During my sister’s visit home we enjoyed some water time. An afternoon on the river, a day at our parent’s lake home, and a pool day at big brother’s to conclude the visit. Good times!
Thursday afternoon on the Wisconsin River:
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Friday with mom and dad on Castle Rock, pedal boating and kayaking the back waters:
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A typical year brings my sister home twice per year. It seems that me having a baby may be incentivizing her to make the trip more frequently. Just this past week, she and two of her girls came up for visit #2 since Miss Connie was born, and there is already talk of another visit in September!
Our time together is too short and usually pressed into a holiday in which we have to share each other between our inlaws, gatherings, and events. This visit was different. She stayed with me for a full six days and we didnt have any holiday gatherings or major events to work around. We had good quality time, and Connie was spoiled with love, kisses, hugs, and gifts. “Aunt DeDe” ensured she had three custom onesies that proclaim Aunt DeDe’s love, as well as official Wisconsin gear via Brewers, Packers, and a Badger onesie! 🙂
Throughout the visit I found myself moved many times. The love and excitement my sister and her girls have for my daughter is genuine and profound. They never tired of her smiles and noises and accomplishments. They were eager to smother her more and more with each passing day. My youngest niece especially couldn’t get enough. And she was amazing with Connie.
My sister makes a tremendous sacrifice to make the journey north to be with us for each visit we have. It’s a long drive, time away from her own home and responsibilities, and juggling of work. I found myself more grateful this trip than any in the past. It was a good visit, Sis, and I thank you for being with us. You could do one better and move back, or at least closer! I’ll hold my breath on that one. In the meantime, I hope the September trip happens and I promise you a return visit soon!
Dear Sister, thank you for your selflessness. Thank you for loving my daughter with so much passion. We look forward to seeing you again soon. My beautiful nieces, I love you and I am so proud of the young ladies you are becoming. Thank you for visiting. (Mariah, we missed you, and hope to see you soon!)
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Following his induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Favre hosted a charity flag football event at Camp Randall. My father secured tickets and we spent a few hours on a warm and sunny Sunday watching legends of the Packers and the NFL enjoy a fun game and act like boys again.
Though Connie is just 3 months old and will not recall this day, she can claim to have witnessed the legend, Favre play football. Given his 16 glorious years with the Pack and is future induction into the NFL Hall of Fame, it should sound pretty impressive one day! 🙂
In January we learned that our rented bull “Spud” had a 100% success rate with our ladies. We were expecting seven calves this year. We are excited and feel blessed that all seven mamas delivered healthy calves without complications!  We had four mature cows and three heifers (delivering for the first time). After experiencing a loss last year, I was so relieved that all our ladies and their babes sailed through our calving season which took place May 9 through July 5. The result was five heifers and two bulls. The bulls just happened to be calves #6 and #7 for us, breaking our streak of nine heifer calves in a row from 2014-2015.
You may recall our fist year “starter kit” I gave all names that started with “C”. Additions in 2014 begin with “D”, so we are now on to “E”. 2015 calves are Ellie, Elsa, Eva, Emory, Eleanor, Elbert, and Eddie.
Spud returned to Bear Vale on July 17 and, if my math is correct, we have the anticipation of a potential 11 additions to the herd in 2016.
Spud here with Cora
Spud’s markings proved to add a bit more color and splashiness to our new calves. A couple have white on the bellies, and a few have white facial markings. Eleanor has a full white face!
2015 Calf #2, a heifer, Elsa, from cow Cecilia
2015 Calf #4, Emory, from cow Cora. Interesting facial markings.
Madi was visiting from Arkansas when Dakota, our wedding gift from Cody’s father and step-mom, had our third calf of the year. I gave Madi naming rights with the only direction it had to start with an “E”. Here’s Eva. A full black calf.
Our first calf of 2015, Ellie, from cow, Cplitzy. A bit of white on the belly.
A glimpse at our herd on May 15, 2015. We had 15 at this time. With the addition of our 7 2015 calves, we are 22 strong now!
Our last calf of the year, a bull calf, Eddie, from cow, Crazy.
Team Pulvermacher spent last week in San Diego. I had to be there for work. Our babe arrived just shy of 13 weeks before this trip, so the idea of being away from her for a full week, finding care, and managing feedings for her was too much. Off to San Diego we went. Connie was awesome. She took the travels, flying, noise, etc. all in stride. There was barely a fuss. We had four flight legs total. Most of which she slept through.
Cody took the week off of work and was there to be the primary care giver. I had some time during the evenings and could get a break here and there to feed, but by and large, he was on full-time daddy duty Monday through Thursday. Initially, I felt guilty that he was sacrificing a week of PTO and that we weren’t able to spend that time together as a family doing tourist/vacation things. But within a few days of our trip, I noticed a big change in the relationship of my husband and daughter. She loves her daddy, no doubt. And he is smitten by her. But with each passing day I saw them become closer. I asked Cody if he noticed a difference and he said “a little.” It was obvious to me. He was much more confident in his role and in caring for her as she needed. And she was much more attached to him. Daily they talked to each other, bonded, and went out for adventures. Cody took her on walks and explored the area in and around our hotel located on the bayfront of San Diego.
