A month in review

My girlfriend, Brooke, pointed out to me last night that she hadn't seen a blog post in a while. Yes, I've neglecting my blog, and I apologize to my faithful readers. Sometimes I just need a little kick in the pants. I've also been marathon watching Downton Abbey so I can get caught up before the next season starts in January. I'm all caught up....and wow. Love this show. And, yes, I watch shows on PBS and typically go to bed by 8pm.

So here is what happened the month of November.

At the beginning of the month, Bryan and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been 5 years!

Since having Aaron, it's sometimes hard to pay attention to your significant other. It's really important to make time for each other, to go on dates, or to watch a movie together, etc. We dropped Aaron off at his grandparents the Saturday after our anniversary and we actually went out to dinner (and enjoyed a nice, leisurely dinner without a kid whining, climbing up your leg, or trying to hand you samples of his food he's already tasted). We then thought we'd get crazy and go have a drink at a bar. We had one drink before I was tired and ready to go to bed. I'm a crazy party animal these days. It was nice to sleep. Sleep all night. A sound sleep. But then, of course, I woke up at 6am ready for my baby to come home.

It was a great anniversary. Bryan made it very special, and it was nice to go on a date with him, and laugh, and talk.

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Aaron has been starting to say more words. Here's what he's up to so far, I think:
mommy/momma
daddy/dadda
baaaaaaalllllllll
doooooooooog
bye bye
please (sounds like peas)
thank you (sounds like tank too)
cookie
uh oh
uh uh uh (and he shakes his finger at you)
this

He also does A LOT of pointing. He wants to learn all the things...over and over and over. But it's good...he'll be a smart boy.

He loves his books. He especially loves pop up books and flip tab books. We read a lot. Sometimes we read the same book five times in a row.

He still loves dancing. He will act bashful at first when you catch him dancing to a song, but then he keeps looking at you to make sure you're watching him dance.

He is getting about 4 new teeth right now. Teething is the absolute worst! And why does he have to get 4 at a time?? I'm ready for a break from that. Since he's been teething he hasn't felt the best and has been pretty clingy. He has been waking up on occasion in the middle of the night and really just wants you to hold him. He'll be so tired, but he'll keep peeking through one eye to make sure you're still there holding him. Poor buddy.

And he still likes helping me out in the kitchen.

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His GG and Great Grandpa came over to play with him this month. GG brought him a new book, and Great Grandpa let him play with his phone.

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We also went to see Santa. Aaron was great when he didn't know Santa was behind him (you'll see on the Christmas card).

And then he wasn't sure when he saw Santa:

And then he HATED it when Santa put him on his lap.















It was great!! This momma loved these Santa pictures. Thanks, Laura!!

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I decorated for Christmas. I typically wait until the day/weekend after Thanksgiving, but we were so busy I started it the weekend before. And I'm not sure why?? When we finally decorated the tree, Aaron screamed ballllllllll, ripped a lot of the ornaments off and threw them. He also knocked over my Christmas box tower a few times. It's taken a lot of no no no and don't touch, but I think he may ignore the decorations for the most part now.

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I started a new job this month. I'm still with State Farm, but just in a new department/building. I'm at the main corporate headquarters building now...The Big House. I'm an analyst in the Claims Automation and Procedures department. I'm going to be supporting a claim/loss reporting system that all of our claims associates in the Hubs (Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix and Tacoma) use. I'm going to be very busy. Once I get over the learning curve, intimidation and anxiety of it all, this will be a great opportunity for me. I'm very lucky to have gotten this role, and very grateful.

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Speaking of grateful, we wrapped up the month of November celebrating Thanksgiving, and stuffing our faces with amazing food thanks to my mom and grandma! It was a nice, long weekend. I ate copious amounts of food, and then had more. The next day I had pie for breakfast, turkey sandwiches for second breakfast, and more noodles for lunch. It was great. I also accomplished a lot of my Christmas shopping online in the comfort of my pajamas while sipping my bourbon slush. Exactly how I like to shop.

