God's Prison Plans

To continue with the Voice of the Martyrs stories we compiled, here is the third short story:

God's Prison Plans

(just click on the link above)

You can read our original post with the first story here: Faithful Until Death.

You can read our previous post with the second story here: Whoever Has More Persecution Gets A Bigger Crown

Aolani's Baptismal Event

I cannot tell you how happy she was yesterday! Seriously.

She never made a peep during the whole service. (I think she was basking in the attention!)

This outfit was a hand-me-down from her cousin.

It just happened to be yellow -- Mommy's favorite color.

Okay. By now you are probably wondering why she is so happy in all these shots. We don't know exactly. What we do know is that Grandma Oliver started making silly sounds and Aolani started giggling and smiling for the rest of the shoot. AND... I got a little bit of her laugh recorded:

Whoever Has More Persecution Gets A Bigger Crown

To continue with the Voice of the Martyrs stories we compiled, here is the second short story:

Whoever Has More Persecution Gets A Bigger Crown

(just click on the link above)

You can read our original post with the first story here: Faithful Until Death.

Revelation 2:9-11

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

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

So, here I am riding to Daddy's softball game and trying to get pumped up.


But it was so hot when I got there, that all I could think about was trying to cool off.

I got up the strength to clap for Daddy.

And I cheered for him when he got the hit that scored the winning run! "That's my daddy!" is what I wanted to shout if it wasn't already past my bedtime and I had more energy ;)

Side note: Aunt Lindsay was flaunting my chunk at last week's game. Oh, I wowed the crowds alright and stole the team's thunder. That's why they lost that game.

She's Got The Look

What do you get when Mommy gets too close to her 4-month old?

The REAL Mommy Do'.

[Aolani just loves to play, aka pull, Mommy's hair. Then she looks at her work and laughs - no joke!]

Tummy Time

I do this at least once a day, and she loves it. I think she enjoys the different perspective. We play different "games" while she is like this. She is soooo cute during this time. This video doesn't give her enough credit ;)



Got to love the drool dangling off her chin :)

It is funny to me how she puts her head down when she gets tired, like she is giving up. Mommy, this is hard!

Faithful Until Death

Ricky and I put together some inspirational short stories (taken from Voice of the Martyrs) to include in our church's bulletin during the month of February 2010. Since Aolani arrived that month, we didn't get to see the published result! There are four of them, but I'll just post one at a time for four weeks. The stories are remarkable.

Faithful Until Death

(just click on the link above)

Confessions of a...

... I don't know how to describe myself, but ""teenage dram queen" is not very accurate ;) I kept trying to think of something witty and cute, but I got nothing. Oh, well.

Anyway, I have one more confession I meant to add to the others in my last big post but forgot. It is that I like...

NFL Football.

This is my new, refined acquirement since last year. I am actually anxious for the season to begin (and I even tried to grasp the draft)! Here's a shocker: I like the NFL better than college football. Why? To answer simply, it's the skill involved. I have to overlook the grand displays of pride and the money involved, but if you watch, you can find humility, teamwork, kindness, among other admirable qualities.

Ricky was so excited about this (my liking football) that he even wrote a poem about it for me on this past Valentine's Day. He consented to share it, once I obtained copyright permission ;) [If you click on the word poem, it should appear.]

Aolani's Baptism

... will be on June 27, 2010 during the 11 am service at our home church, Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian :)

Mosaic

• Ricky's family came down to visit (and vacation) Memorial Day weekend. Anyway, the three DiMartino men have the same swimsuits; it is so cute (if I can use that word)! Here they are:

Triple chicken (Ricky's on top, Daddy Dave is in the middle and Uncle Robby may be the youngest, but apparently he is the strongest!)

I love this shot! They really are this fun :)

• I must admit that occasionally when I change her diaper, I tell her that her poopy diapers are not for the faint of heart... and she isn't even eating solids yet! The mental preparation begins now, I guess. Just today I made the mistake of letting her "'air out" in between diapers. She had two baby-diarrhea explosions during this privileged time. Before I could grab her, she started throwing her legs down getting it on all visible body parts, the furniture, the wall and Mommy (of course). Her privilege is now revoked.

• Proof of Puzzle Completion:

Aolani wants to make sure she gets her fair share of the credit. This 2000-piece bomb has been dismantled and passed on.

• I have two confessions. I will be quick and to the point, and no excuses. One: I haven't been wearing my leg brace as often or as long as I should. Two: I have started watching Seinfeld, and it makes me laugh.


• Aolani is doing (somewhat) better at naptime. I wonder if she is getting used to me... We can feel your prayers!!


• Here is a recent picture of my brother and his wife with our niece, Kylie, who is now 11 months old. Get this: Aolani's feet are the same size as her cousin's feet. No joke. Aolani -- who knew Big Foot looked so cute?

• "How are you doing? Really?" Overall, I'm well. I love being home with my daughter -- watching, helping, feeding, playing, teaching... But, I will honestly tell you that it is HARD. Think of something that seems really hard to you, say running a marathon. Well, I have to run a marathon five days a week. It seemed impossible for me to be pregnant... then take care of myself... then give birth vaginally, let alone naturally... and now caring for a baby alone. It looks like God loves impossible missions ;) One of the most influential people in my life, Katy Beth Searls, who lives in Hungary, taught me a great lesson -- not a verbal lesson but one taught by her actions -- that I daily call to mind. In every situation, she always seems to find something to be grateful for. No matter what. And because she was too busy being thankful, she never had time to utter a criticism or complaint. I call this the attitude of gratitude. When I put on the Armor of God for Aolani each morning, I add this. The attitude of gratitude helps me get through the day.


• Aolani has been busy the past couple weeks. Once she hit the three-month mark, her "accomplishments" are almost daily! Finding her voice, grasping objects, playing with toys, pulling my hair, pushing up, giggling, recognizing people, responding to music, much more aware, "talking", eating her clothes and whatever else is nearby, etc.

Reading Rainbow

Aolani wants to tell you a tale about her Zoo Friends:



That is, if she doesn't eat it first. This book is some-kind-of durable!

Extreme (Or Not-So-Extreme) Makeover

Before:

After:

This will likely be a relief to many of you. It was fun while it lasted (well, kind of), but it was time. No more long, black hairs to be found hiding out inside Aolani's diapers or clenched in her fists or... the shedding is over. Bottom line: Ricky's hair is once again shorter than mine. Things are back to normal.