Po'okela 15 Months (early)

15 months Po'okela has brought so much more life into our lives! He actually will be 15 months on Thanksgiving day.  I tried to get an appointment early, but that didn't happen. So he will be going to my pediatricians daughter who has taken over the practice. I am super excited to see them and take Po'o to see someone I grew up seeing.  So I will post those stats when we get them in HAWAII!!

So far there is so much things he is getting into. He has mastered opening drawers, cabinet doors, closing bedroom doors and can move just about anything with pushing it.  He loves to throw things in the trash can. And will throw anything in it. Rylan always comes home and checks the trash can to pull things out Po'o has thrown away.  (which this has given us ideas for Christmas gifts).  He loves to drive his sisters toy cars with the remote, along with pushing his toy cars making "vroom" nosies.  Then he throws things... thankfully nothing heavy yet.  Lastly, we have pulled out the potty so he can explore with that. He likes to climb on it when Alohi goes in there to potty.  (Just this last week, he pointed to his belly while pooping. So I am hoping he will be a early and fast potty trainer like his sister was.)

He has gotten his first hair cut and this week we will give him another hair cut before we leave for hawaii.  I didn't realize how quickly boys hair grows. Thankfully we will be doing his hair cuts ourselves and maybe Rylan will get more hair cuts since we will do them both at the same time.  I have enjoyed giving him a mohawk and spiking it with gel.

Po'o loves to eat! He can put away 2 scrambled eggs along with toast and bacon or sausage for breakfast and probably more eggs if I let him.  He doesn't eat like this all the time, but for the most part he likes to eat.  There are times he shakes his head no to things, but after a while he normally taste it.  He still loves blue berries and strawberries, signs banana while trying to say it when he wants that.  I will let the pictures of him eating tell the rest.

 Yes, he can eat a an ice cream cone by himself. And that is after his lunch.

 Chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered strawberries are favorites!

 He does use a fork to stab things and his spoon to scoop things, but will always go back to using his hands if the food isn't getting to his mouth fast enough. And this picture was taken before his hair cut.

Below, is the kids eating at the "big" kid table. Po'o threw a fit and wouldn't eat until he got to sit with his sister at her table.

Oh... and he figured out that he really really likes candy. He will look for his Halloween bag when he wants a snack! And doesn't he look cute as a shark!!

As you can see he does a great job standing and is mastering walking. He can walk across the room without any help, but still crawls when he wants to get somewhere quicker.  I think he enjoys the falling into someones arms, because he loves to do that. Of course he would want to start doing this right before we get on an airplane, but it will help because I won't have to carry him so much! When Rylan gets there for Christmas I told him that Po'o will be running by then.

He is still a mama's boy, even though he calls me dada.  He can say dog, dada, mumumm and mama (only when he wants to). He signs a lot and has done his babbling.  Ohh, I forgot he says bird and points to the sky.

We have started working with hand-eye coordination skills with puzzles and sensory things. He likes to color and paint with his hands. He enjoys puzzles and books that let him move things.

It has been so much fun and I know there will be many more things to come! I will enjoy each moment!

I love that he is still my little boy that sucks his thumb, holds onto his moo cow and snuggles after he wakes up!

Busy

Things we have been doing instead of taking time to blog.

-Playing dress up.
-Working with Po'okela on his walking skills.
-MOPS fundraiser
-MOPS activities with group
-Play date with friends
-Never ending cleaning
-Working on Christmas gifts... Why so early? We will be in Hawaii for Christmas and I want to get things done before we leave.
-Getting meals ready for Rylan in the freezer for while I am gone and he's here.
-Putting baby baby stuff away that hasn't been used in last 2-3 months, especially the stuff Po'okela doesn't play with and things I don't use (like nursing stuff, bobby, shower seat, etc.)
-Fall crafts
-MOPS fall party
-Changing out summer clothing to our winter clothing. (summer clothing hasn't been put away because I am getting ready to pack for Hawaii and we will use those there).

Well I am sure there is plenty of other things that have been going on, but that's all I can think of.  I will leave you with kid pics!

These two always make me smile!! Have a great week!

Happy Halloween

There isn't much to write about this day because we didn't actually go trick-or-treating. But, we did have a pumpkin carnival at Central which was so much warmer and fun than trick-or-treating.  Alohi probably got more candy there than going door to door and there was no complaining about her feet hurting because she was so excited about playing games and winning prizes! Po'okela was perfectly happy getting passed around and handed candy, however he was exhausted because we stayed at the carnival much longer than we would have been out trick-or-treating.  

