making mountains out of mole hills.

        

If you know me, you know I love sweets (as you recall my sweetened condensed milk ridiculousness), my house is decorated brighter than spring, I completely believe that numbers are of the devil, I’m strangely particular (Joe don’t sell me out), I wear flip flops in every occasion, and I don’t like working out.  Call me crazy.  All the huffing and puffing, feeling like I might pass out and die, and the getting all sweaty, it’s just not my thing.  But here’s where we got wild.  This past month, we went hiking … (wait for it) … twice!  It’s true!  I got in my sneakers and climbed two mountains!  In my story they are mountains, if Joe heard my story he might roll his eyes and say “one was a mountain, the other was a hill.”  That’s fine, if it was a hill, it was a big hill.  And here’s why I fell in love with hiking our big hill— we tackled this beauty over Easter weekend.  It was a perfect sunny afternoon.  Naomi surprised us and marched straight to the top, and except for the steep end, she did it all by herself!  And except for being carried entirely by me, Aria did it all by herself too.  In about 25 minutes, the four of us were perched on top of Battle Mountain (even the name declares it’s a mountain, just saying).  We were looking over all of Rancho Bernardo, the rolling hills of southern Escondido and glittering Lake Hodges.  What heightened the memory for me is that hovering over us stood a giant white cross.  So meaningful at Easter.  As a family we sang “Jesus loves me, this I know…” I’m smiling even now as I think about how Naomi’s darling voice danced over the neighborhoods below.  Together we worshiped with the sweet gentle breeze and all the meaning of Easter swelled up around us.  I suppose it’s memories like that which pushed us to do the crazy again.  We packed up the babes early Saturday morning and made our way to Poway to meet up with good friends, the Woodalls.  And with each of us carrying a 20/30 pound baby on their back, we conquered the 6.63 miles, 1000 ft climb, 3.5 hour hike of a mountain, repeat mountain.  And yes, I got sweaty, I huffed and puffed, acquired a few bruises, got sun burned, and totally exhausted, but I loved it!  There’s something about tackling adventures with family and friends that make it for me.  If I had the choice, I’d do them both again, absolutely.  But don’t think I’m about to join the ladies for a run, jaunt or gym class.  I’m happy to be that girl that supports the local coffee shop and its comfy oversized chairs.  You can find me there with my sweet tea and flip flops.

          Naomi (2 years):  *Daddy woke up at 7am to your footsteps, but when he went out to find you, you were no where in sight.  Not in your room, not in the house.  That’s when he heard the knocks on the front door, at 7am.  Then came the voice, yours.  “Hello!”  Daddy opened the front door and there you were, outside, in your pajamas, delightfully playing house (gasp and heart attack).  You turned the bolt and let yourself out the front door Naomi!  We now decorate our front door with an ugly, and unreachable, chain lock.  *You saw a pizza commercial on TV and went straight to daddy and wanted pizza for dinner!  *Mommy put on her newly purchased pants and you said “You so cute!”  I kissed your sweet forehead as my heart exploded.   *You ran up to the gopher hole and shouted “Helloooo Gophers!  Come out and play with me, I want to play with you! Come out please!”  *You request “piano song!” in the car all the time.  When Ingrid Michaelson’s “Turn to stone” song gets rolling, you fall apart with glee as we all play our air drums!  *You love lasagna.  You run to your booster chair, pull your shirt off, ready to enjoy a messy dinner of “brown ahnya.”  *Brooklyn, Garrison and Leeland came over one night, and you couldn’t get enough of going down the slide in a train with your friends!  You love “cowisen” (collisions) and pile ups at the bottom of the slide!  You thought it was so much fun to all get in your pajamas and dance under the stars in the backyard!  *Since our hike of Battle Mountain, you always spot the cross, and shout “Hello cross!  There it is, I see it!  See you next time cross!”  *Thanks to Doc McStuffins, instead of saying the dreaded NAP word, we now say “it’s time to recharge your batteries” and it somehow takes the edge off.  *Your favorite phrase of the month: “Let’s go team!”  It puts me in stitches every time.  *You’re very honest.  There have been times I don’t see the squabble between you and Aria, but when I ask you what happened, you’ll straight up tell me “I pushed Aria.”  It’s hard to put you in a time out for your behavior, when it seems I should somehow reward you for your honesty. Tricky.  *You and Daddy have this funny game where Daddy says “I think they’re called Banonos, Baninis, or Banunus!” And you think it’s so funny, and say “No, no Daddy!  I think they’re called Bananas!”  *While hiking Iron Mountain on daddy’s back you said “Come on daddy, almost there, step, step, step, keep going, good job daddy!” I love how encouraging you are!  *Getting you to stay in your room after bedtime is rough.  We’ve tried every tactic in the book.  You love coming out and announcing your grand arrival.  *You and Aria actually play together!  You both held your plastic blue tea cups, and together you both shared a tea party on the floor, complete with fake sipping noises!  Huge.  *You love to help Aria practice her walking!  You try to help her to her feet, and hold her hands so sweetly, and then you say things like “Come on, you can do it, let’s go sweetie.”  *As Daddy got ready for work, “No, no, no daddy, don’t put on your shoes. Stay right here.”  *You decided you were going to rally breakfast, you opened up the pantry “Okay, let’s see here…”  you pulled out the giant Costco size Cheerios and held them high above your head, “Okay, here we go!”

          Aria (11 months): *You are lifting yourself into a standing position!  And at 11.5 months, I think it’s safe to say you’re walking!!  We’ve caught you take as many as a dozen steps as you dive to your next destination!!  Mommy’s new workout has just begun, and you, darling, are my personal trainer, please be kind to me.  *You have fallen in love with your aqua blanket that your Ama knit you!  Just before it’s time to sleep, we put your aqua blanket on our shoulder, you throw both arms around our neck, and nuzzle your head into your blanket!  *You were sick sick sick with crazy high fevers, an ear infection and a bacterial skin infection, to the point that I thanked God that your fever was only 103.6.  *Good thing you’re super cute, otherwise those 5:45am mornings would be the end of me and daddy.  *Your teeth, sweet Jesus, your teeth!  They have finally broken through the gums, and all at once four of your upper teeth are coming in.  *You’re still a pointing machine, telling us where you want to go, but mostly, it’s your favorite to point at the swing.  *You are making noises that more resemble words than baby babbles!  *When we say “Give me a kiss!” a big beautiful open mouth slobber kiss is coming!  *When we say “Where’s the moose, you look right up at our ceiling and gleefully point at the dangling moose on our air vent (that’s right, Trader Joe’s isn’t the only one hiding stuffed animals around their joint).  *One of your most favorite thing is giggling with your sister as you both roll around on the floor!  *Your mother’s cat like reflexes caught you midair upside down as you dove, head first, out of the bath tub!  You certainly keep us on our toes!  *You’re a champion eater, sometimes you’ll polish off all your food and Naomi’s leftovers!  *You still love peekaboo!  *As you ate your final piece of chicken, I brought you strawberries.  The minute you saw the strawberries, you pulled the chewed up chicken out of your mouth and made room for the sweet red goodness.  *You point to daddy, when we ask you “Who’s dadda?”  Cue heart melting.  *You love music darling, you clap and dance with pure joy plastered on your face.

