Anniversary: Here's to SIX years!

Anniversary 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 //

I have written a post every year for the past five years to mark our anniversary, and although our six year anniversary has come and gone, I couldn't let another day go by without acknowledging it with words on the blog.

And let's be honest, I love being able to read over the things I have written about our marriage year after year. And I love taking the time to reflect on the growth and the changes that have happened not only in our marriage, but also in ourselves. And even though I try so hard to come up with new things to say and new words to describe our marriage, the reality is so much of what I say remains true year after year after year. However, with each passing year our story has become greater, our love for each other deeper, and our faith even stronger.

And although the wedding day does in fact seem like it was 6 years ago and 2 babies ago. I look at that young thing in the photos and I remember her. Oh do I remember her! And I remember the joy and the anticipation she felt that day.

And I can't help but think what would I have said to her....what would I have said to my prewife self? Probably something like...He may drive you crazy sometimes, but he will also bring you so much joy and he will make you laugh like none other. And he knows you. You have absolutely no idea what awaits you. Your first apartment, a job change, home ownership, a baby, another job change, and another baby, and through it all God has used your community to bless you tremendously with so much support. If the walls of your home could talk, they would speak of the love and the laughter...they would speak of the joy and the tears. They would speak of the glorifying God moments and the not so glorifying moments because let's be honest, we definitely have those and they would speak of the abounding grace.

But they would also speak of the history, the rich history that Peter and I now have after all these years. The story God is writing for us is beautiful. And I must say it is beautiful to be known so deeply and intimately by another human being.

And this human being knew that in order for me to be fully present with him, he was going to have to take me away and remove me from my natural habitat. So to celebrate our anniversary this year, we left Jack with the grandparents and headed off an adventure with just Ryan. We were destined for a weekend of camping, which in my mind means days without showering, sleeping on a blow up mattress, and no internet access.

If I'm incredibly honest, I was a little hesitant about it all considering we've never done this together before. I mean how were we going to spend our time? No tv? No computers? No laundry? And only one kid? I suggested we bring a laptop so we could cuddle up on our blow up mattress and watch movies, but the husband dashed that idea stating that we'd miss the nature movie of stars and sky happening right before our very eyes.

You see, the husband loves this kind of thing. He loves being cut off from the world. He loves just sitting around and talking about life. He loves cooking his food on a stove and having a fire at night. He loves it all. And I love him. And guess what, we had a great time! Who knew that it would be so good for my soul? He did.

Thank you Jesus for this man...for his heart and for our rich history.

xoxo,

Malia

Baby Registry.

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This whole baby registering has been a hard task for me.  My first issue was where TO register?  I mean do I register at an actual store, like Target or Babies R' Us, which would probably be easier for those purchasing the gifts or do I do it all online via amazon or do I do a combination of both a store and online?  Blah, blah, blah.  Decisions, decisions - the reality, it really doesn't matter.  What did I decide on you ask...well I decided to register via Amazon and to put some items on my amazon wish list that you could find in stores, such as Target and Babies R' Us.  We shall see how that all works out!

And once I got that first question answered...then came the next question - what items do I actually register for?  And what is going to be truly ideal for our 770 square foot home?  What items did I really want and what items did we really need?  I suppose it's time to differentiate between the two.

Did I really need to buy a swing? or a bouncer? or a jumperoo thing?  How many pacifiers and bottles did baby need? And what kinds?  Do we need a baby bath?  And what about a diaper bag?  Do I get one that can serve as a purse or do I get one that Peter can also use?  And then the big question..what about a crib?  Do I get a mini crib or a foldable crib or a convertible crib?  And how much do we really want to spend on it?  Clothe diapers or disposable diapers?  And if we do clothe - what brand and how many do we get to start?  And then the big question...how much do we want to spend on ALL these things?  And what items do I want to buy new and what items should I borrow or buy used?

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So I started asking around to see what others thought about all of this, and of course, everyone had differing opinions, but the information given was extremely helpful!  And I'm sure the items on my registry will change as I continue to mull over all this information.

Blah, blah, blah...it all seems so overwhelming, and probably pretty boring for all of you out there that haven't had to go through this yet, and let's be honest the reality is, most of it doesn't really matter.  I mean obviously, the big ticket items, like a carseat, crib and stroller are important for safety reasons, etc, but truly, it's just stuff.  And it's up to Peter and I to decide just how much stuff we want lying around our house that is designated solely for baby.  And the big question isn't ...should we get this crib or that crib, but are we being good stewards of our money and how do we not let ourselves get carried away with all of this?

Oh so many questions I have and so few answers...and I'm imagining that's probably how parenting will be, right?  And let's be honest, I'd rather stare at my stomach and watch the small vibrations as LB does flip flops in my tummy, than think about what items to put on the registry.  So I think I'll go do that!

However, I would love to hear any thoughts, words of wisdom you may have about registry items and things you feel are essential to baby's first year!  So please do share.

xoxo,

Malia

Thoughts from the wise.

And no I am not calling myself wise...in fact I am calling my husband wise.  Sure hope he reads this post!

I mean look at that face!  Doesn't he just look wise??  (photo taken at the Seattle Art Museum)

So on Valentine's Day, we created a beautiful meal together, and sat down to share it.  I LOVE to ask questions, so it was only natural that I started hounding him with questions ranging from life goals to wisdom and advice, and considering it was Valentine's Day, he probably felt slightly obligated to satisfy my questions with good answers!

So one of my questions...What advice would you give to a newly married couple?

His first answer...

"Marriage is easy if you marry your best friend!"

And then he paused for a moment, while he thought about his first answer, and decided he needed to add to it...

"Marriage can be difficult and takes work, but it's good if you marry your best friend."

And the wisdom continued...

"Anything worth having is not easy, if its easy then it's not worth having."

And one of my favorite nuggets from the night...

"Don't marry someone that isn't your best friend - it's a stupid idea - your physical attraction, your romantic love is only going to last so long, but the friendship lasts forever!"

My final question of the night...

"How do you know if they are your best friend?"

The husband...

"You just know..."

xoxo,

Malia