December 2013
Dear Family & Friends,
We hope that our Christmas wishes find you well! As this year culminates, we are reflecting on the many blessings bestowed upon us. This year is going down in our history book as being one of our most momentous yet. Not too terribly long after mailing last year’s Christmas cards, God revealed His mighty sense of humor with us (again) and blessed us with twins, Julia Kristin and James William Durden. After a tough pregnancy, they were born healthy at 35 weeks on September 4th. Even as I look at them now, I still feel as though it’s all a dream (or perhaps a hallucination from sleep deprivation.) I can hardly believe it’s true; but we are all overjoyed by their arrival!
In June, Nick assumed command of a company in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The opportunity is such an honor to him and he is savoring every moment of this two-year assignment. The end of June he headed out for a six week deployment to Afghanistan and has since been home and busy with the fielding and new training requirements as his helicopter fleet transitions to a new model. Lucky for me, this training takes time, and he will (barring any unforeseen trouble in the world) be stateside until the spring!
A very astute passerby at Target aptly called me “the young woman who lived in a shoe” (I added the young part.) I didn’t know whether to applaud her for her unique and witty comment (I get lots) or to take offense for pointing out how ungracefully I manage our four kids under four. It’s not pretty, but so long as I end the day with everyone safe and fed, I consider it to be a success. For all the sleepless nights, showerless days and testing of patience, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so full of joy.
Emmy is nearly four going on fourteen. She not only looks like Nick but has also inherited his stubborn, I mean, perseverant nature and masterful negotiating skills. (Me: “Go to quiet time for 60 minutes.” Emmy: “How ‘bout 30?” Me: “No.”) She is keen on fashion, legos, reading books, coloring pictures, tea parties, cooking and babies. She has the most acute maternal instinct of any toddler I know, making her an exemplary biggest sis.
I attribute Hannah’s advanced “terrible twos” to her close observation of Emmy’s every move. Hannah is quick to laugh, is highly dramatic, and doesn’t give an inch to anyone. I sometimes worry about the other children, all boys, in her class at Mom’s Day Out, should she take issue with them. Hannah is big on trains (“woo!woo!” she says with a fist pump,) Caillou, animal noises, knock-knock jokes and her “baboos” (stuffed animals.) I’m pretty sure that Nick rushes home from work just to rock Sissy to sleep, because her cuddles are second to none.
Even though she is small in size, Julia has a smile a mile-wide, and shares it with us generously. I often find her flirting with the ceiling fan, batting her long lashes and boasting her body-shaker giggle. She is such a happy little sweetheart; rarely does she cry for anything other than a diaper change, a nap or a meal.
Speaking of meals, a friend told me that it looks like I gave birth to James and then, three months later, had Jules. Our boy is a sturdy little guy, and has been since the womb, consistently measuring in the 95th percentile of singleton babies. With his burly size, comes the kindest eyes and the sweetest closed-mouth smile. He stares at me intently for the duration of his feedings, making him the second boy to win over my heart. God is so good.
Wishing you and your families all the best in 2014! Merry Christmas!
With Love,
Nick, Ali, Emmy, Hannah, Julia, James, Molly & Darla Horn
