Category Archives: memories

Circus! Circus!

April 25, 2016

I LOVE the circus. It’s so fun reliving your childhood, seeing all the ecstatic people and incredible acts while you wave your light up toy in the dark and stuff your face with cotton candy. (Last year’s circus post here) I love it all! So I couldn’t WAIT for this year’s circus and to bring Leo. He was staring at all of the lights and had fun waving his light up toy around. Ivy said she wanted to ride the camel (I was hoping for the elephant), so her and Dad hopped on and she was so funny on it! Didn’t move a muscle and just smiled :) So cute. Ivy really wanted her face painted too and of course picked the Frozen one. Obsessed. Overall, it was so much fun! I loving these kid things, makes me feel all giddy inside :)

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Cousin Cuties

April 18, 2016

Leo and I traveled to Indianapolis this past weekend to visit my sister Jillian, her husband Brian, and their 7 month old baby girl Alexandra. Lucky Leo he got to tag along while Ivy stayed home with Daddy. Mostly bc he’s still a free airplane ticket 😜 but also because I couldn’t wait to get the baby cousins together! They’re just three months apart so it’s fun to see them together. Plus, I don’t get to see either of my sisters enough! So I was ready for some sisterly bonding time. We had a ton of fun and it was a GORGEOUS weekend. Indianapolis is always so much fun!

Leo was a champ on the airplane. I tried to time his naps during the flights but he had NO intention of sleeping, WAY too much to look at! He behaved just fine and enjoyed making googly eyes at the people all around him.

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His HEAD. Goodness kid.Photo Apr 13, 2 08 09 PM

Smoothie during the layover. Too cute! His big hands and knuckle dimples 💙

When we made it to Indianapolis it was cousin haven! Leo made himself right at home by taking all of Alexandra’s toys from her, hehe, and getting into everything that isn’t baby proofed for a mobile baby yet! He had a whole new sense of exploration!

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Thursday was so glorious outside! We spent a lot of time outside and the kids loved the sunshine! But probably not as much as me :)

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Proud Mommy and Auntie Jillian!Photo Apr 14, 5 48 09 PM Photo Apr 14, 5 50 23 PM

Later, we had Jillian’s nanny watch the kids while we headed to Broadwater for lunch and a couple of beers. YUM. Jillian took me to Cake Bake Shop for dessert and WHOA it was incredible inside! White and pink everywhere and the most amazing desserts I’ve ever seen! The berry cheesecake we had was gone in about .2 seconds. MMMM.

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Friday, we lounged around in the sun and read magazines and had lots of girl talk while the kids napped, that was glorious. Just kind of took it easy during the day and both kids had fabulous naps! WHOOP!

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Cutie!!!! xoxoPhoto Apr 15, 11 05 56 AM

Alexandra’s head – 14th% // Leo’s head – 96th% EEEEEEK! It’s humongous! Bah! :)

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Leo’s shirt (on sale!!) // pants

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Later that night, the nanny came to relieve us again and Jillian, her husband Brian, and I headed downtown Indy for a nice meal at Vida, #4 on Indy’s top 50 restaurants. YUM. I had the strip steak and it was soooo flipping good.

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Next time we see them will be 4th of July! I am so anxious! Leo will be a 1 year old by then, eeee! Wish they lived closer.


And it was really good to get home to Ivy and John. I missed them so much! Ivy had a lot of fun with Daddy, they were due for some bonding time :)

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Happiest At Home

February 24, 2016

Since becoming a stay-at-home Mom, it’s been such a whirlwind. Leaving my teaching job to be able to stay home with our kids was a difficult decision, but watching our children grow up right in front of me, and me being able to raise them each day, has been the greatest gift I could receive (thanks Hubs!). I am soooo very happy that I get to spend so much time with them and teach them about life. Being with them makes me so incredibly happy.

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Getting the chance to see their personalities take shape has been the highlight. We had the opportunity to take in-home photos with Amie Hansen Photography. I was so excited to be in our natural environment at home and for her to really capture what it’s like in my daily life with Ivy and Leo. I’ll have to say I am SO happy with the photos! There are so many special moments captured from our days at home and interactions between the kids and I and Ivy and Leo together. They turned out AMAZING! She truly captured Ivy’s spunk and hilarious antics, while also capturing sweet Leo and his loving side. And the biggest capture… a Mother’s love. I think they are PERFECT! We are definitely HAPPIEST AT HOME :)

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Ivy has become so spunky and is a gazillion miles an hour! She’s so hilarious and I just can’t get enough of her! I mean, that smile is contagious :)

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 And then you get her to sit for like two seconds and get a tad of a cuddle, and then I’m drawn in even more. LOVE.
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Sibling interaction… I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IT!!! Ivy is pretty sweet on Leo and she is always trying to copy him, it’s so funny! The baby things she does are hysterical!
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Come on Leo, crawl crawl! Milestone captured! CHECK!
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Mama and son moments. So cherished.

