Our neighbor, Anel and her daughter Keilana stopped by last night. Keilana is almost two and we can't get over how much her and Ella look alike! They both have that same curly hair and nice skin. They really do look like sisters. Ron and I always laugh about how we know what Ella's going to look like at two. Of course Ella is over the moon in love with little girls...she can't stop giggling!
We bought a play yard that can be connected to form a pen or stretched out to block off areas. Ella's not sure about it but hasn't figured out that she is "caged". She just thinks it's an easy way to pull herself up. She can entertain herself for hours and loves to "sing" too (note the high pitch noises). She'll sing along to the radio or do a little solo like in this video. Even when she falls, the show must go on! 
She's especially vocal when she sees that you are videotaping her... and if she notices you're not paying attention when she's working on her balance, she holler at you until you watch her. I detect a future drama queen! 
Since Erin left last week it's done nothing but rain! Granted, it's still warm enough to wear t-shirts, but the skies are black and it's been quite stormy. I'm thinking Ella and I might drive up to the North Shore tomorrow and check out the waves; they are supposed to get 35+ feet, how fabulous! 
The rain and the downpours haven't affected our walks...we just use the plastic stroller cover and I have a rain jacket. We're walking about 3 miles a day and it's so nice to get back into shape again. Here's another cute outfit that Ella owns...I really wish they had matching Mommy clothes sometimes :)
How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? 
Let me tell you, a doorway, crib rails and coffee tables! Every time I turn around Ella is chomping on something! We have lowered her crib to the lowest setting so she can't reach the tops at the end of the crib and chew off all the paint. 
The side rails have a plastic teething cover but the ends are rounded and wider so we have nothing to protect them. We get her in the morning or after a nap and she's got paint chips all over her face and in her hair. In some parts she's chewed down to the wood. I've noticed my coffee table has some Ella teeth marks and today as she was following me around the hallway, she chomped away at the doorway. Did we have a puppy or a child???
Other Ella news, her eighth tooth has come though, 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top. Perhaps that's contributing to her woodchucking. She is also totally on the move and will be into something if you turn your back for a second. She crawls a little odd and use one leg for further leverage or balance, we're not really sure. She crawls normal on the bed or carpet, but this is how she looks when she crawls on the wood floor...maybe it's too hard on her knees. 
She's getting better at standing on her own and will let go of what she is holding onto and then after a minute, realizes she's on her own and will grab at something or plop down. Sometimes she looks at you with such excitement like "Whoa! Look what I'm doing!" She can be so proud of herself! Here she is after standing on her own..."Whoa" and check out her tan!
Dear Auntie,
Thank you for coming to Hawai'i and hanging out with us. We loved the beach, the sun, the sightseeing and especially our tans...next time you'll have to stay longer so you can catch up to me and we can be the same color. I know Mommy and Daddy are very sad to see you go back, Daddy said he'd support you and Mommy for at least a month next time! :) Maybe by then I will have learned to kiss with my mouth closed and not drool all over your cheek. I will miss you. Until then, kipa hou mai`anake (come visit again, Auntie). Kisses to Auntie Sue, Uncle Stu, your sisters and the babies!
Love Ella
We spent the whole weekend at Ko Olina, getting up early to picnic and spend the entire day working on our tans. Erin's determined to be the same color as Ella when she leaves! Though Ella is getting darker and darker every day despite the shade and the sunblock...she is loving the water so it's where she's getting her color from. 
Little kids love her and as Ron and I were letting her play in her floaty at the tide line, a little girl about 3, grabbed the handle and pulled her away... "I'm going to show my sister," she says as she's walking away. Ron had to chase her and follow her so Ella wouldn't get knocked over and drown...where is this kids' parents!!! Ella, of course, can't get enough of all the kids she sees playing. You know she's thinking, "How can I get out of this floating contraption and join them!"
Yesterday, we spent the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I love everything about new places. I love the culture of people who live there, the native way of life is beautiful. What I hate...tourists! The Center was a great educational place for all the Polynesian islands: Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, Marquesas, and Hawai'i. We toured the villages, saw a canoe pageant, ate at a Luau, and watched the fire show. 
It was beautiful, and the proceeds from the park support the Polynesian university - most of the performers and staff are students or instructors. But, being the most popular tourist event on Oahu, it was packed, and a total tourist trap. Ella loved the people and watched the shows fascinated with all the traditional dress and dances. She clapped along with the crowd too. I really shouldn't complain about mass tourism...we were them yesterday... 
