I just love him so much and think he is perfect for our little family. He is just as crazy as mom and dad, he loves to scream in joy and hostility, he walks like mad when he is naked, he naps for 45 minutes consistently throughout the day, he is a total chowhound, tummy time has become torture now and he is boycotting rolling over, he mimicks facial expressions and loves when you talk to him (he listens very intently to your long stories), and he is learning to sit up. He just got a door jumper and a saucer which are both great pastimes for him. He isn't into the swing as much as he was last month and he loves to be held. ALL. THE. TIME. He is totally wrapped around our fingers. He only sleeps in total darkness and that bottle better not be cold or else aint no way he will be drinking it.

Week 16 In Review: Cabin Visit & Home Shenanigans

Hey-O.

Caleb & I went to the cabin this past weekend because the weather was so nice. Well, the weather was nice but the UP of Michigan still has a foot of snow on the ground in some parts. Man did I look completely ridiculous in shorts and snow boots. I did not even bring my snow boots so I had to use my grandpa's size 11 duck boots to prance around in. We had all three meals on the campfire like we normally do and created a new staple, Beer Chicken. It was so juicy and just so full of flavor. It did stay slightly warm in the cabin with the stove on so we ended up still staying the night. NEWS FLASH: My son will not drink his milk if it is not slightly warm. This was figured out when we were in the middle of the woods with no electricity so what did we do? We used our noggin and boiled water on the stove and warmed milk up like a mother is supposed to do (I use the microwave usually, judge me).

Other than that, we didn't do a whole lot this week. I got a job! Whoot. I will be working for a construction company doing administration work and it is only three days a week so I can still go to mom's group and be home with Rollie the majority of the week. Such a blessing to have a job and have a schedule that just works for us all. I start on March 30.

This is what we do all day. Just chill.
I love it so much. 

 We did find new things that Rollie can enjoy such as the door-frame bouncer and his Bumbo seat. He is growing up so much, personas. It is nuts.

It looks a lil too pretty in this picture but oh so cute.

Holy Hair.
Heavy Metal Mohawk.

Grabbing onto all things.

He loves to be naked.
We love to put his t-shirts on his head.
He acts like a maniac when this happens.

Week 15 in Review: New Hair, Same Old Family

Well folks, many of you know that my sole goal for my hair is to grow it and then donate it. The day has come around again for it to be long enough so I went to my lady in Sauk City, WI to chop it off. Check out my new look:

It is SO short in the back. I did not think it was going to be this short but news flash: it will grow back. 

In other news, we went back to Wis Dells this past weekend to hang out with Mom and Dennis and it was sure fun. We went for walks, cooed at Rollie endlessly, chit chatted, and had some yummy High Rock Cafe food (obviously). 

Tuckered out from his walk in the Ergo.

 This kid was snoring SO loud as he napped after the walk. That fresh air really got him cleared up.

Gramma and her grandboy.

These two are a handful.

So we made our own beer at home several weeks ago. Did I tell you about that yet? Well we did and now we are able to drink it. It is delicious, people. An IPA which we hear is hard to master so just call Caleb the "Brewmaster" of home brewing. Oh that ego is a brewing. Need I go on with these terrible puns? Nah.

Job? No, I don't have one yet but that job that I REALLY want is still going through the steps and I am SO hopeful. I will find out by tomorrow either way. Oh, dear. PLEASE give it to me!

Finally... here are just pictures of my boy that I am fond of from the week.

This outfit though.

Bedhead Baby

Week 14 in Review: MN Besties Unite & Baldspot Sensitivity

Hello to my folks.

This past weekend I braved the motherhood milestone of traveling alone with a kiddo in the backseat. It worked out PERFECT! He slept the entire time (except for like 10 min max) there and back. The reason for the trip is my girl, Bek, is in MN for 6 weeks for her husband's PA rotation so she made sure we got together to commemorate the occasion of us all being able to get together. Rollie and I made our first stop to IKEA together and we did mediocre at holding ourselves together, for him not to get overstimulated and for me not to buy too many unnecessary things. I forgot to used my "IKEA Friends" card so I kicked myself when I was already all but home to remember. Dude, that thing saves mega money, look into that thing if you haven't already. Rollie got this cool play gym and LOVES it so much. I didn't know how he would react to it but he actually is fascinated by it.

We continued on our journey to Kate's house and played outside, watched babies of all baby stages, and just tried to catch up as much as we could. Check out the cuteness I found in MN!!

It was great to be together and bittersweet to leave. FOR. SURE. Rollie and I only were gone for 24 hours from our house due to just knowing my baby's limits. I am glad we came home when we did because Rollie was pleased to be home with daddy on Sunday.

Other than that, we have been just hanging out here at the house trying to figure out how to nap and being too big for our own good. Rollie is growing up so fast in front of our eyes. I cannot believe how he has grown.

We are mastering going for runs with
momma to train for her 5k this month.

He loves to walk around...
but only when he is naked.

New bath towel for our boy.
He outgrew his old one!

Baldspot for our boy.
So obvious with all that hair.

Week 13 in Review: Rollie is officially three months old!

Happy Three Month, Baby Boy! Momma loves you so much and is so excited for you to be three months old.

