When we chose our kids’ names, we never paid much attention to the “meanings” of their names. Andreas Karl was simply a first name we liked that works well in English and German and isn’t overly popular (at least, in the US!) paired with a family name (my grandfather was Karl). Thus, it wasn’t until a while after his birth that we realized that “Andreas” comes from the Greek for “man” or “manly.” Karl is an Old Germanic name meaning either “free man” or “man.” Ever since, he has been “manly man” to some of our friends, and sometimes to us, too.

Well, Andreas does his darndest to live up to that nickname. He seems to know instinctively what a boy “should” do or like, ranging from climbing EVERYTHING to picking up large rocks and stones to obsessing over “Autos” and “Flugzeuge” (cars & airplanes).

For as much as it is amusing to stereotype him, though, in truth he is a sweet little guy who is “comfortable enough with his manhood” to drink out of pink sippy cups, play with his sister’s dolls & strollers, and cuddle with his Mama or Papa (sometimes).

He loves water and swimming almost as much as his sister does, and he is currently obsessed with fish. I joke that I could drop him off at the Georgia Aquarium and pick him up three hours later without him even noticing my absence. His swimming trunks and sun hat have fish on them, making them a clothing item with a sky-high entertainment value.

Watching his personality grow and express itself is a neat part of parenting an 18 month old, and his exploding vocabulary allows him to tell us more and more of what he wants, likes and needs. He is still into EVERYTHING, taking every opportunity to throw toys into the toilet, empty a cabinet or dresser drawer, or “help” us with laundry or dishes. We look forward to seeing how he continues to change in the coming months.

The big news for our big girl is that Simona turned FOUR years old in June. We can hardly believe that we only have one more year before she has to go to school full-time.
Her celebration was somewhat muted as compared to last year, when we had a “family” party in Iowa on her actual birthday and a joint “friends” party with Caed, a neighbor & classmate whose birthday is the same week.

This year, we began the day in German fashion, with a table decorated with fresh flowers and a special breakfast. Her choice was to make pancakes with her Papa, and we enjoyed them with blueberries, applesauce, and mango juice.

Afterwards, we piled into the car for the drive to Peachtree City, where we spent the day watching World Cup Soccer, swimming, and celebrating her birthday again with more family. Her great-grandma, great aunt & uncle, and grandparents were all too happy to share in the party, complete with the “blueberry & vanilla, green-pink-and-purple” cake she requested. She opened plenty of gifts and cards and overall had a great day. (Thanks to all who made her feel special with calls, cards, and packages!)

Another recent Simona milestone was her second-ever haircut. Because she took the first two years of life to grow a full head of hair, it’s taken quite a while to grow her hair long, which is how she wants it. This was a 3 inch trim, again performed in “Salon Mama.” It turned out pretty well, but we forgot to take an “after” picture!

The other major highlight for Simona this summer has been SWIMMING. The girl spends so much time in the water, she may soon grow flippers! Between the pool at our apartment complex, the pool at my parents’ house, swimming lessons at a public pool, and the lake at my parents’ lakehouse in Alabama, she spends HOURS every week in the water. Her group lessons have been a fun chance to interact with other kids, and she has learned a fair amount; however, I think she won’t quite be a fully proficient swimmer by the time the end next week. No fear, though- it won’t take long before she’s fully morphed into the Little Mermaid she would love to be. A few pictures of her water adventures:

Swimming with Papa:

Kicking at swim lessons:

Swimming at the lake:

On the jet ski with her Opa:

Overall, Simona is a funny, smart, caring girl. She loves to take care of her little brother, adores being told stories, and chews gum any chance she gets. She is a girly girl, accessorizing her outfits, asking for make-up, choosing to wear dresses, etc., but she also enjoys running and climbing at the playground, riding her bike, and watching herself do a silly dance or make a silly face in front of a mirror.
Life is not only roses with a four-year-old at home, as she understands EVERYTHING and can no longer easily be redirected or distracted. We can see our own parenting flaws when she mirrors our poor behavior, challenging us to be more patient, gracious, and loving in our interactions with her and with others. She is discovering more of the world every day and constantly asks not only “why?” questions, but also “what if. . .?” questions. We are amazed and privileged to be witnesses and number one fans to our sweet Simona.

