Baby's 2nd Christmas

Well, we not only survived our road trip to South Florida, we had a GREAT time!! To all you naysayers out there (uh, me included) Marek was a charm in the car. Between naps, he would watch his videos, read books, listen to music, or eat snacks. There were very few times where he fussed to get out...most of the stops that we made were for Matt to take a pee (too much coffee) or for meal breaks. We broke up out trip to North Carolina into two days which was perfect though we got preeeetty antsy toward the end. We stayed with our friends, Maureen and Tom, in North Carolina where we got to tour Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and spend some much needed time with one of Momma's best friends. They also introduced us to the Xbox Kinect which we now have sitting happily in our newly "remodeled" basement :)

After a couple of days stretching our legs, we got back on the road again to our final destination, Dania Beach, Florida. Matt had a week long class to take at his union school while Marek and I hung out together at the condo, pool, and beach. We were just a short drive from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami and I thought that I would be out and about everyday exploring but Marek came down with some sort of virus (I'm convinced it's from a truck stop baby changing station) and had pink eye and just in general did not feel well for the first day or two. So, we met Daddy for lunch breaks, took strolls around the campus, and swam in the pool. I also brought Marek to the beach a couple of times and he LOVED it! He must take after his Daddy because I am not fond of the ocean beach. Sand gets in my eyes, my hair gets all frizzy, the waves make me really dizzy and forget about going in the water...scared the crud out of me! I sure did have fun watching Marek though! He was a little apprehensive at first but by the second day, he was trying to crawl down to the water by himself. Actually, he was sliding backwards on his tummy through the sand and it was so cute! I would have captured it on video if I wasn't such a neurotic freak about the water ;)










I am so glad that I went with Matt to his class. We ran in to all sorts of acquaintances from his sailing years including the captain of the last ship he was on! It was great to talk to them and to some other family members and hear what they all do in such a diverse industry. Perhaps if we lived on the coast we would come across more merchant marines, but here in the midwest Matt is the only one I know! It was good to be in the company of people who live the same lifestyle that we choose to live and who understand what it is like to be away for long periods of time. It helped me to piece some thing together that Matt (admittedly) is not very good at explaining. It made me proud to be the wife of a Merchant Marine and excited to see him advance in his career!

We will be making more trips down to Florida while Matt continues to take classes to upgrade his license. Next time I would like to bring a playmate for me and Marek to go exploring with while Matt is in class. I think I know where I can find one of those!

The week that we returned was quite busy preparing for Christmas and cleaning the house. We had Matt's family over to our house for Christmas Eve eve which was really fun. It was our first time hosting a holiday with them and Matt and I LOVE to entertain guest and cook a killer meal. The next day we headed to MN to celebrate with my family which was wonderful as usual. Marek really enjoyed playing (and watching in awe of) all of his cousins. He loves kids so much and I hate that he doesn't have more playmates around here. We have been going to the library every week though and he latches on to whatever kids he can find there. He chases them through the book isles until they spot him and can't resist to play with the cute baby :) We visited Santa and Mrs. Claus at the library and Marek was not happy that we took him away from the kids to sit on a creepy guy's lap, not even when Momma sat with him. Unfortunately, we missed seeing Papa Claus this year but that's probably a good thing.



Matt and I really spoiled each other this Christmas sort of as a make up from last year when we were brand new parents and too distracted for gifts. I think our favorite gift though was the finished "birthday quilt" that Matt received from his mom. Matt's dad had some quilting friends help finish quilts that Barb was in the process of making when she passed away. Matt picked it up from the farm and ever since he brought it home, Marek has been rolling around on it. Ever since he was born he has been fascinated by the patterns in the quilts we have hanging around the house.




Marek cashed out pretty well too and has been having fun being at home with his puppy and new toys. We managed to all get a pretty nasty flu bug after Christmas which we are still recovering from. With our vacation and Christmas taking up so much time and energy this month, I am just now getting a taste of what it is like to be a homemaker. I admit I'm a little freaked about Matt leaving again (we are not quite sure when that will be) and feeling trapped inside the house all winter. This is probably not the best time of year for me to make this change and I think it will be hard to bundle up and take our walks when it gets really bitter cold a little later in the winter. I love our town and I've found a few things to keep Marek and I busy during the weeks but we may get a little lonely and will be up for guests anytime someone wants to venture into our neck of the woods.

