Tuesday, December 06, 2016

Christmas Letter

I was going to type out a nice Christmas letter to accompany the picture this year (don't worry, they will be in the mail as soon as I stop procrastinating.)  But I decided instead to just do a blog post.  Saving trees or something.  Probably just laziness.  And money saving.  Which reminds me, if you don't receive a Christmas picture from us and you thought you might or should, I apologize.  They are expensive and we are really working on budgeting.  So we are sending out way less.  In fact, I started with 50, and quickly realized we know too many people, so I ordered 25 more.  Which is still less than past years.   You are loved and cared for even if you didn't get a Christmas picture from our frugal family this year.
Anyway, on to the letter.

This fall has flown by so fast, I can hardly believe it.  The mild weather lingered sweetly.  My sweet baby has zipped by milestones.  The cold has officially settled in.  The snow flurries fall.  The radiators are eminating warmth.

Pause.  Asher shut himself in the sunroom for the second time in 1 minute (fascination with closing doors, you see), and is squawking loudly so I must rescue him if I want to concentrate on this.

Unpause.  I have much joy and anticipation for the Christmas season.  I guess technically the season is upon us.  Our season has so many parts to it, sometimes it feels like it just keeps going and going!  Christmas parties, festive baking, yummy fragrant soups, snowfall, twinkly lights, birthday celebrations and the much anticipated trip to California.

It is the first time in 9 years that all of us, our spouses and our kids will be in California for Christmas. Ben and I are going for almost 2 weeks and we are just going to enjoy the downtime, and some family adventures to my most favorite California places.

News...Most noteably, Asher turned 1 in October.  He is such a joy.  And I don't say that tritely.  We have been so blessed to have a funny, loving, cuddly, well-sleeping, super-eating, sociable, healthy boy.  Honestly, I feel guilty when other moms in my mom group have said, "Ugh, my baby sleeps horrible and won't eat a thing!  what about you, Suzy?"  And I have to tell them in a hopefully humble (but a teensy bit proud) way that Asher is actually sleeping 12.5 hours a night and eats anything and everything in sight.  And I'm not sure how to do that, because inevitably it is received with subtle eye-rolls and an unspoken "your day is coming..."  And Ben and I have accepted the fact that the Good Lord has eased us gently into parenting with the possibility of greater challenges in future children or future stages with Asher.

I digress.  Back to Asher and his cuteness.  He is mimicking noises and his favorite (first?) word is,"tchuck" (Truck) followed by a great "Brrrrrrrrummmm" sound effect.  He will tear the bookcase apart looking for his Little Blue Truck book and then proceed to beg you to read it 298173 times, in a row.

He truly does eat everything, and we have to cut him off most mealtimes, because of the shocking amount of food he stuffs in his mouth and barely chews.  He stuffs whole pickles into his mouth, never chews anything remotely round or soft and takes gargantuan bites of anything and sobs dramatically if you try to take some of it out  *sigh*  He is teething majorly, with molars popping up left and right.  Poor buddy has woken up sobbing in the middle of the night, and we assume those pearly whites are the culprits.  On the bright side, more molars mean more chewing (win for mom) and probably more food (win for Asher).

We just realized that a year has past since we found out our rented duplex was sold and we had to move into Ben's parent's house.  We are so grateful to live in our own home again.  It has treated us well, and we are enjoying the adventure that is home ownership.  This includes slowly replacing our drafty original windows with new ones.  I have reluctantly let go of the wooden charm with the weighted rope pulley system and succumbed to something more energy efficient.  Apparently it helps up the value if we want to resell in the future.  It isn't fun to be the first person to change them since 1923.  I kind of feel like I'm betraying the house.  Sorry, enough with the drama.  I'm sure I'll appreciate warmer bedrooms and a lower gas bill.

Ben's job is going well. He and his team are making some really good changes and decisions for the greenhouse and its future.  It is so nice to see him come home from work excited about progress, which is a change from past years around this time.  He has jumped into homeownership eagerly and with lots of vision and thought (like the rest of his life).  It is so great having a husband who has a variety of gifts from budgeting our finances to planting flower and garden beds, from fixing foundation leaks to re-seeding our backyard.  They may seem like simple things, but I am so grateful he does them.

As for me personally...well I really can't complain.  I stay home with Asher, invest in various relationships that I have time for now, work on my pyrography (wood burning) hobby, and generally find other things to fill my time.  Winter is always tough as it gets dark so early and is often overcast.  I am working on staying motivated to get out of the house at least once a day, even if it is just to walk up the block with kid and dog.  Thankfully, I have an entertaining boy who is fantastic company.  When he isn't teething, that is. Then I count down the minutes until Ben comes home (which always drives away the tears and brings smiles...for both of us, lets be honest).  God has been teaching me a lot of lessons this year and has brought some unique opportunities for service and ministry.

