On November 6, we took Genesee in for her 15-month Well Child Appointment and learned that my lil’ sis is healthy, strong, and unrestrainable.

She weighed 20 lbs, 8 oz. (37th percentile), her head measured 45 cm (30th percentile), and her height remains undetermined (hence, the aforementioned “unrestrainable” trait.) However, she’s not so tough when she’s getting poked with a needle. All. three. times.

I, on the other hand, took my flu vaccine like a champ, with no screams or tears whatsoever. Apparently, once you turn 4 years of age, you can choose between the needle shot or the nasal spray. I chose the latter. Call me chicken or call me smart.

Someday, Genesee will be as tough/smart as me. But for now, Genesee is a mover and shaker who likes to hit me on the head, slap me in the face, and pounce on anyone who dares to relax on the floor. She’s a lover of books, shoes, spaghetti, most male figures, and all things sweet. She’s a homewrecker, so don’t put anything nice within arms reach of her, and careful when you give her a bath… she tends to perform dangerous maneuvers.

These days, you can often find Genesee snacking, reading books, looking out the window, wrestling with me, riding my scooter, playing basketball, hiking with Dad, or splashing in self-made milk puddles. She’s got more teeth, more words, and more attitude than her last Well Child Appointment. But after this check-up, she’ll have less bottle time because Doc ordered a full transition to sippy cups.

So, our little, bottle-banned baby girl is growing up right before our eyes… She’s blossomed into quite a healthy, strong and unrestrainable toddler who moves through life on her own terms. And while it’s become quite clear that this is her world and the rest of us are just living in it, we wouldn’t want it any other way!

Future basketball star

This is not my idea of relaxing on the floor.

G loves story time!

Spaghetti dinners are the best…

…and quite messy!

G lounging on the couch

Wrestle wars!

G loves a good scooter ride.

A hiking they will go

She loves me!

Baller

…for Halloween this year.

But no one jumped or screamed because the monster trick-or-treated her way through Festival’s BooFest, the Enchanted Forest, and Viterbo University’s Halloween event by also assuming the role of Welcoming Committee. Hence, Genesee’s cover was blown every. single. time. she opened her cute mouth and let out a sweet “Hiiii!!!” (Her newest trick.)

Luckily, Genesee’s Midwest-nice was Marvel-ously balanced by her sidekick… the righteous king, noble Avenger, and fearsome warrior:

…THE PINK PANTHER.

Ha. Just kidding!

But I did connect with some of my roots to embody Wakanda’s fierce and powerful Black Panther.

And so I used my powers to sweet-talk lots of treats into our buckets with phrases like “please,” “thank you,” “trick or treat,” and “how many am I allowed to take for my sister?” Because despite Genesee’s limited vocabulary and lacking manners, I vigilantly ensured that her bucket got filled alongside mine because the perk of having a complete set of teeth is that I get to consume my sister’s candy that’s what loving, responsible, superhero-brothers do.

Needless to say, it was a happy and delicious Halloween!

Me: “Woohoooo!! It’s snowing! I can’t believe it’s Christmas now! YESSS!”

Fun-spoiler mother: “It’s not Christmas, Jaeger. It’s just snowing.”

Me: “Oh… Well, still, I’ve been waiting so long for a snow day. I love it! Woohoo!! SNOW IS THE BEST…”

Also me: …particularly when observed from inside my warm and dry house, under a fuzzy blanket, and snuggled up next to our cozy fireplace.

First, she took a stand.

Then, she started a movement.

[Video evidence of G’s new walking skills.]

Indeed, my little sister is quite the inspiration… Fierce. Courageous. And ready to change the world, one step at a time.

But before you jump on her bandwagon or sign up to become her campaign manager, I’d like to remind everyone that Genesee still poops her pants.

My mom’s not the best swimmer in the world, but she’s determined to make me one. So, here I am, back at swimming lessons because, apparently, it’s an important life skill blah, blah, blah. But even though I pretend not to like it, I’m all smiles and giggles once I get to the pool. In fact, I’m no longer afraid of the locker room, now that I have an easier time getting myself un/dressed. Also, I’ve become fearless when it comes time to put my head under water. Even more, I jump right off the diving board like I never have before. And the best part? In between strokes and splashes, I think about how awesome it is that the life lessons I’m learning take place in the same pool that my dad was taught how to swim!

Every year around this time, I start to fall for Fall… especially when the season brings together some of my favorites: friends, farm-fresh Winghaven pizza, and Ferguson’s Apple Orchard! Each visit to these Galesville fall-tour fun spots creates precious memories and marks new milestones. When I look back on this particular day, I will probably tell the story of that time when our new friend Noah joined the party, and how Genesee ate more pizza than I did, and that I was brave enough to enter the Slightly Scary Haunted House all by myself, and somehow, the final score of the cornfield adventure was Corn Maze: 1, Us: 0.

