Living Room of Dreams...

Greetings and Salutations,

First and foremost, for the legions (i.e. both) of the dedicated blog followers, I personally apologize for a couple of matters: 1) the dearth of posts on my behalf, which has been atrocious, at best. God bless my wife, whose whimsical insight, inspiring tales, and charming photos have assuredly quelled the fervor over updates; 2) the format of this particular post. Typically, I dabble in metaphors, sprinkle in some adorable and, frankly, timeless photographs, and even inject the perspectives of my wonderful children, as near as they can convey them at their present formative stages in development.

But alas, today is a reflective piece, one that I hope does not prompt you to briskly surf over to TMZ.com to ascertain what Charlie Sheen did last night. Instead, twenty-five years from now, I hope that Carter revisits this message and envisions a time he assuredly cannot recall directly. If my ramblings are even semi-effective, he will realize that on Valentine's Day 2011 he gave me the greatest give for which I could have ever hoped.

Alright, here we go...Please bear with me...and make sure your chair is comfortable...

Baseball pundits and contemporary society agree that one of, if not the, greatest baseball move of all time is Field of Dreams. Iowans laud the movie for being set in our fair state, in addition to the oft-repeated "Is this heaven?...No, it's Iowa." line. (P.S. The actual Field of Dreams proper remains for sale. If you have $5.4 million lying around, it may be worth a look. I might suggest checking between the couch cushions for spare change.) In any event, others cite different considerations in praising this film: the excellent storyline, the believable baseball action, the dulcet tones of James Earl Jones, etc. And while I certainly enjoy each of these aspects, I currently appreciate this cinematic work for another reason. Do you happen to recall the end of that movie? Ray Kinsella (a.k.a. Kevin Costner) finally recognizes why he was told to construct a baseball field in the middle of his corn crop - He was given the opportunity to play catch with a younger version of his father, who had previously passed away.

Truthfully, what made Field of Dreams a great movie for me was no different than those initial reasons cited by the majority of individuals. However, this perspective changed entirely after the most impressionable month of my life and a whole lot of reflection.

Growing up, without question the bulk of my time, in some way, shape, or form, was consumed by baseball. Watching the Cubs on WGN, that first game at Wrigley Field with Grandpa Merle in 1988 (We sat down the first base line, Grandpa. I still remember, and have the "autographed" baseball giveaway as a memento.), sorting a rather impressive baseball card collection, refining my prowess at Bases Loaded for Nintendo, and most significantly actually playing the game itself. And while I revealed in the competition, the pitcher versus hitter aspect or the entire team versus team component, nothing, absolutely nothing, topped playing catch with Dad.

Sure, there was a great deal of teaching (both about baseball and life in general) that was embedded in these sessions. But, in retrospect, I cherished these opportunities for the inherent, dedicated attention it afforded me. We talked, he taught, and we grew closer with every toss, just a little time, 5 ounces of cork and twine, and two pieces of rich, Corinthian leather.

Yet, to this very day I wish there were even more occasions when Dad and I could have thrown the ball around. Early in my "baseball career" my Dad's career hindered or prevented such opportunities, a fact that was not lost on him. A reverse trip around the base paths during an organized Tee Ball contest by my younger brother opened my father's eyes and refocused him toward his family. Baseball was not the only reason for this turn of events, but it was certainly an inciting factor.

Our baseball relationship was one of the benefactors of this refocusing. For years we revealed in this common interest. But as the odometer on my Dad's left shoulder continued to trudge on, his physical ability to throw overhand became more difficult. This fact never landed him on the disabled list, and he would be the last to ever tell you that his Sandy Koufax-esque arm was failing. Yet, you could see it on his face with every pained toss. The inevitable result was a decrease in the frequency of our hands-on, joint baseball excursions. However, even so, he rarely, if ever, missed one of my games. In high school for instance, one could always hear him kidding me from his lawnchair, situated just north of the home dugout next to the batting cage. "Is that all the harder you can throw?" even as an opponent whiffed at a Maddux-like fastball (not necessarily lighting up the radar gun but perhaps skillfully placed). Never taken as less than good-natured, it showed me he cared.

Fast forward eight years to July of 2008, the "most impressionable month of my life" I previously referenced. Early in that month I lost my partner for playing catch. While obviously not my initial or primary concern, in the throws of the summer baseball season I realized that I would never again have the chance to make his right palm sting again with a fastball. After a great deal of reflection, and a chance encounter with a cable showing of Field of Dreams, I found the reason why that movie is special for me, a nuance I previously took for granted. Baseball is a sport meant to be shared by a father and a son. Kevin Costner had the opportunity to relive the best part of baseball, a chance that I would no longer possessed.

