Happy Thanksgiving!

What am I thankful for?

When you really put that question into context, I can't help but think about all the people in the world that are less fortunate, that are alone, and that find themselves in a circumstance where safety and freedom are seldom felt and where love and happiness seems to be only seen in dreams.  I am so very thankful for the love that I am surrounded by.  I am thankful for my family, close and abroad for the history that they have given me.  I am thankful to my Grandmother and Mother whom raised me in the hardest of circumstances, providing me with the strength and courage I have today.  I am thankful for the love and support of my new family and all that they have taught me.  I am thankful to all the wonderful people that I am surrounded by everyday.  Most importantly, I am thankful for the woman that is my wife and soulmate, and the beautiful daughter that she has given me.  My love for them is surpassed with each and every day that passes.  And lastly, I am so thankful for the running water that I have to bath our little Naomi with, the warmth and shelter that I am able to place her under, the food that I am able to nourish her with, and the hopes and dreams that I know tomorrow will bring her.  

8 Months!

Dear Naomi,

I can't pinpoint when exactly, but at some point this past month you decided to start flapping your wings.  We've seen you stand, and heard all your new baby talk.  You love roaming the house and I can honestly say that it is getting harder to keep up with your little crawl.  It's sad to see you not able to fit in some of your older clothes, but also exciting to see you growing so quickly into new ones.  You grunt.  You laugh.  You show excitement for things and you absolutely love Olive and Q.  You are a champ at the park and you've made the playground yours, not afraid to climb over or through anything in your path.

There is so much more.  So many small intangible details that I could write about for hours.  But the gist of it all is that we are so immensely in love with you and all of your new beginnings.  And I know that you love us too.  I think my most favorite happening from this past month is for the first time, you leaned in to give me and Mama a kiss.  It was quite literally a melting moment for us.  My other favorite thing, walking in the door and seeing you greet me or your Mom with so much happiness and unfiltered joy.    We've learned so much about who you are, but you've also helped us learn so much about ourselves.  And just when we thought we had this whole love thing figured out, you taught us to never put a boundary on it, because it grows with each passing day, if that's even possible.  

Thank you Naomi.  Thank you for another amazing month and for showing us so much more of you. 

love,

Papa

 

Toshka, the one and only.

 

Dear Naomi,

You finally got a chance to meet your Great Uncle Toshka.  Toshka, or Tosh as we often refer to him, is a staple of loyalty and love in the family.  He's now in the winter of his years, but has lived seasons full of life.  Toshka is the first family dog.  Long before Olive or Qtip ever came along.  Even though those three have spent a little bit of time together on occasional visits, none of Tosh's wise temperment ever rubbed off on them.  But that's okay.  Every dog is different and we love Olive and Q for all their little quirks.  Afterall, Tosh is one of a kind.  Regal, loyal, handsome, strong.  

 

 

He was a natural with you.  Patient, curious, gentle.  I could tell that he would look after you and keep you safe.  He comes from a breed that was used to watch over children, so it's no surprise how his mannerisms were with you.  We hope for you to see him more often.  Perhaps as you get older and more capable, you may even get to hold the leash on a walk with the old boy.  For your mom and I, having these pictures of us together is such a sentimental thing.  You see, Tosh is not just a pet to us, he's a symbol of the family.  I have so many memories of visits to Tilden park where we would hike through the hills, occasional visits to Ocean beach, and of course the countless times we enjoyed walks over looking the Bay.  Although you were sleeping in your stroller, you had a chance to experience this for the first time as well.  

 

On the day that we first saw Tosh, we visited him and his siblings at his owners home not far from your Grandparents house.  We were there to pick out a little puppy as a gift for Nadia - which of course was a gift for all of us.  We had a hard time deciding and needed to think more about the decision, but as we were leaving the house, Tosh (then a nameless cute little pup), came running out after us through the front door as we walked towards the car.  That pretty much sealed the deal for us and the rest is now history.  As I look back at all the days past, I can't help but think how much better our lives have been with him in them.  It's easy to say that he needed a home, that he needed us.  I much more like to say that we needed him, and he helped make our home.  

love,

Papa

Alameda - Naomi visits for 1st time

In the spirit of celebrating Grandma Alla's birthday, we visited Alameda for the very first time with little Naomi.  Strange to think that we literally haven't been back here for over a year.  Even stranger to realize that as a pair, Nadia and I have actually been living in Los Angeles longer now than we had in Alameda.  That's just crazy talk, but true.  

