Grutz says, "We are busy." or "Nolan, how on earth did you get in there?!?"

Busy is as busy does?
The summer has not been nearly long enough for the Grutz-Healy gang.  Carleen goes back to work full time tomorrow along with the planning, class-prep, and many, many to-do's.  We're still in need of an apartment in approximately 25 days.  Or belongings must be packed in order to move to yet-unknown-apartment.  Though we've decided that I'll be staying home, that's right, Mr. Mom, I've been away visiting my ailing father.  And there's the little matter of managing all these things with our one and only Nolan.

But save your pity for someone who needs it.  We've had ample vacation time this summer.  And, on a whim, we packed up the car and spent a night in Holland, Michigan.  It was lovely and very beautiful.  I hope we can explore the west coast of Michigan in the future.

Our family enjoying the sunset in Holland, Michigan.

"Ooooooooo, the sand tastes funny in my mouth, Dad."

My son is impressive.
I couldn't find Nolan for awhile this afternoon.  Then I did.

"Oh.  Hi, Dad.  What's new?  I'm in the dryer."

"And then it was spinning 'round and 'round like this!"

Today and every day, but especially right now, I am so aware of the fleeting baby hood before me.  

Nolan is 7 months old and I am seeing him turn into a little boy.  Today he swung in a swing for the first time. Held on to the chains while I pushed him, it was like he knew where to put his hands.  While he was swinging, I noticed the remnants of lunch on his cheek, yellow squash and orangey mango puree.  I saw him sucking in his lips and kicking his legs with glee and self determination. I saw his uncut toe nails peeking up at me, reminding me that now it takes a song and dance and two people to cut his nails.  I think about how he rolls away from me when we are napping, as if to say, “I’ve got this sleeping thing down.”  Or how he chooses sometimes not to nurse, turning his head to more important things in his world.  Today I caught myself saying out loud, “Do you need me now?” after some independent play time in the jumperoo, and thinking, there will be a day really soon, when he says, “No.”  For now the answer is yes, and, now please. He gives me flirty looks that will always get me to say yes, pick him up, kiss his nose, tickle his tummy, and smile back at those blue eyes and gummy grin. 

Sand slipping through fingers

This is the only time of year when finding grains of sand under my nails and in the creases of Nolan's toes does it elicit a smile and some nostalgia.  The visceral memories of little waves on my feet and sloppy wet sand piled on my legs and Nolan sitting in my lap in the tide pools are still lingering recent in my head.  We are just home from a week at the beach with my parents and Nana! I know I've missed a few weeks of our lives in this online forum, so this is going to be a reverse chronological post.

But first, remember last year at the beach....

Last year, at this time, we'd just announced that the belly I was growing indeed had a baby in it.  

And this year, the baby is here, and swimming!

We played in the water a lot.  And Nolan took off my sunglasses and hat, a lot.  We learned that he only tolerates the fancy SPF hat I got for him if it was wet- a useful revelation for the duration of the week!

And we all lounged and napped under the umbrellas.  We managed to stay relatively unscathed from the super hot North Carolina sun.  Nolan had fancy SPF suits, and the rest of us were lathered/ sprayed up with plenty.

Nolan played a lot with Gramma, who brought him special toys from Cincinnati.  They were a huge hit.

We drank morning coffee and sat in rockers on the porch with Nana.

We sat in the surf.

And I wore a long sleeve shirt because my pale skin was getting cooked.

Nolan was thrilled to eat toy boats and bury his toes in the sand.

We took afternoon breaks from the beach to read with Nana.

And we had afternoon hugs.

Nolan and I took an early evening walk on the last day.  Felt the ocean breeze,  and the salt spray one more time.

Freckly self portrait for the two of us.

Everybody sat around and marveled at the little one.

This was pretty much the scene, Nolan getting tons of attention from the grams and greats.

Till next year!

And now I hear him calling from the other room.  Mama, come save me (don't worry, Arnie is watching :).

Tomorrow I will keep going back in time and update on our trip to Iowa, and Nick's dad's birthday party, which was right before the beach.