Marek is growing and picking up on things like crazy lately and Matt and I are having a lot of fun watching it happen. The other day we were watching him play in the hallway from his room and Matt looked at him and said, "he looks like a little boy!" In so many ways he is still my little baby, but he is really transitioning into a toddler right now. He says and shakes his head "no" and certainly understand the meaning of the word. He is showing his temper and frustration and it makes me happy even though it's a little sassy. He is learning how to do things on his own like use a spoon and get down from the couch and he copies a lot of things that we do, especially sounds we make though he still doesn't say a lot of words. I'll leave you with a video I captured tonight of his "sneeze"...if you can stand the cuteness.



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Dig In!

A little late but still worth it, I think :)

What a Year!

We are down in sunny Florida right now and with the craziness of finishing up work, packing, etc. last week, I didn't get a chance to post this before we left. We had a great Thanksgiving with both of our families and our sweet little baby celebrated his first birthday! Auntie Nina gave him his birthday present early and he has been practicing walking all over the house. It is very odd for me to watch my baby walking but I better get used to it! He has taken a handful of steps on his own this week. On his actual birthday we had some family time and after a long day of running errands, we kept him up past bedtime to give him his birthday cupcake (I'll upload the video soon...too cute).









The last couple of weeks at work were fun every morning when I opened up my inbox...

"I can only say I am very happy for you that you can make this choice in life. These are the truly important things in life, our children and family. I wish you all the best, and thank you for all your assistance along the way!

That's great Anna, there really is no job more important than raising your children.
Thank You for the GREAT SERVICE.  You will be missed.

I am confident the transition will go smoothly.  More importantly, I am very happy and excited that you will be at home with your baby.  I was fortunate to be home with my two daughters and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  Enjoy this time.  My daughters are 22 and 27!! 

Awesome for you! Congratulations on the move to focus on the family. Fantastic. Babies are the best aren't they?

That is sad to hear! We understand the importance of family...we have 4 kids ourselves! Thanks for all your help over the last 3-4 years!

Just a quick note wishing you and your family all the best! It has been nice working with you over the years. I hope your new chapter is all you want it to be.
Bummer to hear you're leaving, but wishing you well in focusing on the important stuff! 

Thanks for all your guidance and help. God bless you and yours in your next chapter :)

Thanks Anna.  On to bigger and better things!   Been a pleasure working with you...best of luck (and congratulations!)

It has been great working you!  All the best to you and your family.  Cafe imports is our number one partner because of service like yours!  

Thanks for your email, Anna. Enjoy your time in the home and with baby  precious time.  I'm sure you'll still drink really good coffee.  We wish you all the best. 

May you be blessed as you step out into this new season of life. I have always appreciated your helpful attitude and cheerful voice. I am sure you will be missed around the office...but I am excited for you and your baby to spend more time together.

Bittersweet indeed, I'm sure, but always encouraging to hear of people wanting to take care in raising their kids, so proud of you. Has always been a pleasure dealing with you and I also hope you get to pursue you pottery vision in the future!

Anna!  I’m so happy for you, but so sad for me :( My monitor’s not large enough to write the big boo-hoo I’m feeling right now. You will be sorely missed!  That’s not to say someone can’t fill your shoes, but I especially enjoyed the working relationship you and I had.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the kind assistance you give me over the last few years.

Great decision that you will never regret.  Thanks for all your help this past year as we have learned the roasting business.

We will miss you but wish you the best in life !! Thanks for the wonderful service you provided :)

Hi Anna, I want to wish you all the best. Children grow up quick, so enjoy your time with them. Thanks for all the help in bean selection and advice you gave me this year. You have helped grow my business; and you will be greatly missed. If you wish, please pass this email onto your manager. Your knowledge and customer service was excellent. Saddened with the news but thrilled for you and the next chapter in life. Thanks again for all the TLC you sent my way.

This makes me and Geoff very sad, we really loved working with you and appreciated very much how you looked out for those extra special lots for us.  I can completely understand however and wish you and your family the best!  If you are ever in the area please give us a shout and we would love to host you and your family for lunch at our cafe!

Farewell, I was always very pleased with your customer service.

Dear Anna, Despite the fact that we were a small small customer, we wanted to say "Thank You" from the bottom of our hearts.  As you well know, coffee is a demanding and competitive business and customers frequently ask for more than you can give. So, thank you for putting up with our requests and getting us samples and getting our coffees out so quickly.  We enjoyed doing business with you.  Most importantly, congratulations on your decision to move on and spend time with your family.  Its a great decision.  We wish you well in whatever you pursue.  Thanks Anna!

