Hello friends
and family! Benjamin, here. I hear that this time
of year a lot of people write Christmas letters. My parents didn’t think they’d
get around to it, so I decided to help. Don’t tell them, though. They haven’t
figured out that I know how to use a computer yet. Mom told me that last year the
whole Hicks family came and stayed with them in California. This year we get to
travel to Minnesota and Iowa to see family and friends. I’ll get to meet a lot
of new people, and I might even get to see snow! I’m not sure what snow is, but
it sounds interesting.
Zulu says we
live on Camp Pendleton, which is kind of by San Diego. Mom and Dad think we
will move sometime next year, but we won’t know when or where for awhile yet.
Based on the stories I hear, it seems like the Marine Corps likes to keep
families guessing.
Dad is in the
Marine Corps, which I think is really, really, cool. He says his job can be
pretty boring at times, but sometimes they get to do exciting things like shoot
big guns, called Howitzers. He’s had a couple of different roles this year within
his artillery battalion. First, he was a logistics officer, and helped the
batteries prepare for and execute field exercises, as well as day to day
operations. Then, he started as the intelligence officer. This position is an
interesting one, as Dad is not an intel officer by trade. Dad works really
hard. Mom says he likes to leave things better than they were before he got
there, so when he moved to a new office, he worked really hard to clean it up
and get it organized. He had to leave for a couple of weeks for a field
exercise, and has 24-hour duty a couple of times a month. I miss him a lot when
he’s gone, and so does Mom, but we’re both very proud of him. In his down time,
Dad likes to add to his Star Wars Lego collection. It’s very impressive! I hope
someday he lets me play with them.
At the
beginning of the year, Mom worked for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society on Naval
Base San Diego. They are a non-profit that helps Marines and Sailors in
emergency situations, and teaches them valuable financial skills. Mom’s job was
to help recruit, train, and manage the volunteer staff (between 100 and 120
volunteers, depending on the month). She stopped working there in May in order
to get ready for my arrival. Mom really liked her job. She worked with the best
people, and she loves the society. She said it was a challenge – always more to
do than she had time for, but she liked that. She misses working there, but is
very glad to be home with me. Mom has continued to volunteer for the family
readiness program for Dad’s unit. In April, she and some of her friends were
recognized with the Molly Pitcher Award for their volunteer work. Mom likes to
cook, and is on the meal train team for our church and the battalion. She also
likes to walk with Zulu and I, and reads books after I go to bed. She’s
planning to start volunteering at NMCRS again (Camp Pendleton office), but we’re
waiting until I can get registered for childcare.
Mom and Dad did a couple
of fun things this year before I was born. In January, they went to a Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers game.
It was the last game for the Chargers before they moved to LA. Dad’s favorite
NFL team is the Kansas City Chiefs. He told me I shouldn’t like them, though, unless
I want to spend 60 years being disappointed in the post season. The Fjeld and
Hochstein families stayed in the area in January. Dad joined the guys for a
round of golf, and mom enjoyed a relaxing manicure and pedicure with the girls.
They also toured the mission at San Juan Capistrano.
At the end of
March, Mom and Dad each took a week off work and had a “Staycation.” They
decided they wanted to spend some good, quality time together before I came and
things got busier. They went to the Farmer’s Market in Vista, Liberty Station,
Balboa Park, the Del Mar dog beach, the Sunset Market, a movie night at church,
and the Lakers vs. Clippers game. They also did some antique browsing, played
Frisbee golf, explored the gardens at Brengle Terrace Park, played with dogs at
the animal shelter, and ate out often.
Before I was
born, a lot of people gave us really nice gifts. Mom and Dad said that many
people already cared about me before they met me, which is something to be very
grateful for. In March, Aunt Heidi hosted an incredibly cool Harry Potter
themed baby shower for family and friends in Minnesota. In May, Mom’s amazing
co-workers hosted a shower in California, where she was joined by friends from
work, volunteering, neighbors, and more.