Well, I guess a chance that I no longer possessed as previously construed. At the end of the very same month, we welcomed Carter Sherman into our lives. It has truly been a fantastic journey since his arrival. We are so proud of him - He is polite, well-behaved (mostly, save for his most recent haircut perhaps), intelligent, and a truly fantastic older brother to Addyson. However, one week ago today on Valentine's Day 2011 he gave his own father a connection to Grandpa Sherman, creating a virtual Living Room of Dreams.

Commercial break...Stretch to prevent a deep vein thrombus from forming, take a bathroom break, file your taxes, take your time. Please continue at your leisure (and discretion).

Alright, please allow me to explain and set the stage. After seeing the better part of the greater metropolitan area stroll through the Emergency Department (which is only a mild exaggeration), I returned home to share Valentine's Day with my family. As a doting husband, I lovingly ordered dinner for my family, a far less dangerous proposition than me cooking something that may result in my own family frequenting the Emergency Department. After this sustenance, topped off with a personalized heart-shaped cookie from Carter and Addyson, my son literally begged me to play baseball.

This is not a novel occurrence for Carter. In fact, most days the boy runs to the door, glove, bat, and ball in hand urning for some baseball action. And I can promise you that there are few things as precious to his mother and I than when he dons his Cubs helmet, artfully turns it backwards, and assumes a fundamentally sound, left-handed batting stance a la Ted Williams, the Splendid Splinter.

His independent enthusiasm for the game and my interest in making him happy led us to a rousing affair. Me with my glove and Carter with his bat set out on an experience that I will literally never forget. Standing in our living room, with his mother and sister keenly observing, Carter had an epiphany. While he previously made intermittent contact with the ball, this was more a matter of chance than a refined skill. On this date he seemingly instantly grasped the nuance of carefully watching the ball as it approached his bat. The ensuing results were beautiful. Carter lined a shot down the right field line, an easy double with Carter's speed (once he learns where second base is situated, of course.), blazing fast wheels I can verify were not paternally inherited.

He proceeded to replicated his success countless times over, peppering balls throughout our humble abode. Before long, we had an America's Funniest Home Videos moment with me doubled-over and speaking a couple of octaves higher and Mama serving as a casualty with a couple of lower extremity contusions secondary to some brisk follow through. Pride abound after this excursion. It was readily apparent on his mother's face, and I can assure you I was smiling from ear to ear. This was not due to the fact that I thought Carter is or will ever be a baseball prodigy. There were no illusions of grandeur that he was on the fast track to the Majors. No, my pride was secondary to the look of unbridled joy on my son's face. Literally, after every single rope off his bat, Carter would say, "I hit it! I hit it!". This was followed by first a high five for Mama and then a trip to the mound, where Papa was perched. I was treated to a crisp high five as well and the customary fist bump. Then, it was back to the batter's box for some more action. I wished that moment would never end, and I look forward to years of such pleasure to come.

Carter, when you are old enough to read this (and perhaps understand its "depth"), I wish to thank you. Your excitement, passion, and pure pleasure, in this case manifest as a batting practice display that rivals the likes of Ken Griffey, Jr. and has superagent Scott Boras calling the house phone seeking to represent you, was the best gift you could have imparted to me. Baseball will always be special to me not because of the triumphs and tribulations that I have experienced on the diamond, but instead because of the bond it helped created between Grandpa Sherman and I. We shared so much more, but baseball truly had a special place in our relationship, one that brought us closer and always served as fodder for conversation. Perhaps this open letter has adequately conveyed that fact. Or even better, perhaps everyday I have put this message into practice. As one of the final lines in Field of Dreams, anytime I hear you say, "Hey Dad, wanna have a catch?", I will be there for you. Regardless of the situation, I will always be there for you. My father taught me the importance of that sentiment.

In closing, and all honesty, Carter, your mother and I hope that baseball always makes you as happy as you were on Valentine's Day 2011. But more importantly we hope that life makes you that happy. If so, we have truly been successful in serving as your parents. Thank you, Carter, and Happy Valentine's Day, pal.

Love,
Papa

As a bonus, for those of you who suffered through that long tale, below is some home footage of Carter in action. He understands the inherent value of defense in addition to his aforementioned offensive prowess. Not too shabby for a lad only 30 1/2 months into existence...

Lots of Good Stuff!

