The Redemption of Waikiki

Ron and Ella with Diane

Today, Ron, Ella and I headed into Waikiki to meet Diane for lunch. We parked near the hotel at Fort DeRussy, where the Hale Koa is located. When Erin was visiting I made a comment about how much I disliked Waikiki for it's couture, over-priced shopping, beach with more bodies than grains of sand, and the traffic. How could anyone vacation here I thought!

Ron, Ella and I

Well, it turns out, we were at the busy end of Waikiki and it's totally different than the Hale Koa end. Diane's hotel, The Breakers, is a quaint little hotel with a Japanese look and a beautiful pool courtyard. Because it's near the military hotel, the Hale Koa and Fort DeRussy park, it's much more quiet than the high-end shopping area. Diane took us on a tour of "her" Waikiki and I have definately a greater appreciation as to why people come back year after year. The walkways are paved and the beach isn't over-crowded. There are walkways through and among the big hotel courtyards and the gardens are beautiful. Here's a picture of a Banyan Tree...one of many in the region.

The Hilton has beautiful ponds with ducks, khoi, swans, turtles and even penguins! Here's Ella talking to them. It was such a beautiful day that Ron and I are going to come back with our rollerblades and take Ella around Waikiki and Ala Moana. Diane took us for Japanese lunch at the hotel and it was delicious! What great day...to top it off I finally did some gardening....

Designer Duds

Ella has quite the wardrobe. Really, it's massive for such a little girl. Luckily I have a friend with connections at The Gap, and all Ella's designer clothes are hand- me- downs. Her Old Navy stuff is sale stuff for only a few dollars as I have a rule prohibiting spending more than $10 on an outfit for Ella. ...Except when it comes to shoes.
Here is Ella in her Baby Phat hand-me-down and her brand-new Sketchers. I really wish they had girl shoes in my size. So cute. How do you think Ella is taking her designer wardrobe? Is she posing in that top picture...really???? :)

Sea Life

Today, Ella and I met "Nanny Diane" and her sister Carol and we took them to Ko Olina beach. (Diane and my mom were best friends from when we first moved to Victoria and remained so for almost 25 years) Diane comes to Hawai'i every year with her mom and sister(s) and, as always, it is so wonderful to see and visit with her. The weather was beautiful; a breezy 80 degrees. Ko Olina is so gorgeous, it's by far my favorite beach here for the fact that it is quiet, sandy, has lots of grass and palm trees as well as restrooms and a walking path. On a good night this weekend, I think I'll pack a nice dinner and take Ron and Ella to watch the sunset.
Anyway, today was great to catch up with Diane and Carol. As we were out swimming in the waves (Ella loves her floaty), a Hawaiian sea turtle came up next to Carol. It was AMAZING! (of course Diane and I were thankful it didn't come up next to us as we probably would have drowned in fright!) Seeing as we were in the middle of the lagoon, we didn't have a camera but here's a picture of one. They are endangered and protected here so you can't touch, feed or block them in any way. I'm sure Carol got much more of a view than we did but it was only a few feet away before it dipped back into the water.
It was definitely time to take Ella in as we were close to the breakwater and I figured if there was a turtle, there's probably other ocean critters too and who wants anything brushing up against your leg! :)
After dropping Diane and Carol at their shuttle back to Waikiki, Ella and I found a great deal on some new Sketchers for both of us. Little girls have the cutest runners...I wish they had matching ones for Mommy.
Oooh, how cute is her new bathing suit!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we spent most of the day hanging around the house and hanging outside with our neighbors. Keilana gave Ella her car/walker and Ella has been unstoppable since. She doesn't get how to sit and move around with it but she'll walk around with it in front of her.

As I was taking her inside, I sat her on the car and picked her and the car up. The back came off and Ella fell flat on her back on the pavement, she has learned to tuck her head from all the falling over she does on her own, so she didn't hit her head. However, she made a huge "thump" and screamed in fright and pain. She seemed to be okay once she calmed down, no dizziness, or anything but at dinner she began spitting up everything she ate so I took her to the ER. It was so quiet there that all the staff were outside BBQing for Valentine's Day and we saw a doctor right away. She's fine. She's laughing and smiling and being herself and because she's not projectile vomiting and lethargic, it was nothing. I feel better and am glad I didn't have to spend Valentine's Day in the ER all night. Hope you enjoy the video...pre-fall trauma....