On to catching up. . .
Saying goodbye in DC was sad! This move has been a possibility for over a year, so in some ways, it was a long, slow farewell. Each season, month, and week of the past year has been marked by the thought, “This might be our last ________ in DC,” which has been nice, because we’ve been able to savor all of it.

In a formal sense, though, our “official” goodbyes really began late this spring. We have played with Chomp, an ultimate frisbee team in DC, every spring and fall since 2004, but we knew wouldn’t be able to play this spring. We had hoped to make it to one last game, but between weather and our schedules, we had to settle for an e-farewell.

In mid-April, I spent my last evening at “The Porch.” I have worked as an adult leader with this youth ministry on Capitol Hill for the past three years. In fact, one of the girls in my small group was even my “tutee” back when I tutored at the Neighborhood Learning Center from 2004-2006. Which means we’ve had a mentor/mentee relationship since she was in 4th grade, and now she’s a rising 10th! grader. Saying goodbye to all of the youth at the Porch- but particularly to my small group- was emotional. I so wish I could be there as they walk through there remaining years of high school– to see them in grow into young ladies, wear prom dresses, pick out colleges, graduate, etc.

Although we said farewell to a few friends from church and other social settings on an individual basis, we didn’t have too many other larger goodbyes until our last week in DC. Caleb’s office hosted a going-away luncheon for him on his last day of work, to which the kids and I were also invited. Several of his former co-workers who have since moved on to new positions were invited, and plenty of people came by to wish him well. Overall, it was a really kind send-off.

Then came “moving weekend.” We picked up our HUGE Budget truck on Saturday, May 1. That truck was a BEAST! I was glad that I didn’t have to drive it!
Many, many thanks to the wonderful friends who helped load our belongings, including Laryn, Corey, Rebecca, Sara, Jana, Mary Ruth, and Brett. An even more special thanks goes to our friend Janel, who watched Andreas & Simona ALL DAY that Saturday. Hers was hands-down the most taxing job of the day. She also hosted our family for dinner that evening. . . and I have no idea how she managed to cook for that 7 people while watching three kids all day!

Sunday, we ate one last breakfast at Pete’s, a diner on the Hill that we’ve visited a few Sunday mornings a year throughout our seven years in DC, even before we were married or had kids. After that, we headed to WCF for our final Sunday service. We had been given a brief time during the service to say goodbye to the congregation, but I was most emotional during other parts of the service. Looking at all of the faces, I couldn’t help but think that this is what the kingdom of heaven will look like: A random bunch of quirky people all trying to do their best to love God and love each other.

Sunday evening, our friends Heather & Kevin and Laryn & Janel hosted a going-away party for us at Heather & Kevin’s house, which was really special. So many friends came by to say goodbye, and aside from our wedding, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more surrounded by people who love our family. A huge thank you to our gracious hosts!

Monday, my dad flew up from Georgia to drive the truck back down. He loves to drive and was eager to take the opportunity to help us out. We were glad not to have to drive in two separate vehicles! We worked all day, loading final belongings and cleaning the house. Caleb and Dad concluded the day with a wild chase for our scared cat, which apparently involved crawling between drywall and the outer wall of the house, pulling the cat out of her hiding space with a hoe, and trapping her in a garbage can to get her into the back of the truck . . in the end, she did make the journey to Georgia, just not in her cat carrier as planned. Our friends Heather & Kevin again hosted us, this time for our last night in DC (Maryland, actually), while Dad drove overnight to avoid traffic with the big truck.

Tuesday, May 4, was the long-anticipated moving day. It was also the day of Simona’s “graduation” from Little Learner’s Playschool, which she attended for two years. It worked out perfectly to be able to attend the last day of class and feel like she had some closure around that. We love all of the kids and families we have met through the school and will miss this group, too.

After graduation and the class party and luncheon, we piled into our packed-up car and hopped onto 395 for the long drive to the Peach State. Watching the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, the Pentagon, and the Potomac fade in the rear view mirror was sad. So long, Washington, D.C. Thanks for so many great memories and for becoming our home.