Hi Anna, Sorry to hear you are leaving but I wish you the best. Raising a baby is a full time job and I am glad you are able to devote all your time to it. Thanks for all you assistance the past few months.

Congratulations on leaving your position at Café Imports for the most important job in the world, that being a Mom.  You will never regret the time you spend with your children.  Seeing them take their first steps, say their first words, etc.  Seeing your kids grow up is something you can never get back if you miss it. Have a wonderful holiday season, and thank you so much for the wonderful dedicated person you are.

Blessings with the growth of your family ahead. Please know you'll be missed! I love your priorities, however, and wish you all the best in your new role!"

My last day of work was surprisingly less emotional than I thought it would be. I didn't cry nor did I feel like crying. I felt, more than anything, a strong reinforcement that this is the right decision. I will miss some of the the amazing people that have become like family over the past four years but I am confident that the friendships will last. I will not miss the day-to-day like I thought I would. I am not very good with change and with big changes like this I usually feel a sense of desperation like I just want everything to go back to the way it was. Over a period of two and a half months, I've eased out of my position which has helped with the transition and more than anything I feel a sense of anxiousness to move on with my life and excitement for the future. It has hit me a few times on this road trip; pangs of happiness and a feeling of, "is this really real?" It is a weird feeling when you actually get something that you've always wanted. I am so thankful for Matt for giving me this opportunity. That makes me cry.

Maker

Two weeks from today I will be unemployed.

Throughout the process of coming to the decision of quitting my job, one thought kept going through my head; I am a maker, not a salesman! I'm happiest when I can make things. Things like art and meals and making our house a home. I read a book by Dr. Laura praising stay-at-home-moms and in it she calls out the difference between the terminology "SAHM" and "homemaker." I most certainly do not plan on staying-at-home all the time and there is so much more that goes into homemaking than taking care of the babes! My baby and I are going to do lots of exploring and learning. I'm looking forward to taking him to the library, daily Mass, and play dates. I hope to find some place that we can volunteer in town to help the long winter and Daddy's absence pass more quickly. I have things that need to get done around the house like finish painting two rooms and print off pictures of our wedding and our baby. When he's sleeping, I am anxious to pick up some arts and crafts again. I want to take some time to "just" be Marek's mom but I have also been thinking A LOT about the things that I could do. I know that my pottery is in our future but I'm not prepared to start that now. In the meantime, the right thing is somewhere close but I haven't quite found it yet. I would really love to create an inventory of "things" and perhaps sell them at craft shows or online. My sister-in-law taught me how to crochet last weekend and I instantly fell in love. Maybe it just feels good to be doing something crafty again, but something about crocheting has really energized me. I finished a scarf and have been looking at all sorts of ideas and patterns online and can't wait to go to the folk art store for supplies and start a new project. I also want to do a couple of drawings that I've had in mind for quite some time. When it comes to making art, I really need to feel internally motivated or I can't produce for crud. I am certainly motivated right now!

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving with our families this weekend and I can hardly wait to decorate for Christmas which we didn't do last year. I'm excited to bust out all of the decorations and memories from our winter wedding and hopefully Matt will still be home for Christmas! Thank you, God, for all of the wonderful blessings in our lives this year. Thank you for our beautiful baby, for Cafe Imports, for Matt's job, for our home, our family, our friends and the countless small blessings you give us every day.

Launching Fun

Aren't Daddy's hilarious?

Welcome Home Daddy

Marek and I had a lot of fun events planned this fall while waiting for Daddy to get home and although we wished he could have been there with us, it helped the time pass a liiiiittle more quickly.

The annual Oktoberfest celebration was the best with Marek this year. He was so busy playing with all the kids and exploring life in the country. Grandma bought him a set of balls at the dollar store which have been the biggest hit for weeks. We're finding that the cheapest "toys" make the most fun!



We haven't fully baby proofed the house yet and so we spend most of the day chasing Marek down and getting him out of sticky situations. (Check out these curls!).







Matt missed the family vacation to Bayfield Apple Fest by two days! Marek and I drove up north with Papa Jim to stay at a house on Lake Superior for the weekend. The weather was fantastic (even a little warm for my liking) and we had such a nice time relaxing with Matt's family. Marek doesn't do so well eating and sleeping outside of his home turf but really it doesn't bother him at all, just makes Momma extra anxious. We are planning a cross-country trip in December and hoping that in two months, Marek will do better in the car than he does now. He will be 1 after all!





















