From the time I was a little girl I can remember how much I loved being around babies. I wanted to hold them, play with them, and make them laugh. Becoming a mother was something I knew I wanted. After marrying Chris we discussed what the best timing of children would be. He was much more pragmatic about it. We ended up waiting until I was pretty comfortable in my nursing career to try for kids. When it didn’t happen after the first month I was shocked. I assumed after all these years of trying to prevent pregnancy that when I stopped using birth control, or as Chris puts it, we pulled the goalie, that it would just happen. Finally, six months later I remember feeling a little queasy, I was tracking my cycle and just had a feeling this was it. After many home pregnancy tests (I wanted to make sure they were accurate) I had an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy. Sure enough there was a bouncy lil gummy bear that appeared on the screen. I was overjoyed! I thought, I am going to have my lil baby that I’ve dreamt of my whole life! Finally!
Anya Monnett Ann Pivonka was born on August 28, 2010 at 2:10pm. The first few weeks my husband Chris and I set an alarm so every day we could celebrate the exact moment she entered our lives. She was two weeks late and if it was one day later I would have been induced. She came flying out into the world doing a star jump (literally!) and now that we know her it definitely suits her personality. On her time, often Hawaiian time (late) and with quite an entrance!
Anya stands for the inexhaustible one and if you’ve met Anya, you understand that the shoe fits. Whether she is skipping around from room to room or going non stop with no breaks in whatever sport she is playing Anya does not half-step. She is the epitome of a spunky red head, she is so full of life and brings joy to every person she meets. She loves swimming, soccer, little babies, and most of all her young twin siblings. She is an amazing big sister and the most wonderful daughter Chris and I could ever imagine.
In her early experience in social settings Anya has always gravitated toward those that needed her. In the kids club at the gym she can often be found helping with the babies or holding court talking to the employees rather than engaged in shenanigans. In Hawaii there are many Japanese families who’s children’s first exposure to English is away from the home. In pre-school and kindergarten she made close friends with shy small kids who didn’t know much English and formed bonds that made them feel welcome and that they belonged, to the point where their parents sought us out to express gratitude.
I thank God for m giving me Anya and moreover for giving me her first. She couldnt be a better example to her brother and sister.