• He isn't interested in rolling over really anymore but is totally capable. 
• He smiles at ma and daddio every chance he gets. 
• He loves to stand up ALL THE TIME and walk about with us when he feels like it (and when the flooring feels right). 
• Tummy time is boring for him so I am trying to find things to entertain him while he is on his belly. Any ideas? 
• He grabs onto his hair with a death grip while in his swing (BTW, he loves his swing) and hold all things cotton whether it is his shirt, my shirt, the burp cloth while feeding... he just really loves to hold onto cloth.
• He LOVES to watch his hands as they move. It is quite precious. 

I would say our favorite facial expression that we both enjoy is when he gets a lil shy and stuffs his face into one side of his neck and gives out a huge face-smooshing grin. Oh. Heavens. Just the sweetest.

Momma had a melt down last Thursday and cried to Caleb to come home ASAP as I was losing my marbles at home. He literally sped home and ran inside only to find Rollie drinking his bottle and humming to the sound of his life. Did I feel foolish? Obviously. The thing about it is, when a baby cries all the live long day because he cannot take naps, this momma is out of her whits end. She feels defeated and alone in these times. I really learned a lot from that melt down and I am SO thankful to have Caleb to rescue me in those times. I learned that I am not a perfect mom that is going to get it right every time and that my baby needs flexibility in his life in order to really pull through. Rollie is my favorite lil boy by far and all I want of him is his happy self and when naps tell him different, I just feel very sad for him.

Since Thursday, Rollie didn't do super well on the weekend but has had an 1-3 hour nap each day this week. I am learning that Rollie does better without TONS of face-to-face time and LESS time awake. He may be my sleepy baby but if he can only endure 45 min wake times, then so be it. He will get to 1-2 hours eventually. Moms gotta do what their babies need and not what the books are saying to do sometimes. Am I right?

This family does not have a ton to update on. I had a second interview at a business that I REALLY want to be apart of so please pray that they choose me. I will know by the next time I am writing this blog so stay tuned. I did turn down a different job today that I feel selfish for doing. I just did not like the job and if I have to leave Rollie at a sitters then I want to go to a job that is worth it. This job was just going to pay the bills and not be something I would enjoy. It is what it is but I think I was supposed to deny the position, I think.

To end, here is our cute lil boy just being cute. You are welcome.

We tried a paci over the weekend, no success.
Too much work to keep that thing in!

Diggin the swing

Storytime with Dad.

Big boy sitting in a big boy chair

Just happy times for this one.

Week 12 in Review: Last Minute Wis Dells Visit & Valentine's Day Bliss

Well Rollie is officially 12 weeks old but will have to wait for his 3 months pics until next week due to the 24th being his actual celebratory day. Time has flown with him being my lil sidekick at home all week.

This kid loves when his father gets home and seems to give dad his last bit of happiness for the day. Naps are seldom more than 45 minutes and this lil momma cannot figure out what to do to make those things longer! What a little equation to figure out for him. He sleeps 10 hours exactly every night regardless of the time we put him down. It only fluctuates by a hour give or take but this kid is a champ night sleeper. I so know he needs the naps because he gets mighty grumpy when he doesn't get naps.

This man should be sleeping but alas, wide eyed.

ISU game was on TV so Rollie was able to watch
TV with dad.

The weather has been tolerable so we went for a run
in the sun.

Sometimes he just chills like this
and is content. Good mom? Bad mom?

Just a whole-fist type of man we have. Yummy.

I sat down with the lady from my church that will be taking care of my lil one and I feel do relieved to 1) have found someone I can trust and loves Jesus and 2) know I can go back to work without needing to make a large downpayment on a facility. I met her at a mom's group that I go to every Tuesday and she just offered without me asking which was something that I asked God to help me with as I know only a couple people here so I was seeking blindly. Big Blessing!

Going back to work... I have a second interview at an engineering firm being an assistant and also have a solid lead on a client representative position in the area. I am very hopeful for them both and am eager to help Caleb pay the bills once again.

Valentine's Day was simple but great. We went out for lunch to Caleb's favorite restaurant here, Red Eye Brewing Co., and enjoyed a peaceful lunch as Rollie slept in my arms like a champ. This is the fourth time that he has fallen asleep in my arms and he is just the cutest sleeper ever, personas. It took a lot within me to not just kiss his forehead over and over again. I received a new cardigan and Caleb received some new beer essentials from me. We were simple but thoughtful this year, just the way it should be.

On Sunday, I made a trip with just Rollie to Wis Dells to pay my last respects to my childhood pastor, Dennis Schueler. That man did more for the community than a lot of people knew before he passed and he will surely be missed by hundreds. It was great to see my mom and go with her and my childhood friend, Patrick, to see those that we haven't seen in a very long time. Just a great bunch of folks that made it out to Pastor's celebration service. My mom and I had the night before to catch up a little bit and to play with Rollie but it is never long enough time when I am with my mom. She is the best person I have ever met and I truly cherish her and her presence.

We tried out the rock and play again.
He does not love it. Ha!

Happiness at the Dells Condo

Mom and Rollie. Presh.

Four Generations. Unbelievable!

Other than that... we are up to just the basics. :)