October 10th couldn't have come soon enough. The last 2.7 months were difficult, slow-moving, emotional, and jam-packed. I really needed my partner with me and Marek really missed his Daddy. Everyone was curious to know how Marek would react to Matt the first time he saw him. Well, we left for the airport early in the morning and I had to wake Marek up when we got there. We only waited a few minutes before I spotted Matt (a skinny, hairy Matt) across the hallway. I didn't want to let him go but he wanted to give his little buddy some kisses and check out how much he has grown. Both of them we a little weirded out. Marek was acting curious and Matt was surprised at how Marek's growth in real life was a lot different than what he saw in the pictures and videos that I sent.











It took a day of teaching Matt how to take care of a 10-month-old but after that, things were pretty much back to normal. It is so incredibly wonderful to have my family all together again. Matt really came home at the best time. It seems like Marek has really grown up just in the last few weeks. Maybe that's because Daddy is home! He is pointing to things and copying what we do and making so many connections in his little brain. He and Daddy are best buddies and he's constantly looking around corners and behind doors for Daddy, just like he did before he left. I have not heard one single "Mama" since Matt got home, it's "Dada Dada" everything!

Ch ch ch chia!

I think it's hilarious that the seed world has it's own trends and fads. I had never heard of flax until one day-BAM it was everywhere. The latest fashionable seed on the market seems to be chia seed which took me a while to link to the chia pet from childhood. I have been wanting to give it a try and this week, Marek and I shared a bowl of chia pudding from a coffee shop in town. It was so yummy! We walked over to the food coop and sure enough they sold it there. I have no idea where or how it is grown or what it takes to grow and process it but it seems quite expensive and I have a feeling it's because of the latest craze. Maybe you can find it cheaper in the grocery store or online (I paid 16.49/pound). The great thing about it is that you don't have to cook it. Combined with liquid, if turns into a gelatinous goo that resembles tapioca or rice pudding. If you don't care for gooey little eyeball soup, than it's not for you! I really like enjoy the texture and had fun making my own recipe. It's super fast, easy, customizable and healthy!

2/3 cup chia seeds
2 cups milk (I used regular whole milk but most recipes call for almond, soy, rice, whatever floats your boat)

Stir and let sit about 5-10 minutes, that's all you need! If you want to spice it up, you can add almost anything you would to yogurt, pudding, or hot cereal. I saw recipes for chocolate pudding (add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder) and one with mashed bananas which sounds really yummy. This is what I used, added all together with the milk and seeds right away:

1/2 t pure vanilla extract
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 c shredded unsweetened coconut
2 T real maple syrup

Don't be afraid, give it a try!

Cheese Food

In Aldi one day I saw a container of cheese spread which read on the package, "Processed Cheese Food." Cheese food? Really? When you go into a grocery store, isn't the assumption that what you are buying to be ingested is food? It had to be the only food product in the entire store that I could think of that actually had the word "food" on it. The funny thing is, it resembled real food about as much as Cheeto.

Matt and I have been on an organic/natural kick for a while now, I guess since we've started feeding our son. We've always ate very healthy and bought as much whole foods as we could afford but we are taking a step further and really thinking about where our food comes from. In summer, it's easy to eat fresh and local (that's my time to do the cookin'!) but in winter I run out of ideas and inspiration so Matt usually prepares the meals; lots of slow cooker meals, meat frozen fish, etc. We're trying to stock up on meat and I'm freezing and preserving what little has come out of our garden this year. I really think I could cook full time in my own home. The job is never done and I'm only feeding three mouths!

I feel like I am just discovering food. I've always been one to look at something in the store and think, "I could make that" and I'm finding that I can do that especially well with food. I can usually make it better and cheaper too! And I get a lot of satisfaction doing it!