Hello Blog world! It's been a while. Things are going well here in the Hogrefe household. We've had many milestones since the last posting, so here we go!

On December 23rd, Carter got his very first haircut! We were both rather nervous about how he would react, but believe it or not, he did great! We saved his "wings" for his 1st haircut momento. The hair stylist at Sport Clips was very quick, gave him a sucker (also his first!), and let him read a book during the cut. Thank goodness there were sports on, too! :-)

Then came Christmas. It was absolutely wonderful. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at our house. It was fun to start our own family traditions. We opened presents as a family after mass and dinner. We then stayed up 'til 2 am prepping for Santa! Christmas Day was great. We opened Santa gifts and then had brunch before Chris had to go to work. On the 26th we headed to AC to celebrate there. We all truly enjoyed our gifts and the kid's favorites included a tool bench and big wheel for Carter and a doll house and play kitchen for Addy.

Mid-January we attended the annual Cubs convention for the 2nd year in a row. We got autographs from over 30 players/personnel and got lots of Cubs memorabilia. My mom accompanied us and she and the kids did the Kids Only autograph line several times over the weekend. She even watched the kiddos while Chris and I went down to the hotel restaurant for a drink. It was nice to get some adult time!

Chris has been working like crazy and is currently rotating in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. It is a grueling month, but his last month EVER with call shifts (that are about 30 hours long), so he's really looking forward to getting through it. In some other exciting news, he has officially accepted a position as a staff physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics...yay! He will hold a 75% appointment as an ER staff physician, 20% appointment in Information Technology department, and spend the remainder of his time doing research. His contract also has a clause that will allow him to do the sports medicine fellowship within the next 3 years. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am extraordinarily proud of him!

I've been spending a lot of time playing with the kids, going to/hosting playdates, and have recently started training for the Race to Wrigley 5K Fun Run. My friends Katie, Lex, and Mish are going to run it with me and we are super excited! Training has been going well with the exception of a tendon strain that I'm trying to nurse back to health (no pun intended). It's been a great help to have the treadmill in the basement since Chris is rarely home to watch the kids so I can go to a gym or run outside.

Well, that's enough for today. I hope this blog finds everyone well. I'm putting some pix here at the bottom so you can see the kiddos and some of the excitement. Addy has 2 new teeth. She's working on several more and is standing on her own for a few seconds at a time now! It won't be long before she's running around the house trying to keep up with her brother!

Hugs and Loves,

Amy

Baptisms, Thanksgiving, and More!

A few weeks ago, our beautiful babes were baptized at St. Thomas More in Coralville. It was a wonderful ceremony. I cried a few times. :-) It ended up being a very small congregation because of the Iowa/Ohio State game that was ongoing. We didn't care one bit. It was wonderful and both kids behaved beautifully! We had a wonderful evening afterward celebrating with all the attendant and the kids' godparents, Michelle and Bill Andrews. Thanksgiving was also a wonderful. We went back home to celebrate with my parents. We had a wonderful traditional meal and got to hang out with a lot of family. We also had the pleasure of meeting my cousin Grant's girlfriend Sarena. It was a great experience and we hope that we made Sarena feel welcome. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Chris had the pleasure of moonlighting in Storm Lake. It was a relatively slow day for him (totally not expected) and went really well. My mom, brother, the kids, and I went Black Friday shopping in Sioux City. All I have to say about that is...never again. What a miserable way to spend a day! :-) At least I was with people I love. Over Thanksgiving break, Carter had the immense pleasure of riding in a tractor with my dad. It was a great experience for him and he frequently says "Gampa dive tator!" Translated to Grandpa drives a tractor! It's so cute. He had a great time and we are thankful that he got to ride in a tractor since he is in love with being a cowboy and farming at this time. Finally, to finish up Thanksgiving break, we went to visit my best friends Michelle and Bill (the kids' Godparents) in Dakota Dunes. We had a fantastic break filled with fun, shopping, food, and drinks. We love this family so much and have extra fun because Michelle and Bill have a son (Adam) who is 3 weeks older than Carter and a son (Aaron) who is 1 month and 1 day older than Addy. The kids had a blast and so did the adults!
I wanted to add a video of the boys giggling together, but it wouldn't load. It was hilarious. They were giggling back and forth forever! So funny...

Hope you all have had a great holiday so far. God bless... Amy

Growing Like a Weed!

Our binker-less boy!

Smiles McGee!