               Family:  *Laughs with Sawyers and Cutrones at MixTape downtown!  Month off at Flood (enjoyed the time off, but a huge adjustment to get back into the swing of ten hour Sundays!), *Joe finally uses his remaining Paternity vacation days and we pack up the girls and enjoy a day at Disneyland!  Girls do great, Aria even keeps her normal nap schedule!  Naomi didn’t nap, but finally passes out at 5pm with her leg dangling from the canopy stroller in midair!  *Joe heads to urgent care after his fingertip collides with a basketball!  His dangling fingertip is the result of a torn tendon, and he’s stuck in a splint for 6 weeks! *Joe hosts playoffs pizza night, with Aric and Tim, with too many to count Naomi sneak outs.  *I enjoy a Sushi night out with Ashley and a friend with a gorgeous Australian accent.  *Children’s museum with Uncle Todd and Squish!  And Allied Gardens park and Ikea venture later in the month too!  *Angela and I laugh and cry our Friday night away at Happy Sushi— our 3 hour dinner has us closing down the joint 1.5 hours after closing time!  *I start teaching piano lessons to Meredith, a sweet five year old with spunk!  *Playdates with the Lalkin boys!  *Ladies night at C-Level.  A four hour dinner of loving on our departing Jame.  *GrampBill comes for another three day visit, the same time as a midweek storm!  *Ramli girls join us for a sunny fun afternoon.  *Joe becomes a pest hunter.  From smoke bombs to poison, he’s mastering the tricks to put an end to these gopher and black widow horribles!  *White and Torres families join us for a last minute Friday BBQ, too much fun, filled with nonstop slide trains, and pajama dancing under the stars!  *A spider gets stuck under the elastic of my sweat pants, and I’m forever convinced I’m a black widow survivor.  *Joe and I are enjoying NBA Playoffs together, who knew that a little innocent wager could bring such angst and elation!  Rinoculus and wild flowers (that my mother mistook for weeds) are finally blooming, oh joy!  *Surprise party for Brenda turned out to be a surprise night of silly laughter with strangers that quickly became beautiful friends.  *We enjoyed a meaningful Good Friday at Mission Hills, and a very difficult watch of Passion of the Christ with the Toscano family.  *Joe and I get a date night at Islands and Tango (amazing!).  *I enjoyed tears of laughter with the Last family over a solid boys vs girls game of Pictionary!  And for the record I did not cheat.

spring.

          Growing has been on my mind a lot lately.  Maybe because it’s spring (which I love).  Maybe because the birds are chirping busily around our home, building their twiggy nests.  Maybe my little flower beds are finally turning heads.  Or maybe it’s because I feel like the whole world, the entire animal and plant kingdom is growing and blooming, but not me.

This month, like every month as a parent, has been full of high highs and fully flat lows. Thankfully, Joe and I have been walking this month hand in hand in all ways.  And that’s exactly how we walked the streets of Las Vegas— hand in hand.  Yes, you read it right.  We took a vacation without the girls.  A gift.  Make that, a huge gift from GrampBill and Joe’s aunt Peggy.  For two days and two nights Joe and I did a little us time in the land of lights and all nighters.  I will tell you now, we did none of that.  It was two days and nights of just what we needed, us.  Our bodies and our marriage found rest.  (pause).  Which I believe, is the first step towards growth.

Tuesday evenings are my nights out with my lady loves.  We’ve been meeting together for going on 7 years.  Unbelievable, really.  In efforts to be more intentional, we have been taking turns to bring a small exercise, a prompt, something to get the inside stirrings going.  Last week, the stirrings fell on me.  With growth on my mind, I arrived with 9 terracotta pots— filled to the brim with fresh earth, 9 white garden labels, and 9 strawberry seedlings ready to take root.  Together under the porch glow of globe lights, we put our hands into terracotta held earth, planted our seedlings, and scribbled our hopes for this new season.

“a deep breath… content and rooted.”

That’s my soul talking.  This Spring, in the midst of baby tending, toy tripping chaos, sinks full of dirty dish disgustingness, and never ending laundry—I desire a fresh perspective—a reminder that I am rooted in something greater than the mundane around me.  That as my little strawberry seedling takes root, so will I.  As it sprouts out of the earth, so will I.  As its leaves grow fuller and stronger, so will I.  As its roots grow thicker and deeper, so will I.  This Spring I want to grow.

I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

Isaiah 58:11 (message)

       Naomi (2 years old):  You silly girl.  Your little personality is rearing its head, and it’s more everything.  More enthusiastic, more delightful, more helpful, more sweet, more expressive, more impatient, also more interested in having things a particular way, your way.  Hello darling two year old!  Mommy pushed the cart, Aria sat in the baby seat, and you proudly stood in the large basket while we did a little grocery shopping.  You took great delight in singing Doe A Deer, so Mommy sang along too.  You quickly looked at mommy, held your hand out and shook your head in disapproval “No Mommy. No singing Mommy.”  As you continued in your now solo, it only got louder. “LAAA a noe to fowow SOOO!!”  Even louder now, you gathered a crowd, “TEEEE a wink wiff yam and bed!!!  Now, you’re really loud…  “That will bing us back to DOE OH OH OH— DOOOE!!!!”  You did it.  You gave your first concert to the patrons of the Sprouts Deli section.  There wasn’t a single face without a smile on it.  *At Trader Joe’s you went right up to the employee stacking strawberries, and asked ever so sweetly “Oh hello!  How’s your day?”  *You love Mickey Mouse.  Even with a 104 fever, the hot dog song will bring you back to life, you’re a dancing machine, and you always invite everyone in the room to dance with you.  “Common Daddy, dance!  Common Ahya, dance!”  *When mommy leaned in to kiss you goodnight, you said “Get out of my face.”  I ran out of your room and laughed so hard!  *You baptized your stuffed Mickey Mouse in the toilet.  Yuck.  *Daddy asked you “Would you like to watch the NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball National Semifinal?”  You smiled sweetly and said “Yea.  Mickey Mouse!”  *You’re so cute when we ask you a question.  You tilt your head, hold your finger to your pursed lips, think about it, then say “Mmmm, okay!”  *You got your first bee sting!  Awful.  But honestly, you were a champ.  Maybe a few seconds of tears and then you were super brave as mommy took forever to get that stinger out.  Mommy and Daddy are so impressed by your resilience.  *You are really into your dolls, Madeline and baby.  You take them everywhere with you, like a good mommy.  *You are getting so good at your letters!  You love spotting them while we drive around town, and you ask Daddy to pray for the letters at bedtime. You pray for Y, X and P.  *Daddy and Mommy couldn’t figure out why you’d point to the tv and say “Thai gull.”  It was so odd.  We kept thinking you must have seen a Tiger.  Baffling.  Finally Mommy got it, you were saying triangle.  You’re learning your shapes sweetie!  *You finally figured out how to pedal and steer a tricycle!!  *Rough month with another ear infection & viral infection.  Doctor said the ear infection looked really painful— you just sat there smiling cheerfully.  Loves: Mickey Mouse, Doc McStuffins, singing & dancing to Doe A Deer, pretzel sticks in peanut butter with sprinkles (why not?), wearing your rain boots everywhere, riding your bike, hugging Aria until she squeals, eating popsicles.      Aria (10 months):  You are a pointing maniac!  Your desires and interests are all becoming clear.  That little finger of yours tells us what you want and where you want to go!  *You point, lean, and dive out of our arms to get what you want!  *You are funny!  You love playing games with us.  You hold a blanket/clothes/anything over your head and love dropping it in surprise, peakaboo!  You love it when we chase you!  You will dart away, and wait just around the corner.  Once you know you’ve lured us, you’re off!  Being chased gives you the giggles.  *You’re still super busy!  Getting an unblurry picture of you is impossible. *You talk!  Not words, but serious volume and dramatic inflections!  You’re trying so hard to tell us what you’re thinking!  *You love dancing!  Music grabs your attention and you’re quick to start your squat bounce!  *You loved crawling around on the sand at the 4SRanch Park, but mommy didn’t love that you kept eating the sand!  *You think it’s so funny to drop all your unwanted food off the edge of your high chair, and let it fall to the floor.  (Naomi thinks you’re hilarious.  Mommy, not so much). *You learned how to clap, and you love clapping!  *You love reading books with daddy, and you’re good at turning pages!  *Hands down, you love your bath.  You dive out of our arms as we walk up to the bath, you dive over the ledge to get yourself into the bath, you happily stand right at the spout and do squats under the waterfall!  *You are really good at playing independently!  You are fascinated with the toys and hearing the toy noises.  I’m really impressed how you’re quick to figure out what the toys do!  *You figured out how to tilt your head back and drink out of a sippy cup!  *You figured out how to climb small slides, and how to turn around and come down feet first.  You’re brilliant!  *Your hair has this adorable little curl just above your right ear!  *You’re tough!  With a sister that absolutely loves smothering you with hugs, you have quickly learned to get on your stomach— that sets you up for a solid getaway!  *You love swinging, and mommy loves pushing you in our tree swing!  *You have two teeth. You are gumming your way into adulthood.  *You met Ritz crackers and fell in love.  *Like your big sister, you had a bout with an ear infection, viral infection and a run of eczema too.  But, not to worry, we Maertzs are a strong bunch, or as your sister still says, Haertzs.

