I’ve been thinking about writing again. Yes, I know we are nearing the end of 2023 but this has been in my draft folder for about 10 months. I figured I might as well edit and post it. Mainly so I can reminisce and say, “Oh, look how little the boys were!”
January: Herbie was 17 months and Finn 2 months. Auntie Cole flew out for a visit and then Grammy flew out a week or so later. A lot of books were read, Herbie helped Grammy make cookies and we visited the zoo. At the end of January, RJ left for a couple days to coach his team at a robotics competition. I stayed home with the boys. RJ’s team advanced to the next competition.
February: We took walks in the park, took family bike rides and more family rides with Mom and Dad and Jessie. The boys did some programming with RJ and sat around lookin’ cute.
March: Herbie read A LOT of books. RJ went to another robotics competition and I took the boys to a friend’s wedding. Megan was the best and helped me out with the boys. We went on bike rides with good friends, the boys did some programming, and we played in the backyard when it was warm.
April: We went on more family bike rides and just lived life. RJ competed in his first mountain bike race. We all came out to cheer him on. He got first place in his age group!
May: May was a busy month! We had some work done in the back yard and they had to bring in a skid steer. Herbie’s day was made when he got to go down late for his nap and watch the guys work.
RJ’s robotics team made it to worlds so we all flew to Dallas to watch the competition. It was a massive production and a lot of fun to see all the different teams compete. The boys did great with hotel living. We passed the fire station every time we walked to the convention center so one day we had to stop and check out the engines. Herbie was very impressed but was too scared to climb into the truck. RJ’s sister Ashley drove up on our last day in Dallas and we got to meet Samwise. The cousins had fun playing together.
We spent time on the boat with the family and those are always the best days.
We went on more bike rides and found a sand pit to stop and play in. We chased down the ice cream truck for some yummy ice cream sandwiches.
And at 22 months, Herbie started potty training. By far, the toughest season we’ve gone through with him. But a few months later, he had the hang of it.
June: Herbie got a library card and we started going to the library every Wednesday morning for story time and to check out books about loaders and tractors. |We went on a lot of bike rides and flew with the boys to NYC for a work trip. It was a little interesting trying to entertain two small boys in a very small hotel room, take them around NYC by myself, and coordinate naps with room service but we made it work. |Finn turned 8 months.
July: July consisted of more bike rides, boating, the library, and Herbie turned 2. We had a fun little party with his friends.
August: Lots of time spent in the water. One of those times, we happened to see RJ’s grandparents on the lake while we were on the boat with Mom and Dad. We swam back and forth trading burritos, a boat snack tradition with the Garcia families.
September: We participated in a puzzle competition and we won! Megan and I are puzzle setting fiends! 😅 |RJ competed in a 75 mile mountain bike race in North Carolina. It was a cold and rainy day but he loved every minute of it. |Later that month, he and his friend Sam ran a 10K race.
October: October was a fun month. We did a lot of biking and playing outside. |Finn and I have birthdays one day apart so we celebrated with a birthday week and did all our favorite things. |Finn turned one! |We went trick-or-treating with the boys and Herbie was his favorite character, Curious George. And Finn was a cowboy and the cutest little gnome you ever did see. |Herbie loosely started preschool. That’s his first activity page hanging on the fridge and he’s so incredibly proud of it.
November: November might have been my favorite month. Herbie mailed his first letter to Grammy😍(yes, in his underwear) |Right before Thanksgiving, my mom, Alex, Uncle Brian, Aunt Paula, Uncle Mike, Aunt Heidi and their boys came to visit us! Such a fun time. Herbie and Finn loved all the attention and there was always someone to read a book to them. The house was filled with singing during evening devotions and we stayed up every night till midnight or 1am chatting and catching up.
December: Auntie Cole and Uncle Devon flew out for a week. It was our first time officially meeting Devon and the boys took a liking to him right away. I think it was because they conned him into reading a lot of books. |It was fun seeing the wonderment in their eyes at all the Christmas lights around town and plugging in the lights to our Christmas tree every morning.
It was a fun year full of so many wonderful memories.
September 30, 2023
What a very wonderful year! The boys are growing so quickly, and I see RJ in Herbi, and I see you in Finn. The wonder and the joy that is in their eyes is such a blessing. You and RJ are looking very well and happy. Thank you for this post.