Overall, 2016 has been a fantastic year of one adventure after another!  We lay in bed at night and marvel at where God has brought us.  We stand in awe of his faithfulness, despite the unknowns.  We rest in the knowledge that Asher can face uncertain days because He lives.

I will close with the words to one of my favorite Christmas carols, "The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...fall on your knees...In his name all oppression shall cease.  Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise His holy Name."
(O Holy Night)

Love,
Ben, Suzy & Asher


Tuesday, October 04, 2016

1 Year Down!

1 Year ago today, we welcomed our sweet Asher into the world.  There were so many feelings and emotions going on, it is hard to even remember or put words on them all.  I was so sore and exhausted, and yet my heart was filled with so much joy that my baby was FINALLY here.  Honestly, it was a little surreal.  After reading so many birth stories, I could hardly believe that this woman in a hospital bed, holding a new wrinkly baby was actually me.





It has been a fantastic year.  Everything I imagined and nothing I could have dreamed of.  Funny how it can be both.  I always knew I wanted to be a mom.  Always knew there would be good days and bad.  But I never knew how much I could love another little human.  I have been surprised at how much patience I have.  and how little.  I never knew I could actually enjoy waking up in the wee hours of the morning...and that the first night of sleeping all the way through would be such a welcome relief.  I knew that I would love the "firsts."  But never knew how proud I would be of every milestone...almost taking it as a personal victory that my kid achieved it.   I knew pieces would go differently than I imagined, but I didn't think that letting my baby self-soothe would be as hard for me as it was.  I knew nursing was important to me, but I didn't expect the sadness of realizing I had just nursed him for the last time.  I knew that sleeping babies were cute, but never realized how much that sleeping babies are the epitome of peace.

I have learned that I am both "a natural" and a novice.  I am easily delighted and easily frustrated.  Some days I can't get enough of him, and some days we are both annoyed with each other by noon.  I have learned that it is still in Asher's best interest to put Ben and I's relationship first.  I have learned that I am more of a structured person than I realized.  But most of all, I have learned that His grace is sufficient...and necessary for each day.

Now here we are, and I can hardly believe this big guy is mine!

Some of Asher's 12 month stats:
*Walking all over the place
*Making silly jokes and has the cheesiest sense of humor (gets that from his daddy ;)
*Makes friends with everyone, waving and saying "Hi!" to whoever will listen.
*Will use anything as a phone
*20+ pounds
*5 teeth, and more under the surface ready to pop through!


In addition to Asher turning one, we just took a trip to California...and what fun it was!


Asher completely and totally fascinated by the airplanes! 


Even better when Daddy holds him up to see!



Airplane selfie! 


Got to the beach just at sunset!  Love that golden light!


Oh California, how I've missed your beach sunsets. 



*love*


Mimi and Papa time! 


First toes-in-the-Pacific experience...he LOVED it!



Family


Loved getting to experience this with him and witness his utter delight!



Two of my other favorite littles at the LA county fair!


my boys


FINALLY got some Dole Whip...and it was a definite hit with Ash!



Ferris wheel with Joe and Heather after Mimi and Papa took Asher home for the night!


Over a decade ago, I wrote down my favorite "date night" ideas...LA County Fair at night on the Ferris Wheel was on that list.  Finally got that dream fulfilled! 


It's not a fair trip without some Footsie Wootsie action!


What fun!


"Sorry, it's not very good latte art..."  
Um, seriously!?  it is beautiful latte art, seeing as how it took you 3.7 seconds.
(Heather's yummy and pretty fall latte she made me!)


Back to the beach for an official play day!
This kid loved the sand...


Treats from Papa!


Discovering the boogie boards! 


Playing with Karlina and Emery



SPAGHETTI!  It was definitely a favorite. 


Ender playing dress up with Asher...Notice the cat-ears...


Fro-yo out with lots of cousins!


Four Generations! 
Grammy Lois, my dad, me and Asher! 


BIRTHDAY DONUT!!! he was really excited. 



We had a fantastic trip to CA.  It seems like Asher really was able to enjoy the people and activities more than ever before.  Looking forward to more trips and memories in the future! 

Au Revoir! 


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

The Lull of Summer

...well a lull in the blogging, that is.  Life has been full of social obligations, road trips, play dates and plenty of other things to occupy our time.  
I think part of the reason I don't keep up my blog as much is because I used to actually have somewhat interesting things to write about.  I was able to articulate things I was learning with much more suavity.   And I'll be honest, ever since I stopped working, I feel as if my days are much the same and the lessons I learn and things I think about get all mixed in with the laundry, diapers and the 394th round of Itsy Bitsy Spider (complete with complex hand motions).  Plus, I know my family away from MN likes to see Asher pictures and updates, so I tend to just focus on that.  But today I shall do a two-fold post.  Because I actually do have things I'm thinking about that are a little different than Huggies vs. Target brand or the looming prospect of weaning. 

