Letter to Aliyah: Happy 2nd Birthday from Daddy

I'm very late in posting this (which is also why I'm back-dating it) but still wanted to do so anyway. After I had written my birthday letter to Aliyah, I thought it would be a great idea to have Sebastian write one as well. My hope is that every year until she's 18, we will both write her a letter. 

It was interesting for me to read what Sebastian wrote, because I realized as I was reading his letter that how we remember milestones can really differ from person to person. 

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Happy 2nd birthday, Princess!

I can't believe it's been two years. Put better, I can't believe it's been ONLY two years.

Where to begin? The last year has been amazing, but it didn't really start so. I missed your first birthday because I had already driven to Arizona. I had just taken my promotion and was so worried I would be one of those Dads who wasn't around - I even told your Mom all about that fear. I did Skype your birthday party (you had it at your Godmother's house.)

I flew up the next weekend, picked up you and your Mom and we drove for two days down California and into the desert. We won't talk about the first hotel we tried to stay at in Palm Springs, but it was quite a trip. You behaved so well. We stopped at a few truck stops to watch the big 18-wheelers go by as we ate lunch. I must say that through all the moves and travel, you've been quite the sport. I can only hope you hold onto this quality as you grow.

We spent two weeks in a nice condo in North Scottsdale, right beside a beautiful open desert field and the airport. The sunsets were as beautiful as the weather was hot. But neither the heat nor the sunsets compared in intensity to the sheer joy you brought your mother and I when you started talking steps.

You had been standing for so long, just building confidence. And then you did it. On a wood floor in the middle of the condo, you took a step... then fell. And from there on out, our days were set - I came home and we got to work! Mom and I would sit on the floor across from each other and you would take 1... then 2... then 4, 5, 6 steps. Before we knew it, you were standing on your own and walking across rooms.

Settling into our apartment in Tempe was tough. We lived in a 2 story, fairly cramped and bland apartment for 8 months before we bought our house last April. You adjusted to daycare pretty well.

How you loved Mrs. Olga, your older Russian daycare teacher. And she loved you right back. When you first started talking, Olga was a very popular word! By the time we left that daycare, Olga cried. I believed her when she said you were special. The emotion was absolutely authentic, to the point where my emotions surprised me.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's step back...

We worked hard on lots of your learning fundamentals. ABCs came, and numbers a few months later. In between we did shapes, animals and you started needing your nighttime story time. And let's be fair - colors were very difficult for you, especially green and red. You get them now... most of the time.

At some point in Tempe, you fell in love with two things; two very big things. Trucks and Airplanes. You could spot them from so far away. Every now and then you would scream, "AIRPLANE!", and Mom and I would look into the sky. We wouldn't see anything and you'd keep yelling, and I'm telling you, each and every time, there was an airplane - a pixel in the sky, and eagle-eye Aliyah saw it!

Trucks had a similar impact. So did any type of animal. So did any type of anything really. It wasn't that you were curious (all toddlers are), but the exuberance you brought to those moments of discovery. Soon enough, you'd say "What that!?" and we'd say "cactus". And you'd remember. Just like that. Then you'd remind us that you knew by shouting "Cactus!" every time we passed one (which, in Arizona, is quite often.)

Mom and I were pretty good about the rules we set for you. We didn't want you watching alot of TV and did pretty good up until about 18 months. You loved your ABC puppies, Cars (Ligh'ping go fast!) and Dora. At this point, it's pretty much ‘all Dora, all the time’ when the TV's on.

You've fallen in love with Legos, choose a different fruit to love just about every week, and seem to have a knack for most everything you try. You’re still a bit fussy when it comes time to go to bed. Not to say that you’re not good at going into your crib. At least 5 times a night you call for your mother or I to come in for some different reason – to get your Lightning McQueen, or for water, or a book. Right now we’re simply rocking you to a calm state each night and you fall asleep.

You’re absolutely in love with the outdoors. You have been since you were a baby. The first thing that ever fascinated you were trees. Any type of tree you saw, we would stop so you could take a closer look. What’s funny about that is trees are the source of your greatest current fear.

Leaves! They stop you cold. In the pool or on a walkway, you’re never more distressed than when a leaf stands between you and your door. Your mother and I aren’t too worried. I doubt you’re leaphobia will persist.

I’m missing a lot of good memories, I know, but if your 2nd year of life leaves me with one clear memory - one I will always remember with absolute glee - it was your singing. Oh, how you sang. In the car on the way home from school, we sing each and everyday (in between games of “where’s Aliyah”). Here is a small sample of your current favorites

• ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’
• ‘ABCs’
•  ‘Happy Birthday to You’
•  ‘Yellow Submarine’ (which you learned simply from me. I don’t know that you’ve ever heard the Beatles do it)
• ‘You Make me Feel’ so… La La La La La.
• ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’
•  ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ (You’ve replaced wheels and wipers with cows and pigs)
•  Any song from Dora
•  ‘If You’re Happy and you Know It’
•  ‘Please and Thank You’

And that isn’t even half of them. Your Mom used to say, “I sing because I’m happy.” And if that’s true, you’re one happy girl. Like all parents, that’s all we want.