Anel and Keilana are moving back to Puerto Rico this weekend so Ella has scored some pretty nice clothes. We went through a huge box of clothes for 12-18 months. We have so many, I've donated a lot and we won't need any more clothes until she's at least 2!
This has been a rough week, just really not motivated to do much. I finally cleaned the house and caught up on laundry today but it was a huge effort.
Ella had some passport pictures taken and we go on Thursday to apply for her US passport. How exciting for her! We have some serious travel plans for the next two years and can't wait to travel as a family to some fun places. So far we have trips to Maui, western Canada, and Australia planned.
Here's Ella's Supergirl onesie from Auntie Stephanie and a matching skirt from Keilana. She also got another cute pair of jeans and a little sweater tank from Keilana as well. It was like Christmas here!

News Update

This is the only TV we let Ella watch. It's Signing Time for 30 minutes on Saturday mornings. She loves it!! We've been taping it on our DVR but will save up and buy her the series. I've learned so much sign language from this program, Ron and I love it too...
I haven't posted in a few days as we've been visiting with my cousin and her fiance who are here for the Pro Bowl and staying with us. It's been about 8 years since I've seen Jodi and she is doing well, it's nice to catch up and finally meet Bart. Here's Jodi with us in front of our house...check out my new haircut. Christin - I finally have bangs!

Ella is getting more and more sure of her standing abilities and will now practice standing up without the use of objects. I have a video I'll upload later. She's also finally stopped spitting up after every meal or bottle and can actually wear one single outfit for the whole day. We are shocked as it's been a daily routine of 4 or 5 outfits and lots of shirt changes for us. Now she can burp without half her bottle coming up with it...I know, maybe too graphic. I'm not sure if this means her GERD (reflux disease) is going away as it usually does in the first year or the amount of solid food she's eating is helping. It's so nice to not have to change her throughout the day and her laundry is half what it normally is.

Onto other news, we finally have a renter in our house in Atlanta. Keep your fingers crossed that she works out. She's a single mom (child psychologist) and has a great track record with renting so we were very happy to let her move in. The property management company does all the work for us and we just sit back and collect a check. Finally after 6 months of an empty house it's now going to be lived in.

Ella and Keilana

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!

Future Entertainer

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!
Here's Ella's new jeans with butterflies from Grandma...they are actually long enough for her! So cute....

When she's had enough fun it's easy to see when she is ready for a nap...

Daddy's Caddy

Ella's latest new outfit...

Wake Up Call

I woke up at 3:45 to a screaming "I want my Mommy...I want my Mom!!" At first I thought it was a hurt child and jumped out of bed, but then it sounded like a child having a temper tantrum on a poor dad, "Oh, that poor dad, I hope no one calls the police.."

A male voice, "Get in and I'll take you to your Mom!" Oh, great. Just a bunch of drunk teenagers, obviously she's had too much to drink and he's trying to get her home...Second male voice, "shut up, b****!"

I called 911, of course, and explained it may be some drunk teenagers trying to get home, but they need to come help this girl... I throw some shoes and a sweater on and go tramping outside in my pj's to find where is this totally distraught female voice...

It's my neighbors! "Apparently", she's had too much to drink and he and his friend were trying to get her inside. I asked if she was okay and told the husband I had called the MP's (military police as we live on base). He apologized and said she finally passed out. Wait, what was the whole "I want my Mommy!" bit? A little odd for a grown, well 20-yr old, woman...20!

When the MP's showed up, I explained but asked them to check on her anyway. Finally, I get to go to bed!

There's a knock on the door and MP #2 needs some information from me, because I’m the caller who reported the incident. (Let me just say thank goodness he didn't ring the doorbell! Our house is handicap equipped which means every room has a blue flashing signal light and a LOUD buzzer that indicates the doorbell… both Ron and Ella have been blissfully asleep this whole time.)

In filing out the "required" paperwork, he asks for my military ID, place of birth, age, yada yada yada, "any distinguishing tattoos, M'am?" What??? "Is this in case I get lost?" I ask him. He just shrugs and says it's on the form. He has my ID which has all Ron's information too, but he asks me Ron's birthday, branch of service, middle name.

Seriously, is this a quiz? I ask him if I'm going to be tested on it later. He laughed and apologized but he's just doing his job. Alright...back to the questions...

“Husband's hair color, eye color, ethnicity?” "African-American."

"His complexion, M'am?"

"Uh, what?" says the girl who's only ever had to check off "white" on a form. I want complexion options! “Usually pasty, but fabulously tanned from Erin’s visit recently.” Can I check off that box? Back to the paperwork…

He lists off some options, ah, now it's a multiple choice test! "Would you like to make a statement, M'am?"

"Yes, isn't the drinking age 21?" :)

Anyway, I finally got to go back to bed. Thank goodness, it’s Saturday and Ron has gotten up with Ella, I’m going back to bed. The MP's here are really nice and super friendly...but really, all those questions????