Meet our family

We started out a bit backwards....

Here is our famliy! Nate, Kohen, and Kali. We welcomed Kohen Lee Eick (ike) into the world on June 9, 2020. Little did we know in October of 2019 that this little bean was going to grace us with his presence. (Read PandeMOMic for more on that).

Nate

Nate is a super smart, easy going, fun-loving partner and father! He is is 6'4" (compared to little 5'2" me) and has a passion for numbers. We met the old fashion way-- just kidding... We met through an online dating app, and I can comfortably say I knew by the 3rd date he was the one. He works as a Finance director for a big corporate retailer, absolutely loves football, and here's the hook-line-and sinker, he was THE Ohio State University's mascot: Brutus Buckeye. SO cool! Right!?

I remember creeping on his Facebook and seeing him tagged in these photos... in one of the photos was a college kid who clearly was NOT Nate, standing next to Brutus. I remember looking back at that photo several times being utterly confused. Why was Nate tagged in this photo he clearly isn't in?? Then, it FINALLY hit me... Nate was IN the Brutus costume. My jaw literally dropped and I of course immediately called my closest friends and family. But, Nate is so humble about this and never brags or gloats (which some of you non-midwesterners may not understand the big deal-but trust me- it IS!).

I remember him finally sharing this fact with me and I acted so surprised- lol! If we could go back in time and he could know me back then like he does now... he would TOTALLY know I was such a faker and that I already knew.

As a dad.... I cannot brag on Nate enough. He gets up super early with our son, feeds him, changes him, plays with him, and he lets ME sleep in! He is truly a dream boat. Watching him interact with Kohen and exert all of his energy towards making him happy is so fulfilling. When it comes to parenting, (so far), we are true partners. Figuring what is best, coming to conclusions, and making decisions. Now, this does not mean that we never butt heads or disagree, but we do figure it out and come to a resolve because we understand that it is about KOHEN and his best interests and I love that for us.

Kohen

Kohen. Ooooh my sweet, spunky, ornery, energetic, intelligent Kohen. Where do I begin? This boy soaks up EVERYTHING. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. It is both fascinating and extremely scary all at the same time. He started walking just shy of 9 months, he is quite good at sharing (too good- as in don't let other children drink out of your water bottle, please and thanks), he loves giving hugs and kisses to mommy and daddy, he is ecstatic about his 2 golden retriever "puppies" Rizzo and Ryli and chases them all over the house. He enjoys climbing on whatever the heck he can, he claps and cheers when he's excited or hears others clapping and being excited, and he eats more food than I do! There are very few foods he doesn't like and if you are eating, guess what? So is he, because he is going to demand you hand over the goods. To be around him is just such a pleasure. He is seriously so FUN to be around! Between watching him soak in and wonder about the world around him, to experiencing his love and kindness, you can't ever get enough. Oh, and did I mention how stinking CUTE this boy is?? I know I am bias, but every person we pass in the grocery, airport, restaurants, and shopping mall totally agree and let him know how cute he is. *swoon*

Kali

Okay now on to me. Writing a paragraph highlighting all the *good* qualities about myself doesn't seem quite right in terms of getting to know me, so I encourage you to continue to read my blog to truly get to know me... but I will do my best to paint you a picture. I can be shy at first depending on when and where you meet me. I like to observe situations and people and get a slight sense of comfort before talking your ear off. I definitely have a lot of opinions and usually will not hesitate to share them, but I equally love hearing what others have to say. The intellectual stimulation really captivates me and I appreciate other's minds. I currently teach 2nd grade, so a lot of my qualities are usually justified as "well that makes sense because she's a teacher." I will have you know that I became a 2nd grade teacher because of some of my interests/qualities. Not the other way around. :) I do love teaching at it's core- the idea of helping others succeed/see their potential and to go on to do more. However, I do not see myself as a 2nd grade teacher for the rest of my life. I am someone who loves to learn new things and teach myself whatever interests me. I very rarely have the idea that "I cannot do that/I won't be able to do that." I‘m very much quite the opposite almost to a fault. I am VERY artsy/crafty. I LOVEEE creating. Anything from photography, to drawing/painting, to building furniture, to website layouts, to logos and graphics, to fashion, interior design,.. I love it all!! I can get lost in a project and it is my happy place. I’m probably TOO helpful at times… so please feel free to tell me to back the hell up if I’m overstepping. 😁

I also enjoy being sarcastic, so hopefully you can catch that in my posts as well, because I literally write how I talk, minus cuss words.… and I probably cuss way too much.

I grew up in Ohio and never moved but twice- once in high school and once in college, but they don't really count because I stayed in the same major city. I have one younger sister named Kortney (we are all K's in my family) and was born to a teacher/administrator (my father) and a nurse (my mother). I have my Bachelor's degree in Human Ecology and a Master's in Education.

Nate and I are currently not married yet, we have a son, and we live in a duplex that we have been fixing up for the last year. This is also where "I" have lived for the past 11 years. It is not a huge glamorous adult house, but for now, it is home. Join my family and I on our journey as you read my posts and see my life through my lens with MY methods. These are, The Kali Methods.

xxoo

Kali