Family memories:  Auntie Malina came into town, and she loved on you girls!  I dug a serious ditch in our backyard, emphasis on serious. We hired a new gardener (this is a bigger deal than it reads).  Joe won in Vegas, and I fell in love with Lagasse’s Stadium!  Baylor made it to the Elite Eight, and I gave them a shout out over the microphone at church!  I watched their game against Kentucky under a blanket— it hurt my eyes.  Enjoyed making botched cookies in exchange for a treasured late night talk with aunt Peggy.  Joe took his Taylor Guitar to the factory— they determined the messed up finish was their fault—he lands a brand new finish!  Todd & Squish came to visit—I loved the company and genuine sharings.  Joe celebrated Sam’s 31st birthday on a north country brewery tour.  Katie Scott came over to talk about life and I sent her home with The Alchemist.  Anjuli and I took a trip to Esco’s farmer’s market and we ran into Maria.  Three adults, eight little children.  It was zone defense, wild and wonderful.  Joe gave us the best present… he built a tree fort in our backyard!  Joe and I led worship at SOMA.  Joe and his five manfriends landed a date to climb Mt Whitney!  Joe is on a mission to get lean and mean.  Fine by me.

         

My love affair with Joe.

Make that Trader Joe’s.  From the minute I walk up to TJ, I’m in love.  I completely fall for the island music hypnosis.  Grocery shopping?  No.  Tropical island off the coast of Spain?  Yes.  Naomi runs to her mini shopping cart.  I love and hate this.  It’s very cute, a darling child pushing her groceries.  It’s not so cute to chase, bend over, and and constantly steer her clear of everything (mostly other shoppers’ ankles!).  And so she charges, like a fierce rhinoceros, in search of the monkey.  Here in Escondido, he’s affectionately named Armando, which is a horrible name for a pet monkey, you agree.  I chase her past the bananas, the bread, she weaves full speed past the cheeses.  She’s no idiot.  She knows there are two hiding spots for Armando the horribly named monkey.  There he is, above the Eggs.  She is elated, and the whole store knows it.  Jumping, spinning, leaping.  JOY has landed its ship in the egg section of Trader Joe’s.  Naomi found the monkey, and from this point on, the timer is ticking.  I have very little time to throw my desperately needed food items into her cart (Joe has repeatedly opened our fridge up this week and gawked at our nothingness!).  Favorite items I can only find at Trader Joe’s: Milk Chocolate and Macadamia nut Lace cookies (these are insane), the perfect size bananas, butternut squash in a bag, brussels sprouts in a bag, garlic fries, garlic bread, roti, kettle corn and 51 bottles of sweetened condensed milk.  Yes.  Oh, this makes me giddy.  You must know this about me.  I love sweet.  I blame it on my Thai bloodline and my childhood.  Sweetened condensed milk was a staple, like bread, milk or eggs.  It drenched our tea, our pancakes, waffles, roti, fresh bread, all over our cereal, ice cream, or even stood alone… one minute in the microwave, and we had “homemade” caramel.  Trader Joe’s hit a goldmine when they put Sweetened Condensed Milk in a squeeze bottle.  My Maneevone family went berserk.  We obsessed over these treasured squeeze bottles.  Playful and sneaky, we’d steal them from each other’s pantries.  Dad bought close to a dozen one day, and after a week, he only had two left.  This week, Anjuli sent out an S.O.S. to the family “Trader Joe’s sweetened condensed milk is SEASONAL!  The stores are running out!!!”  That same day my mom sent a family friend to Vista and Oceanside with $40, frantic to buy up their remaining supply.  The family friend came home empty handed, it was too late, they were gone.  The next day I called Chula Vista, Hillcrest, La Jolla, Carmel Mountain, and finally Point Loma.  Bulls eye!!  It’s more evident than ever, Asians do not live in Point Loma— only healthy people, who don’t eat sweets.  While the rest of the county had emptied their shelves of this gold weeks ago, Point Loma held FIFTY ONE bottles.  I quickly called a friend in Point Loma (thank you Hillary!), she rushed over and bought them all.  Yes, indeed.  Perhaps a confession is needed.  My name is Wanida Maertz and I bought fifty one bottles of sweetened condensed milk from Trader Joe’s.  I probably should have asked my husband Joe, but he would have brought reason into this purchase, and I wanted to remain slightly ridiculous.  Oh the joy!! Okay, back to my love affair.  On evenings when Joe says “Go ahead, sneak out, I’ve got the girls covered, you go enjoy…” (Yes, he is as darling as he sounds)…  I will drive straight to my Spanish isle.  On this particular night, in my sweats, Uggs, and nothing hair, I slowly peruse their flowers, browse their section of premade dinners as inspiration for next week’s menu, enjoy their free samples… then what happens next is simply an encounter with angels.  This angel’s name is Tyler.  He works at my Trader Joe’s.  “Wanida!” he says, almost singing it, as angels do.  He starts blushing as he proudly introduces me to his co-workers “This is my worship leader!“  Tender.  Now I start blushing.  I don’t remember anything he said after that, and really, it doesn’t matter, because the gist of it is… his kind words brought me back to life.  (Grateful pause, here).  Only steps away, the cashier, sang like an angel too.  “I really like your hair,” she said, and asked if I could turn around so she could see the back.  Completely flattered, I might have spun around twice, had she asked.  It doesn’t take much to bring joy to this stay at home mommy who sometimes feels like life moves along just fine without her.  Obviously.  If you’re ever at the Escondido Trader Joe’s, go in the evenings, you have a good chance of running into these angels too.  You can have your own love affair with my exotic island grocer, off the coast of Spain.

          Aria (9 months):  Heavens, you’re a bundle of busy love!  We are in love your giggles, your groove and your pudgy loveable rolls!  *Close to ten months, and you finally did it.  For one 12 hour stretch, you slept the entire night, and I did too.  Hallelujah.  Let’s do this again tonight please.  *You love army crawling, you are so fast.  No wonder you don’t want to find your arms and do a normal four point crawl, you are burning ground with your army crawling speeds!  *You are exploring life upright!  You move along edges and walls with a single hand and even shock us with a quick stand alone!  *You have a reputation in the church nursery, “She’s busy!”  I nod, yes, I know this all too well.  I am constantly darting to your rescue.  You gravitate towards leaves, muddy shoes, electrical cords, hidden cashews on tan carpet, flowers, and older friend’s kid’s tiny toys.  There was a moment when Naomi couldn’t find the tiny skirt for her little panda toy (that she stole, but we’ll get to that later), I was confused, and thought she didn’t know what she was talking about.  Naomi continued to be concerned.  That’s when I heard the gagging.  I darted to your mouth.  We found the panda’s skirt.  You keep me on my toes little one!  *You love to eat, and you’re good at it!  I can’t put food on your tray fast enough.  Even with only two teeth (we’ve given up on any other teeth cutting through, ever), you’re tackling all kinds of foods.  Whatever Naomi doesn’t eat, will often end up on your tray.  You’re happy to eat it up!  You’re fabulous.  *We finally got you into a rhythm of a bedtime routine for you.  You love your baths and you love turning the pages in your books!  Lows:  *You’re in a terrible habit of 45 min naps.  *You might as well gotten the flu, your reaction to the flu vaccine gave you a 103.5 fever and a viral rash for days.  Never again.  Miserable.

       Naomi (two years old):  You are barrels of fun and a total joy!  You are expressive in all you do.  *Each morning, you, mommy and Aria have a dance party to Pandora’s Veggie Tales station.  You absolutely love dancing, and somersaults (which you’re pretty good at!).  *You say hi to everyone who passes our home.  You love waving to our mail man, our trash man, the planes, the birds, Mr. Luna the neighborhood cat, your shadow, and all the neighbors!  *In your sweet sharing spirit, you shared your crackers with Aria.  After a few very scary seconds of gagging, Aria puked them up.  Never been so happy about a puking baby.  *Naomi, you finally got her big girl bed.  You were a champ from night one.  Mommy and daddy couldn’t resist peaking at you a few times during your sweet slumbers!  When you wake up, you always cheer for yourself “Good job sleeping!” (Don’t think it’s been an easy road, there were weeks of you climbing out of your crib all night long!).  *You and daddy have this funny saying that you absolutely adore ” Hey Bee! Get out of my bonnet!”  Then all by yourself, you got creative and said “Hey Ladybug!  Get out of my bonnet!”  Daddy, liked your idea, and said Ladybug too.  You piped in, “No Ladybug, that’s mine!”  *You met the Disney channel, and you’re in love with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  *Aunt Anjuli came over in a flowy summer dress, and you smiled big calling it a “princess dress!!”  *You never say something once, that’s boring.  You like to say things over and over and over.  This morning, for example “Bowcy bowcy ball, bowcy bowcy ball…” … and then 39 more times.  *Each night daddy reads tons of books to you, and finally he turns the sound machine on, turns the mushroom night light on, puts you in your bed with your yellow blanket and milk, and says “goodnight!”  You say “Daddy daddy daddy!!!  Stay right here please, rub my back, please!”  What do you think daddy does?  Yes, he loves you very much.  *You got your pronouns down!  We were surprised (and sad) to hear our little baby perfectly ask, “Hold me please.”  *While on our front yard swing, you took your little ducky along for a ride, you told Ducky— “Hold on Nomi, I take care of you.”  Lows: Your new discovery of selective hearing.  Your ears don’t work at the mall when we say “stop running.”  *Walking back from a neighbor’s play date, you showed me your new toys.  Two tiny panda bears, stolen goods!  I’m still not sure if you understand the concept of stealing, maybe you do, and I’m the fool, but it’s definitely new territory for us.

                 

Family:  *We made it to an Indian Bistro and Phil’s BBQ for a family dinner!  Mind you, it’s at 5:15pm.  But we are out!  We successfully cleared our plates and paid for the bill in 25 mins flat, long enough for Aria and Naomi to completely demolish the floors with their rice, peas and carrots.  I am certain the restaurants are still talking about us.  *Enjoyed another midweek visit from GrampBill.  He brings fresh life into these long days and a never ending supply of energy and enthusiasm!  *Two trips to our new favorite breakfast spot: The Snooze!  (Took the girls with GrampBill, and I got some great girl time with Hill and Molls).  *Joe and I enjoy a fancy dinner at Tango.  We need time together, just us, more than ever.  *Bought my first whole chicken and brussels sprouts!  I asked Joe if he ate all his brussels: “I ate them all.  I didn’t enjoy them, I mean, I am fine with them.  But I did enjoy them in the way that it feels good to eat your veggies.”  Ohhhh Joe!  *Got myself some felt, ribbons and alligator clips on Etsy— crafting up cute little bows for the girls during short windows of me-space.  *Ama Ama is in town!  Very fun to have her around.  She adores the girls.  *There was a night when all four of us ate dinner together, and for 20 mins, no one screamed or cried— a quiet dinner where everyone ate their food without bribery or threats.  Miracle.  *Friday Night Lights ends, and another era comes to a close.  In honor of our dear friend Coach Taylor: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

Turn! Turn! Turn!

By day, he designs high flying spy planes.  Late afternoons, he flies around on squeaky courts, dunking basketballs.  By night, he’s right there with me catering to screaming requests for milk, and loving on sleepless babies.  On weekends, he shares his musical creativity on a stage with me.  For my birthday, he’s gifting me with a blog entry!  Thank you love.

  

Meet Joey Williams…

Yes, to everything there is a season.  Thank you, The Byrds, for framing that passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes as a catchy tune, a plea for world peace, and as a poetic reminder of the depth and breadth of the human experience.  Birth, death, mourning, dancing, loving, hating—that’s some serious stuff.  You ever notice how the literal four seasons are always just long enough?  Summer, fall, winter, spring—our moods are inexplicably tied to the weather, and pessimism thaws with the melting snow.  Of course, who am I kidding?  This is San Diego, where we measure the month by how far down the car window is rolled.  Let’s get back, then, to The Byrds and the Bible and the seasons of life, where the highs are higher and the lows are lower.Right now I’m digesting the Ecclesiastical prose of The Byrds as both “prophesy” and “permission”.  Let’s give credit where credit is due though: King Solomon is believed to have written Ecclesiastes and, as such, can be considered the oldest lyricist with a number one hit.  (Also giving credit: I got that fun fact from Wikipedia.)

So about that “prophesy”, I don’t intend to imply that Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 contains some cryptic revelation about the end of the world and that I can offer a scholarly and spiritual interpretation.  No, no, no, much simpler than that.  I just think that King Solomon was on to something when he made a simple observation about life: it’s a roller coaster.  Ain’t that the truth for all of us and for all of time?  Oh yeah, addendum to that, if life in general is a roller coaster, then life with kids is a smack-the-back-of-your-head-against-the-seat ride on a fighter jet, turbulence and barrel rolls included in the price of admission, thank you very much.  Another exceptional thing about the seasons in San Diego (or lack thereof) is that sometimes it feels like summer right in the middle of winter.  At some point I started to realize that the seasons of life can be just as contrasting and simultaneous.  Tragedy doesn’t necessarily disappear before we find a triumph to celebrate.          What are the ups and downs that you’re dancing and mourning your way through right now? You are an emotional being; me, not so much. I rarely cry and I sure don’t dance very well, but either way we all need time and space to express ourselves. King Solomon was granting us “permission” to feel. Now that may sound obvious and come naturally for the heart people out there; I’m a head guy, though, so I can say “oh, how exciting”, but I need more practice dropping my jaw and jumping up and down. Wanida’s the best at lighting up and letting her face do the talking, so smile Noodle, it’s your birthday.  Allow me to take a short trip down memory lane and provide my own expressive context to some of our seasons of life together.

Remember, Noodle, when our honeymoon seemed to last much longer than the ten days of that Tahitian cruise? Those first few months of marriage were the days of part time jobs and full time fun. That first season felt like hitting the highway on a perpetual road trip full of sunny days, open roads, and fresh scenery.

What about our next phase of moving into a grown up home and getting grown up jobs? In light of the number of free moments currently available to us, Noodle (next to none), I can’t imagine how we squandered our time when we weren’t playing church music on Sundays, going to weddings, or embarking on excursions to visit family or Thailand or Egypt. Those were the days that felt like running on a treadmill, where you’re always moving but never really going anywhere, and where there’s something out in front of you but you’re just not closing the distance to it.

Of course there was the perennial season of cancer. Learning how to pray without ceasing in the face of almost five years of physical ailment. My mom, the afflicted, navigated that battle with more fight and fortitude than any of us could muster. I remember how I allowed the tone of my day to be dictated by the tone of my mom’s voice when she answered the phone. I remember that you were a constant, Noodle, in that if I looked to the right or to the left, there you were by my side. That was the season of sailing on a ship in a soupy grey fog, always in search of a lighthouse and land on which to gain solid footing.

Then, Noodle, how could we ever forget (or regret) quitting our grown up jobs, packing little more than our passports and a pair of plane tickets, and setting out on a six and a half month quest of discovery. That takeoff from LAX that pointed us first toward New Zealand was transcendent, and I remember how my sense of things also managed to manifest physically in my throat. I still can’t escape the daily random flashbacks that cause me to smile and shake my head in gratitude. It was as though I had spent much of my life staring at the detail of a brushstroke, then I took a step back to behold the entire canvas, and it was beautiful.

When it comes to the current season of parenting, I have to affirm you as a splendid wife and stellar mother, Noodle. With grace, you ushered in our little ladies via two unique deliveries (a mere 17 months apart, mind you), and you’ve since complemented sleeplessness with enough ear infections to rise to the top of the strawberry flavored antibiotic black market. That’s really a pitiful summary of the past 26 months, but just know this: I believe in your full time plus overtime job as a mommy, I trust that our children will be better because of your sacrifices, and I’m thankful to God that our circumstances provide the freedom for you to stay home. Now if only we could make a narrow escape from cold and flu season and emerge with immunity on the other side of these past three months.

We can’t control the seasons or the weather, but we can choose to sing in the rain.  Happy birthday, my American Idol.

—Joe

                 

Aria Ellen Maertz (8 months), you are the best.  *You have size and serious determination, which makes for a great deal of chasing and muscles!  Putting you in your pajamas isn’t for sissies.  *You’re the fastest army crawling baby I’ve ever loved.  *You pull yourself up on everything, and you’re a show off with one handed stances.  You’re coordinated as you pull up and coordinated as you drop back down to the floor.  You scale along ledges with ease.  You discovered how to stand before you learned how to sit.  It’s fun to see you enjoy life upright.  *You have the prettiest head of hair!  *You’ll sometimes dig your face into mommy’s shoulder around new people, and peak out ever so sweetly with flirty eyes.  You’re adorable!  *When you’re really happy, your whole face goes scrunchy!  *You love mimicking us.  We growl, you growl, we make a loud noise, and you’re right there with us!  You sometimes wave bye bye with us, it’s so stinkin cute!  *You understand the games we play with you, peek a boo is your favorite!  You love being scared and surprised, it’s so funny to you!  *You love loud noises, pounding toys on the floor, the vacuum, clapping, slapping the couch.  You love loud.  *You love feeding yourself.  In fact, if mommy and daddy try to feed you, you will purse your lips and turn your head, you want to feed yourself!  You will eat anything, you lunge towards food, and you eat really fast.  *After 9 months of sleeping in a pack n play, you finally got yourself a real crib!   You went from three naps to two naps!  Hallelujah!  Lows:  Your two naps bookend Naomi’s one nap, which means, Mommy is still stuck at home a lot.  *You still struggle with sleeping at night, it’s just not your thing.  *You’re terrified of our gardener!  The sight of Rudy sent you hiding behind mommy’s leg screaming!  *You just can’t get over your ear infection, you are on your 3rd batch of antibiotics.  Ear infection hit at the same as your viral infection.  *Your newly discovered pincher fingers are discovering they can pinch mommy and sister too!  *Where are your top teeth Aria?!  Teething is ruining our lives.  *In the same week, you were called Ariel and Erica.  Loves: Loud noises, walking behind your dinosaur walker toy, eating, being scared and surprised, climbing and crawling, swinging, splashing with your sister during bath time!

               

Naomi Mariam Maertz (2 years), or as you like to say “Nomi Maram Hertz.”  When asked how old you are, you say “I two years old” and proudly hold up five fingers.  You are tons of fun.  You’re so expressive.  You are joyful and enthusiastic.  You prance through life like you’re in a sunny day, bird chirping musical.  *Your sentences and comprehension blow our minds!  We are having conversations together!  *You’re remembering everything, and surprising us with repeating things we did weeks ago!  *Your little personality is such a joy.  You’re funny, you’re creative, you’re very sweet.  *You’re also very empathetic.  If Aria cries on the floor, you lay right beside her, put your arm over her, saying “It’s okay Ahya” and cry along with her.  *You love your new glowing candle night light, spur of the moment genius by your daddy.  *As daddy was kissing you goodnight, you sweetly asked him “Sit by fire?” He completely caved, and we lucked out in a cozy snuggle session with you!  *You got your big girl molars!  You love brushing your teeth with us, and spitting is a new found skill.  *After waiting one month, your big girl bed never arrived in the mail, so we improvised and you have a Japanese style big girl futon bed!  You transitioned perfectly, staying in your bed through the night; and even enthusiastic about Aria sleeping in your crib that very night.  Lows:  *You got, yet another, double ear infection.  *Just as those infections concluded, you called us into your room at 7am to rub your back, wouldn’t even lift your head off your bed you were so sick.  You fell asleep again and didn’t wake up again until 1pm.  It was so sad to see you sick with a viral infection.  *You ran down the big hill near our home, and you ate it.  You got big raspberries on your knees, but after a quick moment of tears, you were back to your happy little self again, not another complaint about it.  *You eat when your hungry, but other than that, you will sometimes refuse to eat.  Loves:  *You love wonderpets, “Save the owl, save the bee, save the squirrel.”  *Singing “Doe a dear.”  *You love dance parties, and are fabulous at shaking your bootie.  *Being upside down!  *Helping mommy with sweeping, gardening, cooking, you love helping!  *Some of your favorite foods: chicken nuggets, yogurt, cheddar cheese, roti, peanut butter, cheerios with milk.

