Year in Review

Dear, sweet kiddos. 2011 was our first full year of being a family of four. So many milestones. So many memories. So much fun. Let's try to do a bit of reviewing:

January 2011

Millie turned 2 months old. Mama went back to work and Asher began spending one morning a week at Miss Christy's. Asher, you loved spending time at Miss Christy's (and still do), especially with your special friend Penelope being there. You created your very first drawing one morning while there. It melted our hearts.

February

February was filled with lots of indoor activites, such as cuddling, snuggling, and cuddling some more...

March

March tends to be the month when we start to get a hope of spring, but end up with rain and snow. And some more snow. In light of that, we scored a family pass to Imagination Station though Groupon. The pictures speak for themselves.

April

We put our house up on the market. For the third time. As happy as we were to welcome you into our home Sissy, things were getting a little cramped, especially in the bedroom that housed 3 of the 4 of us. April was also the month that the two of you debuted your own line of greeting cards...

May

"Watch Papa ball". That was your quote of the summer once Papa began his softball league, Asher. What a loyal little fan you were, buddy. And Sissy, you turned 6 months in May. We introduced you to oatmeal and you appeared to like it quite well.

June

June was a big month for us kiddos. The same day as Aunt Lucy's shower, I got a call that we were going to receive an offer on our house. Praise God! This is what we had been waiting for! Sure enough, a few days later we got the offer, accepted it, and the house hunting began. A week after that, we made an offer on what is now our new house and the rest is history. We had 1 month to pack. Not to mention all the other red tape and craziness that comes with buying, selling and moving! Nevertheless, we managed to squeeze in plenty of time outside. Especially in the pool!

July

Hot. Humid. Hot and humid. We had family portraits taken on July 3rd in the thick July heat. And then we moved on another thick, sultry day at the end of the month. Thanks to a group of 20-some amazing friends, we got the job done in record time. Asher, you were a great sport spending a lot of time at friends' houses while Mama packed during Sissy's nap times. You even spent your first weekend away from us at Nana's. Of course you loved it! Never looked back. Although all you wanted to eat was cereal and milk when you came back. Ahhh... the un-doing of grandma's house...

August

Unpacking and playing around at the new house, camping and a 2nd birthday day for Mister Asher. That about sums up August.

September

Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucy got married on Labor Day weekend. It was truly a family affair as each one of us was in the wedding! Then, on Labor Day, we attended a block party in the new neighborhood. At the end of the month, Papa turned 34.

October

The newly weds (Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucy) came to visit us for some fall fun. At the end of the month Asher strutted a hand-me-down tiger costume and Millie looked precious in a baby giraffe costume while we handed out pretzels and candy to Trick-or-Treaters. Asher, you even got in on the fun yourself imploring one neighbor, after giving you one handful of goodies, to give you the other handful. "Other one" with a resolute stare sent their porch howling with laughter. However, you couldn't have cared less about actually eating the candy, which made Mama and Papa happy. We just handed most of it back out anyway :)

November

November was full of milestones. Millie turned 1, Mama turned 30, and Asher got his first haircut. Another big event was BG's holiday parade. Ever since we went to BGSU's Homecoming parade, you have talked and asked about parades quite often, quite randomly, our dear Asher. For the holiday parade, Asher rode on Papa's back while Millie snuggled in Mama's jacket. Asher, you are enamored with marching bands, so you throughly enjoyed the parade, to say the least.

December

We had a great time opening up our home for some larger gatherings this month. We started off with an International Potluck and just before Christmas about 70 friends, neighbors and co-workers came through for our Winter Solstice party. What fun and all the glory to God who has provided us with this wonderful home and the means to open its doors to others. We also did a lot of talking about Baby Jesus. With all the excitement about Christmas coming from all directions, we want you guys, Asher and Amelia, to rejoice and celebrate in Emmanuel. God with us. Our celebrations began with a trip to Cleveland for an early Christmas with Nana, Bill, Joe, Lucy, Kristen and Brian. On Christmas Eve we went to Brookside's gathering in Prout Chapel and then drove around and looked at Christmas lights. It was past your bedtimes, and I don't think you could see out the window Millie, but you both hung in there. Toward the end of our drive Asher babbled something like, "Mmmm Hmm Mmmm Nimmm Critmas lights Mmmm Hmmmm Nimm Hmmm lights...". A dual combination of excitement and exhaustion. For Christmas dinner we went to Great Grandma and Grandpa Dailey's in Van Wert, then continued south to Grandpa Tom and Grandma Debbie's in Columbus later that night. We spent a few days in Coloumbus, ending our time at COSI. And we have one more Christmas to celebrate when Grandpa Dietz and Grandma Judy come here! :)

Swords in your stockings outside your bedroom

doors on Christmas morning

Fun for everyone at COSI!

