Mamaw and Papaw's 65th Anniversary.

 

You will never know two people as hardworking and loving as your great-grandparents.  They are such amazing people.  I have been fortunate to be apart of their lives since I met your father, 12 years ago.  They have shown me what strength it takes to grow up in a world that was difficult and beyond imaginable.  They managed to love one another and stay together for over 65 years.  I am proud to know them both.  Papaw may be one of the funniest individuals, I have ever known.  He makes me laugh about every time I am with him.  He gives big hugs and always has a joke.  Mamaw is the so loving.  She treats you like her own and loves you to pieces.  She holds you every second she gets, and kisses your sweet face. Mamaw held you our entire trip.  Take every opportunity to learn from those older than you.  Mamaw has shared many of her experiences with me, and I will remember them always.  She was separated from her family as a young girl, and not always treated fairly.  She did not let her past rule her future.  Her and Papaw have loved you since the minute they met you.  They are role models to us all.  They work hard to love each other and those around them.  You must remember how important your family is. They will not be here forever, and you must put in the effort to be present in their lives. They are the type of great-grandparents you wish for, and they are all yours.  

10 months.

I want you to remember to go out and have a good time with your girlfriends.  Becoming a mother can define you at times, and you must remember to define yourself in different areas of your life.  There is nothing more rewarding than taking care of you.  I also love to work and make a difference in the lives of my students.  I love to spend time with your dad.  I love to hang with my girlfriends, and act like we did when we were 21.  I am blessed to have family who love you so much they fight over who can watch you while your dad and I get out.

You love this horse at Marm's house.  Marm thinks it talking stuffed animals create confused children and I can't help but agree.  I mean you think every stuffed animal is supposed to talk to you.  

You are getting grouchy because you have teeth coming in and I am thinking it hurts.  You are not sleeping as well and crying a lot more often.  Getting you out in your stroller takes your mind off of your pain.  We go to World Market, Lincoln Park Grocery, The Park, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walgreens, Jamba Juice, and Einsteins about once a week.  You love to swing and watch all the bigger kids at the park.  I have not met many friends, mostly because they bring antibac wipes to the park and wipe off everything which I think is weird.  Or maybe when I act like I am driving a race car with your stroller.  We get crazy looks, but hey we have fun.  You play games with Lorenzo every time you see him.  He is our doorman, and you can't seem to get enough of him.  You love the lady at the dry cleaners.  She takes you right out of my arms when we come in and you go back with her to grab our things.  I talk to you like a ten year old child in the elevator, so many of the older individuals living here are nervous around me.  "Cealy, why didn't you answer the phone when it rang?  It was important.  You are grounded for a week."  It entertains you, but no so much those around you.  I want to pull my hair out when we do laundry.  I am pushing your stroller and pulling loads of clothes, while trying to maneuver to the basement.  You love to watch me divide the clothes and throw them in the machine.  I pretend to put you in as well, while those around me feel the need to call social services.  Again, probably why I don't make many mom friends around here.  We have a blast.  I will have to say living in Chicago is exhausting, but completely worth it.  You have lived a packed life for a ten month old.  I hope we get to Indy soon, but I hope we live it up while we are still here.    

Pop's Retirement.

Your Pop retired! Here he is with his fellow retirees giving a speech.  We are not sure what he will do with all his time off, but I will bet he and Nana will be seeing you a lot more!

Nana held you the entire time.  You were in a great mood, and had fun with everyone around you.

You are ready for race weekend!

I went to the Cub's game with your dad.  Kate and Bruno babysat and you had a blast with them.  We decided to dress you in Cub's gear.

Aunie Kenzie came into town for the Cub's game.  I can't figure if she was going as a superhero or a prep.  She sure has changed from when she was little and dared to wear nothing but umbros.  I believe she is also wearing Gram Jo's purse.  

Ella's Birthday.

You love Ella's kitchen.

I was flipping out here, because you were trying to lick whatever this reptile is.  

Here you are more interested in the grass.

Look at your little leg bent.  I love this pose.

You had a blast at Ella's birthday party.  It was very fun.  Of course Courtney needed to have a traveling zoo and there were some animals there that freaked me out.  You seemed more interested with eating the grass, but then again you live in Chicago where there is little grass.  

Mother's Day!

Auntie Geals and Kizzler were feeding you watermelon.

We had so much fun on Mother's Day.  Your dad made the day extremely special.  You both bought me flowers with a funky vase, because I love vases.  I woke up to breakfast and a necklace that I have wanted since you were born.  It is a circle with diamonds and your name in the middle.  Then the letter "C" is hanging over it.  It is amazing! I was so surprised.  After breakfast and your morning nap we went to your Chicago Aunties to play with Gealy's new puppy!  It is the cutest puppy I have ever seen!  The little thing on earth.  I don't know what I would do without my girls in Chicago.  They come over and visit you all the time.  They babysit when your dad and I need a break.  In fact, they are babysitting tomorrow when your dad and I go to a Cub's Game.  I am so pumped!  They are so funny.  I always offer them some wine or beer when you sleep at night and Bruno says, "Oh No, I have to be at my best for Cealy."  They love you.  Auntie Kiz sent me chocolate covered strawberries and cookies for Mother's Day.  I cried, it was so sweet.  Peters sent me a card, and Bruns and Geals partied with me Sat Night to celebrate.  I couldn't ask for better friends.  

Your Favorite Game!

Your favorite game is to put a blanket or stuffed animal on your head and take it off!  We do this all day!  I put a blanket over me and tell you to help me.  Then you crawl over and yank the blanket off while laughing.  

9 Months!

You yell if I put you inside of this, but you love to play while standing on the outside.  Control freak?  Scary.

When your polo bathing suit arrived, you got so excited and played with the box all day.

Cealy is huge. 98th percentile in height.  She is going to be taller than me in elementary school. Help!  75th in weight and 90th in head circumference which makes sense considering the summer hats I just bought her are for two year olds!  You are the yummiest baby on the planet.  When I come home from work two days a week you start screaming and jumping up and down.  Then you crawl as fast as you can toward the door which makes my day!! You will eat anything in front of you.  I feed you organic everything and can't believe you will eat whatever I give you.  Your favorite is spinach and potatoes.  You also like Earth's Best Soups which are amazing and offer every vegetable under the sun.  You sleep so well! I could not ask for a better baby.  This does not mean you are not A LOT of work! You have quite the personality.  You show a certain face that cracks everyone up! She get angry when I take anything away.  You hate having your diaper changed! You wiggle everywhere and scream to be released.  We walk everywhere.  Your dad signed us up for a music class.  I will not share with you what I think about the class except that five years ago I would have said, "I will never sing and dance around a room with other parents and my kid."  My girlfriends want video of this class on Fridays, and I am having none of it!!  You love it.  You are the only child that crawls around the room and wants to play.  The others just sit there nice and quiet with their parents.  I love this because it shows how much fun you are going to be the rest of my life.