I know you’re little, but I’m so proud of you; the way you grow, the way you behave, the way you sing and smile. You are a gift to us, each and everyday. Even when you’re trouble, it’s hard for me to see anything but a beautiful, vibrant little girl who loves her parents and the world around her.

Do me one favor, would you? Please keep asking “What’s that?” Keep asking “Oh, no! What’s happened Daddy?” I can’t wait to answer your questions as you come to find out who you are, and your wonderful place in this world.

Oh, and you’ve got a cannon for an arm. I’ve never seen a little girl who can throw a ball quite like you!

With all the love I have,

Your Daddy,

Sebastian

Letter to Aliyah: Happy 2nd Birthday from Mommy

Dear Aliyah,

Happy 2nd birthday to my sweet girl!



What a difference a year makes. Every day you amaze me with yet another new thing that you can do. I love watching you grow and discover things. You're so full of love, laughter and excitement for the things that are around you. You love your Daddy and me with such a strong fervor that when in our presence, you never want to let us out of your sight. While this makes it hard to get some things done or to leave you with a baby-sitter, this love that you have for us is such a special gift and one that we will always be grateful for as your parents.



The last 12 months have brought many big changes for you that you have handled well for someone so young. A year ago tomorrow, you moved from the only home you knew in San Jose, CA to the beautiful, yet vastly different climate of the desert of Arizona. Unaware at the time, you had to say good-bye to your first friends and your first daycare teachers in San Jose. Once in Tempe, it took you about a month to adjust to your new daycare teachers, but once you did, you fell deeply in love with Ms. Debbie, Ms. Alisha and Ms. Olga. Every day on the way home from daycare, you would ask about Ms. Debbie and your best friend Ethan. Seven months later, we moved you again, but this time to your first house. Like the last time, it took awhile for you to adjust (we realize now that change is tricky for you...much like it is for your Mom.), but finally this past month we've heard you talk about your new teachers and your new friends, Carter and Amelie. Such a relief for your Mom and Dad to hear!



You love your new house. From the moment you walked in, you would run through the halls and kitchen laughing. To this day you still do, and you love to have me chase you when it's time to put on your pajamas. Most nights around 7:30, I can find you running away from me naked. On the weekends, you corral your Daddy and I into your room--one of your favorite spaces--and sit us down for "circle time" and coloring.



At seventeen months you were able to say your ABC's, and a few weeks later, you were counting to 10. Around twenty months you could count to 20 and at twenty-two months you could count intermittently to 10 in German. You started brushing your teeth (mostly) by yourself around twenty-two months. You love to take charge (a trait I believe you got from your Daddy), and always let us know when you like or dislike something. Some of the most memorable phrases you've learned this year are, "Not nice," "Just walk away," "Oh my goodness", "I love you!" "Look at all the mountains (or birds, or trees.)", "I tooted" and "Lipening go fast!". You love to sing and for awhile, I think there was barely a moment in the day when you weren't belting out a tune.



You've recently become a pickier eater, but when you like something, you will eat huge portions of it. Your tastes seem to go in phases. One week you love broccoli, another week you love strawberries, another yogurt. And then suddenly you want nothing to do with a certain food, only to have it become your favorite the following week. This can make meal-times tricky, but Mom and Dad are slowly trying to teach you to, "Just try it." Sometimes this works, most times it doesn't.



You are one extremely happy and vocal girl, but if something doesn't go your way, you have mastered the art of throwing a temper tantrum. Sometimes it's a long, loud wail, other times you fall to the floor with the grace and drama of a well-paid actress. In the past couple of months, you've been introduced to short time-outs and as independent as you are, you always obey when you're told to sit down for a time out.



Bedtime has been a complete change this past year. You use to go to bed with a bottle around 8 and never made a peep until morning. You've always been such a good sleeper and still are once you actually fall asleep. We managed to finally wean you from the only bottles you took before your nap and bedtime just a couple of weeks ago, which was longer than I wanted you to have a bottle, but it made you fall asleep so much easier! As you've become older you're realizing your time is much better used to explore and have fun, rather than sleep, and with this comes nighttime calls from you every 10 minutes or so for about an hour after we put your to bed at 8. It's typical childhood requests, like a book to read in your crib, or some more water in your sippy cup, or keeping the door open or asking to be tucked in and kissed again. Your Dad and I are slowly learning how to be more firm with you and gradually the time it's taking you to wind down is dwindling. You still sleep soundly through the night, but where you once woke up around 8, you now wake up anywhere from 6:30am-7:00am. Your naps are becoming shorter as well, sometimes only being an hour to an hour and a half.



Aliyah, I'm so excited to see what the next year will hold for you. Your exuberance for little things like taking walks and watching the birds are what make you such a joy to be around. Thank you for making your Daddy and I so happy with your presence. I love you so much. You are such a beautiful little girl and a true blessing to have in our family.



Happy Birthday my sweet daughter. I'll forever love and be smitten with you.

