Hello, hello!

This is going to be my last post in 2022! I figured it’d be a nice, fun way to finish off the year by doing a little recap of the big (and maybe not-so-big, but still memorable!) things that happened this year.

This post can get lengthy, but it’s always fun for me to write. I love looking back at old blog posts and seeing how much we’ve all evolved over time (especially our little Ishu).

So let’s start from the beginning, yeah?

In January, we had to start a round of RABIES shots for our little monkey because he thought it’d be fun to touch a dang bat. It was also the month we watched Encanto on repeat.

In February, we spent a lot of time indoors (our first winter in Chicago!), doing all the Busy Toddler activities. We tried our hand at color baths! We practiced what it means to say “no” and be in control of our bodies. And we took a weekend trip to New York and another weekend trip to Lake Geneva (and realized quickly that it’s real hard to distinguish the lake from the surrounding snow because it’s just freakin’ white everywhere in the winter).

In March, we went to the Botanical Garden for the first time. We had Ankur’s co-residents over for a St. Patrick’s Day “apartment hop.” It was also the same weekend that Nikku came to visit us and we got to celebrate Holi down at the Navy Pier. We were grateful for the change in the weather and went on lots of “dog poop walks.” And I tried my hand at Instagram Reels to document our fun activities. (I can do it, but it’s way too hard for this geriatric millennial. So I think I’m going to stick to this good ol’ fashioned blog).

In April, we went to Maui with the family! We got to visit the Lahaina Animal Farm (my favorite adventure!), walk the Kapalua Coastal Trail, and go to a luau (where Ishu and his Dadi took center stage for one of the dances!). We signed up for our first “Preschool Prep Class” with Ms. Mel. And I had so much fun watching Ishu do his first ever Easter Egg Hunt. April was also the month that Ishu was on the news! Our little toddler celebrity. He turned two years old on the 21st and we had fun celebrating his birthday for several days! On a personal note, it was also the month I realized just how much I loved OrangeTheory Fitness and how happy I am that I signed up to be a part of this amazing community.

May brought our sweet Maya to Chicago! We spent the weekend celebrating special visitors, Mothers Day Weekend, and our 6th wedding anniversary all at once! We made an unexpected trip back home to California to say goodbye to our sweet Rosie. I feel beyond grateful that Ankur gets to work under a program director that understands the pain and grief a family feels in losing a pet. Eat Teach Blog celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Ishu had his 2-year well check. And we made a trip to NoLA (a first for all of us!).

In June, we spent SO MUCH TIME outdoors. We celebrated Ankur’s 3rd Father’s Day! We went back to California again and got to celebrate my birthday in San Ramon. I flew back down to SoCal with my parents and stayed there ’til the 4th of July. Which ended up being real nice because the little monkey got some sorta bug. (I always want my mama when I’m sick. Turns out I always want my mama when my baby’s sick too).

In July, Auntie Katie came to visit us in Chicago! She helped us play tourist in our own city. We even managed to squeeze in a trip to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery! We got to watch Encanto at the Park. Ishu and I went to the Dino and Dragon Stroll at the Navy Pier. And I got to attend my first book club meeting! (Never mind the fact that it was to watch a movie, ha!).

In August, I got a Chicago Public Library card! We continued on with our Tuesday tradition of going to the pre-school prep class followed by a trip to the farmie! And we went to three different weddings in three different states! Arjun & Sherene’s, Becky and Ben’s, and Sean & Nisha’s!

September brought the biggest change for us. We celebrated our one-year Belliversary while, simultaneously, saying goodbye to Auntie Bella & Ishu time. Because this kiddo started SCHOOL. I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that he’s been going to school now for three months.

In October, I leaned into the newfound freedom I had with Ishu being in school. He rocked the cute skeleton set from Zara. Lots of days. We went back to Lake Geneva and enjoyed the fall foliage and our car safari. We celebrated Diwali and went to Bengston’s Farm. SO MANY FUN FALL COLORS.

In November, we celebrated my Nani’s 90th birthday! All of us flew down to SoCal for a magical weekend together. Ishu took his first-ever school photos. And we had our first ever parent-teacher conference (being on the parents’ side of things). We flew back to California later in the month for Thanksgiving week and Sahil & Radhika’s wedding.

And this month, Ankur and I got to go out on an evening date to the Pentatonix Christmas concert. We went to Winter Wonderland at Wrigley Field and ate some yummy things at Christkindlmarket. We flew down to SoCal (yes, again) to celebrate my mama’s 65th birthday! I completed a fun OTF challenge this month (earning myself socks and shoelaces that Ishu has staked his claim on). And had a very quiet, intimate, uneventful Christmas weekend at home.

We’ve packed so many little memories into this one year. (And a lot a lot a lot of trips back to California, ha). The best part is having my two favorite companions by my side through it all.

Here’s to 2023.

I’ll be back in the new year! Enjoy this beautiful weekend with the people you love.