Happy Mother's Day

What a great day indeed! Ella gave me some pretty pink roses and a basket of daisies. So pretty! Ron bought me some yummy body lotion for all the foot rubs I'm trying to get out of him. While Ron worked on the car, Ella and I spent the afternoon in the backyard doing my favorite hobby, gardening. She's into everything but has learned to look at the flowers not pull on them. She even carries around her rake and shovel and will try to help me. Check out my sunflowers along the fence... I started those from seeds a couple of weeks ago and they are getting huge. I can't wait to see them bloom. I dug another section out today as I have the rest of my seeds sprouting. I'll be sure to take photos as the backyard grows and blooms.
I have finally come to understand my mom in a way I never could before I had a child. Ella has not only given me immeasurable joy, but she's given me the gift of compassion and admiration for my mom as the wonderful person she was, not just the mom I tried to be independent from. Each day with Ella, I see more and more of my mom in me and am grateful for all the things she taught me and I am so proud to pass that on to Ella. I wish they had a chance to meet, it would have been love at first sight for them both!
I have also been blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. We wish you a Happy Mother's Day and know that we wouldn't be half the parents we are if it wasn't for your love and support. We love you.

And,for all you other mothers, we hope you had a wonderful day, too!

Some Funny Milestones

Sorry no pics for the past couple of days...so here's a pretty Hawaii one from a few months ago :I took Ella to a free trial class of gymnastics for 1 to 3 year olds yesterday morning. It's a parent/tot class that has circle time, stretching and fun obstacle courses for the kids to do with the help of Mom or Dad. Though it was fun and a great set-up, Ella is too young for it right now. All of the kids were between 2-3 so Ella was quite a bit behind the average skill level. She loved watching and playing with the kids and it will be great for her in a few months. We'll stick to swim classes for now. Unlike most of the kids though, she does understand "Tuck your head" when she bends over on all fours. We say this when we play with her on our bed and somersault her. She loves it!

Ella has learned some new things. Tonight she learned the notion of pointing and what the reaction should be. She points and says "What's this" in baby noise (not really words but the right syllables and intonation). I was holding her and she pointed across the room as she watched my face. When I didn't look at where she was pointing, she turned my head for me. Too funny. Now, if I don't look, she's quick to correct me!

She's also learned to high-five and we've taught her to sit down if she wants to eat a snack. If I give her a cracker or something to eat, I want her to sit so she doesn't run around and accidentally choke on it. Now, anytime we eat or drink anything she plops herself down in front of us and gives us these big eyes like "Look, I'm sitting nicely, you can give me some of that now." It's so adorable but it's moments like this I feel like I've just trained a puppy. :)

Mexican Festive Weekend

Both Ron and Ella were up (and woke me up) early this morning but seeing as I had to go work at the hospital, I got out of bed with them. As I was finishing getting ready for work, I found them... asleep! Cheeky monkeys, get me up early, then be sound asleep as I have to walk out the door. I would have much rather crawled back into bed with them!

This weekend was wonderful. Saturday, I did a bunch of gardening and then we went to Katie's and celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Margaritas and some of Ron's delicious Mexican cooking.

Today we went to the beach with Ruby, Juan and their two boys (Ruby works with Ron). It was nice to be back in the sand this afternoon. We let Ella frolic in the water and sand at her own leisure and though she was interested in running sand through her toes and fingers, she didn't eat any (well, once but maybe she's finally learned it tastes bad!).

Not So Good

Well, to say I "may" have blown my WW this week was an understatement. I didn't go at all last week as Ron's work was having a bowling day and I ended up eating McDonald's. And then with all Ron's good Mexican cooking this week, I was for sure toast. Yup, 2.2 up so it's back on the wagon for me. On a positive note, I'm still past the 30lb mark! My mebership will be running out in the next couple of weeks and I might just be starting at that time too...extra $$ saved - also positive.

Happy Lei Day

Happy May Day, Workers Day, or Lei Day they call it in Hawaii. It's should just be a celebration for the beginning of a fabulous month! (It's mother's day and my birthday this month...need I say more :)! ) I took these pics when Ella was down for her nap. She sleeps like me, lots of blankets and at least one leg out of the bed!

Well, I might have blown my weight watchers this week. Ron has a Latino co-worker and he's learned some pretty fabulous Mexican recipes. Last night he made a meat and bean dish with real fried corn tortillas. Did I mention fried??? Yeah, I'm thinking Thursday night isn't going to be all that successful. It was so good, I had some for lunch today too. Oh well, I did walk tonight.
Which reminds me, Erin, you would freak out if you were here right now. You thought it was crazy living on an army base before but they are doing some major training right now and the whole field outside our housing is set up to "play army" as Ron says. I walked to the gate with Ella and the whole time was thinking "Erin would be having a heart attack saying 'oh my god we're at war'". Funny, but I guess you just get used to it.