Even Charlie ate too much turkey. Or was it "Granny's Pot Pie?"

Aaron going through the ads...after Uncle Adam had organized them :-)

Sleepy time with Grandpa. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have lots to be thankful for this year, especially my 2 boys. 

I'm so glad that this little boy is all mine. He makes me so very happy. He is my world. 

So there you have it! A recap of our month of November. I will try to stay on top of this blog!

Happy Halloween!

This year I bought 2 costumes for Aaron since I couldn't decide which one I really wanted. So he dressed up as a pumpkin and a shark. And let's just say he hated both costumes.

Practicing the night before Halloween...Hated It 

Didn't mind it as much on Halloween

Shark Costume...Hated It

Regardless, he's still the cutest. 

Busy Weekend!

We had a very busy, super fun, weekend. I'm still tired! Let me share it with you via photo collage.


Friday: 
I got to see this little cutie Friday night. He is getting so big, and smiley. And he loves to spit up on his mommy. Reminds me of when Aaron was little. Memories. Is it weird that I don't mind the smell of baby throw-up?? Yes??? Oh.

Jackson Bosch

I do think that he and Aaron will be best friends...one day. But for some reason Aaron doesn't want me to hold Jackson, or for us to take their picture together. My kid is kind of rude. Here is an example of past photo opps...

These will make great pictures for their college graduation party

Aaron did warm up to the idea of pictures with Jackson, as long as we made it a fun "peek-a-boo" game.


Saturday: 
My mom, Caitlin and I went to see We Will Rock You - a musical featuring Queen music. And let me just say...it rocked! It really felt like being at a Queen concert. Before the concert play, we got some lunch at this amazing Italian place called Vapiano. It was confusing at first, but once we figured out how to order, where to go, and what to do it was a really cool experience. And the food was amazing. Homemade pasta, fresh herbs growing at your table. Everything made fresh right in front of you. I highly recommend this place. Great food, wine and company.

Sunday: 

The annual Bosch Family Weenie Roast took place Sunday. And it just so happened to be the 50th anniversary of the weenie roast. This thing has been going on every October since 1963. How cool is that?  

It was a beautiful day, too, spent with hundreds of Bosches....many of whom I don't know. And where did all the babies come from? Well, I know where they come from, but wowzers. We have lots of sweet babies in our extended family now. 

My grandpa (the oldest man there) holding the youngest baby boy, and his sister, Eileen, (the oldest woman there) holding the youngest baby girl - what a great picture!

My grandpa (Ed) on the far left with all of his brothers and sisters. I made them stand in age order :-)

My cousins minus Jared & Connor...why aren't we in age order?

My dad (3rd in from the left) with his brothers and sisters...minus Julie, but we see her spirit on the end. And they are in age order kind of - boys in order on one side and girls in order on the other. 

The whole fam damily...almost. We missed you Bryan, Caitlin, Jared, Connor, Mike and Julie!!

I love this boy

 Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Sometimes you just have to let go....

And drink wine!

Who cares if this is what my living room looks like on a daily basis. We're having fun! Yes, I do pick it up....most nights. But some nights I think what's the point, he'll just do it again tomorrow, and I drink wine instead.

Having a baby has really helped me to just let go. I actually had to start practicing this while pregnant and on bed rest.  I was very Type A and partially OCD about everything being put away, straight, in its place, germ free, etc. Now I am just Type A-ish and mildly OCD. For example, I let my kid put food from his mouth into my mouth the other day. You read that right. It was partially chewed in his mouth, and then he put it in my mouth. I gagged. I'm kind of gagging now thinking about it.  But it made him very happy to feed me so I let him. See that, OCD, ignored!

Tonight there are flash cards and toys still laying on the living room floor as I sit here at the table blogging, and enjoying a nice dinner in peace and quiet, while sitting down.

