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."

Mosaic

• We just now celebrated our third anniversary (May 20) by going to a murder-mystery interactive dinner theatre. The event was Clue! Here we are with Professor Plum. However, Mrs. Peacock did it in the kitchen with the revolver.

• So, I need your input on two things. First, my friend offered to help me write a book... what do you think? Second, I was brainstorming a few weeks ago about a way to hold Aolani against my body (on my lap) facing out and sitting up. Epiphany hit. A talented seamstress from church agreed to help. After some modifications, I think we got a good product which we have dubbed "Baby Bands." I have several baby wraps/carriers, but none did exactly what I wanted. Mainly, I needed to be able to put her in it myself. The sling is good for babies, but she wants to sit up and face out like a big girl now. Anyway, my arms are free to roll us around, and she is secure (not to mention happy). She loves traveling with Mommy! Simply put, they are stretchy bands that I use as a harness. What I was wondering -- do you think there is any kind of need/market for these bands? This isn't the best shot (as it looks like one band), but here she is... Oh yeah, please email me your thoughts.

• There is this great website/blog called Passionate Homemaking. It is an answer to my prayers and has really spurred me on to become more intentional in my life as a godly woman, wife and mother. Lately, I am reading through the archives and have created a Mission Statement. I have always thought that it is important to be a good steward of my time and to have goals. This quote from Donald Whitney really hit home, "Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going." "Planners" are constantly getting bashed on, but I think that planning is a gift and a skill that one can use to glorify God! Remember: He who fails to plan, plans to fail.
• Here is Aolani's new ride, the Babee Tenda Feeding Table. We all just LOVE it! Although I haven't tried yet, I am going to aim at getting her in and out of it myself. It rolls, she can eat in it (not yet), she plays with her toys in it, and she can join us at the dinner table :)
  
• Our friend got her a lamb blanket -- personalized with her name! She loves to eat it. So much for being vegetarian ;)

• Final note: Rumors are going 'round that my new wheelchair is in the making!