The first is the most important! In late March, we took a trip to Georgia to accomplish as much as one can possibly accomplish in three days: rent an apartment, attend Emory’s MBA orientation weekend, participate in a bridal shower for my sister, drive to Greenville, S.C. to have fun at her bachelorette party, and then get back to Atlanta in time to catch a return flight to DC. During those days, I had several hints that turned to suspicion that turned to confirmation, in early April, that baby #3 is on the way!
We are excited to welcome a new little one to our family but approach this pregnancy differently than the previous two. Having watched dear friends go through the wrenching experience of losing their newborn daughter in the past year has reminded us that we are not guaranteed a healthy pregnancy or a healthy baby. We know that at this point, “odds” are on our side, but we move forward with joy tempered by a heightened awareness that we cannot know what the future holds for us or this baby. We are due the second week of December.

The second highlight was another confirmation:

The third April highlight were Grandma’s & Grandpa’s visits to DC. Caleb’s mom came for about 10 days to spend time with us and the kids as we packed, ran errands, and prepared to move. His dad spent one weekend in town, and the kids had a great time playing with Grandma & Grandpa. I didn’t get any pictures of Grandpa, but I have a couple with Grandma:

We would not have been able to move without all of Grandma’s help. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Fourth, Caleb and I celebrated our FIFTH wedding anniversary (and our TENTH anniversary of “couplehood”)! Because Grandpa & Grandma were in town, we spent a night away from the kids, wondering at how quickly the time has flown by and at how much our lives have changed in five short years! This year, all three of my sisters and one of Caleb’s brothers will be married (plus two cousins!), and reflecting on our own experience with marriage fills us for excitement for them. Sadly, I captured not a single picture to commemorate five years.

Andreas provided the fifth highlight: He FINALLY started walking! At sixteen months, little man decided to the time had come to explore the world upright and hands-free. (I think he was waiting for the one-year anniversary of his surgery!) We have been anticipating this since he began “cruising” at 8 months, so it’s been a LONG wait for “independent ambulation,” as it were. Here are a few of him and the trouble his new mobility let him cause:

Finally, the sixth highlight was simply savoring our last springtime in DC. The azaleas at the National Arboretum are stunning in April, and the weather hovers near perfect for much of the month. Simona FINALLY got her long-anticipated ice cream from the ice cream truck, and we soaked in our last days of trips to the playground and being with friends.

COMING SOON: Part 2- Saying Farewell and Adventures in Moving

On April 11, 2010, I had the chance to realize a (small) goal I’d had since high school: Complete the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler in Washington, D.C. I’d read about the race in Runner’s World as a high schooler, and it sounded like one of those races every serious runner must have on her resume. So I resolved to add it to mine at some point.

As luck would have it, my first six years in DC did not allow fulfillment of that goal. April 2004, I ran the Paris Marathon. April 2005, I got married. April 2006, I was 7.5 months pregnant. April 2007, I was in Germany for my Oma’s 80th birthday. April 2008, I ran the Boston Marathon. April 2009, I knew I’d be 3.5 months postpartum and not in prime running shape.

And, as luck would (again) have it, the 2010 race was, for the first time ever, entry by lottery only. . . and I never win ANY random drawing. I figured entering the lottery was almost pointless, but, SURPRISE! My “group”- which included Caleb, our friend Janel, and me- was selected!

Caleb’s friend Mickey was in town for race weekend, so we even had built in childcare (from a brave bachelor!). Caleb and I headed off early on a Sunday morning:

And took in the Mall at sunrise one last time:

And then met up with friends from church who were also running:

Caleb, meanwhile, was VERY bogged down by extreme crowds. The purple wave not only ended up being a catch all for the slowest runners and those without qualifying times, but it also became the “lowest common denominator” for faster runners wishing to run with slower members of their group. He knew from the beginning he’d never be able to break through the masses to run a strong time, so he settled on good company and conversation with another church friend. They finished the race together, smiling despite working to avoid stepping on any toes (or heels) for ten miles:

Many of us regrouped post-race to cool off, and a number of us even dared to show up at church in our sweaty running clothes! (Don’t worry- we sat in the balcony, far away from the showered congregants!!) In our defense, we had to attend as Simona and the other children were singing during the service.

Of course, Mickey did a great job getting the kids dressed and to the church– we had no doubts he’d take naturally to parenting.