I think Kid President says it best - Stop cleaning!! Our house isn't messy. Our house is awesome. It's awesome because we live in it. My mom's got stuff to do!

That's right, I do have stuff to do. And it involves my couch, trashy DVR, and my vino. Goodnight, all. Cheers!

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Yesterday was my dear friend's birthday. I have been friends with this girl for about 10 years now.

Here are 10 of my favorite Amanda memories - 1 for each year we've known each other. Happy Birthday, girl. Hope you enjoy!!

1. The large quantities of Chinese food we used to order after a shift at Carlos. They always thought it was for at least 10 people given the number of forks they supplied. And we always got free Chinese donuts. Amanda always orders chicken and brocolli, hold the brocolli. I always order everything else.

2. The 80s themed party I threw on a Friday night followed by the 90s themed party Amanda threw on a Saturday night in college. Fun times, like totally oh my gah.

3. Terry & Rhonda......our code names we used when guys tried to introduce themselves to us at the bar, and we really were not interested. These names were also said in very manly voices.

4. Speaking of bars.....hustling people in darts. Amanda was way better at this than I was. But we really could whoop some butt in darts. My arm always hurt really bad the next day. People say I throw to hard. I think I'm just too dedicated to winning.

5. Pushing Amanda's car out of 2 feet of snow at midnight so she could make sure she was able to get to work the next day. I really got to witness first hand what burned rubber smelled like, and felt like while flying in your face. That's what friends are for.

6. Dancing our booties off to Push It, Good Vibrations, Regulators, Poison, and any other incredible 90s R&B/Rap tune you could think of when Too White Crew used to come to town.

7. Back Yard Tire Fire - our favorite flannel clad hippie band.

8. Watching Amanda do her 2nd grade dance routine to Another One Bites The Dust....2 years ago. She still remembers every move....forward two, back two, front back to the side and turn.

9. Our annual Thanksmas dinners. We spend all day together one day in between Thanksgiving and Christmas (do you get it now??) and cook copious amounts of breakfast, appetizer and Thanksgiving/Christmas feast food. Then we just eat all day long and watch old shows/movies from our childhood - like Saved By The Bell, Hey Dude & Teen Witch. Love this day.

10. Being there the day Amanda gave birth to her son, Aidan. What a special day, filled with lots of love....and cuss words. Amanda is a great mommy who is raising a very sweet, polite, all boy boy. It has been so much fun watching him grow up. I really can't believe where the past 4 years have gone. Love him.


Love you both. Can't wait to see what the next 10 years has in store.

Happy Birthday,  Terry!!
Love, Rhonda

Pumpkin Patch & Tailgate

Sorry for the week long delay in this post. My family has been battling colds. First Aaron got it. Then Bryan got it, and you'd think the world was ending. And now I'm lucky enough to have it as well. I have been disinfecting like a mad woman. Screw you cold, screw you!

Back to my post. Last Saturday I took Aaron to the pumpkin patch in Philo. This place is the best place to get pumpkins because they are so cheap. He had a great time looking at all the pumpkins, and touching them. He even helped organize them in the wagon....which really meant throwing them out of the wagon. 

I LOVE Fall!

Pumpkins are funny

He's really starting to walk a lot more

After the pumpkin patch we got lunch at the Philo Tavern....duh, and then we headed up to the Illini tailgate to meet up with the rest of the family. 

Aaron was very excited to see his grandpa Bosch. He missed him. It could also be the yummy brownie grandpa was letting him eat....

Kristen & I always want to get pictures of Aaron and Jackson together. Mainly because we know they'll be best buddies and it will be fun to see how they grow up together. But it will also make for great slide shows at high school and college graduation parties. Especially these pictures. Aaron will learn to love other babies, but right now he gets a little jealous.

This pictures says it all. Jackson looking up at his cousin thinking...."hey, I think I like you, why don't you want to sit by me?"

He loves playing with his Aunt Linda

I hope you all are enjoying your Fall. We sure are!