So much of nothing going on....... OK it's mostly about food.

We have been going to "meet up" groups so Helaina can have friends to play with, (as we are still missing our friends The Gerichs and The Ohuchis but I'm suspect that won't change).   We even organized one that was a fruit salad pot luck.  It sounds technical but it's just where everyone brought a type of fruit and then shared while the kids played.  (I completely borrowed the idea from a different mommy's group).  Helaina of course loved it because there was plenty of food involved.  Apparently, love of food is genetic or maybe contagious but I will get to that later.  She sported her sunglasses that Mimi (Chris' mom) had given her almost the whole time, except when she shared with her friend Charrise.  The sunglasses are hilarious because she keeps them on and seems to take on a different persona while wearing them.  She looks around a lot and doesn't show much emotion - I think it's her version of cool.  The glasses may have 'magical powers' because they seem to change Charisse's disposition as well.  We both had a nice time and ate more than our daily servings worth of fruit!

At least she wasn't the only haole

Speaking of food,  we had our first restaurant outing where we did not bring Helaina her own food.  We were 'living on the edge' and ordered off the menu.  Being so close to my niece and nephew (London & Vegas) while they were younger, I remember Frank and Erin order 2 entrees and sharing theirs with the kids.  How did we skip this stage??  We ordered her own dish.  This restaurant is not skimpy on the food, she (and we I suppose) just ate that much.  She has a bowl of black beans & rice with shrimp.  Yes she did finish pretty much the whole thing.

And more about food.....are you catching a theme here?  No wonder why our child loves food so much!
We did have another family dinner picnic on the beach and splurged for grilling out lobster and asparagus (surprise - she loved it).  It was awesome thanks to my fabulous husband who's skilled at the grill.  The company and setting was perfect!  We did also finish off the night with a old school classic of waffles and ice cream.   No Helaina did not participate.  I haven't had it in years and it did not disappoint!  My dad has and my mom had a Love for food that has passed down to our youngest generation.  clearly!

And moving onto the non-culinary portion of my commentary today.  We went to the Zoo with the wife and youngest 2 children (of 8, yeeep - just typed that) of the new pastor of our church.  It was nice to spend time and get to know them.  Helaina enjoyed the zoo as always but was keen on both boys and especially their youngest son Peter.  She held his hand for a good bit of the trip and wanted to be near both boys most of the time.  It was so sweet to watch how delicate they were with her and to see her enthusiasm with them.  They will make great uncles for their older siblings children!

Lastly, our outings are nice but it does not take much to entertain H at home.  Nope, expensive toys not needed in this house (just yet).  We took the box from Helaina's new car seat and have began turning it into a castle - though she is just fine with the minimal alterations we've made.  All she needs is bebe and her daddy.  It would be her preference to have all those things at once but we were already pushing it with just the daddy.  

My 6'1" husband looks sexy in a box

Bebe's such a good sport!

Air Traffic Control

Every child I know runs through multiple phases that seem to consume their whole world (and inevitably yours).  At this stage of the game, they are usually words that they say over and over again when they see or think of the item/thing.  With such limited vocabulary, they are probably less obsessed and just happy to be able to communicate with us.
Helaina's favorite and most consistent has been Bebe.  I'm questioning our fostering of this relationship as our family pet is of the ripe age of 10.5 and will not be with us forever.  Although Helaina's love for Bebe (and Bebe's tolerance for her) does make me smile, I do hope it is somewhat of a phase.  I can't imagine having to comfort someone else when the time does come for me to say goodbye to my first (hairy) baby, but such is being a parent I suppose.