Now, let’s get to the real
story – when I made an appearance! Dad was supposed to be gone for six weeks at
a big field exercise, but luckily, at the last minute, he got to stay home to
make sure he was there for my arrival. May 28th came, and I heard
Grandpa and Grandma Hicks were flying in. They sounded like two people I really
wanted to meet, so I decided to come a couple of days early and met them on the
day they flew in! That was quite the day. It was so amazing to see my Mom and
Dad’s faces for the first time. I think my Mom still had a lot of words to
learn, because all I heard her say over and over again was, “You’re so cute.” I
am pretty cute.
We had a lot of
visitors after I came. Grandpa and Grandma Hicks stayed for a week after I was
born. Neighbors, co-workers, and friends brought meals for Mom and Dad, which
was nice, because I was able to have all of Mom’s attention. When I was two weeks old, the Hildebrandt family came – Grandma
and Grandpa, Aunt Heidi, Uncle Jeremy, Cousin Anneka, Uncle Isaac, and Aunt
Lydia. In July, Mom’s cousin Mindy came. Mom was very
happy to have their company, even though I didn't let them wander far from home.
In August, Grandma and Grandpa Hicks came out
again for a couple of days. This time I was more energetic and social. They
couldn’t believe how much I had grown! Then, Uncle Turner, Aunt Staci, and
Cousin Preston stayed for a week. We had a lot of fun. I wasn’t
quite sure what to think about Preston. He was pretty loud and can do a lot
more than I can. Mom and Dad said it was a good preview for what I will do
someday soon! Finally, in October, Grandpa and Grandma Hildebrandt came out for
a long weekend. We packed a lot of fun in a couple of days. In the fall, we also enjoyed a couple of visits from Great Aunt Patty, who lives nearby. Mom and Dad like
having a guest room, because it makes it easy for them to host visitors. I like
when people come too, because Mom and Dad actually get out and do fun things
like go to the ocean, parks, the market, and more.
In November, Mom and Dad
took me up to Long Beach to stay on a really cool ship called the Queen Mary. Mom
and Dad attended the Marine Corps Ball, and dressed up in fancy outfits. They
left me in childcare, and I was pretty scared. I cried most of the time and
didn’t sleep much, but I tried to be brave. We got to spend the night on the
ship, and in the morning we walked around and explored. I fell asleep. Mom and
Dad thought it was cooler than I did.
Mom and Dad say I’m
growing fast – maybe too fast. I try to learn a lot and figure out the world
around me. Everything is so interesting! I like music, and have a great time “drumming”
on toys and playing my piano. I think Mom and Dad want me to crawl soon, like
other babies, but I really don’t care about crawling. I’d much rather sit or
work on standing and “walking.” I’ve got two teeth and I hear more might be
coming. I hope not, because they weren’t that fun to grow.
The doctor says I’m tall and skinny. I’ve tried some solid foods, but I don’t see what’s so exciting
about them yet. Mom talks about how I sleep, a lot, which I don’t really understand.
She says sleep is nice, but I don’t always agree with her. Some weeks, I sleep
well, because I know she needs it, but other weeks I like to wake her up
every hour or two, just to make sure she's not having any fun without
me. Mom says her brain doesn’t work as well since I came along, but my smiles
make it all worth it.
I like that we
have a dog. Zulu is so fun to watch. I laugh at her when she runs around the
yard with her toys. I really like her and always try to pet her when she’s in
reach. She’s not so sure about me yet. Sometimes she lets me pet her,
and sometimes she runs away. She likes to bark at the neighbors, and birds, and
the wind blowing. It’s loud, and sometimes it makes me cry. The highlight of
her year was almost killing a (real) duck in our yard. Mom had to separate them.
It was pretty ridiculous.
I think I got a little
carried away. If you’re still reading, I’m glad you made it this far. Life was
pretty exciting in the Hicks house this year, and I’m glad to be a part of it.
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and that whether you are with friends
or family, you experience great joy and hope.
I’ve
got to get back to bashing toys together. Mom just finished the dishes, so she’s
going to check on me. If she asks about the letter, tell her Zulu did it.
Merry Christmas!
Love, Benjamin David Hicks