With so much water fun around, sometimes

its just best to go shirtless.

Hey, if I were a 2 year-old boy, I'd do it.

Asher and Ameila-

We look forward to each new day we get to spend with you. It is the most amazing thing to watch you transform before our eyes and we thank the Lord that He has placed each of you in our care. May you grow to know him and understand his great love for you, and love others the way he has shown us. God has crafted a beautiful plan for your lives, and we are immeasurably blessed to watch and help guide those plans with each passing year. Here's to two thousand and twelve. We love you more than you can know.

-Mama and Papa

These Moments

I hold so dear the little moments. Like this morning when a BG City truck came by to trim some branches off a neighbor's tree. What an event it is for us to watch the man get lifted up into the tree and saw off branches that plummeted to the ground below. Then the other worker tossed them in the wood chipper and we watch the branches get sucked in and spat out as mulch. We talked all about the process, describing what was happening, who was doing what, how they were doing it... Love these moments.

Story Time

You and I had a great little story time this morning Asher. Your sissy went down for a nap and I asked if you'd like to go read some books. "Yeah!" you replied enthusiastically and we headed for the couch. "Mama read book. Sit Mama lap. Ashy big boy," you announced as you climbed up on to the couch. You plopped in my lap and I covered us with a blanket. "Cuddle Mama. Cozy..." you said. "Yes buddy. It IS cozy." One of Mama's favorite things in the world is getting cuddly and cozy with her kiddos. Here is what we read together:

What Kind of Kiss?

Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings

Snuggle Puppy

Cars 2- Taking the Lead

Dr. Seuss's ABC- An Amazing Alphabet Book

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?

Please Baby, Please

Kiss Kiss (you wanted to read this one twice. I think you like getting smooches each time I read the "kiss kiss" part)

Out of the mouth of a 2 year-old

Words. You have a lot of them Asher! Your vocabulary began exploding around 18 months and just hasn't quit. You amaze Papa and I each day with the new sentences you put together. But tonight, you said the sweetest of all things...

Sissy was reclined in her rocker drinking her bottle. You were circling around her. Admiring her almost. "Sissy... Sissy..." Then you bent down to kiss her head. "Ya-ov (Love) you Sissy..." This was the first time you've told someone "Love you" on your own. Usually you say it back to us or when we prompt you to do so: "Tell Nana you love her". Papa and I looked and each other and melted. So sweet. You are a tender heart Asher dear. Filled with love and kindness for others. A sensitive little soul.

Just for fun, here are some of your other phrases as of late:

I did it!

I can reach it!

I help you.

Ashy play _(fill-in-the-blank)_.

Mama/Papa hold you? (your way of asking to be held)

Sissy hurt ears. (when Sissy screams)

More _(type of food)_ please Mama/Papa!

Thank you Mama/Papa!

I get it! (before you run to get something)

Try again? (when you want to do more of something)

Ashy get dizzy. (after spinning around)

Bless you _(fill-in-the-name)_! (after someone sneezes or coughs)

Wow! Coo shirt! (holding up various tee-shirts when you help me put them in the washer)

Ready. Set. Go!

Mama make coffee. (as Mama grinds coffee beans)

Somebody's barking. (when you hear a dog outside)

Go eat time!

Watch Ashy take big bite.

Action words you like to say and do the movement for:

Shake

Sway

Freeze

Crawl

Run

Jump

Spin

Dance

Kick

You also know lots of signs for the words you say. The list goes on. Keep up the good work buddy!

Too Long Too Fast

Sweet babies, Asher and Amelia. It's been too long since Papa and I have written. SO much has happened. So much has changed. Including you guys! My how you've changed...