Grutz says, "Life: Decision after decision." or "Man, I've got a lot on my plate now, but I'm more than content to rock out with my son."

Priorities.

Carleen and I have many important choices about our lives and our family that must be addressed, well, now.  Since we'll be out of Chicago for the first 2 weeks of July and I start back working on the 16th of July.  (BTW, I am a teacher, my last day was JUNE 15th.  So to anyone who complains about teachers getting 3 months off.....) so we don't have much time. So this morning I was presented with a choice: look for apartments/jobs/future home (IA, OH, Java, etc.)/Illinois teaching certification renewal bs OR play with Nolan.  Ah, priorities, priorities.

"Hey, Dad!  Is this how you play this thing?!  Dad!  Check it!"

"Oh! Right! This way, right?! I'm so stoked!"

"What's that Dad?  Huh?  What?!  Who's Keith Moon?!  Speak up!"

"Two-handed, Dad!!  Uncle Mike, I need a snare!!  Wooo-hooooo!  Rock and/or roll!!!"

I am very confident in my decision.

Massive Update Part 2

Today I danced.  I took class for the first time since November! I've been to the Contact Improv Jam a few times, but today was the first time reuniting with class.  It was really wonderful.  My body is definitely a different one entirely, but the muscle memories came rushing back.  And I made some new muscle memories too.  It was great, such a reminder of what I love, and also that I need to take time for myself on a more regular basis.

On with the updating.  I think we left of at Memorial Day Weekend.  A few weeks later, my cousin Amy graduated from DePaul, and we got together (ie- had a delicious barbeque) with more family in Aurora.  Uncle Jeff indulged Nolan in his constant desire to be jumping.

Nolan was pretty thrilled about it. 

We got to see Nana again! How lucky!

And I wore my new green shoes.  The are called TOMS, I don't know if you've heard of them? (joke- as soon as I made the purchase,  I started to see absolutely everyone wearing them, for the record, they are super comfortable, and I'd buy them again in a heartbeat)

More happy time with Nana. 

And then we tried food!  Nolan has been showing signs of food readiness for a while now (grabbing for absolutely everything we are eating, and is clearly not satiated for very long after nursing).

We tried applesauce, it looked like fun at first, but he wasn't too interested. 

This was still while he was entertaining the idea. 

Turns out he wants to feed himself, and that is the only way he'll take it  Give me the spoon!

We also have a mesh feeder (thanks for the idea Gus!) and so far, frozen mangoes and grapes have been a huge hit. 

But like most things with him, the novelty only lasts 5-10 minutes. 

It's still fun for the time being though!

And then it was almost time for school to be over. Here are some of my darlings. (Roxy can you believe how big some of them are!)

Serious

Crazy

Check out the poses!

In the midst of the craziness of the last week of school, Nick and I got to have a date at a Cubs game! And they won! Yipee.  The highlight of the night was 1. riding my bike to the game, and 2. the soft pretzel with mustard. 

Go Cubs Go!

Before Julia left, on my first day of summer we had a mini photo shoot, starting with a self portrait of my boy and I. 

Gaze into the mirror, see the camera! 

And here's Julia and her charge...

We miss her! Come back Auntie Nanny Sister!

I cannot resist this little face!

And back to Iowa for Fathers Day and a few days after.

Grandma TT has delicious spoons. 

Only if I can do it by myself, and 2 at a time please.

Hanging with Papa Danny! All smiles.

Nolan's head completely covers Papa Danny's,  it's been said that Nick had a huge head as a baby too... 

 We also visited with cousins and aunts and uncles and beautiful baby Stella! (Who is a month older than Nolan).

Giant baby vs. petite princess... 

Solids take 2.  This time sweet potatoes!  He seems to tolerate them, but really wants to do it him self.  

This kid has had a mind of his own since day one (deciding to stay an extra 2 weeks past his due date!)

No worse for wear.  He likes food all over his face. 

And now we are pretty much up to date.  (Happy Fathers Day Nick!) 

I am sure I've exhausted all of your eyes with the superfluity.  I promise we won't go two months again without a word!