Speed-Darling

• Work was cancelled today because of the snowfall!
• Ricky notified his current employer that his last day of work there will be January 28, 2011. He will be working full-time as a freelance court reporter and transcriptionist. We will keep you posted.
• Aolani is now crawling faster than I can roll -- trouble.
• While she loves to stand in her crib, she still cannot pull herself up into that position on her own.
• We think that she might have curly hair. Here is her toothy grin:

• During our family time every night when we cuddle and read on the bed, Aolani attacks me! Our almost 11-month old can be scary. She bites any skin showing, be it cheek, lips, arm, tummy... She rams her fingers up my nose and rips them down to cause nosebleeds. She pulls my hair out. She slaps, smacks, pounces, scratches :( Oh yeah, and then she laughs. [Sigh.]
• I started giving her some of my organic plain yogurt last week, and she actually liked it! We would really like her to start eating some food by her first birthday, in addition to her nursing.
• Aolani is learning when to say uh-oh -- when she accidentally drops something, when she intentionally throws something, and when she dangles something over an edge before she lets go. Obviously, she just uses the uh-oh to get attention.
• Air-drying:

• I plan on taking a sabbatical from the computer next week. No blog, no emails, no Internet -- I will not even be turning the computer on. I am going to focus this time to rest, read, pray, and reevaluate.
• Verse to memorize this week: 1 Corinthians 2:9 ~ However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him...

Penguins Sound Like...

• We took Aolani's measurement's yesterday: her height didn't seem to change, but her weight was 18 lbs.
• She is constantly making baby talk, aka gibberish.
• I learned the easy way to clean your blender, instead of trying to get the food off the blades manually. Simply fill it 1/3 with water and a squirt of soap, put it back on the stand (lid ON), turn it on, and watch it clean itself! We often make smoothies, so this was a helpful hint for us.
• Fall is here, and the layers begin:

• This is what we look like during the day at home alone:

• Our escape artist found after another failed prison break attempt :)

• This is her new favorite position. She only crawls to get to something to help her pull up. The bad news is that she likes to fling herself backwards and bang her head against the bars. She now sports multiple bruises across her face - it's pretty pitiful-looking :(

• Kylie and Aolani had their first sleepover last week. Their personalities are noticeably quite different. Aolani is such an extrovert and just loves people. I know that if she could walk, she would have been chasing Kylie!

• Last night, we passed out Bible tracts and candy. And penguin squeals.

• I did not get last week's verse down pat, so... try, try again! 1 Peter 5:10 ~ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

BUTTerfly

Aolani is on the move with her new skill:

Highway to the Danger Zone

• Today, we are celebrating 8 months for Aolani, which has turned out to be a big milestone for two reasons. One: While staring into my eyes Saturday morning after she had nursed, she said "Mama." Ricky was with me, so I have proof. It was exhilarating! I realize that she was mimicking the sound I had made earlier, but it was elating all the same. Two: She crawled on Friday for the first time. Yes, forward. That morning she had combined three techniques to move forward, but she learned to alternate arm and leg by the afternoon. So, we have spent the weekend watching her crawl. It is so cute that I can't contain myself! I will get a video up of her crawling soon. [I took one already, but she is wearing a dress that kept getting caught under her knee and causing her to slip.]


• This was great timing because Nonna (Ricky's mom) and Aolani's great Aunt were visiting this weekend to witness her accomplishments. She got to get dressed up three days in a row, so here are some pictures:

I love this video of her and Ricky flirting ;)

• Last week, I laid down a towel in her crib, stripped her, and started eating a banana in front of her. Of course, she snatched it away quickly, put it to her mouth, discovered it was food, and gave me her "Mommy that was sneaky" look, and wouldn't eat a bite. Oh well. It was worth a try. At least it made for a fun, messy picture :)



• Ricky and I went on our traditional date last week. Traditional meaning it involved chess and Where's Waldo? However, looking down at the book hurt my neck, so I suggested that we go home and find Waldo propped up in bed. Yeah, we fell asleep in no time like that. Lights on, clothes on, and Waldo was still missing. We learned our lesson.