Weekend Update

I can't believe how the days get away from me. This weekend is an exception. My girlfriend, Katie, got me onto MySpace, which I whittled away on for hours until I found that most anyone I know or went to school with is on Facebook. Anyway, it's a mindless, time-consuming addiction once you get onto them.

Ella has learned to climb. I was cleaning out our pantry and as I was distracted, I look over to see Ella climbing the step stool I was just using. She's getting very good at copying what we are doing. It just takes one time and she's ready to do it herself.


Friday I went out with Katie and some girls Ron works with. It was a fun night out with the girls for dinner and Margaritas. We ended up in a Karaoke bar after, but we didn't stay very long... I hate karaoke! Katie and I left as the drama got a bit out of control. Yes, I'm no longer into drama and can't be bothered to be around it either. But it gave Katie and I a good laugh on the way home.

We didn't do much this weekend, we had swim class on Saturday and I worked at the hospital in the mornings. This afternoon we went to the pool and relaxed a bit with Katie. Have I mentioned how much I love this island living! It's beautiful everyday and I can go to the pool or beach any day I want. I could live here forever!

Our Little Vampire

Most days, Ron is home from work just in time to get Ella out of her crib from her afternoon nap. Once she's up and talking to herself, he'll bust into her room and she'll shriek in delight as he takes her out of her crib. She is all snuggles and kisses for him and I got some cute photos of them this afternoon. The three of us were just hanging out on the bed talking about our day... here's Ella's Dracula move, she'll look at you closely, smile and then go for the neck. It's really just a big hug and a drooly kiss to the shoulder...

Swim Class

Well, my flu must have been of the 24-hour kind because by Thursday night I felt almost back to normal and Friday I was fine. Ella hasn't gotten sick after her little bout of a cold last week so we are all doing great. Ella and I had swim classes this morning and I went to work at the hospital too.

More news on the job front, it looks like I might be starting work at Weight Watchers. One of the girls had mentioned they were looking for receptionists at the meetings, so I gave her my resume and she is going to call me about setting up training. I have a choice of waiting 4 weeks and starting at the local one, where I attend meetings anyway, or starting in the next couple of weeks and doing my training in Pearl City (it's only 10 miles away but we are spoiled with island life).

Anyway, it might only be one night a week but it's $$ and I get my membership for free. Ron joked that I needed to get a job and now he's worried I'll work too much. Men! I hardly consider 2 hours one night a week and 2 hours on Saturday and Sunday work. It must have something to do with his golf time! :)


Here are little swim class movie clips Ron took today:

Ooh, Poor Mommy

I have come down with the flu. Yuck! Ella's temperature from last week has gone away, she's gotten her appetite back and the only thing left is a bit of a cough on occasion. Last night my whole body started to tingle, like they describe in restless leg syndrome and I thought I may be lacking iron. In the middle of the night I woke up in a cold sweat and I was freezing; my body felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck. Ron came home from work today before lunch and gave me some much needed rest. I've been laid out on the couch watching Ella play, hoping that the aches and chills are the worst of it. Keep your fingers crossed it doesn't hit my stomach or break out in a fever. I'm staying away from Ella as much as I can, no lovin' for her today, but seeing as she might be the carrier of this bug, I think I can not kiss her for at least one day. :)

This is a bummer as I had some quality girl time scheduled for this weekend...tonight was dessert at Chili's with Amanda, and Margaritas with Katie and some other girls sometime this weekend. I'm also not going into the hospital as the flu can be very dangerous to newborns. Looks like the couch is calling my name. How can it be 80 degrees out and I'm shivering like it's 30??

The First Haircut

Before:

It's official. Ella's had her first haircut tonight after her bath. And yes, I did it. It was a spur of the moment, grab the scissors and do it before I change my mind haircut. It made me sad at first but it's cute. Ella's hair is long in the back and on the top, but the middle is just starting to fill in; sort of the reverse of middle-aged balding men. Lately, every time we put a barrette or an elastic in it, she finds it, pulls it out and chews on it. Her hair was so long in the back that she would often chew on her hair too. So tonight I trimmed the back and made it short so it blends in with the middle hair that's just growing in. I left the top alone as I really don't know what I'm doing. I think it turned out cute, Ron's still not so sure.

After: