Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Nine Months Already
and what a nine months it's been. We've opened a new page recently. All of sudden, Makili is big. Today for example I learned that he can crawl up stairs. I blame his buddy Morgan for that one. Bad influence. I was astounded nonetheless! Everyone says he's going to walk soon, but we'll see how soon. He definitely has gotten into crawling and will crawl anywhere to get to me. There is no such thing as private bathroom time, a quick escape into the kitchen to get something done. I have a baby hanging on my pants and collar of snot and drool pretty much at all times.
But this growth is coming through in all sorts of ways. He opens every door, has long spells of independent play, wants to sit at the table at meal time with everyone else, pretends to laugh (sounds more like coughing) so that you'll laugh too, is just so darn interactive it is amazing. He likes to turn pages, open boxed, remove parts, hold things. He loves eating, whether it is him or anyone else. We have just started some solid foods - apples, bananas, carrots, and pears. Boy does he dig it! Giving him a piece of an unpeeled banana is quite an entertaining thing. He'll sucks the banana right out of the middle and won't remove it from his mouth until every fleshy banana speck is either in his mouth or on him.
The warmer weather certainly makes him happy too. He loves to be outside, and I've even gotten to the point that I'm letting him crawl around a little out there, getting those fleeces dirty... He has some of his grandpa genes...the way he was shutting his eyes and tilting his head back to suck in the sun...DST (Direct Sun Time) When my Dad would come to Hawaii he would insist on certain amounts of DST.
And then there's the whole cuteness factor. For example, look at his green eyes. Have you seen anything to cute. I am really into this age - have been loving it. He has been sleeping better (bed at 7:30, one crying session for 15 min. around 11:00, then sleeping to 4:30, nurse, sleep with us until wake-up at 6:30-7:00.), he's been playful (first we learn to walk, then we learn to trot...a favorite), he sucking in everything - i see his brain working learning how to interact, learning words. He's been snuggly, sweet, and funny. His sense of humor has really blossomed! He laughs if I wear sunglasses, a towel on Raph's head, if I talk funny. I am so lucky to be able to be home with him.
But this growth is coming through in all sorts of ways. He opens every door, has long spells of independent play, wants to sit at the table at meal time with everyone else, pretends to laugh (sounds more like coughing) so that you'll laugh too, is just so darn interactive it is amazing. He likes to turn pages, open boxed, remove parts, hold things. He loves eating, whether it is him or anyone else. We have just started some solid foods - apples, bananas, carrots, and pears. Boy does he dig it! Giving him a piece of an unpeeled banana is quite an entertaining thing. He'll sucks the banana right out of the middle and won't remove it from his mouth until every fleshy banana speck is either in his mouth or on him.
The warmer weather certainly makes him happy too. He loves to be outside, and I've even gotten to the point that I'm letting him crawl around a little out there, getting those fleeces dirty... He has some of his grandpa genes...the way he was shutting his eyes and tilting his head back to suck in the sun...DST (Direct Sun Time) When my Dad would come to Hawaii he would insist on certain amounts of DST.
And then there's the whole cuteness factor. For example, look at his green eyes. Have you seen anything to cute. I am really into this age - have been loving it. He has been sleeping better (bed at 7:30, one crying session for 15 min. around 11:00, then sleeping to 4:30, nurse, sleep with us until wake-up at 6:30-7:00.), he's been playful (first we learn to walk, then we learn to trot...a favorite), he sucking in everything - i see his brain working learning how to interact, learning words. He's been snuggly, sweet, and funny. His sense of humor has really blossomed! He laughs if I wear sunglasses, a towel on Raph's head, if I talk funny. I am so lucky to be able to be home with him.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
My Favorite Holiday
Most people are surprised when I say Easter is my favorite holiday. Sure Christmas is great, and Thanksgiving, well you can't argue with that yummy food. And I do love Halloween, the inherent creativity involved. But honestly, there is nothing better than Easter. My Easter is a true celebration of Spring whether she has visited yet or not. I love hunts, and dying eggs (even though I don't eat them), and flowers and sun. All things which seem to inevitably come with Easter. THroughout college, Easter was the best holiday because most of my friends wouldn't go home nd my parents would have a big candy hunt in the back yard, and the weather was always great and we lounged in the grass and soaked up the sun. Today was the Maine equivalent of that.
The day started with a visit from the Easter bunny. Raph and Makili followed the clues hidden in the eggs. The final clue said "You're almost to the Grand surprise. Look in a favorite thing of guys." He had some other ideas as to where the surprise might be hidden, none of which included the truck or could have actually held the surprise. But eventually they found it.
Then we had a lovely brunch with Tim, Tamara, and Sally. This included a candy hunt, which sadly I did not win. I was at a real disadvantage being short and besides when reunited with another Beal I realize how much I have to work on my competitive spirit, which isn't as practiced as it ought to be, spending so much time with the mellow Mattys. Raph made delicious waffles and we had a fruit salad too. Mmmmm. And to top if off, Tim and Tamara stuck around for a game of farkel. I think the whole neighborhood heard when Tim scored the necessary 1500 points to win the game. Tamara wasn't at all happy about the loss, but what can you do? You're up against Beals here.
