My Hero

So despite all the technical difficulties with the new MP3 Player and my computer, everything is finally working and I'm in the process of loading all my music. Ron, as usual, came to my rescue and managed to fix my computer, upgrade it so that it now works with my new player and didn't loose any of my files (other than the web page bookmarks and a day of Ella's photos...whatever, considering that 99.9% was saved, he did perfect!)
So, had it not been for Ron, my laptop would have been out the window and in a thousand pieces. I really don't know how he stays so calm with these things. But he is wonderful and can now add Tracey's computer saver to his list of husbandly duties (spider killer, bug sqasher, BBQ grill supervisor, tall shelf reacher...)
Thank you for everything you do for me. I love you.

I Hate Computers!!!

So, my beautiful, new, shiny MP3 Player arrived today. I was so excited to get my music set up and start walking off more pounds. But I learned that my new player is so new and so shiny that it surpasses the software I have on my computer and won't work. What the ???? And we can't download the software upgrades without the original disk.

In the process of "trying to get around it", Ron wiped my hard drive (thank god not all my music and files) but I did loose all my website address that I had bookmarked and organized as well as all the photos we took in the last couple of days (all of Ella's bathing suits and lots of her outfits that she is growing out of). We spent a whole day taking pictures of Ella in all the outfits I was donating, gifting and saving...plus went to Ko Olina to document her bathing suit attire.....all gone.

I love my laptop. I hate hate hate technical difficulties!

Rewards

So I finally ordered my MP3 player. It's my reward for my first 20 lbs lost... now I can be extra stylish when I'm walking off the rest of the weight and working towards my next reward... a new camera cell phone...pink of course! I weighed Ella the other day and she's almost 21 lbs. I've officially lost an Ella.

Swim Attire

Today, we decided to try on our roller blades for the first time in almost two years. We went to Ko Olina to enjoy the paved walkway along the four lagoons but soon found a sign prohibiting any such fun. We got to the third lagoon and decided to take off our roller blades and walk back...we weren't that good anyway. :)

I have been going through Ella's wardrobe and am gifting (too small), donating (worn) and discarding (stained) all her clothes in order to make room for the 12-18 month stuff she has. I've been taking lots of pictures of her cute outfits and I organized her bathing suit drawer... Stephanie, you asked how many bathing suits does this girl have??? Here she is in the ones that have fit her and do fit her now... she still has ones for 18 months! At least in Hawai'i it's a year-round wardrobe staple.























































For the record... I only bought her 3 bathing suits, all on sale for under $5 at the end of the season in Atlanta. The rest, you're all as guilty as me! :)

Ella Moments

If I haven't said it before, or at least recently, Ella really is a very happy little girl. She always has been. She's quite content with things and it seems Ron and I are meeting all her needs. She has no fear or anxiety and loves people. I get a lot of comments on how happy she is, how content and smiley she is. She's so easy on us, we take her everywhere and never have a problem with her. She doesn't fuss, or cry, or whine. But she does have her moments when she's tired or hungry, and recently she's had a few little moments when she's frustrated. Just to prove that indeed Ella is a real baby, and that we don't sedate her, ("What do you give that baby to keep her so good?" ...yes, we've been asked this many times!) here are some Ella moments. The "I'm so hungry I'm going to eat my foot" and the "grrrrr I'm tired" moments are few and far between, but we do get glimpses of them occasionally, even a pout or two....

Beached Out

Today, Ella and I met Diane and Carol for another day at Ko Olina. We picked them up at the bus stop and headed to Waikele Outlets as it was raining. After an hour of shopping the sun came out and we headed to the beach. All that sand, surf and sun wears us out. Ella loves bath time and with all the salt and sand, we need to hose her down and make sure it's all out of her hair. I'm usually finding grains of sand in her hair days later. Look at her...someone got a tan!

The clocks are back and they are free. Not sure what happened...

Pigtails

Ella's hair has been out of control ever since she was born. At first it was really straight and we could slick it down but now that it's been growing like a weed at the top and bottom, the curls are totally uncontrollable. The real problem lies in the lack of hair she has around the middle of her head. The exact opposite of balding men who tend to only keep that "ring" around their hair. It's getting really long and the curls are beautiful, it's just the sparse middle makes it hard to do anything with. If we pin it to the side, the barrette doesn't stay in long as there isn't any hair on the sides to hold it in. Today I put her hair in pigtails...what a cutie! Don't get me wrong, Ella has beautiful hair...I'm just waiting for it to grown in and fill those sparse patches.

Long Weekend

Ron had a three-day weekend due to the American celebration of President's Day today. Of course, what better way to celebrate than to show a little bi-patriotism...

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???? :)