We have been back and forth between Minnesota and Wisconsin the last couple of months since Matt has been gone. Though it is nice to be with family, I really love our home, our garden, our dog, our town and our own space. I had high hopes for my garden this year and a lot of added knowledge about growing things from my experiences last year. Unfortunately, I had to just let it go and I didn't have the time or energy to put into it this year but I am still reaping some of what I planted and looking forward to next year. Thankfully, I can fill in the holes with vegetables from the farmer's market which they have twice a week in town. The Hmong families grow beautiful vegetables and are so friendly and helpful when I ask for advice on how to cook vegetables that I don't use very often. This week I bought some jicama which I have never had before...yum! I've been busy every night catching up with the garden and making meals for the week. I make all of Marek's food and freeze the pureed stuff in ice cube trays. He's starting to eat more chunks now and I try to have something fresh for him to practice his little pinchers on. Here is some of what I've made this week:

Oregano and sage (dried and jarred)
Pesto (frozen)
Pickled banana peppers
Applesauce (first apples of the year...have I mentioned how much I LOVE fall?)
Pureed vegetables for Marek (carrots, various types of squash)
Granola
Meatloaf
Potato leek soup
Sauteed cherry tomatoes
Roasted beets
Marinated cucumbers
Chicken curry (I mix my own spices, secret recipe!)
Hummus
And of course hot drinks: coffee, chai, and my latest favorite: homemade hot cocoa!

This week I am going to make fried eggplant like my dad used to make topped with fresh tomato and ranch dressing...it's been too long! I'm also going to introduce the girls to swiss chard. I saute it in bacon fat, a great way to introduce a new food to kids :)

I think Marek is going to be a good eater like his Momma and Daddy. I haven't found anything that he won't eat so far. It is a lot of fun to try new things and watch his reaction to new flavors and textures. He better grow some more teeth because the two that he has are getting a lot of use! Tonight he snuck an apple out of the fridge and gnawed on it for a good hour and a half. By the time he got sick of it, he consumed a good portion of the apple! When he was done eating it he was feeding it to me and cracked up every time I took a bite, it was so cute I almost ate him up too. I am so in love with this little guy.

Momma's Day Off

What a lovely day. I took today off to spend with Marek and get things done around the house. I can't remember a day that I had with just my baby and nothing that we had to do. We got up early and played in bed and then we both took an early nap. After we woke up, we took a morning walk and it was quite leisurely without a puppy pulling us around! I made some coffee for myself and Marek went crazy on a frozen mango that I gave him to keep cool. We walked to check out a little baby shop that Matt and I drove by a couple of weeks ago. It turns out the shop is mostly cloth diapers and supplies which was really funny timing...I was considering starting this week! We've been wanting to try it out but never really had the time or money to make the investment. The woman in the shop spend over an hour with me going through all the options, styles, laundering know-how and I walked out with a pretty good stash. We bought four different styles, about 13 diapers in all, and once I decide which ones I like the best, we'll invest in more for a full spread. I put the first one on his little tush tonight. It really seems more simple than I thought and although I haven't crunched the numbers, I am certain that it will save us money in the long run.

Marek took another nap when we got home but it was cut short...I was on the computer when I heard him crying (the kind of cry a momma knows to attend to). I ran into his room and found his chubby little leg lodged in between the rails of his crib. He was squirming all around to get out and his body was twisted in a weird way. I finally got it out and the poor baby has a pretty bad bruise all around his thigh! He is constantly falling, donking his head and getting his fingers pinched in places you didn't know were possibly dangerous. I think Daddy would say it's good for him!

We spent a lot of time playing today. Marek loves helping me fold clothes. I put them all in a mountain in the middle of the floor and he freaks out and climbs it and rolls around and every time he finds something softy, he sucks his thumby for a couple of seconds. Days like today make me wish I could be home with him every day. No schedule, no stress, just a momma and her baby; like it's supposed to be. For now I'll enjoy this day while it's still here.

One last thing that I promised Papa I would post. Marek had his first ever Papa Pickle today. There is a little German in him after all!

July 26th, 2008

The day I met my husband. It was one of the most bizarre and wonderful days of my life. Matt bought me a plane ticket to Jacksonville where we would meet and then drive back home making some pit stops along the way. The morning of my flight I woke up vomiting and shaking with major pains all over my body; a reaction to a vaccination that I got the day before. I guessed it was about 80% bad reaction and 20% nerves. Not sure if I could make it on a three hour flight, I tried to get a hold of Matt and let him know that we might have to reschedule. I gathered my things and straightened my hair just in case I decided to give it a shot last minute...which I did.

