Back to School Blues

I am the CUTEST!!!

Look at this face? How in the heck can I get excited for school when it means leaving that beautiful smile? Yes, school's back in session and yes, Indy's back at Daycare. Of course, I am sad, but we're adjusting. Indy is probably adjusting better than I am. She sees her friends at Linda's and she immediately lights up! She giggles, followed by intervals of rapid hand fluttering. I swear, if this little one keeps up her hand-fluttering, she could zip right along in the water as her very own motor boat. 

I was emotional the first week of school. It was tough leaving her at 7:00am and picking her up 9 hours later, but as school progresses, I find that I can pick her up earlier. So, we're figuring out the schedule again and all I can say is that Indy is happy and upbeat about pretty much everything. 

Indy recently had her 9 month check up! I can't believe that she's that old! Time is passing so quickly and it has me amazed and conflicted. Amazed because I can't wrap my head around her rapid growth, but conflicted because I practically coddle the newborn clothes at Target when I see them hanging on the rack. Was Indy really that small (yes, for about a week)?

 Indy weighed in at 22.8 pounds and is 30 inches long! She's healthy and that makes us happy! She had so much fun at the doctor's office that day too! She discovered the doctor's office paper that is used to cover the medical table. She resorted to shaking it violently, followed by attempting to eat it. It seems her favorite toys are not toys at all. Water bottles, paper, tissue and boxes are all on the top of her list. 

Indy's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY is nearly two months away! Yikes! I can't believe it. We're beginning to talk about what we want to do...more news on that later. 

Until next time....

My Four-Tooth Hillbilly

First time sitting in grass

Having fun with family and friends has certainly been the thesis of this summer! Indy has had some wonderful firsts over the past few months and she's been able to share these milestones with so many loved-ones!

In the spirit of this summer's Olympics, I should note that Indy is a Gold Medalist in Clapping, Sitting-up, and Waving! She's enjoying each new discovery she encounters with the fervor and excitement only a baby could know. I often wish I could bottle her excitement and drink it all in for myself! In fact, her enthusiasm for EVERYTHING is probably marketable, but we don't plan on exploiting her cuteness and sense of wonder. We'll keep it for ourselves for now!

Playing at the park!

Earlier this month, Indy had the pleasure of hitting up Laguna Beach with me, Hattie, Shelby, Madeleine and Grandpa Don. Madeleine, of course, is never one to do things in a casual manner, so our beach trip was nothing less than superb and picturesque. Madeleine had already set up our beach spot earlier that morning: chairs, umbrellas, towels, blankets and coolers for all the yummy food she made. She made Tabouli Salad with vegetables from her garden, accompanied with fresh nectarines, grapes and chocolate for dessert. It was amazing! Indy and Hattie had tons of fun!

Beautiful day

Mad with Hattie

Along with beach time, Indy also spent some time enjoying her baths, clapping, eating, and doing lots of baby-things. It's funny how addicting it is to document all of it. I have so many pictures, it's ridiculous! 

Can you see my two front teeth?

Having fun

Come on, you gotta love those rolls!

Bath time toys are so fun

First time in shopping cart

This past week also marked Dan and my anniversary. It's number 3 for us! We've had such a magical three years. It's hard to believe how much has happened since 2009. Dan made this cute collage of pictures for me--it says it all.

Until next time...

Like My Mom

Today marks the fifth anniversary of my mother's passing. I know, morbid topic, but I'd rather look at this day as a sweet reflection of my mother's memory instead of a sad and somber day. My mother was the most complicated and dynamic person I know. She was a woman who possessed an astounding IQ,  a dangerous beauty, an electric personality, and an impulsive character. These traits were both her strengths and weaknesses. She was often too smart for her own good (she never went to college, but I imagine she could've done tremendous things with a degree), her beauty got her into trouble all too often, her personality attracted everyone (the good and bad), and her impulsive nature could have us flying to the moon or taking a face-plant into the dirt. Either way, I loved her with all my heart. She has left an indelible stamp on my life (as all mothers do) and I know that if she was alive today, she would be proud of the mother I have become.