Anyhow, her newest 'obsession' is airplanes or as she says "air air air air air air air air" - ok you get the point.  We have a pretty incredible view from our place.  We can see mountains, ocean, Diamond head and of course, a direct view of the air traffic pattern coming into and out of the airport.  As you can imagine, Honolulu airport gets a lot of air traffic.  In addition to the traditional airport, we have a ton of armed forces and tourist type planes and helicopter flying at all times.
One of Helaina's favorite night time activities is to bring daddy over to the chair that looks out the window and wait until she spots anything flying.  This happens so often that even after Helaina goes to bed, Chris and I can't help but call out "air air air...." when we see the big flying birds.
It feels incredibly annoying yet strangely comfortable to hear her saying this over and over again.  When I feel perturbed, I simply acknowledge the airplane and the smile on her face erases most, if not all of the annoyance.   It is so magical to watch her pleasure in communicating with us.   We should all be so easily pleased.  After all, that's something that most of us really want anyway, just to be part of the conversation and for someone to understand us.

Mother's Day

Wow.  This day has meant so many things over my life.  The usual for everyone when you are young....something hideous for Mom that we thought was fabulous, and that she wore or used with pride.  Then 14 years ago this hallmark holiday became a headache for me as so many holidays do for people that loose someone close.

My mom was my very best friend.  Not the pushover type who tried to be my friend, but the kind who earned that place in my 20's by always having had showed me love, respect and the 'toughness' that I needed so often.  Don't get me wrong, we were not close from about 12-18 years of age.  Not a day goes by that I don't sit and regret those adolescent times that I am sure I took to another level.  I personally was responsible for most, if not all of the gray hairs on my mom's head. -- we all know Frank was the 'good one' - as far as they knew :o)  Fortunately, I was able to mature just enough to somewhat apologize for the mayhem that I caused before she was gone.  She will always be missed and loved in a way that continues to shape me everyday.  I love you mom.

Three years ago, I married into a family where I actually love (not just like) my mother - in - law a whole lot.  I have too many friends that don't have a good relationship with their in laws.   It's amazing the way the Lord works in your life.   He knew I still needed the love and warmth that only a mother can give and he placed me into a loving family where I got just that.
I no longer loathe the thought of May rolling around.  I can't thank her enough for accepting me the way she does and of course, for raising the most amazing man in the world to me.  I love you mom.

And for obvious reasons now, mother's day takes on a whole new meaning.  You can never fully appreciate the labor of love that goes into being a mommy until you have had the privilege and honor.  I wish I could call my mom and thank her for my newest found level of respect that I have for her.   However, I am suspect she already knows.  Helaina, I love you.

Much love to all the mother's out there.  God really does know what He's doing!
PS.  Chris and Helaina have arranged a special spa day for me and then lunch with them.   I heart being a mom.

3 years

It's hard to believe that it's already been 3 years that Chris and I have been married.  It's also hard to believe that it's only been 3 years that we have been married.  We have done so much together in such a short period of time, topping the list with procreating of course.  In my much younger years, I remember thinking my late 30's and 40's would be good but that I had peaked in my 20's and early 30's.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Although I enjoyed myself thoroughly when I was younger, it was mostly through self serving and indulging ways.  I was unaware of the enjoyment that comes out of the sharing and the sacrifices you make when you are with the person who makes you want to do those things without even thinking.  It's not always 2nd nature but because he is so wonderful, it makes me want to try harder.

Our pre-marriage counselor though our church had told us that as time goes on in your marriage, you will know and love the person so much more than when you got married that you will realize how God placed you together because you barely knew each other when you did get married. As time continues on, I get to know Chris more and watch him grow as a man.  Watching him as a father melts my heart daily and I know that Helaina will seek someone that treats her the way her daddy treats me.  I can't help but feel incredibly blessed.

So hears to my husband and our marriage.  I look forward to many more exciting years with you.
So much.  (pictures, hopefully, to follow after our date on Sunday night).
Update:  We had a lovely evening but I'm not surprised.  We went to a beautiful historic hawaiian hotel called the Kahala.  Auntie Jessica kindly hung out with Helaina and bebe at home so we could enjoy our evening.  thanks everyone for your kind remarks.