• Aolani has begun this thing where she will nap briefly and then awake. I get ready to go get her (she plays by herself in her crib just fine) and by the time I'm ready, she will fall back asleep for a long time. So funny!


• Another cute behavior: Now when I open the crib, she crawls over and out the door to me!


• Changing her has become impossible! It now takes me twice as long and requires all the skill I can muster. I feel like I am wrestling an alligator! I need to listen to some workout music during this time. Right into the Danger Zone...


• Verse to memorize this week: Romans 12:17 ~ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

Active Little Servant

• I just cannot get over the gorgeous weather right now! Fall is my favorite season. Yesterday, we took advantage of it and played Boccé Ball together in the backyard. Boccé Ball (pronounced Botch-ee) is one of the few games I can play outside. It's been a great gift! However, I have resorted to wearing rubber gloves while I play, so that I can get a better grip - is that cheating? ;)
• I meant to acknowledge this earlier, but Aolani can sit up by herself quite well.
• So, Aolani doesn't really like food or water (baths, swimming). I think most babies do. I sure did and do still. Not quite sure what this oddity means, maybe nothing.
• Just like her daddy, she would much rather play than eat or sleep. Not me! She is ready to forgo having these basic needs met if it means play time. And, she associates Ricky with play and Mommy with the "boring" stuff. No wonder she's a Daddy's girl!
• We let Aolani feed herself all week, hoping that was the answer. Did it work? Nope :(
• There is a website that you can go to and make clicks with your mouse to help the poor and needy. It is free and takes 20-30 seconds! I do it everyday. Check it out and don't forget the tabs at the top of the page: www.thehungersite.com
• I can't stop thinking about how thankful I am that my firstborn is a girl. Because our firstborn is going to have to be Mommy's Little Helper with a servant's heart! She will have to help me with all the household chores and future children. More so than other families (with my being in a wheelchair). No offense to the male race, but girls are (usually) more attentive, sacrificial, and overall sweet. Thank You, my Provider. This is just one drop in my ocean of gratitude.
• It is time for some videos. The first one is of her getting ready to crawl. Seriously, she rocks the crib so hard that I am just waiting for it to break! [Don't you just love how she rocks so hard that she sets off the musical bear in her crib ;)] The second video is of her jumping in the Johnny Jump Up. Her legs are definitely getting stronger.

• Verse to memorize this week: Hebrews 4:13 ~ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Back In The Groove

• We returned from FL last Wednesday, and I will post about that trip later when I get pictures together :)
• Measurements: 17.5 lbs and 26.5" long
• Aolani is almost about to crawl. She can go a little bit forward and not just backwards now. She frequently gets on all fours and practices moving one limb (leg or arm) while balancing on the other three - so cute ;)
• Starting last week, she figured out that when I remove the baby bands, it means she is going down for a nap in her crib. She is now grabbing onto the bands to hold them down and not let me remove them from her! She is growing more aware and active by the day. I guess that spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e for Mommy.
• What reeks of vomit, pee, poop, and blood? A mommy that doesn't change clothes during the day!
• It is that time of the year - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and time to proudly don your pink socs! Print Ricky's flyer about the huge link between breast cancer and oral contraceptives (referring to all hormonal birth control) and pass them out. To learn more about oral contraceptves, check out our story here.
• We treated a dear friend of ours to a delicious restaurant over the weekend. This place serves locally grown food - yum, yum! You can find organic/healthy restaurants in your area here. Anyway, we finally got a family portrait...

She is practicing her scream here - can you tell?!

"You're my brown-eyed girl"

• Verse to memorize this week: Matthew 11:29 ~ "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

"What's that noise?"

Used to be the question. Not anymore.

When we hear the crib creaking, we just smirk.

Enjoy these... we sure do!





Seriously, Aolani is so taken with this newfound trick that she does it constantly - on my lap, in people's arms, laying down. She skips her naps just to practice! She is on the move...