How has it already been one year since Naomi entered this world? She is wild, and she is sweet. We just love her so much!

We found out I was pregnant when we were living in Vietnam, right after we began having conversations of moving home. My first trimester with her was full of ordering McDonalds french fries to our apartment door and drinking orange juice and sprite. I had my first few prenatal appointments in Vietnam and on the way to one of them, I was driving our motorbike and I hit a speed bump so fast that I am pretty sure I levitated off of the seat for like three whole seconds. Naomi obviously ended up alright, and I learned my lesson of watching for speed bumps. Anyways, the second trimester was spent getting settled back in America, and the beginnings of COVID. I remember specifically thinking “well, I’m due in July so COVID should be over by then”—HA FUNNY JOKE, ANA. The third trimester was full of going to appointments alone, daily walks with Hezekiah, and lots of trips to get ice cream.

Naomi was stubborn. She was a week overdue when we decided to schedule an induction. She was measuring nine pounds and had absolutely no desire to come out. Her birth was so incredible and I think back on the day and smile with all of the wonderful memories. The day after we got home from the hospital we moved across town (I do not recommend moving after you have a baby, except for the fact that SO many wonderful people came to help. I really just sat on the couch and directed people).

I specifically remember nursing Naomi in her new room, while Nathan fed me ribs and thinking that even though the first few years of our marriage have been absolutely crazy, I wouldn’t change any of it for anything.

Naomi’s first few months were spent at a lot of playgrounds (oh how I miss those newborn days where they can sleep anywhere), and getting lots of cuddles from all those that love her. She was so round and bald and had the biggest belly, but the littlest arms and legs. She was disproportionate and oh so cute.

When she turned six months old we really began to see her personality shine through. She started crawling (and getting into everything), and also began to show us her wild side.

Now, Naomi is walking everywhere (no more bear crawl) and still getting into everything. She loves to play with the toilet water 🤢 and climb the stairs. She has ten teeth, and just enough hair to make two itsy bitsy pig tails. She loves to antagonize her brother, and also loves to just come and sit in your lap. Her favorite foods are strawberries, blueberries and squash, and if she doesn’t like a food, she will make sure you know by throwing it across the kitchen.

She loves to squawk, yell and bark like a dog. She likes to blow raspberries and jump in her crib. She is wild. That’s the best word that I have to describe her. We love her so incredibly much and we cannot wait to see how she continues to grow.

We pray that she would know the Lord and love Him fiercely. We pray she would never lose her wild and spunky spirit, and that she would always know how incredibly loved she is. We pray she would be kind and hardworking and that she would know and trust her creator from an early age. We are so grateful for the gift that she is and just feel so blessed that the Lord entrusted her to us. We love you sweet Naomi. We love you so much! Happy birthday!