All the Christmas trees have made their trip to the great forest in the sky, which means it's time for the Scherling family's annual, awkward, third-person (usually late) Christmas letter! Perhaps Anna and Ian should admit defeat and call it a New Year letter, but they're optimists at heart.
2017 was hard. amazing. exhausting. exhilarating. epic.
After 14 weeks of preparation, Ian labored for five weeks, resulting in a brand new bathroom! Meanwhile, Anna prepared for 37 weeks and 3 days and labored for 7.5 hours, resulting in a brand new baby! Lucy's birth story is a novel, full of twists and turns like "gestational hypertension" (Anna) and "hypoglycemia" (Lucy) that resulted in modified bedrest, an April birthday, and 21 days in the NICU.
A huge shoutout to our incredible community near and far. Renovating your only bathroom during a complicated pregnancy wouldn't be possible without help (and a place to stay: holla atcha Foxes!), and the same goes for surviving a NICU stay (see also: the people at the Brigham are the best). Thank you so much for all of the food, encouragement, time, energy, and love that got us through one of the more stressful and challenging seasons in our lives.
Following Lucy's cinematic arrival, the grandparents arrived in Boston to help Anna and Ian start their bumpy transition to parenthood. Even with the cutest, chillest baby on the face of the planet, it isn't all unicorns and rainbow poop (okay, maybe the poop thing), and extra hands attached to lots of experience make for slightly less sleep deprivation and more peace of mind.
In July, the family flew to Denver for Ren and Emily's wedding. Lucy rocked her first flights (although Ian and Anna might have had a few airport meltdowns), saw the completion of her aunt triple crown, and got to meet three great grandmas.
In the fall, Lucy got to meet/remeet all six of her aunts and uncles, and each visit brought its own epic stories (beaches, seafood, a towed car, a sleepless night, a shattered glass door). Ian also traveled to the Philippines for work, where he got to introduce a few coworkers to halo halo and also catch up with family (#DaezFamBamFTW). This trip coincided with Anna's return to work and Lucy's start of school, so Anna's mom came out to help once again. (Speaking of work and school, Ian and Anna have both found a good work/life rhythm, and Lucy, it turns out, is a social butterfly like her dad and LOVES school.)
And lest you think that Lucy's arrival means Astrid is banished from the Christmas letter, fear not! It took Astrid a little time to adjust, but she's now more snuggly than ever, joining the family for Lucy's bedtime stories every night and enjoying (assisted) belly rubs from her new sister. Cue the collective awwww.
Ian, Anna, and Lucy spent Thanksgiving with friends and Lucy's first stomach bug, and wrapped up the year with their annual Christmas trip, celebrating Lucy's first holiday season with family and friends.
2017 has brought so much change, growth, and joy. Lucy has experienced countless milestones and firsts, and despite Ian and Anna's exhaustion, worries, and confusion ("but you loved this oatmeal TWO MINUTES AGO"), her smiles, laughs, and conversations are worth everything.
The Scherlings hope your 2017 was just as joyful (and a little less stressful). Cheers to 2018!
Want more? Read past Christmas letters.
In July, the family flew to Denver for Ren and Emily's wedding. Lucy rocked her first flights (although Ian and Anna might have had a few airport meltdowns), saw the completion of her aunt triple crown, and got to meet three great grandmas.
In the fall, Lucy got to meet/remeet all six of her aunts and uncles, and each visit brought its own epic stories (beaches, seafood, a towed car, a sleepless night, a shattered glass door). Ian also traveled to the Philippines for work, where he got to introduce a few coworkers to halo halo and also catch up with family (#DaezFamBamFTW). This trip coincided with Anna's return to work and Lucy's start of school, so Anna's mom came out to help once again. (Speaking of work and school, Ian and Anna have both found a good work/life rhythm, and Lucy, it turns out, is a social butterfly like her dad and LOVES school.)
And lest you think that Lucy's arrival means Astrid is banished from the Christmas letter, fear not! It took Astrid a little time to adjust, but she's now more snuggly than ever, joining the family for Lucy's bedtime stories every night and enjoying (assisted) belly rubs from her new sister. Cue the collective awwww.
Ian, Anna, and Lucy spent Thanksgiving with friends and Lucy's first stomach bug, and wrapped up the year with their annual Christmas trip, celebrating Lucy's first holiday season with family and friends.
2017 has brought so much change, growth, and joy. Lucy has experienced countless milestones and firsts, and despite Ian and Anna's exhaustion, worries, and confusion ("but you loved this oatmeal TWO MINUTES AGO"), her smiles, laughs, and conversations are worth everything.
The Scherlings hope your 2017 was just as joyful (and a little less stressful). Cheers to 2018!
Want more? Read past Christmas letters.