What A Deer!

• Welcome December and coats!

• Aolani has a wide gap between her front teeth! CUTIE!
• She went to the pediatrician last week -- healthy as can be. She measured in at 18.4 lbs and 27" long. The doctor suggested that we try rice cereal since the fruits and veggies were not going down. Well, the rice cereal didn't cut it either! Still choking and gagging. She's taking her time accepting solids, and that's okay by me.
• I have now finished memorizing the book of Philippians! Now, it's eternal heart food :) Still contemplating my next similar undertaking...
• Aolani's severe diaper rash from the blood in her stool on Thanksgiving Day has cleared up beautifully! We blended (by hand) a mixture of olive oil and arrowroot flour to make a paste for her bottom. It worked!
• I went to the doctor last week for... compacted ear wax! I know, sounds gross! Apparently, it's not abnormal and explains why my right ear felt blocked. [I could hear the ocean when I cupped my hand over the ear.] All better -- instantaneously!
• Ricky surprised us with a library book on baby sign language. She isn't signing back yet, but I still wish I had started implementing signs sooner.
• Aolani and I celebrated the decorating of the Christmas tree in our deer-garb:

• Verse to memorize this week: Philemon 1:8-9 ~ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love.

4 months, Rollin', Father's Day

Aolani turned four months last Friday and started celebrating a day early by rolling over. She was so so excited that she did it three times for me, and I got the third one on video for you. Ricky just came home and she was eagerly trying to show off for him ;)



Notes: She was 13.6 lbs and 24" at her doctor's appointment last week. She started waking up in the night again :( She threw her first object a few feet (and directed at my head, of course). Overall, she is happy, healthy, social but shy (like her daddy), and edible!

Ricky's 1st Father's Day

Aolani's Third Week

We kicked off her third week with her 2-week appointment. She had gained the maximum weight for breastfed babies since the pediatrician saw her 11 days prior (two oz. a day, 22 oz. total). That relieved a lot of worries! He did comment on how strong her neck is. I keep telling her that being stiff-necked can be a bad thing ;)

Mommy's perfect angel

Last one in bed is a rotten egg!

In the Moby wrap with Mommy

Yep -- the cheeks are a lot fuller

First Week of Life (ex utero)

No one exaggerated. Eat, sleep and poop is seriously ALL a newborn does. Including Aolani. She is a non-textbook eater: no rhythm, no rhyme, no routine, no schedule. She sleeps very well, although she is getting fussier as she grows. She poops too much according to her diaper-changers ;)

Here are some pictures from her first week:

I think she looks so funny swaddled tightly at the hospital.

Her pediatrician gave her the "thumbs up" to go home.

Her first doctor appointment when she is three days old. She had lost eight ounces, which was normal. My milk came in this morning and her umbilical cord fell off that night!

Her favorite place to sleep!!

Cruisin' with Mommy

This is her first bath. She is very good-natured.

All spiffy

You can tell how dark her skin is here. She definitely has Ricky's coloring. Is she really Caucasian?

The Final Countdown!

Yes, it's true -- We are in the last month of this pregnancy. It's unbelievable! We hit the mark a week ago but have been so busy, as you can imagine :)

This is real. I am growing DAILY now. Aolani is a big girl.

There is hardly any room on my lap to carry anything on it anymore because the rest of my legs (not covered by her) are forced so far apart!

I'll try and give quick notes on some of last week's events:

• Ricky finally went to the dentist and got four fillings (two new, two replacements for old metal ones). They didn't numb him well enough before the drilling started and found out the hard way :) However, it is over and he is so glad to have no more metal in his mouth.
  
• Ultrasounds are every week, but no pictures from last week. Hopefully, I'll get one tomorrow. Last week they tracked her for 20 minutes and wanted to see if I was having any contractions. None yet. They had a band strapped with some monitors on her, and she was not a fan. You could hear and see her trying to get them off her home. Aolani says, "Don't cramp my style!"
  
• I had a fitting for a new (or simply modified) wheelchair. After almost five years of using this chair, I had a list of changes I wanted to make. Hopefully, I can get a completely new chair, soon! We are excited though.
  
• As you can see, my hair got the axe. I had about 11 inches chopped. This was my 5th time donating to Locks of Love. As you know, I chop it off and then it takes two years to grow out long enough to do it again. That's right. Two years of no haircuts. However, that might be the last time I do that. I am just so glad that it is cut, short, and ready for baby. Ricky likes it and calls it my "Mommy 'Do."
  
• We got to meet with Aolani's pediatrician and tour the clinic. We are thankful she hasn't come yet because I really wanted to go to this small practice, but it took four months to even get in!
  
• Other appointments included my regular OB/GYN (30-lb weight gain for me so far), chiropractor (such relief now that the back pain has really increased) and our natural childbirth class (so fun and enlightening).

Aolani is already such a joy to us ;) She wiggles a lot, and it is visible. It's one of my favorite things -- watching my belly move. We enjoy seeing her poke, kick, flip sides and stick her heiny out! I'll try and post again later this week :)