Here she is talking with her daddy one early morning.
On our way home, we went through MSP. Beau and Caleb met us there and met Connie Elizabeth for the first time.
We are happy to be home and have this trip behind us. And I am glad for their father daughter time.
Three months have flown by and with the anticipation of the next I tell myself I am not going to rush through the photos, but here again, another rush job. Oh well. It’s not the quality but rather the on purpose act of capturing her changes from month to month. Not to mention she looks sweet and beautiful in every image. (no bias!)
Connie Elizabeth turned 3 months while in San Diego! My company hosts an annual Symposium for estate and elder law planning attorneys in which I manage our vendors. 13 weeks was too soon to be separated from my angel, so Cody took a week of PTO time and the two of them joined me. I’ll do a post about that adventure as well. Since we were out of our environment and mama was tied up with work, photos had to wait until we returned. These were captured six days following her official 3 month birthday.
Month Three
She is a happy, sweet baby. I am still is awe that she is all ours!
A low-key 4th of July celebration. Day started with the 5k Water run/walk with Shae, the Lone Rock parade, then volleyball tournament for Daddy (Bear Vale team took 3rd). Headed to the Schluter cabin for great company and good eats, but departed before the fireworks. Miss Connie ensure we get to bed early these days.
An impromptu trip home for Carl gave us the opportunity to have a short visit with him and great grandpa Harry. It was fun to witness these two men with Miss Connie and the smiles she brought to their faces. Grandpa Harry said he had never seen a baby smile so much for so long.
It is fun for me to sit back and watch the interactions of our parents with our child. There is something magical in witnessing the bond and love across generations within a family. I asked my dad recently what it was like seeing his children with children of their own. Granted, he’s been a grandfather for 25 years now, and I am the last child of his to give him a grandchild, but it only struck me when becoming a parent myself. He said, “there’s nothing like it. Being a grandparent is the best.”
I’ve been going to and enjoying Castle Rock Lake for as long as I can remember. I love being on the water. There is therapy in just boating and floating and relaxing. I hope my baby girl enjoys the water and associated activities as much as I do one day. On July 5 she had her second introduction to the lake and first boat ride with Grandma and Papa. Cousin Chance joined us for fun on the boat and at the beach.
Baby Connie got to try out her adorable tutu suit from Aunt Dena during this outing.
Side note: Infant life jackets fit horribly! 🙂
I’ve wanted to get bees for years now, but had no idea where to start. I looked into it here and there but still didn’t know how to get started. Earlier this year Green TTEC held some workshops–one of which was a beekeeping class. Awesome! ….sort of. I left with more questions than answers and still held the fear of murdering swarm after swarm while trying to get it right. That led to a conversation with a friend who put me in touch with a professional bee keeper. Schultz Pure Honey came out to Bear Vale and we identified a good location for 32 hives. We provide the land, the bees pollinate our gardens and plants, and the bee keepers do what they know to do–keep the bees alive and well. It’s pretty neat and I enjoy watching the growth of our hives and the friendly winged visitors around the yard.
Miss Connie met her Aunt Dena, Uncle David, and cousins Mariah, Marisia, and Madalyn last month when they made the trip home from Arkansas. We had a great (but too short) visit and celebrated Mariah’s graduation. Here are some images from their visit. The girls were very excited to meet our sweet baby Connie and they were so awesome with her. Wish you were all closer! Hope to see you soon.
June 2015:Â Random captures of our ever-growing and changing baby girl.
This month she really began noticing colors and objects, following with her eyes and moving her head to keep objects in sight. She is very strong. She enjoys standing with assistance and has great control of her neck for her young age. On June 9, she rolled from her back to tummy–twice. Now she pretty much has it mastered. Tummy to back yet to come! We also got a first giggle late in the month, created by a tummy tickle. She is an absolute sweetheart and we are crazy about her.
The 14th of the month marks our monthly milestone during this first year of life for Connie Elizabeth. Month One I managed to get her photos taken and posted right away. Month Two rolled around and at about 7 pm that evening I told Cody we needed to get her photos taken before the day was over and before she entered her evening fussy time. Lighting was low in the house so we moved outdoors to the front yard for this month’s images and worked quickly. Two weeks later, I’m getting them posted. Time in the day is short, now more than ever. Kudos to all the mommies and daddies out there juggling home, work, family, life, and children!
I used the same props so we can do comparisons each month. She is a very happy baby and we witness lots of smiles each day.
Month Two
It was a beautiful day for Father’s day. Unfortunately, Cody had farm obligations he felt needed to be done. So the babe and I loaded up and headed to Castle Rock to be with my daddy. This was Connie’s first introduction to the lake, we hung out at the beach with her cousin Chance after grilling out at my parents cabin. Chance loves the beach and water. It is fun watching him explore and build.
It’s been six weeks (and two days) since we welcomed you into this world, Sweet Baby Connie. While I have not taken as many photos as I thought I would have to this point, I have taken a fair share, and it’s time for a “photo dump.” Here’s a photo recap of your six weeks of life. You’ve grown so much and I wish for time to slow down.
Thank you, Grandma Cathy. This was a wonderful surprise to come home to.
 
Bear Vale Farm 
