Po'okela 11 Month

We are less than a month away of the 1 year mark for Po'okela.  We celebrated his 1st luau with my parents while they were here visiting us and will blog about their trip and his party another time.

This month you have spent a lot of time in a car.  We drove back from OKC, which was stretched into 2 days of about 7-8 hours each day on the road.  Then to Denver to pick up nana & papa, then to Manitou, CO to visit with Mudi & Papa and of course the drive back to Scottsbluff (which was leaving at 8 in the morning and then driving/stopping along the way. We didn't get home until 7:30 that evening. LONG DAY).  The next weekend we went to Rapid City, SD which included more driving there and touring two days.  In a couple of weeks we will be driving back to OKC.  Thankfully you are a great passenger. You play, sleep, sing and suck your thumb to pass the time.  The only time you cry is when your sister takes your toy or if we have been driving for 3-4 hours and need a break.

 Moo is a must in the car!! And I am sure you were very DONE being in the car in this next picture.

Other than driving across the central states, you are crawling and not just army/sliding crawling.  You are up on all fours!! It started with getting back home and having wood floors.  Army/sliding crawl continued on the wood floors, but you found out that army/slide crawl didn't work so well on carpet.  So it motivated you to get up on all fours.  You still continued to slide on the wood floors because you got to places faster, but soon gave it up once you found out that crawling on all fours meant you could better pull up on things.  Yes, that means you can pull yourself up and stand pretty well with support.  With all this said, I need to work on getting things put up and figuring out ways to keep you out of things. 

 Above: Your first captured moment on all fours.

Below: Your first captured moment standing.

 

Above: Riding a toy

Below: Same toy, but teaching you to stand/walk.

With all your moving around, your appetite has increased.  You are still nursing 4-5 times a day. I always nurse you before your breakfast, lunch & snack meal.  Your evening nurse changes and it will depend on what is going especially with all the traveling we have been doing.  You aren't very interested in nursing at your snack and I think it is because I offer you your sippy cup with juice.  You have completely transitioned to table food.  The most interesting things you have eaten are: steak (it was super tender and your dad did it), pumpkin ice cream, spinach dip, cream brûlée, haupia (coconut desert), laulau, cupcakes, veggie chips/straws and egg roll.  I am sure there is going to be much more that you try and I hope and pray your keep up with trying new foods and loving berries & veggies.  However their is one thing you aren't the biggest fan of... bread.  I am not sure if it is something new because you would always like it, so I am hoping it is just a phase.

Above: Pumpkin Ice Cream cone all by yourself

Below: Eating with a spoon or practicing.

Some of your favorite things to do is playing in water, chase Hoku into his crate and keep him there by playing right by it, looking at the big trucks drive by our house, crawl to places that are normally closed off, pull up on anything that will support you, and riding on toys that people can push!

 Above: Playing at the pool

Below: The only toy I can use to keep you in one place.

 Below: You with Moo.  

You don't go many places without him and he is a MUST at naps or bedtime.

There are a few words you say.  Alohi is really interesting and I would try to type it out but I wouldn't do it justice.  Da for dad, mama for mom, and mumu for food.  You have become more vocal and do lots of babbling.  You communicate mostly with sign language.  The signs you know are: milk, more (clapping hands), more please (clapping hands with sweeping), sleep, and you sign milk when you want me.  We are working on please, juice, water, and thank you.  You wave bye-bye and hello to people. My favorite is when you blow a kiss to someone.  Love it!

Most of all you are a happy boy! 

We love you sweet boy and looking for many more months getting to know you. Watching you explore and figure out life!

Things keeping us busy

The first weekend we got back to Scottsbluff, we had a great time at the Gwynn Kids Carnival Birthday Party. We had a great time. There were carnival games with tickets and prizes. Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and even cotton candy. I think Autumn did a great job organizing the party and I am sure everyone had tons of FUN. I know Alohi did!

The Gwynn Kids Photos

(super cute)

Since getting back the kids have missed their books. Everyday at least 3 times a day Alohi asks to get read to. I don't complain, because she loves it and reading is something I hope and pray she loves! Before bedtime, she asks her daddy to read to her.

And the kids spend lots of time in this reading corner.  I think this day we put books back on bookshelf a billion times, well maybe not that many but it felt that way.

There is so much more. We have been on the road for the last two weekends with my parents. I'll blog about our destinations and sites.  Also, I have a little boy who is 11 months! 

ohh... the places you will go Po'okela

Po'okela started his army crawl about a month ago and he finds himself in the most interesting places.

