Reflections on 2009

As I look back on a busy 2009 for the Cincy Robenalts, I recall many highlights. We started the year celebrating 2009 with Charlie at home.

In January, Charlie experimented with his first walks in the snow. Over MLK weekend, we made a trip up to Cleveland to visit with various Robenalt relatives, and Charlie was showered with attention.


February brought our annual Superbowl party and a trip to Athens to see Taylor.
Charlie survived the 9 hour car ride with Pixar movies on the DVD player. He loved the Atlanta aquarium and coloring with Taylor at the UGA themed hotel where we stayed.

We soon learned that we were pregnant and our world was about to get even crazier. March brought trips to Sarasota and a Vegas trip for Michelle for the first weekend of March Madness. Vegas was tame, since I was tired, not feeling well, and not drinking. But Charlie loved the beach in Florida and playing with Uncle Rory.

April brought Easter Egg hunts and trips to the zoo. May brought my family in for Charlie's 2nd birthday party, and our annual Memorial Day weekend grill out. We also expanded our photography efforts this Spring with a photography workshop at the zoo and a photography session at the Butterfly Show at the Krohn.

In June we made a trip over to St. Louis to visit with the Brewoods. The kids all enjoyed visiting the Magic House, which has greatly expanded since Christine and I were kids. We started making trips to the pool with Charlie, and he went on his first carnival rides. Grandfather Robenalt had been taken to the Cleveland Clinic, so our planned 4th of July trip to Lima was replaced with a trip up to Cleveland. It turned out to be a good chance for Charlie to get accustomed to the Maloneys' house, where he would stay during our trip the following week.

In July, John and I enjoyed our first childless vacation since Charlie was born. We stayed a couple of days at a great B&B at Niagara falls, visited some great Canadian wineries, and then spent a couple of days in Toronto. We almost didn't make the trip, because John's passport had expired, and he didn't realize it until only 3 days before we left. We returned to Cincinnati in time for Charlie to have his face biopsied, which was more traumatic for us than for him.

In August we moved Charlie into his new "big boy room" so that we could prepare the nursery for the new baby, which by now we knew would be another boy. My mother came to visit us in September, and October was filled with outings to the Museum Center, Gorman Farm, the Zoo, and other fun activities so that we could spend time with Charlie before the baby would come to take our attention. We all enjoyed following UC as they had an exciting football season, and watched as they surpassed Ohio State in the rankings. Charlie started showing interest in potty training mid-year, and finally stopped using a pacifier at night by early December.

Liam came early and surprised us all. My parents and sister all made visits to see him shortly after he was born. We had a quiet Thanksgiving here at home, followed by the usual Black Friday shopping excursion for Michelle.

This holiday season I decided to take Charlie to see the trains at Duke Energy, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Taylor came to visit in time to join us for the trip to Cleveland for the Robenalt Christmas, which was the first without Grandfather, as he had passed away in October.

We spent our first ever Christmas at home in Cincinnati, since Liam was so small for travel. We enjoyed watching Charlie's excitement and wonder this year since it was the first he comprehended Santa.

As I started this post, we had a pork roast in the crock pot, getting ready for a quiet New Years Eve here at home with the kids. Tomorrow brings us the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl and time to cook a big pot of chili to entertain some friends. Next week Charlie starts at his new daycare and I begin the countdown to our Disney vacation and my return to work.

We are truly blessed to have been able to spend such great times with friends and family all throughout this year. We will miss Grandfather Robenalt, but we welcomed Liam and his cousin Wyatt into the world. 2010 promises to be another exciting and fun-filled year of parenting!