Mama Alien and Ham

Papa Woody and Buzz

Carter with his backback

Addy pulling up to her knees

Yesterday Addy had her 6 month well baby check up. We are pleased to report that she is up to 17.5 pounds (65th percentile) and 27 inches (75th percentile). For comparison sake, at this age, Carter was 19.9 pounds and 28.15 inches.

Addy got 4 shots and an oral immunization along with her general well exam. She handled it like a champ. She cried for about 20 seconds and then quickly passed out for a nap. Carter also got his flu shot after Addy's appointment. He also cried for about 20 seconds and said "Mama, boo boo!" and that was it. They're both very tough!

As a treat for Carter being such a good boy during Addy's appointment and being tough for the shot, I told him he could eat whatever he wanted for lunch. He chose "meatballs!" so we went to Olive Garden. In adorable fashion, he ordered "wapancheez with meatballs" translated to macaroni and cheese with meatbalss. Sounded gross to me, but he loved every bite!

Last week, while Chris was in Boston, I decided that we were going to get rid of Carter's binker. I ripped his remaining pacifier in two and had Carter help me throw it away. I thought it was going swimmingly when he went to bed and laid for 20 minutes without a peep. Just when I was bragging about how lucky I was, que water works! He screamed for 2 hours and woke up several times during the night. However, just 5 days later, he is sleeping without a hitch and not even asking for it.

Addy is no longer army crawling at all and is crawling on all 4's everywhere at a rapid pace. I can run to the bathroom and have to search for her when I come out because she's traveled to a new room! She's pulling herself up to her knees, "standing" with all 4's straight, and has also moved all the way through her veggies and will progress through fruits next. She's babbling up a storm and I have honestly never met such a happy baby. She is constantly smiling, laughing, and giggling. We are so blessed.

Finally, we had a most fantasic Halloween. My mom was here to celebrate her birthday and helped us all go to Haunted Happenings in North Liberty on Friday evening. It is the annual Halloween celebration in the Rec Center filled with treats, a haunted house, and kids activities. It was really fun! Here's a few pictures of us in our Halloween costumes. For those of you who are not familiar, we were characters from Toy Story. Addy was Ham, Carter was Buzz, Chris was Woody and I was the alien. We had a blast and seeing Carter's face when he saw Chris and I all dressed up made the entire night!

Moving and Shaking

Wow. It's been a while again. I know...as a primarily stay-at-home-mom, you would think that I would be better about posting, but as it turns out these kiddos are busy! :-)

Recently, my friend Caren and I started a playgroup with mothers of two year olds. We meet every other Wednesday at one of the mom's houses and let the kiddos play while the moms have coffee and chat. We have only had 1 meeting so far, and have to miss the meeting this week, but we really look forward to these sessions. It's especially fun to see the kiddos interact and learn to share. It will be a great day out during the upcoming winter months--which tend to get a little long. :-)

Carter continues to crack us up daily with his imagination and catch phrases. He has developed a huge love for football and frequently asks to watch it on tv, asks to watch papa play flag football, and asks to tackle us several times a day. He also has such abounding love for his sister, it's amazing! Every morning he says "Baby skeeze!" followed by "Baby mooch!", which translate into baby squeeze and baby smooch. He has also taken to playing with her on the floor and is quick to bring her toys or rub her back if she's upset. It melts our hearts!

Addy is our little ahead of the curve superstar. She is now crawling and going from her tummy to sitting up like it's nothing! She is very content and will sit and play in her pack 'n play for well over an hour while I work out. She started eating veggies this week and has conquered green beans thus far. She seems to be liking them pretty well. We just have to tackle that pesky getting up several times a night and this mama will be happy. :-)

Chris seems to be living at work in one way or another lately. Poor guy is constantly there for work, chief resident responsibilities, and various meetings. If he's not working, or babysitting while I work, he's moonlighting at a local ER. He works so hard and we are extraordinarily proud of him! He's also well into the "real" job interview process. In September he interviewed at the University of Iowa and may be offered a job. In the beginning of October he interviewed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and has not received official word, but has gotten some hints that they may offer him a job. This week we trek to Ann Arbor, Michigan for an informal ER interview and an official sports medicine fellowship interview. It should be an interesting trip as it is 7.5 hours one way and we are bringing the kiddos!

Well, that's about all I have for now. My desktop computer is currently at the "dotter" (doctor) according to Carter as I seem to have broken it so I'm not going to post many pictures this time. Sorry...it takes too long on the netbook...and please excuse the upside down picture. It is not upside down in the file and I can't seem to flip it. As soon as I get my computer back I will post some long overdue pics of the brood.

Hugs and loves!

Amy