Category Archives: grandma

Swim, Swim Little Fishy

June 16, 2014

PROUD MOM moment! My little baby just got her first award! Completing swimming lessons! Well, it was more of a certificate (not to be downplayed at all), but it was pretty exciting receiving that and seeing her name on there. I was so proud of her! It made me remember all of the medals and certificates I received throughout my years and I fluttered into the future and envisioned Ivy getting all sorts of awards and certificates in her upcoming years for sports, academics, or whatever her teeny heart desires. Indeed, that first one was pretty special :)

We joined the “Ducks in Diapers” (the class is as cute as the name!) class at Swim America. The class focused on kicking and using their arms, which Ivy was WAY more interested in what was going on around her than to know to kick. But hey, she is only 8 months, it’s more just about getting them in the water. We were excited for this because if you’re a Koch, you are in or at water as often as possible. With our cabin by the lake/river in Yankton, and with John’s parent’s cabin at Lake Madison, Ivy is bound to be a little fishy all summer. In fact, John remembers skiing with his Dad at a very young age, holding on to the rope and standing on the skis, pretty talented for a little tyke. So, John can’t wait to get her in the water! Hold off for a couple years though, ok Daddy ;)

Ivy joined the class with her friends Natalie and James. It was so much fun to see the 3 of them together and I got some much needed social time with friends Erin and Jess. We were all brave and swished our babies underwater! It was funny to see their reactions!

Best part of all, BABIES IN SWIMSUITS :)

Natalie (6 months), Ivy (8 months), and James (5 months)

BFF’s holding hands. SWOOOOON

Practicing holding on to the edge. Go James! He WANTS that turtle!

Floating on their backs. They’re supposed to be practicing kicking here…

Kick, kick, kick

Swim through the hoop Ivy! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming

Grandma Betsy even came to visit 2 of the days!

Haha, SO FUNNY. But very proud :) Go Ivy, xxoo

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Reunited and it feels so good

May 18, 2014

This last week was a REALLY good week. We had our last days of school and I get to be back together with Ivy again all day every day! Pretty sure I started my summer break countdown before my students did :) We celebrated by heading down to our cabin in Yankton with some friends for the weekend. While I was celebrating, Grandmas were not. Betsy, John’s mom, and my mom Caleen have been taking care of Miss Ivy while I have been at work, and Ivy has become their little pride and joy too. I am so thankful that Ivy got to spend time with her Grandmas! My mom was the more calculated one with her being the nurse, on the other hand, Betsy was her free-spirit self getting Ivy accustomed to all sorts of things and getting plenty of action. Either way, Ivy was in fabulous hands. For the Koch’s, Ivy filled a void that they needed after a tough year last year. Dan would have his morning bottle-feedings and rock her to sleep before he left for work, while Betsy would take her to stitch group on Thursdays and share her with all of her friends. The last couple months while it has been nice, I had to drop Ivy off at Hardee’s to meet Betsy and Dan with their morning walking group. It was so funny each time bringing her in there, she knew all of the women and would always give each of them a big smile greeting. Ivy got plenty of attention, that’s for sure. Plus, with Ivy being with Grandma Betsy, it was nice for John and his brother Jimmy who would often stop over for lunch or sometime during the day to see Ivy. I think Betsy had a visitor every single day. Good for Ivy because she likes to be in the action! It would certainly keep BOTH of them busy! Ivy and I are looking forward to trips to Lake Madison with Dan and Betsy and spending time at Camp Koch this summer. Betsy has it all set up for Ivy! Now for swimming lessons in June!

Here are some funny pictures that Betsy would send me

Hi Mom, just having fun with Gramma Betsy

Daily Readings

Uncle Jimmy, multitasking at its best. Ivy’s not impressed.

Visiting the Butterfly House with Kristi and the Sweeney Girls

I don’t like tarantulas!

Smiles at Grandpa!