Joe and me: Joe, you’re loving basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays (you got yourself a new pair of BB shoes!), you also got yourself a pretty Les Paul guitar, your selling your Taylor 810ce (and saying goodbye to ten years), still flying up to Dryden on Mondays and Wednesdays (waking up at 4:45am, horrible), and you’re back into Arabic and doing good.  GrampBill came and helped us with a Flood day, and did fabulous!  I’ve been loving the sunny summer like days— planted bulbs and pretty flowers around our lamppost, and two giant seed bags of wild flowers in the backyard!  I picked up Joe’s electric guitar for the first time, it was really fun!  Naps shifted, so I’m enjoying a little extra time in the mornings/late afternoons to get out of the house with the girls.  Anthropologie goofed on it’s pricing and I came home with a $12 lamp shade!  Fell into a good rhythm of reading my bible; each reading brings clarity and the restful feeling of being anchored.  Birthday memories: Chopped my hair off, loving it.  Spent our first night away, just the two of us, for my birthday (thank you mom!).  Laughed and connected over drinks and Paradise Point’s outdoor firepit— something we haven’t been able to do in a very long time.  Joe got me a sewing machine!  Enjoyed a casual dinner at Coronado Brewery, and an amazing brunch at The Snooze in Hillcrest (wow!).  Growth Group loved on me in the Jackson’s glowing verandah, tiara included.  White’s hosted a cozy fire pit/s’mores evening of affirmations, and sneaky Joe coordinated Wanoodlations and a homemade birthday cake to celebrate!  All topped off with my sweet dad wishing me a happy 33rd birthday (I’m 34).

                        

so long, farewell…

          Sigh and goodbye, two thousand eleven is done.  We did it love, and we did it well.  (another sigh here).  This year felt like a beautiful giant sleepy messy monster.  That is exactly right, beautiful giant sleepy messy monster.  Perhaps it’s because every year always ends with December.  and December was our year’s monster.  December 4th, giving our Naomi a big girl birthday party that hoped to redeem us for last years lack of.  December 11th, we hit the Flood Christmas Concert.  Never felt so relieved as I did after the final 8pm service closed up and we drove away from church that night.  December 17th, hosted a giant surprise party to celebrate my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary!  Five days of Christmas vacation at GrampBill’s came with five nights of no shut eye (note to self: babies and vacations, a rough mix).  December 28 & 29, leading worship at a Wesleyan Conference for 450 Junior High and High School kids at SkyLine, complete with singing, dancing, and more jumping than physically possible.  All of this, December is done!  What relief and sense of accomplishment on our drive home from the conference last night.  Today, on the final day of 2011, we’re doing nothing upon nothing, and that is a beautiful thing.  I think there is something to say for making it through a full month (scratch that) most of this two thousand eleven year— on such little sleep, little time for us, little time for any real normalcy and yet, look back with heads high—  be proud of how we tackled the year’s incredible events (buying our first home and in debt until 2041), proud of what we created (a second human being, thank you), proud of how we walked through this year—-together.  It feels like we really fought for us this year, fought to keep the us alive, fought to keep our little moments sacred, fought to keep our spent evenings as engaged as possible.  Marriage is hard.  Marriage with little ones, so hard.  Thank you for fighting for me through this year.  Thank you for fighting for us.  Tonight, I’m raising a glass to us.  Party of two, party for two.  Unless, of course, the girls want to party it up at midnight too.  They’re good at that.

                  Naomi (2 years old!)— happy sweet girl, you are so much fun!  Daddy and I are amazed at you, and all that you’re learning and saying!  You are speaking in complete sentences (some more comprehensible than others)!  *A favorite line came at 3:30am, when daddy was putting the lid on your sippy cup, you made it very clear “I DO IT ALL BY MYSELF!!”  Had we not been in total amazement of your perfectly clear sentence, we’d probably be correcting your tone (or yelling, really), give us a break, we’re still new at this parenting thing.  *You got your purple cast off, and instead of being frightened of the loud saw, you threw your hands into the air and cheered with glee!  *You still love singing Good Shepard, Happy Birthday and your favorite Jingle Bells!  Full songs memorized! (not in tune or exact pronunciation, but you’ve got the words and timing down!)  *You started pushing the pedals on your tricycle!  *Your sweet chubby-love cheeks jiggle when you run.  *You have an opinion these days—you want your blanket to lay a certain way, you want to climb into your carseat “by myself,” you want to wear specific shoes, you want to close your door, no one else.  *You’ve started to memorize your night time books with Daddy, saying the words on the next page before the page is turned!  *You love pushing Trader Joe’s baby shopping carts around!  You push so confidently and you’re so proud to be mommy’s helper!  *You run your fingers slowly along the edge of your yellow blanket, it brings you comfort.  *You absolutely love dancing.  You put one foot in front of the other, and gallop around!  Lows: *On the morning of your 2nd birthday, you slipped on a pillow and crashed your face into the fireplace ledge.  Bruised up face and purple cast on your leg, you were quite a sight at your birthday party.  *You learned how to climb out of your crib (with your cast on), and it has changed everything.  *Mommy tried to potty train you, after you slipped in your own pee and started rolling around in it, this horrible idea lasted 3 hours.  *Your new found freedom from your crib has you storming into your baby sisters room in the middle of the night!  *You might have been the reason Ama’s and Papa’s Christmas tree went crashing to the ground at Maneevone Family Christmas.  Loves:  “Naomi sandwich” (Mommy and Daddy hug with you squashed in between!), running full speed into our arms for a hug!, flying in daddy’s arms, sitting in Aria’s high chair to eat, Jingle Bells, singing, two foot galloping dance, spinning yourself dizzy, ring around the rosey, talking like a dinosaur, rocking in the rocking chair, Patty Cake, rubber ducky in the shower, WonderPets, shoes, stickers, and airplanes.

