Sounds of Syrah

It looks like we have a future musician! Syrah is cooing more and she is really enjoying being vocal ... (taking after Mami already). So sit back and enjoy Syrah's 1st musical performance. Composer's note: Sorry for the video being dark and/or the different sound volumes. I am learning the tricks-of-the-trade and my next video will be better.

* Pause web-music before playing video. Go to very bottom of the blog, find music player and click on pause. Now enjoy!

Silent Night

Something that we have been looking forward finally arrived... our first Christmas as a family. Granted, things this year didn't happen as I imagined for the last 10 months, but what really mattered was that we were together.

Our gift to Syrah was a stuffed turtle that becomes a pillow. We think she will love using it for sleepovers.

Over the River and Through the Woods ...

... to meet Syrah's future husband! We spent some time hanging out with friends of the family who welcomed their second child into the family two weeks after Syrah arrived. We joked that since our two kids were born this year (and we all enjoy each other), they were destined to get married in the future.

But all hope is not lost if it doesn't work out between Syrah and their baby boy because they still have their very handsome oldest son; who for the time being is more interested in his toy cars.

Growing Everyday!

Here are some updated pictures of Syrah. She is growing so quickly... it is crazy! She has already out grown my favorite outfit. Tummy-time fun! She surprised me at her last doctor's visit when she supported herself up on her forearms. I wasn't expecting her to stay in that position I put her in, but she was too interested in looking at things in the room to let herself drop.

Even Cha Cha wants to nap with us.

Syrah loves her baths! She coos and kicks while she floats in the water (with support from Tony).

Tony has finally found a way to keep Syrah comfortable while relaxing himself.

2008 Holiday Newsletter

This year we sent out a newsletter to our family and friends, but not everyone received one. Below are the articles that were sent out. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

2008 has been a year that we will always remember. From purchasing our first home to advancements in careers, we have been truly blessed by the Lord. As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the love, friendship and support that you have given us. You have influenced our lives in more than one way. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

We hope that this Christmas will bring peace and joy to your life that carries into the New Year.

A Home for the Holidays We began the home buying process in June of 2007 by purchasing a corner lot located in Fredrickson (Pierce County). At the time, there was only dirt and rocks, but in November 2007,Quadrant Homes poured the foundation and started building. By March 2008, our house was completed, the mortgage was signed and we moved into our first home. This was an amazing time for us. As we ate our first dinner of Top Ramen on the floor, we felt as though we were starting our lives together all over again. We learned quickly that being a homeowner is a major responsibility.

Even in a new home, there is still work to do. This year’s major project was landscaping the backyard. With some help, Tony built a retaining wall along the backside of our property. We also contracted out to have a patio built and grass laid down. Unfortunately our backyard was not completed in time for us to enjoy. Now we can’t wait till Spring!

Our Angel Has Arrived

Just before March came to a close, we learned that we would soon be welcoming a baby into our family. We became more excited in June when we learned that we would be raising a daughter, Syrah Jolene Wood.

Sabrina loved being pregnant. She loved feeling Syrah move while she laughed and during this time she felt closer to God knowing that she was chosen to carry this special spirit.

When we saw our daughter for the first time, we were speechless. She was everything that we expected and more. We knew that our Angel arrived to bless our family and we now know that without Syrah, our family wouldn’t be complete.

Other 2008 Highlights In March, Sabrina was offered a job in the Internal Audit Compliance Department at Costco Corporate. This has been a great opportunity for her even though it was difficult to stay focused towards the end of her pregnancy.

On June 21st, we had the privilege of being in the wedding party for Amanda & Caleb (Tony’s sister). It was wonderful being a part of something as special as their wedding. It was also exciting to dress up, something we don’t get to do too often.

In September, Tony fought against hundreds of hornets that decided to make our crawl space their home. It took a couple of weeks to fully eradicate the unwanted guests, but he was able to destroy the basketball size nest.

For Tony’s birthday, we went on a hot air balloon ride. It was amazing to be floating in the sky and to see the Cascades, Mt. Rainier, the Olympics and Mt. St. Helens surrounding us. The best part was when we brushed the top of the trees.