Blog-tober Day 23: A guide to your city

A few seasons ago the Bachelor (or Bachelorette) did a hometown date in Milwaukee and, although we don't watch that show, hubby and I watched the bit of the show when they toured Milwaukee and we were pleased to know that we choose the right activities. It was something like a visit to Lake Michigan, a brewery tour and a visit to the Milwaukee Public Market.

Those things are all well and good but if you come to visit us, your visit will look a little different. We live in a part of Milwaukee called Bay View and we LOVE it here. Here are our favorite local gems:

We would go see Lake Michigan but it would be from South Shore Park (bonus points if the farmer's market is going on) or we would take a short hike down there via Seven Bridges Park.

We would eat at some local places like Stack'd (the BEST fried pickles ever!), the Broken Yolk, and Cafe Lulu's which is a short walk from our place. And we would get ice cream from Babes.

And Christopher would give you a tour of our basement where he brews and he would open what we have on hand for you.

=) 


 

Blog-tober Day 18: A tale of traveling

Well, I didn't do great on this challenge but I did blog more so perhaps I can call that a small success. Perhaps it wasn't the best time to do something like this -- more on that later. ;)

Ahhh ... traveling. I traveled quite a bit back when I was single and (ahem) had more money/time and less of a commitment holding me close to home.  That said, I am taking Zoe to Florida next week so I can't complain TOOO much although I wouldn't give up my current "commitments" for all the travel I used to have.

I began looking for pictures and instead found some old blog posts.

Our honeymoon from 2010. 

A girls trip to Mexico in 2011

And, although I have no pictures on my laptop (and am too lazy to go upstairs and get them off our desktop), sometime in the years before I got married, I traveled with a group of girls that I met in Ghana (West Africa) while working with Mercy Ships. We went to New York, Charleston and Seattle and I LOVED all of those trips.  Charleston was my favorite as I enjoyed the history and Southern charm.

Blog-tober Day 9: personality

Introverted or extroverted??

The best way to describe me is "an introvert who can masquerade as an extrovert." I am renewed by time alone or with just a few people but I also get a little bit of energy from being in large social situations. On a scale however, I don't fall really fall on the introverted side.

My Meyers Briggs letters are ISFJ. Introversion, Sensing, Feeling and Judging. My S and J fall pretty close to their counterparts though and it kind of depends on how I am feeling when I take the test since I've had both letters on both of those.

Truth be told, I think it is helpful to think about these things in order to know yourself and others better but I don't like being pigeon holed into a certain "personality type." When people ask me about my daughter's personality, I often respond "She is Zoe."

Interestingly, my husband and I are opposite in most personality tests and we talked about it often at the beginning of our relationship and now again with a little person who has unique needs (consistent bedtime, for example). How do we make sure that Christopher gets enough "people time" and how do we make sure that I get enough "alone time" when there is almost always a little body in the house. It is much easier now that Zoe is on a more predictable schedule and going to sleep early enough for us each to have what we need. 

A letter to my daughter

Dear Zoe,

           

You were born one year ago.

I had no idea what to do with you.

The leaves fell of the trees as we slowly fell into a rhythm.

We swayed and bounced, cried and laughed.

We eventually all got more sleep, which made everyone happier and you began to nurse better/more effectively and that was such a relief! 

You are the best thing that ever happened to me. 

They say that it goes by too fast and in some ways it does and in some ways it seems like you have always been with us. This year of change and growth also sometimes seems much longer than a year. 

You have the sweetest personality and you shower affection onto Loki and sometimes, although less frequently, Mom and Dad. Snuggles are for sleepy times. When you are awake, you are moving.

I am excited to watch you try to communicate more with us and I look forward to talking with you and answering your questions about the world. 

Soon we will read about Laura Ingalls and Anne of Green Gables but for right now we read Hop on Pop (over and over!) and Olivia the Owl. You love books with flaps and textures. You turn the pages quickly and then turn the books over to read again.

 We love you and are so thankful for each and every moment we spend with you. We pray that you will grow up strong in your faith and deep in the knowledge of your Savior.

love,
Mommy

One year statistics:

-18 lbs and 29 inches.
- You can still wear some 9 month clothes, especially pants and you fit well in 12 month clothes. When you wear disposables, you wear size 3 but you mostly wear cloth and they are working well for us.

- Favorite foods: bananas and cheerios! Also really likes mango, cheese, sweet potatoes, broccoli and chicken. Eats a lot!!

- Seven teeth. Two on top, four on bottom with the right molar all the way in and the left one coming. 

- Takes steps, is getting close to walking. (But also does some toe-walking.) 

- Sleeps well. Two naps, 11-12 hours at night. Hasn't been up at night unless she is teething. (SO nice for all of us!)

- Still nursing well, now has a bottle of whole milk after second nap.

- Can say mama, dada, offf offf (barking at Loki), ball and up. Mimics a lot of other words (cup, nonna, baba and various animal sounds). 

Blog-tober Challenge #7: Reading list

My current reading list looks like this: 

The Selection Series

I know I mentioned it last post ... it is an easy read and 

that is what I need before bed. 

Fluffy but not trashy. 

Vally of Vision

A puritan prayer/devotional book that I am slowly making my way through.

I love the simplicity of the prayers. 

That's all!

Blog-tober Day 6: Currently ...

Currently ... 

- I am reading the Selection series and it is fun. 

Kind of like the Ester story and the Bachelor all rolled up in on.

- I am watching Downton Abbey, The Good Wife and Parenthood.

- I am stunned that our baby will be one tomorrow! 

- We are trying out a new, lowered budget and it has been working out okay. 

- I am excited for dear friends visiting tomorrow!

- I am loving the cool weather and the leaves turning color.

- I am snuggling with our old, sweet dog after the baby has gone to bed.

-I am excited for Zoe to dance at a family wedding in a week and a half.

- I am working up the courage to go and start a new bread recipe.
One can never go wrong with America's Test Kitchen.

- We are working through our garden produce.
Squash, pumpkins, eggplants and carrots. Oh my!!

- I am excited to go and pick lots of apples so we can can them for the winter.

Blog-tober Challenge

I am breaking the radio/blog silence to link up with Brave Love's blog-tember challenge (but since I'm doing it in October, would it be Blog-tober??), inspired by my cousin Anne @ Under the Brella (who is also a main reason I am reading more books).
We should live closer.

Anyhoo, lets see if I can revive this small space
(or maybe decide to hang it all up). Time will tell!

Even though it is already the 3rd,

I'm going to start day 1: "About the Author"... like the front cover of a novel

"Rachel is a wife and new mama who works part time as a nurse to pay the bills. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband, a brilliant PhD student, their beautiful one year old daughter and a fluffy black cocker spaniel. Rachel enjoys gardening, sewing and spending time near any body of water."