                Aria (7 months)— you are a busy baby girl, full of scrunchy face smiles, and such a joy!  When did you get to be 7 months already?  *You’re so involved, so interested, so engaged. You watch everything so intently. *When we laugh, you laugh!  When we make a funny noise, you try to join in!  You’re totally aware and want to be a part of the action.  *You crawl to the table, and with your entire body, you watch our spoons as they move from our plates to our mouths.  You’re doing everything but saying “Feed me.”  You love eating, you eat fast and you’ve got the swallow part down.  *You’re strong, coordinated and can hold your own with your sister.  *You crawl fast!  *You pull yourself up to the couch, fall to your butt and pull yourself back up again!  *Daddy and I have caught you swaying back and forth on your hands and knees.  *You and your sister fall into serious giggle fits.  Mommy thinks these moments are from heaven.  *You’re fantastic at holding yourself up in a standing position along the couch, even taking little steps and scaling the couch.  Lows:  *You go to sleep easily, but do not stay asleep well.  Mommy is starting to think she’ll never sleep again.  You finally slept through the night (7pm-5am!), the very next day, your sister learned to crawl out her crib, and she barged into your room, only to disrupt that long sleep.  It’s never been the same since.  You sleep like a newborn, waking up at 11pm, 3am, 5:45am and finally 8am.  *You got your second ear infection (in both ears), explaining two days/nights of 103 fevers.  *Digging your fingernails into Mommy’s collarbones, and clawing at mommy’s chest.  *The rosiest, chapped cheeks!  *You ate a dried up leaf at church, and gagged on it.   Loves: You absolutely love to lay on your side and waving your free hand around in the air, grasping any toy and pounding it noisily onto the hard floors, slapping your hand on any noisy surface (or mommy’s face), you love being held, chomping on anything, lunging out of our arms, chasing your sister, flying in daddy’s arms, electrical outlets, eating, diving off couches head first.

         

Thank the Lord this month is over.

                      There are hard months, and there are ridiculous months.  This month was both.  Sick kids got the best of us.  Runny noses, viral infections, scary high fevers, vaccinations, ear infections, spiral fractures, a teething baby, our fully decorated Christmas tree crashing to the ground with guests over and a pesky little mouse running around our home.  My nerves couldn’t handle the stress and lack of sleep.  That’s when the rash formed and shingles got added to the mix.  Shingles?  Yes, shingles.  When things get ugly, I get super thankful over the smallest glimmer of goodness.  And that’s what sums up this november month, I am thankful.  Thank the Lord, Joe had extended time off for Thanksgiving, and GrampBill was in town for a week to save this sinking household.  Thank the Lord for kind family and friends in moments of need (and sweet surprises from Amazon.com!).  Thank the Lord our trials are temporary.  Thank the Lord for medicine and healing in the form of adorable purple casts.  Thank the Lord for netflix, front yard swings, chocolate tea parties and caterpillars to keep little ones entertained.  Thank the Lord for a precious little niece bringing pure sweetness in the midst of chaos (welcome Noelle Hope Paschall!).  Thank the Lord for reasons to laugh— tying our Christmas tree to the top of our car (by wrapping the twine through rolled down windows) only to discover we tied our car doors shut!  Thank the Lord for grace-giving mantras— “you can be an amazing parent tomorrow”— like when I want Naomi to eat her chicken so badly I bribe her with chocolate, but still give her the chocolate anyways.  Thank the Lord for sweet little girls even when they’re sicky sad and limping with a purple cast.  Thank the Lord for a husband that handles middle of the night milk requests (even when his alarm clock reads 4:45am) and comes home after his long days with a giant heart of enthusiasm— willing to tackle play time, bedtime and me time.  I am truly blessed, thank you Lord.

Naomi, you’re 23 months and you’re just wonderful!  You’re so very joyful and expressive!  Each day your little eyes of wonder and your sweet little sentences make my heart soar.  You say everything, repeat everything and just love talking!  (we love it too).  You comprehend so much!  *Mommy asked you to get Aria the pink purse to play with— you went to your toy tub and under all the piled toys you found the pink purse and gave it to Aria to play with!  You learned to count to twenty! (I will say that 13-16 sound awfully similar, but mommy doesn’t care, you still chimed in on 17 loud and clear!).  We got ourselves a genius.  *You had your shoes on the wrong feet, daddy said “You have them backwards, put them on the other foot.”  One by one, we watched you take each shoe off, and put them on the correct feet, in total awe.  *You love to say “Heh-woe” (hello!) How ah you?” (with perfect inflection!)  *When you walked out of the doctor’s office in your new purple cast, you could have been in a parade— you waved and greeted everyone, “Hehwoe, how ah you?”  Everyone stopped their work to come and see you!  Not a single complaint about your cast!  *You have a heart to help others.  You love helping with anything!  *You’re very compassionate.  To crying sister: “Ahya, you okay?  Wha happen? Eh okay (gentle head rub) Eh okay Ahya” (and you’ll bring her a toy to chomp on).  Your sweetness melts mommy.  *You enjoyed your first big screen movie The Muppets!  If it weren’t for the 25 mins of previews, I’d like to believe you and your cousins would have made it to the end, but that long entry ramp was just too fun to run up and down, and your boy cousins were fun to chase!  Loves:  Dancing, washing hands with soap, tea parties, singing Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday, calling anyone on mommy’s phone (which you do without mommy knowing!), playing with your little sister “Ahh-ya,” chocolate tea, bath in the “beh bafh” (big bath), swinging in Aria’s swing, always shouting “highya” (higher!), listening/singing Veggie Tales “Good Shepherd!”  Lows:  You bit your little sister’s finger! (merely out of curiosity), your exploding diaper at Thanksgiving— made mommy have to throw away your new, now completely filthy, tights.

   

Aria, you’re six months old and have two little teeth!!  Hooray!  You’re our darling Aria.  You love to smile, and be involved in things.  You’re so aware and very curious.  You watch everything so intently.  You want to be a part of the action.  You move and interact older than your little age, I often forget you’re just six months.  You’re very coordinated, and your moves get you places!  You’re army crawling all over the floor these days, and you’re fast!  If I turn my head too long, you’re off eating someone’s shoes (your favorite choice of mischief) or under the furniture!  You got your paws on the crib railing, so we finally dropped you out of your bassinet.  You are super good at standing and supporting your own weight.  Loves:  Sucking on your two fingers (upside-down).  Holding toys in your hand and banging them loudly on the wood floors!  Being in your jumper (thank you future boyfriend Charlie Floeter!)  Eating!  You love eating, and chomping on anything.  You’re in the stage of putting everything in your mouth.  Babbling & laughing, your sister and cousins bring this out the best!  Lows:  You hate hate it when we wipe your nose.  You are growing through clothes faster than mommy can keep them organized!  You are still waking up twice a night, it’s taking a toll on mommy and daddy (10:30pm and 3:30am).  You think electrical outlets are fascinating.  You cry when mommy leaves the room (I won’t lie, it’s kind of wonderful to know you miss me).

       

today marks seven.

Today marks seven.  Seven years today Joe and I got hitched!  It was a gorgeous crispy sunny day.  We tied the knot on his 26th birthday, and Halloween, no less.  God knows I was nervous about possible goblins crashing our ceremony, but I sure wasn’t nervous about the “till death do us part” part.  Marrying Joe was easy, it was the most confident I’d ever been about making a decision, I knew it was right.  You’re my Mr Right.  In the last seven years your presence has only made life so much sweeter.  Really, it’s been a dream with you Joe.  You’re incredibly giving.  You’re really cleaver, your humor is what caught my attention in the first place.  Your prayers have always melted my heart.  Creative and clear communication.  You work so hard, without complaint.  You’re more dedicated to dreams and personal growth than anyone I know.  You’re committed to building an adventure for us and our family.  God created you with a gift in arts and creativity, and a master in numbers and mechanics.  Everyone knows if there’s a problem, ask Joe, he’ll have a solution or two.  You’re brilliant.  Of course, if you could only find faster internet for my dad’s house out in the sticks, you’d be a genius (winks).  Above all, you’re so very kind, one of my most favorite qualities about you.  I said it seven years ago when we made a video and played it at our wedding, today the words I said then still stand true today “thank you for being my husband!”  Happy Annibirthoween love.  Let’s do more life together…

    

Naomi 22 months.