To round out the race report, it seems my lottery luck continues. Another running goal of mine is to complete each of the “world marathon majors”- Chicago, Berlin, London, NYC, and Boston. So far, I am 3 of 5.
Entry to the NYC marathon also is gained by winning a random lottery, unless you have entered the drawing unsuccessfully for three consecutive years. Then the race organizers finally take pity and grant you automatic entry for your fourth year. I entered unsuccessfully last year and was already planning on running by default on my fourth try (in 2012). In fact, I even promised Caleb after the Berlin marathon in September 2009 that I would take a break from marathoning for a couple of years. So convinced of my lottery luck was I that I even told him to plan on London in April 2012 and NYC that November. SO, I was shocked to learn in early April that I AGAIN got lucky and got into NYC this year- on only my second try! HOWEVER . . . I will be keeping my word to Caleb and deferring my entry to 2011 (more on that to come).

But in the meantime, I’m headed out to play some Powerball. Don’t even bother to wish me luck– I’m on a roll all on my own.

Today was a good game. The Nationals beat the Dodgers 1-0, with the only run coming in the 1st inning. The rest of the game saw plenty of good defensive plays and some great pitching. Our starter went 7 innings, our set up man pitched a perfect 8th, and our closer made it a bit interesting but got the job done in the 9th.

It was our first game of the season at Nats Park, and it will also be our last of this season. Simona has been excited about this day since October. Seriously. And though the weather forecast was foreboding (hail, severe thunderstorms, etc.), it turned out to be a great day to be at the ballpark. We went with two other families, and, despite the three 3-year-olds and four 1-year olds, we had a fun time.

Going to games has been a special Washington tradition for our family, and leaving the stadium felt like a sad goodbye. We move in nine days.

First came an after-work picnic near the Washington Monument and a (partial) walk around the tidal basin to see the cherry blossoms during twilight.

We have seen the cherry blossoms at sunrise almost every year, but we really enjoyed them at sundown, too!

The second adventure was during the workday, so Caleb couldn’t join us. The kids and I took the Metro down to Union Station and enjoyed the sunshine, flowers, and fountains along the Mall.

We rode the carousel near the Smithsonian “castle,” which was fun for Simona but a bit nauseating for me! That thing spins much more quickly than I remember, and balancing Andreas and a camera left me no free hands with which to hold on for dear life! Nevertheless, I did not fall, and she had a GREAT time.

The “half smoke” is the only food item I can name that screams Washington DC, so it seemed only appropriate that we end our touristy morning with a bite of local flavor from a street vendor before hopping on the Metro and heading for home.

We will miss living in our nation’s beautiful capital!

Now, back to the list: Since we will soon be moving, I am realizing more and more that I take so much for granted here in DC. Here is a smattering of what I love about this city:

*WCF.  Our church, Washington Community Fellowship, has become our extended family here in DC. It is affiliated with the Mennonite church but considers itself “multi-denominational.” That means that folks can join the church but retain their own denominational affiliation, which adds a vibrancy and depth to the various ways we worship. We will miss the

*Sitting out.  Many of DC’s row houses have porches, and neighbors frequently “sit out” on their porches on warm evenings.  It’s been a great way to get to know neighbors and watch the neighborhood, and it’s a particularly refreshing end to those really hot summer days.

*Charlie & Dave. These are the radio announcers for the Washington Nationals, and we LOVE listening to them call games. Charlie has an amazing ability to build suspense and then let loose when the play unfolds, and Dave has a seemingly endless wealth of baseball knowledge. Of course, we’ll miss the Nats (and their beautiful stadium, too), but they’ll be visiting us in Atlanta from time to time.

*Gravelly Point. This is a park in Arlington, VA, is right by DCA- Reagan National Airport. It’s nice to be outdoors along the Potomac, but standing right underneath the path of planes landing and taking off is quite a rush.

*Museums. The Smithsonians provide endless free fun for young and old alike. Our personal kid-friendly favorites are the National Zoo, the Air & Space Museum, and the Museum of Natural History. Where else can you take your kids to see dinosaurs, rockets, or live elephants all for free, and all in the same day?