We moved to a new home where you each have your very own rooms and a playroom downstairs. There is even a big closet for all of your toys, puzzles, art supplies-you name it! The Lord has blessed us greatly kiddos. We live one block from City Park and we are also very close to the library. You both love to climb up and down the steps. Papa and I found you at the top of them one evening. You raced up the steps while we were cleaning up after dinner. Thank God that neither one of you fell backwards, especially you, Millie! You are still so tiny and fragile. We are trying to be better about locking the safety gates these days...

Here are some pictures we took over the summer:

Pool time!

Last few days playing at the old house!

Grandpa Dietz's pontoon boat

A little too much excitement...

Asher's 2nd birthday. We stopped to get ice cream after the

hot air balloon festival in Findlay.

Playing at the new house!

The deck is a perfect spot for the ever-loved water table.

Just hanging out at our new place :)

Asher's first 5k

I'm a little behind on posting this since the race took place in April; but on a wet rainy chilly morning Asher and Papa went out for a little run. Some friends had mentioned they were running a 5k on campus the day before and since Mama and Millie were out of town I thought it would be a good father-son bonding experience.

So I borrowed a jogging stroller, loaded you up in the morning, and ran to campus. There I stretched and wiped your drippy nose until race time. We started with almost 100 other runners and tried very hard not to trip anyone. As the race went on and we passed runners they could hardly believe it!

We finished with a respectable 23:35 time and most importantly Papa didn't tip you over or trip anyone else. It was quite a bit of work pushing an extra 35-40 pounds but well worth. I think your favorite part was the after race snacks where you devoured grapes and cheese.

As we were enjoying the snacks a man came up and asked me if your stroller was mechanized and self-propelled. I assured him I did the pushing the whole 3.1 miles. He just shook his head..."When you passed me I tried to catch up but just couldn't do it" and he walked away a little disappointed. Apparently he would have felt better about himself if he thought the stroller was automatic!

Way to go buddy. Great first race; you even surprised some people on the way. I can't wait to see if there are any more races in your future or not.

The Sickies

Today you are sick Asher. You are down for your second nap on this cold, wet, dreary, fighting-the-spring March afternoon. A slimey snail trail perpetually seeps out of your nose. You cough and cry out in the middle of the night, but you don't want to be picked up out of your crib. You just lie there, paci in mouth, crying and hollering. Like some wild animal. You just hold right on to that paci though. It remains in your mouth as you cough and scream. Paci skills like you've had since you were a bitty.

I have to admit though, there's part of me that likes this time of not-quite-wellness. Many Mamas and Papas can attest to the same thing: the cuddle factor. You little ones are quite content to sit still, recline and snuggle even, when the sickies come.

Your sissy took a nice long nap and you and I took a nice long cuddle. First actual movie you've watched, Cars. One of Pixar's best. And I think you liked it. You certainly didn't attest. "Car. Car." you pointed. "Mater" you recognized from your book.

I hope you get better soon my sticky-nosed one.

Imagination Station

Boy did we have a fun day today, kiddos. Papa took the past few days off to get some things done around the house and to hang out with us. Then, he had the great idea of going to the Imagination Station today. This was our first "field trip" as a family. You guys aren't even old enough for them to charge admission on you, nor will you have any recollection of it whatsoever, so Mama will try her best to freeze this day in time for you...

Peekin' out the tree house

Driving an ambulence with Papa

Water works!

Doing some administrative tasks at the hospital...

Mama's got hops!

Sissy just took in the sights, quietly looking around the whole time.

Wind tunnel
Hurricane simulator
Fireman on the move
Papa and I not only had a great time with you kids, but being kids ourselves. In fact, I had a harder time keeping track of Papa than I did you, Asher! I would turn around and he'd be out of sight, discovering exhibit after exhibit.

Asher, you are a joy to watch. It is a pure, concentrated joy to watch you soak everything in like a sponge. And right now buddy, you answer yes or "yesh" really, to just about anything (except for things you really don't like or want to do. Like diaper changes. Or vegetables). So when asked if you had fun today, you so confidently responded a loud and proud, "Yesh!".

Can't wait for more days like this one. Love you guys!