So first I'll share, then I'll give you the pictures. 

The last week or so, I have had some conversations with people in which I have mentioned things my parents told me growing up.  That is not entirely abnormal, because my parents are wise, and I respect them a lot.  But I felt that I was saying "My mom/dad always used to say..." many more times than I usually do for a one-week period.  

Maybe this is because conversation topics have coincidentally turned to things that my parents happened to share a lot about... But I also think there may be something else going on here.  I have been at this mom thing for almost a year now.  And anyone who knows me knows that I am a think-aheader.  I like to think about and plan what position Ben and I will take on certain parenting topics.  How we will have the conversations with our kids.  Anticipate the questions our kids might have for us, etc...  And I realize more and more that I can't plan for every variable.  I don't know our kids' personalities yet.  I don't even know if there will be kidS (plural).  *sigh*  I want to control too much.  And I know too little.  So I subscribe to my parents' wisdom.  

Interestingly, most of the things I've quoted my parents on recently has been either straight Scripture, or very God-centered wisdom, stemming from truths in Scripture.  Reflecting on this has been good for me.  First, it reminds me that even though my parents aren't perfect, I still hold respect for them.  But the ways I respect them and look up to them are rooted in this knowledge that they spoke from a Biblical and truth-permeated foundation.  Second, it further solidifies my hope that as long as I keep building my Biblical and truth-permeated foundation, I don't have to stress so much about the specifics of what I (we) will say to our kids growing up.  

Don't get me wrong, I'll probably still over think these things and try to be as prepared as possible...But at least I can acknowledge that I won't have it all figured out before we get there.  We'll cross those bridges when we get to them.  We won't put the cart before the horse.  We won't put all our eggs in one basket.  Okay, maybe that last one doesn't fit, but you catch my drift.  

Ben too, will benefit from this subtle-ish change in my thinking.  Because I'm pretty sure if he was physically capable of rolling his eyes, he would have a severe case of eye-roll-aritis for how many times I start a conversation, "So I've been thinking about when the kids are older and..."  


Okay, that is about as much depth as I can handle without beginning to tread water...and I'm kind of out of shape...

Pictures!

Love his opened-mouth grin.  



As he has gotten more adventurous, he does things like climb into the laundry basket.   What I don't have, is a picture of the process...head first.


Because nothing says a good time like digging in the office trash. 



Water boy



Who knew that chairs could be so entertaining.


GOON FACE!  



Favorite trick...SO BIG!!  





Most of his food ends up there...Sorry it looks gross.  but it always amazes me how much ends up UNDER him...



Bear exhibit at the zoo.  Auntie Rose volunteered at the MN Zoo this summer and we were able to enjoy it with Grandma Dill for free! 



went to visit Aunt Amy, Uncle Johnny and Cousins Reese and Tommy
Poor Asher wasn't sure what to make of all the sibling-ness at first.  But he quickly learned.  Baby grabs your paci, grab theirs back, it's only fair.  A baby starts bopping you on the head with a hairbrush, get the heck out of there.  You see a baby playing with any thing other than what you have, crawl as fast as you can and grab it out of their hands because suddenly it is your favorite toy in all the universe.  Baby drops their food on the floor, you be a nice cousin and eat it for them. 
Overall they did quite well together, and it was fun to spend time with family. 







While there, Asher also learned to stand on his own for longer than 10 seconds!  look how determined he is!


Visiting Uncle Johnny at work


Once he got it, he didn't want to stop doing it...


The other things cousins are good for is sharing all the germs.  The day we got home, Amy let me know her kiddos weren't feeling good, and then Asher got hit pretty hard.   

Fever is no fun to deal with, but he was super snuggly and so I enjoyed that time with my boy. 



Started a new hobby!  Pyrography.  Fire writing...or wood burning. Lots of fun!


Perfect day at the dog park.  It was so idyllic.
Love my family




More cousin fun!  Hanging with Hanna at the Dakota County Fair! 


And Maria too!


Auntie Claire braved the corn pit with Asher.  Got really dusty and had to prevent Asher from making the corn his lunch.  He could fist that stuff and get a handful in his mouth before you could blink an eye!  




Family fun at the fair! 



LOVE. those eyes. 


More fun with Hanna


Asher reaching out to the "horse" at the Children's Museum


Playing in the water with second-cousin Theo



So not great light...but still...fun times riding the tractor with Uncle Joe outside the Machine Shed in Iowa.


Life is anything but dull with this munchkin around!  Ben and I find ourselves laughing at him over the silly stuff he does.  Can't wait til he starts talking and turns those babbles into real words!  


Au revoir!