I was feeling a little more stable and so my roommate helped me with my things and we booked it to the airport not certain if I would make it on the airplane in time. I must have looked like pure hell because I've never been treated so kindly by strangers, especially in the airport! When I got dropped off on the curb it was like the crowds parted and there was a path laid out for me directly to the my gate where I was the last thing to board the airplane just in the nick of time. When I walked in the door to ticketing a long line of people saw me and even though I didn't say a word some guy said, "you can go ahead, we're not in a rush." The attendants at the desk told me that I still had time and came over to help me rearrange some of my luggage (I was a mess) and then carried my things over to security. The security office took my ID, looked up at me and said, "it's okay, you'll be okay!" I didn't think I looked that bad!

Like I said, I made it on the plane just in time and sat next to the kindest person (George...I wonder where his is now?). The flight attendants were really attending to me; offering me snacks, drinks, extra things. It wasn't until about half way through the flight that I looked around and realized that I was in first class. No wonder I had so much leg room!

I didn't get sick on the plane, thank goodness. I called Matt when I landed and he told me he was waiting in baggage claim. He was the first person I saw as I descended the escalator. He was standing by the information desk and caught my eye right away. I ran over to him and lost my flip flop as we kissed. He was much taller than I expected and he told me later that I was much shorter than he thought I would be. He kissed me like a boy - peck peck peck. He said he was just too excited to be passionate :)

We got in the Jeta on a hot, humid, Florida day and headed north! Even now on hot days in the car it reminds me of our first trip together. The drive through Florida and Georgia was really beautiful. Everything was so green and I loved seeing the moss in the trees. I had never been to the south before! We saw our share of gentleman's clubs and fried chicken joints, about one every few miles, as we made our way to Nashville where we planned to stay and tour for a few days.

We walked around the city quite a bit and we really enjoyed Nashville. It was quiet because it was the off-season and I recall some natural disaster happening around that time (flooding maybe?). We went to the hall of fame and to some honky tonks and out to dinner a couple of nights. I felt really sick the whole time (lots of visits to the restroom) but felt comfortable and at ease with Matt. There was one moment when we were stopped at a red light downtown with nobody in sight that we had a little "incident." We needed to take a left turn but we were in the straight lane and Matt refused to turn from the lane we were in (even though nobody was around). He got really flustered as he does in the city and a little hot with me and I remember feeling worried about the situation. Day two and we're already getting into tiffs?? It was an ugliness that neither of us felt comfortable with and so Matt proposed that we go back to our hotel and regroup. We drove all the way out of the city to our home base where we took a deep breath, talked, got back in the car and started again. It was so silly but so neat to see how we processed things in a similar way and came together with the understanding that although this trip was a bit fairytale-like, it was the beginning of a real relationship and all that comes with it.




After a few days in Nashville, Matt was anxious to get home, it had been four months after all! He drove most of the way and I took over a couple times when we were on boring stretches and he needed a break. I hadn't felt super comfortable driving a stick and I was impressed that he let me drive even after a couple of kills! We arrived at his house at about 11:00 pm and the next day headed to my apartment to drop me off where he decided to stay one more day before seeing his family. I made him a delicious meal (stuffed zucchini and spicy shrimp) and we sat on my deck and ate. He left the next morning to get back to his house and settle in, catch up with his family, puppy, etc.



My family was well aware of my plans to go meet this stranger in some airport and although they probably thought I was crazy, some of them talked to Matt on the phone and agreed with me that he seemed pretty harmless (and quite lovely). I don't think Matt told his parents until months later the terms on which we met. To us, it all just made sense. There was little doubt that this was going to go somewhere. Matt told me he loved me before we even met and that was after weeks of trying to hold it back.

He told me that he wasn't 100% sure he wanted to marry me until right before he left on his last trip before he did ask me to marry him. The little stinker wanted to make me wait. He needed to make sure that we could make it through four months of being apart. Which we did. A couple of times. Then we got married. Then we had a baby. Now, three years later, my baby is on a ship again half way around the world.

Matt was at work last Tuesday and got a job offer from his union. A few hours later he quit his current job and 24 hours after that we were on our way to the airport. He will be in the Persian Gulf for the next two and a half months. We know that people might not understand it and some days I'm sure it's not going to be easy, but it is an answer to our prayers and we can't forget that. It's a step in the direction we want our family to take and although there are still many unknowns, what we do know is that our love for each other can span an ocean or two.

