Some Anika facts: Her name is Scandinavian, meaning “gracious and merciful”. Hers is spelled with one ‘n’ and pronounced like Veronica, without the ‘ver’ – just the ‘onica’. Her middle name is Ekis. Ekis is my paternal aunt, and while Tia (Aunt) Ekis is no longer with us, she remains very much alive in the energy and spirit of our Anika. Tia Ekis earned her name for being the 10th child and first girl born to my paternal grandparents – after 9 boys (my father, Jose, is the 9th boy). Ekis means ‘tenth’ or X in Roman numeral. While there are many definitions of what 10 symbolizes, here is a general one we like: The perfection of divine order.

Our new order is parenthood, and while it is divine, it is far from perfect! What is perfectly divine is our Little Miss Anika Ekis: Her smile is as bright as the sun and the moon and all the stars combined. Her laugh is contagious. Her pudginess seems to elicit the desire of many to “gobble her up”, and we do! She provides endless hours of entertainment. Her cuteness factor is off-the- charts, and while we didn’t know what to expect, we surely did not expect this!…She’s a dream, and we are delighted to share her with you – here she is in her first year!

First Four Months
Five to Ten Months
Ten to Twelve Months

Oh, and her birth photo (above) won a photo contest that depicted the 2010 theme for Attachment Parenting International ~ Attached At The Heart. It will grace their new 2010 magazine. The same photo also graces the cover of the Infant Massage USA 2010 Calendar. Fun! This photo is not a studio shot. Anika took this position all on her own. She had fallen asleep in my arms and on my lap. Doug captured the moment, and little did we know what he captured! It’s our very own “Photo of the Year”! A little update on us – the parents and the dog: Doug and I are stay-at-home parents. Doug works from home as an independent contractor in software development. I am Anika’s primary caregiver and Doug is primary caregiver to all of us. It’s a team effort – even Django helps by the fact that he has accepted Anika as a “member of the pack.” While he doesn’t pay much attention to her, Anika is fascinated with him. Django follows us everywhere we go in the house and hardly leaves Anika’s side – he is the nonchalant sentry. I am working a little these days. Anika is my focus.

We’re fortunate to be sharing our journey with you and hope to see you or hear from you soon – if we haven’t already! May your New Year be all what you hope and dream it to be. Enjoy, Cherish and Cheer!….There is so much to celebrate. Hugs & Love!

The Reese Family
~ Suzanne Pampita, Doug, Anika & Django (woof!)

If you are receiving this greeting in paper form, we do not have you registered for an electronic greeting. Last year, we asked those of you who have an e-mail address to please register your address on dougandsuzanne.com. In an effort to use less paper and pursue “greener” greetings, we ask that you register your e-mail address on dougandsuzanne.com. Next year, you will receive a “green greeting”. ~ In the meantime…We wrapped up 2006 with a relaxing Mediterranean getaway visiting our great-aunt Sylvette in Cassis, France – right on the French Riviera. Our New Year was, as usual, quiet… and then arrived 2007…

Suzanne – I didn’t travel as much this year and rather enjoyed working closer to home and simply being home more. I was in N&S California, the UK, and in Florida – I did a series of parent education videos for Newbaby.com, and I did my first interview on a live L.A. news show – that was fun. The most notable of trips this year was a humanitarian mission to Belarus. The kids are doing great, the asylum is a proper children’s home now, and it’s one of my favorite places on earth.

Doug continues with his work at MP3tunes and leads a software team through the technological challenges that makes music storage accessible for music lovers everywhere. The days of storing physical compact discs are over. The digital age of music is here, and Doug and his team are building what has become the leading online digital music storage facility. Doug is still playing guitar, and he will be arranging and performing the music on Suzanne’s first CD of songs for infant massage – due out sometime in 2008.

Summer Bonuses: Doug donned his first hemp suit as Best Man for the eco-friendly wedding of his brother Chad and a lovely gal named Melissa. It was a friends & family-filled fun weekend. We are so happy to welcome Melissa into the family. Also, we were visited by our cousins from France, the Riou Family – that was so much fun!

Well, that’s pretty much it folks! As the New Year rolls around, we wish you all a happy and healthy 2008….and don’t forget, if you have an e-mail address, please register it at dougandsuzanne.com – thanks!…..Love, Doug & Suzanne