After the party left, the weather was so nice that Raph and I did yard work! We cut down sumac and jagger/pricker bushes. It was LOVELY! Then feeling motivated still, I went running and ran the full 1.2 mile loop, which is a small miracle. Another miracle: as I walked out the front door to go running, I realized a whole slew of lillies? had sprouted...spring really is coming!
As my grandfather might have said about today, "This could've conceivably been the most beautiful day in the history of the world." And Easter is still at the tip top of my list.
The day started with a visit from the Easter bunny. Raph and Makili followed the clues hidden in the eggs. The final clue said "You're almost to the Grand surprise. Look in a favorite thing of guys." He had some other ideas as to where the surprise might be hidden, none of which included the truck or could have actually held the surprise. But eventually they found it.
Then we had a lovely brunch with Tim, Tamara, and Sally. This included a candy hunt, which sadly I did not win. I was at a real disadvantage being short and besides when reunited with another Beal I realize how much I have to work on my competitive spirit, which isn't as practiced as it ought to be, spending so much time with the mellow Mattys. Raph made delicious waffles and we had a fruit salad too. Mmmmm. And to top if off, Tim and Tamara stuck around for a game of farkel. I think the whole neighborhood heard when Tim scored the necessary 1500 points to win the game. Tamara wasn't at all happy about the loss, but what can you do? You're up against Beals here.
After the party left, the weather was so nice that Raph and I did yard work! We cut down sumac and jagger/pricker bushes. It was LOVELY! Then feeling motivated still, I went running and ran the full 1.2 mile loop, which is a small miracle. Another miracle: as I walked out the front door to go running, I realized a whole slew of lillies? had sprouted...spring really is coming!
As my grandfather might have said about today, "This could've conceivably been the most beautiful day in the history of the world." And Easter is still at the tip top of my list.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
For My Dad
I have really been taking a lot of pictures lately, partly because of my 30 Days of Photos project, which I saw on someone else's blog. It seemed like a good way to try to capture the moments of our everyday.
These flowers (gorgeous!) were an Easter gift from Ann. They were almost the picture of the day yesterday. I have such a hard time picking ONE picture of the day that I let someone else choose half the time. Raph chose the ice picture.
Amazingly he's still reading even though he's a science teacher again.
My Dad wanted to know what our wetland looked like...it looks like this - a stream!
Sh... Don't wake Daddy.
I went to a thrift store this morning and got this little riding toy for Makili for $1! I was pretty psyched. Makili is pretty stoked too!
These flowers (gorgeous!) were an Easter gift from Ann. They were almost the picture of the day yesterday. I have such a hard time picking ONE picture of the day that I let someone else choose half the time. Raph chose the ice picture.
Amazingly he's still reading even though he's a science teacher again.
My Dad wanted to know what our wetland looked like...it looks like this - a stream!
Sh... Don't wake Daddy.
I went to a thrift store this morning and got this little riding toy for Makili for $1! I was pretty psyched. Makili is pretty stoked too!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Buddies and Grass
The woman whose kids I babysit is pretty hip when it comes to holidays (an in general for that matter). I like holidays so when other people live it up for the holidays it makes me happy. Her kids grow their own Easter baskets, soaking the wheat in water and then letting them soak up the sun until it grows. Can't you just picture the eggs and candy nestled in this grass!
Morgan, the youngest of her brood, and Makili are buddies these days. They play together and spend a lot time checking eachother out. Morgan loves to be close to Makili, but not for him to touch her toys, which is understandable. Morgan got a bit of a fever today, so I hope Makili doesn't come down with it too. Her older brother Sam was practically open-mouth kissing her this morning, so I don't think there is any hope for him. A common phrase at thier house is "Whoa-Space in the Face!" Anyway, Makili loves those kids, and I think they like him okay too.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
As a reminder
For those of you who don't read my entire posts and didn't get to the end of the rant to read that I'm hosting a "COMMENT CONTEST" I'm going to reiterate:
Every time you leave a comment between now and April 15th, you will be entered into a drawing to WIN a package of handmade goods, customized to the winner.
Everybody likes to WIN FREE stuff, right?
Every time you leave a comment between now and April 15th, you will be entered into a drawing to WIN a package of handmade goods, customized to the winner.
Everybody likes to WIN FREE stuff, right?
Neighbors, Cousins, Friends
Raph and I were pretty psyched when my cousin and his girlfriend started looking for houses in our area. Then they bought one less than two miles from our house. YES! They been in for a few months already but we finally got the camera out yesterday. Amazingly, I think my cousin actually like food more than we do, which works out for every body because he gets to cook phenomenal meals, like this lasagna (which for the record ain't your standard veggie lasagna) and we get to eat it.
Tamara can't seem to get enough of Makili
and Makili can't seem to get enough of their cat, Snowball (yes they seem to have a sense of humor with naming their black cat). Tamara, the good sport, carries him after the cat, all over the house.
We are planning on sharing gardening duties this summer on our property, which is pretty exciting. God I can't wait!
Tamara can't seem to get enough of Makili
and Makili can't seem to get enough of their cat, Snowball (yes they seem to have a sense of humor with naming their black cat). Tamara, the good sport, carries him after the cat, all over the house.
We are planning on sharing gardening duties this summer on our property, which is pretty exciting. God I can't wait!
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