Any normal person would be in a tizzy trying to gather the necessary paperwork, fill out the required applications, and pack for a long trip so last minute, but Matt just takes it all in stride. Besides the heaviness of leaving Marek and me, he was excited to be back in his element doing what he knows and loves; feeling challenged, stimulated, and compensated. I am so proud of him for the hard work that it takes to do this job and so thankful to him for all that he has gone through emotionally the past year and a half while he has been away from the sea. He shows his love for us in such raw and honest ways. He's the person that I met three years ago only more confident, sensitive, and intentional. He realized for me my purpose of being a mother and works every day to make all of my other dreams eventual realities. He is my husband, my everything!

I love you, Honey! Happy third, first anniversary from the first day that we actually met after four months of sort of but not really meeting. I miss you.

Mid-Summer

Yowsers. It's July. The past month has been very busy for all of us. Matt started a new job, Marek really tricked-out the last few weeks, and I am just trying to keep up with these boys!

We kicked off summer with a party at our in-laws near Wausau. It was quite the party! They roasted a whole pig and cooked a big 'ol hunk of beef Polynesian style. This is the closest to Hawaii that I'll probably ever get! The boys explained the whole process of getting the beef in the ground and we got to see the unveiling. It goes something like: dig a hole, make a fire, get it HOT, put in the meat, cover the meat with alfalfa, seal it with newspapers and a tarp and finally the dirt, then let it cook. I doubt there is much European influence in this style of cooking, but we really think that it would be fun for Oktoberfest!
























Matt has had some weekends off with his new job which has meant the world to us as a family. If I we had our choice, we would stay home on weekends and catch up with all that there is to do around the house but it being summer, there is just so much going on every weekend. We have been able to spend time with my family with Matt which makes trips to Minnesota all the more precious. The 4th of July weekend was mostly spent in the car but we managed to be with both families and I'm not sure if anyone understands how difficult that can be (for me). I am so burned out by the weekend, the last thing I want to do is be in the car for any amount of time. We got a photograph of all 22 grandbabies for this year's Christmas card and the weather was beautiful. I didn't see one single firework but I heard it was quite the show. At the cabin, Marek went on his first boat ride and had there been more time, I think he really would have enjoyed swimming in the lake.








Marek is really quick with his army crawl. He's got up on his hands and knees a couple of times but I think he might skip the conventional crawling altogether and go straight to walking. Daddy found him standing in his crib on Sunday morning! He also sprouted two teeth this month and says Mama and Dada. I am lamenting the fact that he's too busy to want to be held or cuddle anymore but I'm hoping the novelty of movement wears off. He's opening cupboards, eating power cords, getting stuck in small situations and all around exploring his world. It is a lot of fun but I can't believe how fast my baby is growing up. We bought a new food processor this weekend and I made and froze some baby food to get started on that phase! We've tried a few things intermittently over the past couple of months but I really don't think he was ready and I felt pressured into trying it. I wish I would have held off and gone with my own instincts and his signs of readiness. Even now we are just casually trying new foods every few days or weeks but it is fun to make and fun to see his reaction to new textures and tastes.




I've had a hard time with life the last few weeks. I leave the house around 7:15am and get home around 6:30pm, sometimes later with traffic and road construction. My baby goes to around 7:30pm which gives me about an hour with him, most of it is spent nursing. My days are 11+ hours and I only get paid for 8. I put 140 miles on the car every day. My back is sore from sitting all day and never running. I get so angry at my situation and I tend to take it out on Matt. My work took away my second day from home and sometimes I can't even get one day a week at home which I really need to stay sane. I still get up a couple of times at night with Marek and although I don't want those nighttime feedings to end (I'll take whatever time I can get with him!), I am dog tired driving in to work and I pray that God gets me there alive some days. My weekends are my time with my baby and my family but the world around us doesn't seem to understand that. We have a lot of parties and events this summer and if babies are not welcome, I probably won't show up. Marek is my priority right now and I just can't care so much what other people need from me. We are so fortunate to have our Trina come and live with us during the week to watch Marek, I know he's in good hands. But this wasn't the reason I wanted to have babies. I should be with him more. He should see his family more. His Papas miss him and his Grandma pretty much missed his whole baby stage that she loves so much. Even when we are with the family, I don't want to give him up. Both Matt and I feel like something's gotta give. We have sacrificed a lot the last year, especially Matt with his career, and I feel like we just need to get through this year and things will change. We are trying to remind ourselves of our countless blessings and focus on what is good and really make the most of the time we have together. Having a baby is easy. He's easy to love and easy to please. It's the life around us that's the hard part!