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Hehe, Ivy being her silly self. Quite the entertainer! All eyes on her! Passing time with an easy game of peek-a-boo full of laughter :)

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And then there’s “Mama’s bed,” as Ivy calls it. A warm naturally lit room where everyone can cuddle and play together in a comfy spot. koch0101koch0104koch0097koch0099 koch0066 koch0105 koch0079 Onbed

And that’s why I love being a Mom. The hugs, kisses, cuddles, and laughs are what makes my days joyful. I can’t get enough of these two and indeed, I’ll cherish these captured moments between mom, daughter, son, sister and brother… forever.

Photos by Amie Hansen Photography


My white tee // Ivy’s dress (old from Tea Collection, similar here and here) // Hairbow // Leo’s onesie // Leo’s pants


 

Toddler Talk

January 24, 2016

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Ivy has been RI-dic-u-lous lately. The things she says, I’m like, either, embarrassed, speechless, laughing hysterically, totally smitten for her, or straight-up concerned #momlife. But one thing is for sure, no matter the emoji I’m feeling, it NEEDS to be documented.


So she’s been all curious about poop lately. Everytime I change Leo’s diaper or if she happens to be in a diaper or goes on the potty, she asks, “Can I see the poop?” And like, literally, gets MAD at me and cries if I tell her no. So I end up showing her and EVERY TIME she goes, “Yuuuuuck.” Well then Ivy, WHY do you keep asking?!?!? #wtf #gross

Naps are basically done around here in her world. Maybe one or two times a week she will actually go to sleep if I lay with her in there and hold her down in her bed. Nonetheless, I put her in there daily and each time I say, “Ivy, it’s naptime,” or “Ivy, it’s bedtime,” she’ll respond “not quiiiiite yet.” I chuckle each time :) #socute

Ivy likes to categorize things as “big” and “tiny.” For example, my friend Shannon is “big Shannon,” our neighbor girl Shannon is “tiny Shannon.” And many other things are “big” and “tiny.” Including my nipples and her nipples that she points out often as I’m feeding Leo : / #goddamnit #thetruthhurts

I got my . last month (so mad! I didn’t get it with Ivy till she was nine months! Leo’s only seven!) and was in the bathroom doing you know what, and she walks in (note to self, LOCK DOOR). Literally in the middle of it and she goes, “What’s that in your body?” I’m like, “UMB.” Thinking, how the HELL do you explain a . to a two year old? Also thinking, how can I dodge this till you’re thirteen! So I am fumbling my thoughts and she asks again, “What’s that in your body? Mama got a boo boo?” I’m like YES, go with THAT!!! “Mama got a boo boo!” #saved

Potty training. Yup. Still working on that. I’ve heard the words, “I’m going pee pee!” A hundred times and it was quite embarrassing when she was at Skyzone last Tuesday sitting on the mat and yelled it too. #oops #sorryskyzone

Another potty training. It is going well. 90% potty trained I would say. And when she needs to go, she’ll say all frantically (probably bc my voice usually is during potty training), “I better get to the potty chair!” #YESPLEASE #andhurryup

Yesterday morning she woke up an hour earlier than normal and came into our bedroom. I asked her, “Why’d you wake up so early?” She responded, “Because I need a bow in my hair.” #WOW #totalgirl

She’s learned, “UGH.” In the really annoyed drawn out tone. Who’d she learn that from? #guilty

Everything is “TA DA!!!!” #soproud


Total goofball. And totally loving this age #two

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HELLO 2016

January 2, 2016

Hello, it’s me. Ok, sorry for the Adele, but really, HELLO!!!! It’s a NEW YEAR! 2016 is HERE!! And we certainly had a spectacular last day of 2015 and an even better first day into 2016. Such a fabulous weekend with friends. We tucked the kids in bed and the adults got to have some fun. I love all of the nostalgia that builds up as the new year approaches and the fun that beholds as the last day of the year approaches. Cheers! Kiss! Hug! Kiss! We celebrated with friends, food, and lots of champagne and far too many hilariously obnoxious rounds of Heads Up. Twas a night to remember as the clock ticked midnight and we sang out HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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And we can’t forget the dinner beforehand!! Surf-and-turf – but might as well have been all surf because we DEVOURED the 10 pounds of crab!

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Now on to January 1st, 2016!

After attempting to sleep in, but that basically doesn’t exist with kids, we hit the hot tub with a bloody mary in hand. (Icicle photo bomb!)

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The day just kept getting nicer out so we headed outdoors with the kids to take them sledding and run off some of their energy.

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Ok the adults had some fun too ;)DSC_0279

We even hooked up the water tube and pulled that around. Ha! Year-round use out of that thing :)

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The kids enjoyed playing in the snow and building a snowman

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Ivy, that’s the snowman’s nose!DSC_0332

Festive snowman with his top hat!DSC_0376

Cutie Quinn!DSC_0290

Hope you all had a Happy New Year and looking forward to a great 2016!

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– Love, The Kochs –