The joy of February!

The month of February does not get much love even though it is supposed to be the month where love is celebrated. I have always liked February one because it is  a winter month and I love winter.  Two I think it is amazing we have a holiday that is devoted to love- so much of what our culture is about is frankly not love. It doesn't have to be about romantic love- just love in general. Third I celebrate February because that is the month that Kyle was born!!!! We celebrated this year by taking Jonah to his first hockey game. He really loved it! I think he liked looking at all the lights and spending time with his dad. We got him little noise canceling head phones so the noise of the arena would not hurt his ears and he tolerates them. Although the first time we put them on him we was truly horrified as you can see in the photo below.
We will be moving this Wednesday to our NEW HOUSE in Salem and WE HAVE MOVERS!!!! The only move that was easier was when we had almost no belongings after the house burned down.

Escargot

This week we start on two new adventures.
First Kyle starts his job at an orthopedic physician assistant at HOPE Orthopedics in Salem, OR.
It is amazing to think that after a long road of late nights studying, hands on training all over the state of Oregon, and passing his boards that he is starting his new career this week.
Kyle looked high and low for jobs in family practice in Bend, Tahoe, and Portland. There were simply none to be found or they were not willing to hire a new graduate. We are so thankful and fortunate that HOPE Orthopedics was hiring and willing to take on a new graduate. As a result of Kyle taking this job we will be moving to Salem. This is where the escargot comes in  . . . at first glance Salem seems like a bit of a snail. It is far from the mountains and the snow that Kyle and I both love dearly. It is a hard working town in the middle of a giant rainy valley. So, it's going to need some butter and garlic to become a place we feel at home fulfilled.
The butter and garlic so far are  . . . Kyle's parents live about 30-40 min from Salem and this will ensure that Jonah will know them well. My cousin Jessie and her husband live in Salem and we will get to see them much more than we do now. Kyle has a job there and I will not have to go back to work. We are in escrow on a beautiful home that matches pretty much our description of the perfect home.
 Here is a link to the listing for our new home. (We are still in escrow so I guess it is not officially ours yet).
http://192ruralave.com/

So, the second adventure is the start of my 31st year on this planet. As I look back over being 30 I realize just how much 30 really was the year of the baby. Bringing Jonah into this world was such an honor and beautiful process (with a few bumps along the way) I feel certain that my 30th year was well spent. So, what does that leave for 31? As I walked through the forest of Central Oregon yesterday the answer was clear to me  . . .
31 is the year of the mother.
For starters I am letting go of worry a.k.a fear and embracing love.  This is an excellent opportunity to practice living in this moment and bringing my light to those moments.
I am looking forward to shaping who I am as a mother and seeing what lies naturally within and I have to say so far so good.

 Jonah wearing his little sheriff outfit from Uncle Hyfte and Auntie Danielle on New Year's Eve.
Below, Jonah is starting to really enjoy looking at new his toys and sometimes he reaches out for them.

 I think he would sleep for 24 hours if someone was holding him . . . sleeping on his own . . . not so much.

~Emily

Christmas Memories

Uncle Ty, Papa Mark, Jonah, and Dad posing like Jonah

Papa Mark, Mama, Dad, Jonah, and Granny

Jonah and his smile: priceless

Before the memories begin to fade as we are propelled into 2011 I want to share some thoughts and photographs from Jonah's first Christmas. We visited Arizona to spend Christmas with my family. It was a really big treat to be there as both of my grandmothers were there as well as my brother and his girlfriend who moved to New Zealand last year. It was perfect timing for them to meet Jonah as they met during the week that Jonah had mastered a heart melting smile. It was so great to see Jonah and our family bond so deeply. We marveled over and over again at our fortune as we spent time with so many generations of our family.
Jonah continues to be as easy going, charming, and delightful as a baby could possibly be. As mentioned previously he has started to smile and suck on his hands. He is also sleeping longer at night (sometimes more than 5 hours at a time).
Tyler and Jonah took many a "walk around the house" and we all would laugh at how small Jonah looked in his arms.
Tyler, Kyle, and Mark transformed back into kids again as they flew thier remote control helecopters all around the house.
His Auntie Mae figured out that if you squeeze Jonah's cheeks when in the right mood he will smile on que!
Grandma Joyce (GiGi to Jonah) spent hours on the couch holding Jonah when he slept. Grandma Frances comforted him when he was extra fussy at night humming and singing in his ear and telling him she hoped he sings better than she does.
His Granny was quoted saying, "Jonah, that is the sun!" as he had his first sun bath near the window. (We don't get much sun in Oregon this time of year).
His Papa Mark (aka Sir) gave Jonah his first baby massage and bounced him on his knee pretending that he was riding a buckin' bull.
We ate like Kings, visited with my cousin Bear and his family, and reconnected with friends.
Christmas can be about so many things. This year for me Christmas was about new beginnings and that ever awe inspiring way that love continues to expand and change if we allow it to. We are looking forward to being as present as possible to that love in 2012.

Grandma Frances, Papa Mark (aka Sir), Jonah, and Mama

Our Holiday Newsletter

“This bridge will only take you halfway there, to those mysterious lands you long to see. Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fair, and moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share the twisting trails and wonderous worlds Ive known. But this bridge will only take you halfway there. The last few steps you have to take alone.”
Shel Silverstein

In so many ways for us 2010 has been the year of the bridge. So many things that at the start of 2010 were just ideas have become reality. In the year of the bridge I feel we have learned many things and thought that may be a good way share our experiences with you. 


This year we learned  . . .


the feeling of terrified excitement when you find out you are having a baby. 
accomplishment as Kyle walked across the stage at graduation officially becoming a Physician Assistant.
confidence as Kyle passed his certification exam to become a Certified Physician Assistant. 
sorrow as we said goodbye to Emily's Grandfather, Allen King. 
about inner tranquility surfing on the Oregon coast. 
an inner "cool" as Emily enjoyed Phoenix in August with girlfriends from Yellowstone. 
to savor the taste of deep fried pickles, deep fried cheese curd, and Sweet Martha's hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair. (Thank you Hyfte!)
peace as we hold our brand new son tightly in our arms and hearts and prepare ourselves to be our best for him.
the true meaning of being thankful for the medical staff that cared for Jonah after he was born and not breathing. 
surrender as we pick up from where things are instead of where we want them to be. 
connection when things get hard in life  . . .  there are so very many people who are there for you to lean on. 
to laugh at all the funny little things you do when sleep deprivation really sets in . . . 
fortitude as we learn to be a mother and a father.
patience as we apply and interview for jobs for Kyle. 
how huge the Anderson side of Kyle's family is as we all gathered for a family reunion in Minnesota over Labor Day Weekend. 
excitement as Emily turned 30 years old and celebrated with friends in South Lake Tahoe. 
to pause and look up at the stars on our many camping trips this summer. 
thrill of riding a vintage Honda motorcycle that Kyle and Emily's dad and many friends along the way helped to restore. 


We are looking forward to 2011 and all that it has in store for us. We hope that your year has been as full of learning and amazing experiences as ours has been. Happy Holidays and we hope that the "Holiday Spirit" has a good hold on you!!!!

Here we go

Hello to all.  This is the beginning to a whole new world, being parents.  We welcomed our own little one into this world, Jonah Elias Erkkila on 11/11/10.  We have had a wonderful 3 weeks of life.  We have traveled to the coast for Thanksgiving and shared the holiday with Mormor and Papa and aunt Kelsi.  Our little one did great in the car and has been an easy baby so far.  We love the grunts, burps, and sneezes.  We love the time we have been able to share with Jonah.  We will be updating as regularly as possible.