Reading cookbooks

Lunchtime with Daddy

Drums don’t belong in your mouth silly girl!

Sniffing lilacs

Ivy wouldn’t be a Koch if she didn’t have a sweet tooth! MMMMM

“I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!”

Silly girl

We spent Saturday at the lake with Shannon. Finally some sun!

Shannon’s going to be Ivy’s Pediatrician in October!

Summer looks good on you baby girl

First time touching the sand. She loved it! But not the cold water, EEK

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Matilda Ivy

April 29, 2014

I struggle buying Ivy designer/brand name clothes (yes, I just mixed baby and designer, gasp!). It’s like, well, I could spend $40 on this ADORABLE outfit, but then realistically, she will wear it 1-3 times before growing out of it, and blow out of it all 3 of those times. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to see Ivy in this Little Hip Squeaks dress, or this denim Gap shirtdress, (btw, shirtdress?? that word kinda makes me laugh), but REALLY? $37. I admit that one of which, I will still probably buy because it just takes ~~a little~~ more self-resistance than I currently have with summer baby clothes. And she’ll look damn cute in it…

One of those designers that has exploded is Matilda Jane. I went to a trunk show before I had Ivy and of course wanted EVERYTHING, I mean, because those prints, those ruffles, those colors! AND it is like THE softest fabric, sooo cozy. Grandma Betsy bought her the cutest 2 piece outfit, but it was a 12 mo size. They gotta run small because I pulled it out the other day and it looked like she could fit into it! And she did! Needless to say, I was very anxious to bring Ivy to Grandma’s to show her the outfit. We just died. Soooo stinkin’ cute! While Ivy is auditioning to the be the next Matilda Jane model, you can enjoy some of these precious pics from Grandma Betsy…

Tender little teefers

Dad’s lunch break with Ivy

Caged ANIMAL… this girl can get cray cray!

Now, Ivy, you can help Grandma clean, but DON’T RUIN YOUR OUTFIT!!!! :)

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Gammmy gam

April 15, 2014

Betsy and Caleen, Ivy’s grandmas, sure take some good pics. The best when I’m at work and I get these. Love it. She sure does have fun with them. They say she’s ALWAYS SMILING. That’s my girl :)

Grandpa Dan loves his morning baby time. Rock-a-bye baaaaaaby

Got my knee pads on ready to crawl

Betsy’s knit group is teaching Ivy some skills

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6 months

April 1, 2014

Half birthday already?! You know when you were a kid, you LOVED half birthdays! In fact, I still celebrate mine, surely, to myself, but I still acknowledge it. I brought it up to John once and pretty sure he was like, WTF, you’re not a kid. But, in Ivy’s case, a HALF YEAR! Come on! Seems like just yesterday I was pushing this stubborn little girl out of me. Ooo, flashback to my labor, let’s not go there…. back to 6 months. This month is FOOD month! I’ve been reading all about baby-led weaning which is RIGHT up my alley, so I’ve been trying it a little bit with Ivy, but I’m gonna really start this month, but I do still plan to nurse till 1 yr. More about that later. Back to 6 months again, kinda a space cadet today. She just had her 6 month appointment and she’s 26.5 inches (73rd percentile), and 16 lbs 3 oz (51st percentile). Will we have a tall skinny girl? Based on John’s height, you wouldn’t think so :) (sorry John, love you, but we know you didn’t get the height gene! What did you call it? A “half wad?” Oh snap, maybe I shouldn’t put that in here…) But that man does have some LEGS! So far, hers are pretty chubby. Well, not pretty, they ARE chubby. But she’s a strong girl that tries her hardest to stand on her own. One of my favorite things is when I change her diaper then pick her up from laying down and fly her onto the changing pad, she just stands up so proud and tall, I always laugh. The dresser is pretty tall, and she just thinks shes such a big girl when I do that. I just love it. It’s so damn cute. Speaking of cute, check out these pics