Now it was time to finally brave the short travel from the warm never ending sunshine of southern California for the crisp air of the Bay Area, but this time, we were traveling with our precious baby girl to the place where her parents met and fell in love.  So many memories, so many stories.  Being back brings back thoughts of the days of school in the city, working as waiters and bartenters and hitting the gym together.  And as I found myself thinking about those days, and how much our future's were shaped by our time here together, I can't help but feel like we were saying hello to an old friend, not for the last time of course, but definitely it felt like a kind of passing of the torch.  It felt like we were visiting what used to be home, only now it's place has been taken by Los Angeles.  Not because we like it more, but because Los Angeles is where we have rooted ourselves with our own story to tell.  We have planted our own tree and have begun to grow our branches bearing whatever fruit we have to share with the world.  Los Angeles is the birth place of Naomi.  Our first born.  It's also the place we got married.  Call me sentimental if you will, but It's safe to say that Los Angeles is our home now.  

So being back in Alameda, seeing our dear family and celebrating Alla's birthday and Naomi's sort-of home coming was definitely like seeing an old friend who has been dearly missed.  We love the Bay Area, not just for the fact that our families are there, but also because of the foundation it gave to our relationship.  

This trip was all about joy and surprise - Joy in knowing we would all have a weekend together to be like we once were, and giving Naomi the opportunity to witness this - Surprise because we completely surprised my Grandmother by not telling her we would be in town and surprising her at the Shipovsky home.  It was also joyous because introduced Naomi to her Great Uncle....the one and only Toshka.  A moment Nadia and I have been waiting for, for a long time.  

Now that the weekend has come and gone, we bid farewell to celebrating another successful trip around the sun for Alla and saying hello to an old friend.  Thanks for the hospitality Alameda.

-HappyHubby 

Naomi at the park

I wish I could stop time.  I am reminded everyday of just how lucky I am to be a husband and father to both Nadia and Naomi.  It's not hard for me to conclude that I may quite literally be living the happiest days of my life.  That sentiment resonates in me like a beautiful song looping overhead as I play out my days loving this little family.  It's almost perfect.  It is perfect.  Perfect to me.  Every moment.  I just want things to slow down.  I love watching Naomi grow and blossom into this amazing life that she has so naturally and happily embraced, but I selfishly just want her to be like this forever.  I want these days to remain like this forever.  I know that won't happen and I know that each season that comes and goes will bring with them new memories of Naomi's life and of Nadia's life and of my life.  There is a warm comfort in knowing that all those memories will be formed together.  So even if I can't stop time from passing so quickly, I will cherish each and every moment.  Every step Naomi takes, every warm smile my wife sends me, every visit to the park and to the beach, every morning stroll with Naomi and the dogs, every thing that now has to offer.

The pumpkin patch

Dear Naomi,

Your very first Halloween is here and we took you to your very first pumpkin patch!  We are excited to get you all dressed up in your first costume, which Mama took very seriously in finding.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the costume which I know everyone is going to go crazy over.  We had a great time at the patch - in an L.A. sort of way.  After all, the patch wasn't at some distant farm like we had planned, but instead nestled right in the middle of West Hollywood and it was literally 90 degrees.  We found shade, trying our best to keep cool we found shape inside tee-pees, and most importantly, we took lots of fun pictures with you surrounded by pumpkins twice your size.  I would say it was a success.  We were joined by our good friends and best neighbors Emily & Cory whom you might remember from flying to Philadelphia for their wedding.  When we set up a little photo area for you, the crowd gathered to see who this amazingly cute little baby was, trying to eat a pumpkin.  In a place that featured a water slide, face painting, petting zoo, and lots of Halloween fair, you were definitely the star attraction.

love,

Papa