Maybe one day you will be a veterinarian. You love your Hoku dog, even though he isn't to sure about you. Hoku doesn't care when he is out of his crate, but he does growl at you when you get near his toys or food.  It is pretty funny because you have started to growl back.  Being a vet I am sure you will learn to take care of lots of different types of animals like the black bear.  He sat there looking at you for a very long time.

If you don't want to be a veterinarian, then may be you will be a race car driver or drive some kind of special vehicle.

Or you could be apart of some major company that pays you to travel to exotic places (which being your mom, you should invite me to go along occasionally).

No matter what you decide to do in your future, I want you to know that I will hold on to moments like this forever.  Your dad and I will be there each step of the way and we pray that God be the center of it all because all perfect gifts come from Him.

We love you!!

Alohi's 1/2 Birthday Party

Alohi turned 3 January 8th and it was sad to say that we had been in Scottsbluff for nearly 2 months, but hadn't made any friends that had kids.  At one point Rylan was told we might be going back to OKC just after the new year for a 10 week class (which made me cry in hopes to give her the birthday party she wanted "A Princess Party"). Unfortunately, the class didn't happen and Alohi had family party and two skyped birthday songs with Grandma & Grandpa and Nana & Papa.  It still broke my heart that we didn't have a princess party for her, until I got the official word that we would be back in OKC for the summer.  I decided then that I would throw her a Princess Party in July with all of her friends.  She was so excited! We picked out 2 dresses to bring to OKC with her (Cinderella & Sleeping Beauty), princess pop up tent & tea party.

While in OKC, my friend Danielle had an early pass to get into the JBF sale where I was able to find 4 sets of princess dress up shoes for $6.  One was a little broken but super glue fixed the problem. We sent out the invites to the girls and planned the party when Grandma was there.  Here is the pictures from the day.

We started the party with making paper dolls. It was a great ice breaker for the girls they got comfortable at Pepaw's & Memaw's house.  Thanks to Michelle Berry for running this center of the party.

 Danielle and Elle making their dolls!

Then while making paper dolls the other girls going to pick out their nail polish to get there nails done.  Thanks to Gina Clay for painting toe nails and the moms that stepped in to help their girls!

 Alohi & Keely choosing their colors and getting toes done.

While everyone was getting things wrapped up the girls ran around playing dress up with shoes and extra dresses we had for them to change out their outfits.

 Had tea parties (which was the one melt down Alohi had and it was because the cups, plates & spoons didn't match with the right color) and then played in the tent!

Of course I did things backwards since we had a morning party.  We then opened presents! (Reminder for next years presents: have a rope or something to keep the kids behind while the birthday child opens their presents.  It will give kids a boundary and everyone stays happy. Thanks to the Gwynn's for this idea).  I love how all the girls were dressed up for the occasion!

 Alohi admiring her new rings that she put into her new jewelry box.

I then had the girls fill their goodie purses with items of their choice.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of this table or the purses and goodies.  My mom-in-law and I got mini white purses and this frilly girlie pink & sparkly thing attached to it.  The goodies included: princess lip gloss, princess nail polish, coin purse with a quarter, flower mirror & a princess gummy snack bag.  The girls carried around their purses and put on a ton of lip gloss (sorry moms).

Then we sang happy birthday and had a light lunch. Lunch included hawaiian sweet roll ham & cheese sandwiches, P&J, bananas, strawberries and plain potato chips (all of this is what Alohi asked for. Well other than the ham & cheese I love those and thought everyone would too).

I made two pull apart cupcakes!

Below we have a Castle. Made with mini chocolate cupcakes, coconut whipped frosting, vanilla icing for decoration with edible jewels.

 Then I made a crown with Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and decorated.

Here's the pictures of the girls and moms enjoying the food.

I think the party was TONs of fun and I am already looking forward and planning Po'okela's 1 year party.  He slept thru almost the whole party.  He woke up while things were wrapping up and I missed saying goodbye to Katie I. & Livy while I was nursing him.  But while he slept I did get to hang on to this little guy for a little bit!

Happy 1/2 Birthday my Princess Girl!

Happy 4th of July

This year is going down in the books to remember.  We started the day off with Rylan getting his car started after sitting for 3 months while we were gone.  You would think just hook up jumper cables and it would be fine, however his car is equipped with an alarm system. So anytime the battery dies it goes off sounding to the whole wide world that the car does not want to be taken.  This is a nice feature since it is a Honda Accord that gets great gas milage and it is paid for (no car payment). While Po'okela took his morning nap, Alohi and I head to walmart to get groceries. When we got back the car was still not started, but Ry had a plan that would take me helping too.

