Friday, January 25, 2008

Milestones











7 months. 200th post on my blog. We've come a long way. He crawls. He pulls up on things. He doesn't put things in his mouth (the only baby I know.) He is starting to really like his mom a LOT. He concentrates and investigates. He loves to hold food, anything food, and somehow he can tell food from non-food without tasting it. He will stare at a pretzel for a long time, turning it over, feeling its delicate curves and rough salt. Today we gave him an avocado peel and he really liked that slimy new texture. He loved that so much his socks turned green. Oh well. He loves music class. He does not like that there aren't breasts waiting for him at every moment of the day. He does not like it if you show him the pacifier when he wants to nurse. He likes your hands to be waiting to help him stand. He knows the word "help" which is said to as we offer our hands. We're just starting baby sign language. I thought I would start with milk, since he loves that so much, but he's too hysterical when he wants to nurse to look at my hands or even put an inch between him and my chest, so we gave up and are starting with "help" and "more." We'll see how that goes. He still likes being outside even when it is frickin cold or there is a foot of fresh snow. We went on a hike in the newly fallen snow this last week. So beautiful. He likes the BIG goodnight moon book, the book with the flaps that hide body parts, the puppy our friends Ryan and Jess gave him that talks, mom's necklace, and matchbox cars. We like the fact that he is finally sleeping through the night again, or at least 6-8 hours at a clip. Thank you sleep gods. He's a pretty happy camper, and we really can't complain either.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Cuteness



Makili was in complete hysterics. Unfortunately, our video-camera is pretty sub-par and doesn't really work for like five minutes when you turn it on. I missed the silliest laughter, but caught the end of the fun... I'm pretty excited about posting videos, hopefully you'll enjoy them too.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Momentum



This quilt was intended to be Makili's Christmas gift, but it didn't make it back from the quilter in time, so instead it will be his 1st birthday gift. It's arrival, however, got me quilting again, and I finished another one this week, though I won't post a picture until it's quilted...

As for Makili movement is his thing. After weeks of backwards and sideways movement, he has finally learned to propel himself forward. I guess that means that he's officially crawling, though it doesn't really look that much like crawling, instead more like the break-dancing move, the catepillar. He also pulls himself up on things which gets a bit dangerous. He's getting pretty adept at it. Though he can "crawl" now, he still defintely prefers to stand and scoot along the couch or the crib or your legs. We're actually on our way right now to buy cabinet locks...

I took some really cute video yesterday...maybe I'll get motivated enough to elarn how to upload it, though more likely that will happen when our new internet connections gets hooked up this week!!!! Hooray!

My guys

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Skating before Walking







Raph really wanted to be able to say that Makili was skating before he was walking...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Cimbing Dad, Dirty Looks (give me the boob), Chapped Cheeks




12-16"




Yesterday it was 50 degrees and we went for two breath-taking walks - at Fort Foster and the Cliff Path in York. I was talking about how nice it was and how I was going to take my mom there when she comes next week. Then I just learned that we are expecting 12-16" of snow tonight. Oh well. I still love living by the ocean. Of course I lived by the ocean in Hawaii too and we didn't get any snow there...

Friday, January 11, 2008

Slacker

I really haven't gotten around to bloging lately as I'm sure anyone who regularly reads my blog knows. Life has been very busy and uneventful all at once. Makili is getting big and very mobile - pulling himself up on things (he pulled himself up on the music stand/bookshelf thing the other day and fell and got a little scrape on his face). He is close to crawling, going backwards and sideways very adeptly... I think he is going to be an early walker too since he spends a lot of time holding on the the couch smacking the cushions.

I started nannying/babysitting for three kids a day and a half a week. Luckily they're really nice kids. I've been enjoying the challenge and all that they teach me. Caring for four kids simultaneously is quite an exercise! Makili loves the activity and he and their youngest daughter who is 16 months are very interested in each other and spend part of each day staring at each other. So far so good!

Other than that we've enjoyed having new neighbors, my cousin Tim and his girlfriend Tamara, who bought a fabulous house two miles from ours! Yes! The more the merrier - who's next! We've been sharing culinary delights with them, despite their lack of a cooktop. Tim made the best pizza in the history of the world last week. Tonight is samosa night at our house. It is great to have them nearby. We are strategizing the extravagant garden we intend to put into place next summer (any of my farming friends who are interested in giving advice are welcome to do so...bob, becky, tara, etc?)

I'm feeling pretty good about life. The extra money from babysitting gives a little bit of breathing room with finances, allowing us to continue to live simply, without financial stress. Just the way I want it. And how about 60 degree is January. I am NOT complaining...

Monday, December 31, 2007

Seapoint Sunrise Starts 2008




It may not surprise you that we were up to see the sunrise that brought in the new year. A fitting end I think to the "Year of Light!" Snowy, soft, and cold. I stood there and told Makili that in this year he would take his first steps, say his first words. And I reflected as I stood on the snowy beach that the ocean we watched lap on the shore connected us to Hawaii where Makili was born just six short months ago. The future and the past connected in one string of thoughts. it was a sunset worth being awake for.

A few pictures from 2007 - I added a few random picture from each month of the last year.


January


February



March



April



May



June





July






August




September




October




November


December

starts in 2007

Titles of the first blog for each month over the last year. (Thanks Becky for the idea.)

January: "You Know Your Belly Is Getting Bigger When..."
February: "Squares And Rectangles Add Up To Something"
March: "More Walk Pictures"
April: "Full Circle"
May: "Shocker"
June: "Little Sausages and Blow-Up Mattresses"
July: Notes on Week One"
August: "Abram and Wanita"
September: "Mount Cardigan"
October: "Some Cute Makili pics"
November: "Llama Luau"
December: "Dr. E"

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Ornaments and Teeth




Raph and I did not exchange Christmas gifts this year for a variety of reasons - we have no money, we don't need any more stuff, etc. Instead we decided to make eachother an ornament, something we hope will be a yearly tradition. These are the ornaments of 2007. Raph said he really had a hard time with his - getting the solder to stick, so he says he's going to stick this medium each year until he gets really good. In case you can't tell, this is a turtle, in the style of the Hawaiian petroglyphs. This was my first time that I had needle felted. The materials were mostly a gift from my Aunt who has the llama farm. It was pretty fun, though Raph asked why i had given myself a huge mustache. Oh well...

And look how big his teeth have gotten in a few short weeks!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Too short




Our trip to Pittsburgh was wonderful. Not enough bridge, but is there ever? Wonderful toasty fires, decent weather, delicious peppermint cookies and upside down pear gingerbread cakes, and most importantly - people we love and love us. It could have gone on forever as far as I was concerned.

The Puff clan coordinated a last-minute visit that was painfully short as there are few people who's company I enjoy as much as theirs.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas shots...

Appropriate attire required of course.


Makili got some quality time with his aunt and uncle and grandparents. He loved playing peekaboo in the mirror with aunt Amanda and REALLY loved Koda. He was a generally happy kid, especially considering how little sleep he got. OR was that me who got no sleep?






I love decorating christmas cookies and was lucky enough to do so at Raph's mom's house and my mom's house.


Even Koda was feeling festive.


Makili didn't sleep more than three hours at a time for a single night during the vacation so he had to make up for it for with lots of Christmas naps.


Have you ever seen anything cute than this baby in his Christmas outfit? Thanks to Debbie!