Guess what, good news—we’re all still alive!
Now a family of four, slowly learning to thrive.
Milo's fourth year—and first as big brother,
Hovering ‘round Andie, like a fairy godmother.
Toy-drops in her lap; an attempt to play fetch,
Food-missiles from highchairs, he’ll happily catch.

Andie Jane, good gracious, where do we start?
Perhaps through numbers, your life we can chart!
Nearly eight-hundred photos uploaded to Google,
Eleven pounds gained, thousands of snoogles.
Three-hundred-and-nineteen days on this earth,
Five teeth, a few diapers, since the day of your birth.

And the first couple months? I won’t lie, a bit tricky.
New routines, new smells, cleaning stuff that was sticky.
But the intro to parenthood, the infant transition?
Made smoother, by friends and fam on a mission.
They came by with formula, food and big smiles,
They came down the street; they drove many miles.

Big thanks to those humans who gave of their time,
Throughout the first year—you’ve all been sublime.
And from inside our household, the real M-V-P?
Has been dearest Sarah, world’s greatest queen bee!
From the start of day one, through each winter night,
Our home? Filled with love, and motherly might.

At Wolf Creek Elementary, in the kindergarten pod,
A new teammate in tow! Now part of the squad.
No surprise, Sarah’s foot? It’s still on the pedal.
In year nine of teaching, she brought home a medal.
“A toast!” I proclaim, “Raise a glass, and a cheer…
To our own household hero, and Teach. of the Year!”

And what about dad? Who the heck really knows.
But I now count my blessings on both fingers and toes!
Taking down trees, etching stuff with a laser,
Spoke at a wedding, built sites for fundraisers.
Maple from grandpa, renewed and restored,
Andie’s new crib, from a shop class headboard!

Those two Shaffie cousins, cruise the farm in their Gator,
Rehaan got published; Meg’s a rental real-estate-er!
Maintaining B-1s, at Ellsworth A-F-B,
Mike polished off his Aeronautics Degree!
Big Al, between her speech therapy flexin’,
Got engaged to Sir Tyler, a most lovable Texan!

Andie’s grandparents? All superb in their roles,
Helping us manage the parental controls.
The Dwyers? Trips to KC they’re augmenting,
Chillin’ with Andie after three-day eventing!
The Swensons? Host Christmas for new family in-state,
Piling high Swedish pancakes on every plate!

Throughout the twelve months, we left Stilwell Station…
To Lake Hubert, a summery lake-time vacation,
Virginia, a wedding; Winter Park for the day.
A Prairie Rose dinner for grandma’s birthday,
Casey to Phoenix, for Jake’s bachelor bash,
Sarah to Waco, giving Jo-Jo some cash.

‘Tis a common refrain; “the time flew so quick!”
But over the years, since starting this shtick,
I cannot recall twelve months and their days…
Where the sand of the ‘glass flowed in so many ways.
The minutes and hours? At times, they were crawlin’...
But days and the weeks? Sure seemed to be haulin’.

No doubt that this trend will continue next year,
So the moments, I think, we just need to hold dear.
More than ever, we’re thankful for family and friends,
Who help us work through all of life’s odds and ends.
As we wrap up two-two, and peak ‘round to two-three,
Well-wishes to you and your family tree.

Happy holidays from our crew to yours!

♥ Sarah, Casey, Andie & Milo