We had a quiet lunch as a family and rested for our church cookout.  Kids took great naps and Rylan and I were able to get the car started with me turning the jumper thingy on (don't ask me what because I  don't know what it is called) and Rylan pushing a button with turning the engine on within 5 seconds. Yay we got the car started!!

When kids got up from their naps we headed out to the church cookout.  I got to learn a whole new part of our area, which I knew we had but never ventured there.  The families house we went to had a pool, horse shoes, trampoline (which while going thru out shed, I found out that we have one as well... well I am not sure who's it is, but it is in there and I may make good use of it) and volley ball net.  The kids had a blast!! Thankfully most of the kids remembered us and the youth girls took care of Alohi while in the pool.  We got to visit and catch up with our friends we haven't seen in a long time.  Po'okela loved the attention and I was able to pass him off to friends without a problem.  There were a bunch of times where people introduced themselves to us and said they were glad we came to visit.  Little did they know that we were back.  It was kind of funny and I think it is going to happen each time we are away in OKC with Rylan's job.  

However the best part of the day was returning home just as the last bit of sunlight was fading away... from our front yard, we watched the skyline light up with fireworks.  THE WHOLE SKYLINE!!! There were times I didn't know where to look because there were so many going off.  Then our neighbors were putting on a show as well! It was AMAZING!! We watched for over 2 hours! I am sure we would have stayed out longer, but I was getting eaten by mosquitos (which one I am having a horrible allergic reaction to) and Rylan had to go to work in the morning.  

It is great to be back home and start new traditions with our family!

 Above: the closest thing to a family picture

Below: Po'okela loving the water

 Above: fireworks from neighbors house

Below: infected mosquito bit

Po'okela 10 Months... A little late

When Po'okela had his 10 month day, if I look at a calendar Grandma & Grandpa were visiting with us and I was preparing for Alohi's Princess 1/2 birthday.  So I am playing catch up...

So little man. You are officially on the move! You pull yourself everywhere in your own little special crawl.  Unfortunately the carpet at our apartment gives you rug burn on your knees or belly, so I try to make sure you have the proper clothing to help your skin.  I love how you find yourself in the most unusual places and spaces.  I have had to start putting things up so you don't get into them.  You know how to open drawers and love to pull anything out of a container.  Thankfully I have started working with you to put things away and hope you will learn as quickly as your sister.  You get up on your knees to look into things, but no pulling up to a standing position yet.  

Here's a random selection of pictures of all the things you have been up to!

 Crawling under the coffee table, driving the car, party at the mustang pool, bowling, finding your reflection, playing with your sister, crashing out in your stroller while your sister plays at the OKC zoo, and tea parties!

I think with all the moving around you are doing, your eating has increased!  You still nurse 4 times a day, along with an occasional extra nurse at bed time.  With you being so active, there are times you aren't interested in nursing.  Yep, you refuse me because of anything or everything that might be happening.  It always works out because you always make up for it with nursing longer at another feeding.  Along with nursing you are eating 3 meals a day with a afternoon snack.  You gave up baby food after your 9 month check up, however I was able to get you to eat sweet potatoes because we were at some place that didn't have kid friendly food. When eating you sign more (clapping your hands together), all done (the normal way) and more, please (clapping your hands together with a side swipe).    You do say "mum mummmm" when I don't pay attention and miss the signing.  Your favorite thing to eat is blue berries! There was a day that I thought you would turn blue with how much you ate, but you didn't.... you just pooped blue berries.  

Here the official running list of foods you have: black beans, rice, any type of noodle, beef broccoli, vanilla wafer, gold fish, chicken nuggets, grapes, watermelon, turkey & ham, cheese, any type of bread, sherbet, ice cream, tomatoes (you love this stuff), strawberries, cereal bars, cheerios, carrots, and I am sure this list could go on....

Your favorite foods are: avocado, grapes, tomatoes, blue berries, strawberries

Along with food, I still have you working with a sippy cup. You mostly chew on it, but I think you are learning to swallow liquid better because you are always reaching for cups. I am sure you will master it when it is the only thing you can get liquid feeds from.  

Your sleeping patterns are come and go... It just depends on what is going on.  For the most part, this is what your sleeping patterns are: morning nap ranging 1 1/2 hours to 2 1/2 hours, afternoon nap ranging 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours and occasional early evening naps that last about 45 minutes.  There are times that you skip a morning nap, so we are able to go to the zoo, have a play date or on the go for any number of reasons.  However, there has been a few afternoon naps that get skipped but we never miss more than one.  Here's a picture of you curled up sleeping.

I love you sweet boy!!