Love,

Mommy

Lightning McQueen

Aliyah's passions seem to change monthly. This month it's Cars--specifically Lightning McQueen. Cars is the first, full-length movie we let her watch and she loved it. Her favorite part is making me skip through to each racing scene and exclaiming, "Lipening go fast!" or "Go Lipening go!"



A few weeks back, we were in Target and she spotted some pool toys of the Cars characters. I knew she was only attracted to the fact that Lightning McQueen was in the package so in order to divert her attention to a cheaper option, I took her to the toy aisle and found the cheapest toy car of Lightning McQueen I could find. It was a huge hit with Aliyah, especially since it had a button on the top that, when pressed, Lightning's tongue would pop out. Unfortunately, somewhere in the midst of taking it everywhere for the next couple of weeks, I misplaced it. When I went back to Target a few nights ago, the same toy was nowhere to be found so I settled on the next cheapest option, which had Lightning McQueen (no tongue popping feature though) and another new character from the Cars 2 movie.



Who is this second character? I didn't know at the time, but when she asked I told her it was the Italian Car. She stumbled on saying that for a couple of days, but now that I researched what that character's name actually is (Francesco for anyone who is wondering), she corrects me by saying, "No, Mommy, that's the Italian Car."



Aliyah's shoes have been giving her a blister on her right, big toe for some reason, but lucky for her they make Cars band-aids.



Daddy helped put together a little race course for the two cars this evening and she got a big kick out of it.



We figured that we should watch the second movie just so she could see this Italian Car in action. The movie is terrible. Half-way though Sebastian and I looked at one another and asked sheepishly, "How do you like the movie so far?" No response from either of us. By this time, Aliyah had also become bored and was trying to balance herself between the couch and the ottoman, and we decided to throw in the towel with this Pixar flick. Sort of disappointing. I didn't think Pixar had it in them to make that bad of a movie. Apologies to Pixar, I still love you and will drool every time I see a sequence of storyboards or hear about your newest movie. In fact, I'm already looking forward to Monster's University and The Good Dinosaur set to come out in the next few years.



For now, I'm more than happy to sit back and watch the first Cars movie (over and over and over), which is a classic in my mind. To enjoy the sentimental value I know it will hold for me years from now when I look inside a box of Aliyah's old toys and find these cars is something I'll gladly take.

Montezuma Peak

This past weekend we met up with a good friend of Sebastian's who has been in the Tuscon area for a couple of weeks training for the National Reserves. I may be wrong on that exact title...but I know it's something close. Jon was in the Army for about 4 years and is currently working in the D.C. area. He and Sebastian have been friends since high school and was also one of our groomsmen in our wedding.

When Jon invited us to come down and visit, we didn't hesitate. We all arrived on Saturday late afternoon and stayed the night in Tuscon. Then got up early on Sunday and made our way to the quaint, historic town of Bisbee, Arizona. With a toddler and two men in tow, I couldn't really do much shopping, but  I caught glimpses of so many neat shops that I would love to make the trip down there again just to look around some more.

We had breakfast at a great little place called The Breakfast Club. The service was up to par with Minnesota nice and the food was pretty tasty too.

From there Jon then took us to Montezuma Peak. It was absolutely breathtaking.





This time we took along the hiking backpack for Aliyah, which turned out to be a good idea. When Jon told us about the hike up to the top of peak I wasn't expecting the it to be so steep. I'm sure that making it to the top would have been much more time-consuming had we not Aliyah strapped to Sebastian's back. And even though Aliyah did whine a bit while in there, the view at the top was well, well worth it. 





Miles and miles of beautiful land. Some of it the U.S. and some of it Mexico. Simply stunning.



This image below fascinates me because in the middle of the photo, the straight black line is actually the immigration wall on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. It seemed a bit surreal that we were so close to such a controversial piece of land and to realize and even wonder with dismay how something so beautiful could be such a cause of turmoil for so many people. 

If there is one thing I have learned from living in Arizona a short while, it's that this state does not disappoint when it comes to nature.

Our Kitchen

This is my kitchen on its best behavior. In other words, I cleaned it in anticipation of this post.

We love this kitchen. We designed and picked everything out ourselves and this room is a true labor of love on Sebastian's part. While we brought in contractors for some items like electrical and some installation of a few of the appliances, for the most part, this kitchen was put together by Sebastian. 

There are still many little things I want to do like adding some shelves and artwork to the bare walls, bringing in some sort of moulding, adding a backsplash and painting and re-staining the movable kitchen island in the center. The rest will come gradually, I know, and I love that we can take our time. For now, it's pretty much complete and we are enjoying the fact that this is the nicest kitchen that Sebastian and I have lived in since being together. 

The farmhouse sink above is probably one of my favorite things in the kitchen. The knobs and pulls come a close second. I was able to find them online for a steal and the wheat motif on the knobs reminds me of my childhood days on the farm. 

I'm also enjoying adding in the little details like showcasing my late Grandma Kramer's drying towels, among other things.

Details like this that let me know that we are building a home-base that Aliyah and any future sibling(s) will enjoy and create memories for years to come