Anyways, when I asked Alohi want she wanted to dress up as it was no surprise to me. She wanted to be a princess.  I had originally planned on her being a Princess Tiana and Po'okela as the Gator Louie. Rylan and I thought we could be the frogs (when Tiana and Prince Navid are frogs). However with limited resources, lack of ambition, and well I just got lazy it didn't happen.  Plus, Alohi wanted to be Cinderella.  I was completely ok with this because I found her old shark costume and knew it would fit Po'okela. A little bit, but it worked.  

What Alohi didn't know what I had held back some of her princess stuff that would make her outfit even more perfect!!  Thankfully we got to do a practice run with the Library Time trick-or-treating that happened the thursday before Halloween.  Alohi's friend Carter was a police man. Alohi is in her princess gold cape. I still remember the gasp of the people already awaiting for library time to start when she walked in. 

Well some things we changed for Halloween was, instead of the gold side of the cape she wore just the white and she used her sliver gloves instead of her gold.  She was so happy when I put make up on her! However she wasn't too happy about the hairspray I added to keep her hair in place because I knew she would be doing running around at the Pumpkin Carnival!  Here is Cinderella Alohi!!

This is my absolute favorite of her!!!

Once she got done getting dressed and adding her light up heels, I started to get Po'okela dressed. Thankfully, his shark costume was much easier! All I had to do was put him in a hoodie and change his pants!  Here's my little jaws!! (the costume was so appropriate for how much he has been teething these last couple of weeks!)

Yes he popped this... with his teeth.

Here is the best picture I got of the both of them together. I am not sure what they are doing, but it was the best. I promise!

We headed to church a little early because I had helped make some pumpkin frames for all the kids coming and needed to get the magnet hot glued on before the carnival started.  Plus, Central has dinner every wednesday evening so we didn't have to think about dinner.  We had beef enchilada casserole. YUM! Po'okela ate it right up and Alohi didn't.  Then we headed back to the gym for the festivities! 

Alohi waiting just outside the gym with all the girls.

Before all the kids got to go play games, Autumn read them a pumpkin book that held examples of how we ca be Christlike to everyone during this season. My favorite part was the jack-o-lantern's light is how God whats His light to be shining in us! I am so happy with how Autumn always ties Godly things to the holidays celebrated!

While Alohi went with friends to play all the games (ring toss on the pumpkin, pumpkin fishing, pumpkin popcorn ball walk, golf, bowling, lollipop pull, balloon darts, etc...) I took Po'okela around to watch and then he hung out with his friend Brady.  I did pass him off to some friends so I could go with Alohi to play different games and I forgot to take pictures!  However, I am all for this to take place of halloween trick-or-treating! I was able to visit with friends inside a warm gym, Alohi got all her energy running around playing games while still getting treats, Po'okela was happy because he got to crawl around and we all still got a bunch of candy!  So I am glad we had the carnival!!

However, we stayed out much longer than we would have had we gone trick-or-treating and I did a horrible job monitoring how much candy each kid got (especially since Alohi didn't eat her dinner).  When Rylan and I got home we started to count up how much candy they each had...

Po'okela - 6

Alohi - 2

I am not sure how Po'okela got to eat so much, but he sure does know what candy is now!!

Happy Halloween everyone!! Up next... Thanksgiving... Then Christmas in HAWAII!!!

Mom & Dad

I know... It is just us, but how often do we ever get to be showcased in this blog.  Plus, this was at the Youth Night at the corn maze at we helped on.  During this picture I am sure Alohi was chasing after the cats or playing in the corn pit or climbing on the rope spider web or climbing on the hay or riding a tractor trike or who knows (It is okay she was with her friends having a blast and she didn't get hurt). I do know what Po'okela was doing. He was hanging out in his stroller next to his bud Brady waiting for a ride through the corn maze.  Anyways, I am so happy to be married to this guy!

First Hair Cuts

Rylan and I have been talking about how Po'okela was in need of a hair cut.  He kept getting called a girl with his shaggy hair.  I liked calling him my surfer boy!

However, after visiting with friends and hearing they they did their son's hair I got brave and decided we would cut his hair ourselves.  Even more so, Rylan cuts his hair himself and I go in to clean it up, do around his ears and neckline.  How hard could it be right???  Plus, I am thinking of all the $$$ we will save in the years to come since Rylan cuts his hair every 6-8 weeks and if we paid that ($15 each time maybe?) and then add Po'okela into that mix ($6-10 each time). That can add up to ALOT of money. Maybe we can put that $$ saved into his college fund.  

Here is his smile with his shaggy hair and he is pretty excited to see what is going to happen... 

Now, he isn't to sure about what is going on...

This picture is perfect to show the right side of his head has short hair and the other side had long.

The last bit of his shag.