Naomi love, you continue to be such a little sweetheart!  *Mommy started vacuuming, and you saw Aria get super upset.  Mommy watched you rush to her on the floor, sweetly pat her head, and over and over you told her “eh okay Ahya, eh okay” (It’s okay Aria, it’s okay) and brought her some of her baby toys (my heart completely melted, you’re a sweetie Naomi!).  *You learned so many words this month!  You are talking!  Out of no where, you up and counted to TEN!!  You’re a little smarty!  *You asked mommy to sing to you for the first time!  And then you asked mommy to stop singing “no mommy, no ging mommy.”  *It was a joy dancing with you and daddy in the moonlight in our backyard.  *You enjoyed your first, and not last, Happy Meal.  *You learned the word “abeh” (obey).  You love going down the names “abeh Mommy” “abeh Dada” “abeh Ama”… and on…  you love saying everyone’s name!  Daddy really likes hearing you do roll call on who’s “away” (awake).  ”Dada away” “Mommy away” “Baby away” and so on…  *You learned to grab our hands and drag us to where you want us by saying “cah peas” (come please), it’s really too cute.  *You’re so expressive!  Daddy taught you how to make a sad face, an angry face, and a happy face.  And you’re really good at all three on command.  *As Daddy puts it, “You are hot and heavy into negotiations!”  You’ll do almost anything for a marshmallow these days.  *Mommy was looking at her phone, you swatted the phone away and told it “no gangku,” as you clearly wanted mommy’s full attention.  *You love to make everyone pretend they’re asleep, and then you yell “Away!” (Awake) and giggle your pants off to see everyone “awake” from their pretend slumber, you think it’s so funny.  *When mommy comes to get you in the morning, you don’t want to get out of your crib, you want us to give you books.  We’ll give you books, and you’re content to stay in your crib and “read” your books out loud.  *You met Dora, and fell in love.

      

loves:  Baby Signing Time, vol 3 (you love it when the bird flies away in the wind!), marshmallows, reading books in the tent with daddy, you love washing your hands with soap, “meeeba” (peanut butter, that one took me a long time to figure out), Cheerios with milk! (you finally got the hang of utensils!), wearing your sunglasses, and playing with your cousins!  lows:  *You like to lay on your sister.  *You happily give yourself Time Outs; love standing with your nose in the corner.  *You snagged a glass ornament at Pier1, dropped it, and it shattered everywhere (I felt like that mom).  *There is a song on the VeggieTales SockDrawer CD that you hate.  You hear two seconds of that song, and you start screaming in the car.  *There was a moment at Spouts when mommy wasn’t paying attention and you ran up to mommy delighted to show me your cookie!  You ripped open a case of cookies, and started eating them in the store!  Then I wasn’t sure if I should be proud of you, or upset, as you started sharing your stolen cookies with other kids at the store!

Aria 5 months.

Aria, my darling, you slept seven hours straight this month!  In fact, mommy thinks your just fabulous these days.  You go to bed at 7pm, quick wake up at 10:30pm and another at about 4am, and then finally awake at 7am.  It’s lovely!  Mommy can’t cuddle with you enough!  You’ve got the best chunky rolls all over your arms, belly and legs!  You smile so sweetly Aria!  You are so easy to love.  Flying in your daddy’s arms and chasing your big sister is the best! (drooling a huge gummy smile the whole way).  You’ve grown so much this past month, still super strong.  I can hold you on my hip now, lovely.  You really love laying on your back and gobbling up your toes!  You could chew on your toes all day long!  You shocked daddy & mommy and started army crawling!  (Mommy is still in shock about this).  After five months of sleeping all nestled up in our closet, mommy finally moved you into your own room.  It wasn’t easy, but it was time.  You have finally fallen into a consistent napping schedule.  Up for 90 mins, down for 90 mins… you do this all day long.  We can run out and do quick errands now (this is huge, thank you)!   Your sister adores you, she always asks “da baby awake? Ahya awake?”  Or when you’re awake she says in a very high pitched motherly way “Hi baby!  Hi baby” you perk up and offer a huge gummy grin.  She loves laying next to you, and sometimes on top of you (which we are working on).  She loves giving you toys, and she “reading” to you in her tent.  You had your first taste of frosting!  That’s right, you grabbed Naomi’s chocolate covered marshmallow (with sprinkles!) out of your sister’s hand, and stuffed it right into your mouth!  Silly girl.  We fed you your first solids, you loved it.

              loves:  *You love being held up high and rocked side to side! (nothing makes you laugh more!)  *You love it when mommy and daddy give you kisses in your neck! (you laugh and laugh!)  lows:  *You do not like loud noises, like a vacuum.  *However, you’re okay making super loud screams.  Yes, you scream now.  It’s somewhere between alarming, frightening and painful.  *You have a knack of pooping at night, requiring a lot of concentration & coordination of mommy and daddy in the wee hours of the morning.

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Family memories:  GrampBill comes to visit before his big retirement from Nestle!  Family trip to Bates Nut Farm.  Mommy gets gutsy and goes to the Safari Park with the two girls!  Dan and Leonie’s Carlsbad Beach BBQ and bonfire.  Noodle has a Bonfire at Crown Point with her Life Group girls.  Joe celebrates his 33rd birthday with White, Paschall, Heinrichs, Woodall, Torres and Lehman in high fashion at Stone Brewery (new bags for cornhole!).  Maertzs host Paschall’s 5th annual Pumpkin carving extravaganza (Alien blastoff pumpkin takes 2nd place, as always).  Wanida sings at Erase Poverty’s Launch Party!  Wanida enjoys joining up with Big Brothers Big Sister’s Gourmet Dinner, and an old fashioned singsong after party at the piano.  Emily and Jaylene come over for the chilly rainy day and we make sorbet!  Joe enters the world of home repairs, and discovers a good lesson in electric shock while updating the home’s ceiling fans!  Wanida finally hangs up some pictures on the newly painted walls, it only took 7 months.  We finished off the garage with proper electrical and drywall.  Attend EFCC’s wild Fall Festival (serious shock into what’s in store for the next 10 years or so!)  Wanida learns lessons in humility, having to stop in the middle of a song at Flood’s 9am service— and start it again, because she started singing it in the wrong key (nice) and she got sandpaper happy— destroyed the subway sign she made for the girl’s bathroom— total disaster.  Marriage “anecdote” group meet up at Torres’.  Annibirthoween: Wanida gifts Joe new basketball & everyday shoes.  Joe gifts Wanida a promised picnic table for our backyard, from scratch! (ooooo la la!!)  Date lunch at BJ’s for their prized rootbeer.  Evening of the 31st, San Diego Zoo and Flood’s Halloween Festival, Naomi’s a Monkey, Aria’s a Ladybug.  Big date night out: Island Prime, amazing.