Summer is over, says the calendar. I mean, summer and I sort of called it quits once I returned to school full-time, but today, summer officially left. I’m not completely heartbroken and I have no regrets; it was good while it lasted and we made incredible memories. I’ll let the pictures tell the story….

Here I am, Mr. Helpful, watering mom’s flowers while she was out of state for a work conference.

Look at how young Genesee looked at the beginning of summer!

We went to BRF a lot for biking, walking, and playground excursions!

Pit stop along the trails

Lunda Park was our go-to place.

Genesee developed a love for swinging

Dipping our feet in the water!

Moments after this picture was taken, I puked in the river.

G loved going hiking

G did not love when Dad would leave the house.

I made a new friend!

I even got to pet Bambi.

Soooo cute!

Me and my boys (Dad & Grandpa) went fishing a lot in our new-used boat.

I loved my fishing morning!

We caught a lot of fish!

I even caught Grandpa once, but he still loves me.

We had a blast on the water!

And goofed around a little bit.

But mostly, we just enjoyed nature and quality time with eachother.

Even my ladies joined us a couple times!

I also played Red Light Green Light with Cha Cha & Ernest!

I went to a Minnesota zoo with my classmates.

Mom even came with as a chaperone!

We visited with the Docan-Morgans as soon as they returned from South Korea

G became a cookie monster.

G rocked her pudding mustache

I took my sister for rides around the house….

…she loved it!

G learned how to ride a bike

And when you play hard, you eat hard!

Especially when Cha Cha makes Mexican rice, guacamole and quesadillas!

Or when mom and dad make a fancy meal.

Or when you pick enough blackberries so Dad can make smoothies and Grandma can make pie!

And after you eat hard, you sleep hard.

Zzzzzzz

Zzzzzz some more.

Dream team.

Drool fest.

Because summers are for being lazy

And for snuggling!

Dad got a new bike this summer and Grandpa took it for a test-drive!

I went on my first ride this summer – a ferris wheel!

I loved putting puzzles together.

Sometimes I was so excited to play with puzzles that I refused to waste time getting dressed first.

I graduated to a booster car seat this summer!

Sadly, we lost Great Uncle Windy.

It was nice to attend his funeral to celebrate his life.

When it was hot, we played with water balloons

and sprinklers!

It was so much fun!

And of course summer is the best time to prevent forest fires.

I spent some of my days pretending to be Captain America, usually when Mom tried to get work done.

We went to Jellystone a couple times…

I love a good camp fire!

Genesee learned how to climb the stairs!

And she graduated to the big bath tub!

Having a little sister means sacrificing some of your ice cream. Because sharing is caring.

We had lots of dance parties!

I played with my marble run and “wished I was a marble.”

We wrestled on the bed

And acted silly a lot!

We went out to eat a few times too! (I hate when I order a “dog bone” instead of a “corn dog.” Oops!)

I grew taller!

I learned how to change my phone’s screensaver.

I enjoyed Mom’s annual ATP show.

And we even went on a family bike ride…

because Mom got a bike for her birthday.

And Genesee got a new seat!

As you can see, I experienced a lot with summer, even some firsts, and I grew so much along the way; I will be forever grateful for how warm summer was to me. Although I’m having to move on to fall, trust me when I say that although summer and I had to weather some storms, it was worth every rainbow!

On September 9th, we celebrated my cousin/babysitter-extraordinaire/best friend’s 15th birthday. One might assume that a super-cool 15-year-old high schooler wouldn’t want to hang out with a cute, little, still-need-my-butt-wiped 4-year-old, but Ashlee’s something special. She always has time for me and even invites me to sit with her and her friends at high school sporting events. I’m lucky to have such a beautiful soul in my village. Ashlee is kind and patient and loyal… and it’s like she never grows too old to love me.

Happy birthday, cousin! As you make another trip around the sun, I hope you get to feel its warmth every day because that’s the gift you’ve given me.

September 4, 2018 marked my first day of 4-k! Since mom and dad have busy/commuter work schedules, they decided to open-enroll me into the Onalaska School District so that I can continue taking field trips learning at the Children’s Treehouse.

Genesee and I attend CTH together, and this year, we have new teachers, a new building, a new playground, and even some new friends! That’s a lot of transition for two, cute, melt-down-prone kiddos, but guess who survived drop-off without any tears?! Yep, yours truly: Genesee. But also me, for the most part, just 11 hugs later.

I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for us; we’re already off to a great start!

We’ve missed our friends…

…So we invited them to our property, lured them into the basement, and then captured the moment with my phone camera and selfie skills in case they attempt to leave the country for an extended period of time again.

Bwahaha! We got them right where we want them: back home and forever in our hearts!