*Music. The city is the ideal place for free, outdoor summer concerts. The Navy and Army bands regularly play on or around the Mall, and the National Symphony Orchestra often does a free outdoor concert at Carter Barron Amphitheater. It’s hard not to take it for granted!

*The size. DC is large enough that it has all the amenities one could ask for in a big city, but small enough geographically and population-wise that it’s not uncommon to bump into friends or acquaintances fairly regularly. Running into a church friend at Home Depot on a Saturday morning loans a bit of that “small town feel” to urban life.
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Kid Update: Simona is creatively dancing and imaginatively playing all the time. (She has some sweet moves, mostly learned from her father- heh heh.) Andreas is STILL not walking– he’s taken his “first steps” about 20 times, only to decide that he really does prefer crawling. I’m somewhat tired of the laundry and mess created by him being on the ground constantly, but surely he’ll be upright soon enough. . .
Also, our Picasa, which we use to sort & upload pictures, has been acting up lately, so we will update pictures once Picasa has been repaired. Thank you for your patience!

A mom-friend of mine whose husband is a pastor at a local church recently described ministry in DC as “like trying to hug a parade.” She was referencing the transience for which this city is renown. The reason behind the revolving door is manifold: student interns who visit for three to six months, congressional representatives (and their staffs) whose time in office is brief, presidential administrations and their political appointees who rotate positions, college students who attend one of our many universities, government employees who rotate between domestic and international assignments, and so on.

We recognize that this characterization of the District primarily describes our demographic- educated, white collar people who did not grow up in the region- but the fact remains that this trend shapes and affects relationships of everyone who lives here- from the third-generation-native-Washingtonian to the just-arrived-yesterday-college-intern.

Our DC friends & acquaintances who have moved away have landed across the country (and even the globe!), meaning that we now have friends all over the place but that we have also had to say our goodbyes far too frequently over the past nearly-seven-years. Each person who’s moved on has left a mark on our hearts (and often, a void in our social calendar! One of the upsides, though, is that new friends have always stepped into those voids.)

Well, the time has come for us to start marching again. Our parade is moving on. . . to Georgia. Caleb will begin a graduate program at Emory University in Atlanta in May, so VERY soon, we will be the ones saying our goodbyes. It is bittersweet– we are excited for what is ahead, but we have come to love our lives here. This is where we went from dating to engaged to married, where we bought our first home, and where we welcomed our two children into our family. This house and this city are filled with memories and friends, and parting will be difficult.

We hear the music, and we know that God will be there right beside us, wherever this parade may lead.

1. Caleb is handy.

2. Caleb is a thoughtful man of God.

3. Caleb is a wonderful father.

4. Caleb was brave enough to come to my bridal shower (in Iowa, since many of the women there were his family’s friends).

5.Caleb can change the oil in our car.

6. Caleb has good aim.

7 & 8. Caleb can soothe a baby with his pinky finger AND can rock an umbrella-hat.

9. Caleb has a great smile.

10. Caleb has that Iowa charm.

11. Caleb takes his job as big brother seriously, never missing a chance to give baby bro a hard time.

12. Caleb is a sports fan and instills the same in his children.

13. Caleb supports me in my marathoning endeavors.

14. Caleb is a good pillow.

15. Caleb plays soccer.

16. Caleb is a bit of a redneck. :-)

17. Caleb looks good with a beard.

18. Caleb got us tickets to the opening game at Nationals Stadium!

19. Caleb is fun (and much better than me at croquet!).

20. Caleb can be a little boring. :-) (Actually, Caleb has the patience to read so many books that our kids can’t keep their eyes open anymore.)

21. Caleb has fully embraced raising our kids as German-speaking and has been learning the language himself. And he doesn’t believe it, but he is doing an amazing job of learning German.

22. Caleb was the only family member besides Mom who made it to Dad’s U.S. citizenship ceremony.

23. Caleb would make an excellent giraffe.

24. Caleb is a good dancer.

25. Caleb is a loyal friend.

26. Caleb loves the outdoors.

27. Caleb boldly lets me cut his hair. . . sometimes a bit too short!

28. Caleb is scholarly.

29. Caleb is a good sport.

30. Caleb is my best friend.

Happy birthday, Caleb! We love you!