The Ma Family

We hope this greeting finds you well! 2016 was a rollercoaster of a year as we adjusted to Mary’s arrival. We were also glad to have had family trips to Toronto, ON; the Oregon coast; Vancouver, B.C.; and soon to the New Jersey/Philadelphia area.

Andrew has enjoyed the sweetness that comes with having girls and loves spending time with his daughters. He’s starting to give Timothy piano lessons, and his eager protégé is having fun with it. Business travel increased quite a bit for him as he grew in his role at Groupon and became a director.

Jenny’s 2016 has been challenging and faith-building with our school journey and caring for three littles. Although busy with lesson preparations, she continues to enjoy Bible study and is learning a lot about teaching children through BSF and our homeschool curricula this year. She’s also excited to stand by her longtime sister-friend Lauren as she gets married soon!

Timothy had a fun year of growing and getting to know his sweet baby sister, daily expressing his great love for her. He enjoys music and is eagerly learning to play songs. He also likes to write sweet notes, post signs around our home, and caption his illustrations and crafts. Timothy has grown in his love for the Bible, books, and magazines; often expressively reading to his little sisters, too.

Grace enjoys outings/dates with just Papa or Mama, helping in the kitchen, and “chatting” with her sister.  She’s often found reviewing her favorite books or pushing dolls, bags, and play food around the house in a stroller. Our very spirited little girl has been adjusting to being both a younger and older sister and shocks Jenny with how much Grace is like her mama in personality.

Mary’s first year was challenging healthwise, but this sweetie is tough and continuing to grow stronger. We praise God for His mercy and His people’s prayers! Mary is affectionate and delights us with her giggles and wiggles. She loves feeding herself, chasing us, dancing, and pulling herself up to bounce and stand. She was Mama’s travel buddy to the East Coast in September and did so well on the planes, trains, buses, and subways.

We are now, more than ever, longing for the reign of Jesus in our broken world. We’re praying you find your hope in Him as well. Cheers to 2017!

As we prepared to celebrate Easter, Timothy and Grace enjoyed learning new songs and outside play time that accompany the warmer weather. The unpredictability of many our days has me adjusting  my expectations of what we’re able to get done each week. Our new normal means I shouldn’t be in much of a hurry to get things done, and that our weeks are pretty much spent at home around the girls’ naps. It’s been really sweet to see Timothy and Grace grow as older siblings. They both enjoy trying to entertain Mary and their baby sister is a pretty patient audience to their performances. Since outings are more challenging to time, we’ve been making more use of our front lawn this year to have picnics while Mary naps.

Celebrating Resurrection Sunday this year was especially fun as the older children showed more interest and understanding of why we celebrate our hope in a Risen Savior. Our Lent readings and activities and readings spurred on discussion and tradition-building as they learned new hymns and discovered new treats. They enjoyed their Easter baskets, eating Resurrection rolls for breakfast, proclaiming He is Risen, and having friends over for brunch. I was especially heartened by the reality of a risen and victorious Savior as the reality of my own sin needing atonement. A gracious and loving Savior who took on my anger, fears, shame, resentment, impatience, faithlessness and numerous other failures has been a source of truth and solace lately as I continue to stumble along in motherhood. What a joy that we actually get to celebrate the reality of the resurrection every week in our church family gatherings!

The older kids have enjoyed exploring outside and we’re anticipating the garden and fruit trees blossoming and bearing fruit this spring and summer. Northwest springs and summers are so nice! We’re also excited (and a bit daunted, honestly) by our upcoming trip to Toronto as a family of five, and look forward to the fun times we’ll have with family and old friends.

March

Busy scribblers

Rocking out for baby sister to enjoy

Balloons galore

Happy little girl

Hang on!

Cruising

They sure have our hearts

Pensive Mary

Matching outfits from Aunty Sophia

Grace likes to help wipe Mary’s drool

Mealtime shenanigans

Thankfulness chain

Still can’t believe she’s two

Papa with his hands full of sweetness

Egg dying!

They’re done!

3 months old

Ready to eat the hot cross buns

We’re almost all looking

Egg hunting

Got some!

So many flowers

Mama and the girls

Jubilant on Easter morning

Excited for their baskets on Resurrection Sunday

He is Risen!

Big kids with their bags

Following along in the Jesus Storybook Bible

April

Hanging with Mina Ma!

He loves dear baby sister so much

Her first tea party was so fun

Happy Birthday, Ellie Grace!

Special ladies time together

Everyone wants tummy time

Going to work

Sibling love

4 months old

Crazy trio

Timothy wants a dog…and a brother

(Fat) squirrel-watching

These days are full in many ways with all the messes, requests, meals, and cuteness these young years bring. We’re incredibly grateful for all the help we’re able to have during this season. I’m thankful for a supportive and helpful husband, parents-in-law, and the postpartum doulas who have served our family very well. Homeschooling has definitely slowed down a lot since Mary’s arrival, but all the help we’re receiving still allows me to get some time with Timothy to continue some of the lessons that he’s so excited to do together. I’m thankful he picked up reading pretty well in the month before Mary’s birth because it has helped him pursue a lot on his own as an eager student.

Timothy has been thrilled to see Mary every single morning and all throughout the day. We really couldn’t have prayed for a sweeter big brother for Mary and continue to praise God for giving him a tender and thoughtful personality. Grace’s zeal for Baby Mary is cute, and we’re working on ways to include her safely. She’s so eager to say hi to and touch her precious little sister. It’s been challenging for me to find dedicated time to spend with the older children, and am beginning to really sense why middle children can often feel lost in the mix. It sure explains some of my own angst growing up! Our son has risen to the occasion in multiple ways as a helping firstborn, becoming more independent and caring. He has even taken on sorting and folding Baby Mary’s laundry because, as he states in Chinese, “Mama is so tired.” Moments like this in the midst of the newborn fog are just too precious!

This stage of cuteness is passing more quickly than I realize even though the days can feel so long. Having little ones less than two years apart each has been so sweet in some ways, but hard in many others. We started February with a scary stay at Seattle Children’s Hospital because Mary caught RSV from the older two and needed breathing support. It was such a blessing to have grandparents here to help with the older two children while I was at the hospital with Mary. She’s a trooper and has since recovered well with no further respiratory issues.

Grace turned two, and was so happy to celebrate her “happy day” with cake. She’s grown up in so many ways, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she grows this year. It was a treat to get to celebrate early with my in-laws and again with some friends at our house. I also enjoyed seeing Grace show so much enthusiasm and understanding of it being her birthday this year. This spunky girl of ours continues to wow us with her funny attitude, cute pretend play, and healthy appetite.

January

He tells us she’s beautiful

She looks like her big brother

Snuggly sleeper

Precious little present

Admiring his baby sister

Painting with water together

Funny children and baby dolls

Whipping up something good

Reading with Grampa and Grandma Ma

Silly girl hanging out in the bouncer

Papa loves his little girls

Sweetly imitating Yeh Yeh

Grace digs the view from up high

Post-naptime cuddles

Sporty sisters with headbands knit by Grandma

Focused on his duet with Mah Mah

Twas a puzzling morning for Timothy

Stuffing some dumplings

Celabrating Grandma and Grace’s birthdays early

We were sad for their visit to end

Pretty much how photos go nowadays

Bang trim time!

Taking advantage of dry weather

Twinning jammies

Brother always wants in, though

Ready to party

Partying amigas

Happy 2nd Birthday, Grace!

Enjoying time with Elena

Jam session

Loving on baby sister

We love this little sweety

Boy cousins time

2 months old

Little sweet smile

Pre-bedtime snuggles

Sweet brother reads often to his sisters now; such a gift