Rylan didn't think I was doing a good job, so he took over.  I think I was a little too gentle... and emotional about the cuts.  

Here the big boy is! With a Twizzler in hand.

Of course I needed to take a picture of the locks on the floor. I couldn't believe how much hair he had and it is gone... I think this is a picture I will remember forever.

Later that night at dinner, he was still getting used to his hair. He would normally take his fork and run it through his hair (I wonder who he learned that from.... Sister and her Little Mermaid copying).  

I think he looks so handsome! He reminds me of my brother's pictures.

I am so glad we braved cutting his hair on our own. It will be something we will never forget!

Now Alohi and her hair is another story.  Before we left to move here to Scottsbluff, I wanted us to get our hair done with Tammy. She is so good and I just love how she cuts my hair.  I asked if she would do Alohi's hair and she said sure (but really didn't want to).  Here my sweet girl is and excited about her hair cut!!

Alohi got her little bits of blonde cut off the bottom... along with bangs.

I love this face... She isn't too sure anymore about this hair cut!

She did so good in the chair that Tammy actually said she was the best kid she has ever cut before!

After her cut, she looked so cute and like a big girl! She even got her hair curled!

Then she entertained us with her dancing and posing!

It is crazy to think that this was a year ago.... We cut her hair on Halloween because I remember going to IHOP after to get her a free kids pumpkin pancake.    She is due for another hair cut... but I am going to pay someone to do that for us.  Remember this.  I won't try to cut her hair again for a while....

Moving in...

So since I have been looking at pictures from last year this time.  My last blog was about moving out of our house, so why not go straight into the moving in part.  We moved our stuff out of our house on a saturday morning. We spent our last night in OKC with the Barnes.  Alohi got to spend lots of time with her Memaw and Pepaw!  Snuggles was on the agenda!

The next morning Memaw cooked us a great breakfast! Rylan and my dad left in the uhual an hour before us (kids, my mom and I). We were told to do this because the uhual needs more time on the road and isn't able to drive at the same speed as the car.  I was able to hold it together saying goodbye to friends, but when Memaw told me she loved me and would miss me I couldn't hold the tears back any longer.  I spent the first 20 minutes of our drive crying with my mom in the car.  Oklahoma you have been a wonderful place and I PRAY we can come back again... to live! We miss our Oklahoma family!

We met up with the Uhual in a small town in the middle of no where. I can't even remember the name of the town. We relaxed at the pool/jacuzzi and had a nice dinner at a little mexican place there.  Again the next morning, the uhual left an hour before us. We passed the uhual because Rylan's boss had asked him to stop to go over a few things and arrange for what he needed to do the next day when reporting to work (He was so tired!).  So we took a nice long stop to nurse, eat lunch and stretch.  Then stopped again to relax at Cabella's (they have super comfy recliners).  We were able to get to the house about 30 minutes after the boys arrived.  

Unfortunately, the boys had worked on the check list that we needed to do before moving in and they found that there was a lot of cleaning that needed to be done before things could get moved in. My mom and I did a lot more crying and venting because we had just left my house in OKC in sparkling condition. Now we had to do it again... It was exhausting, but the landlord did knock of a decent amount of money off the first months rent which made things a little better.

Rylan and my dad unloaded the following... bed, bassinet, crib mattress, couch, air bed and bedding. Along with the few items that were closest to the door. We just wanted to make sure we had comfy beds to sleep on that even.  Our family slept together in the same room that first night!

The next morning Rylan had to go into work and my dad unloaded as much as he could, while the snow fell...

 Rylan got home from his 1/2 day at work getting who knows what done (he doesn't remember because he was so tired) and they finished out unloading the truck.  Alohi took the snow as the opportunity to get out and play.

However, most of her time while moving in was spent playing on the iPad, watching movies, playing on the iPad and more movies. While Po'okela snoozed in bassinet or bouncy seat. I think the only time I actually sat was the nurse or stopped to sleep.

When moving, there is the never ending boxes....

My mom's goal was to get the kitchen in working order before she left and that was a HUGE blessing. My dad made sure the house was kid safe and that the house was in full functioning order (new thermostat, shower heads and a couple of other things... all of these things we will be replacing with the old stuff when we leave).  Rylan had the rest of the week off so we made a trip to Cheyenne, WY to SAM's Club to get food and things to get us set for the next couple of months and did lots more unpacking. I think my mom and I both would get 5-10 boxes done in a day.  But there are still boxes today that I have yet to unpack. I knew I probably wasn't going to use them and decided to just keep them packed. There are actually boxes that I want to fill up with stuff that we no longer use.  Plus, when we get the call that it is time to move again I will be that much closer to being ready for another move....