So, my decision to write this post is rooted in catharsis. I feel like I am connecting to her spirit with each stroke of the keypad. Perhaps I am being melodramatic, but I prefer to look at this in a more practical and healthy way; writing this is helping me keep the spirit of my mother alive, so when Indy asks, "What was my grandma like?", I can show her this keepsake (I plan to publish this blog for Indy one day).

Here are some of my favorite things about my mom. I hope to echo these things in my parenting of Indy:

1. Talking on the phone EVERY DAY! It's crazy, but it was so wonderful.
2. Our frozen yogurt trips. We did this to the point of insanity. Once Starbuck's came to town, we cashed in our yogurt chips for caffeine.
3. Dancing. Hands down, my mother is one of the BEST dancers I have ever encountered. She moved like no one was watching (when everyone actually was though).
4. Arm tickles. When I couldn't sleep, she'd tickle my arms with her inordinately long nails.
5. Her evil cackle. My mom had a dry-whisky laugh that sounded more like The Green Goblin from Spiderman than a grown woman. When she'd laugh really hard, her false eyelashes would come off.
6. Her false eyelashes :)
7. Her food--incredible baker.
8. Her tidy, little bun. She would never wear her hair any other way.
9. Her regal demeanor. You'd think she descended from royalty (or she was a really big snob). Either way, she walked into a room like she owned the place.
10. Her hugs. When I hugged her, I could smell her lotion, her workplace, and her makeup. It was really comforting.

The year before she passed

I hope my mom is looking down on me and smiling. 

Mahalo! Indy's summer fun...

So, Indy's having tons of fun this summer! She's hanging with friends, having lunch dates with Gramps, going to Hawaii, kickin' it with Mom---wait, did I just casually skim over "going to Hawaii"? Yes, I did. Let's try this again.

Indy went to Hawaii last week! We just got back at 2am this morning and boy did we have fun! Indy is a little champion! It turns out that she LOVES the water. The pool was an aquatic sanctuary for Indy--smiles galore and lots of splashes! The ocean was fun, but she's still a little tentative; give the kid a break though, she's only seven months old!

My initial fears of flying with a baby were quickly dissolved when Indy rocked the airplane like a champ! It didn't hurt that I had three bottles of milk on-hand, baby food and we managed to get an entire row of seats to ourselves! Indy basically had her own seat, so my fears of diaper changing, napping, and closed quarters dissipated.

Plane ride smiles

Indy also had tons of fun with family too!

My cool cousin Caitlyn

Hanging out with Daddy!

The Crew

Aunt Jaime and Unky Teo

Beach Walk!

Aunt Julie gives good hugs!

Grandma Sue, I LOVE YOU!

As you can see, fun times were had. Here's some more great shots:

Trees along the shore

At the beach with Grandma! 

Renown Puka Dogs!

On a date!

A beautiful Hawaiian sky.

Gotta go to the Farmer's Market

Grandpa gets me ready for the beach :)

Let's move to Hawaii, please! 

So, that's the scoop on Hawaii. I am itching to go back; it is too much fun and too beautiful to pass up. It was also so fun to watch Indy take in all the new sights and sounds. She had a great time with family, sea-life and plane rides!

On a completely different note, Indy also hung out with Hattie! Hattie is getting so big and she's ready for a playmate in Indy! Check out these adorable shots:

Lunch with Grandpa Don, Shelby, Hattie, Indy and Me!

Hey Buddy!

Yeah!

Let's not forget some Laguna time! Check out the garden and the vegetables Indy has her hands on!

Yummy!

Crazy Chicken

We also spent some time with Crystal and Brenda! Indy loved that!

Too cute for words!

 Indy is enjoying summer time more than we could've imagined. Being home with her is certainly special. She's been able to do so much. She's hung out with so much family. She's even been spending some babysitting time with Uncle Donny! She loves that!

We continue to feel blessed with each passing day that Indy is in our lives. She is a tremendous joy, always smiling and playing. She has a tender heart and a magical spirit! 

Oh Daddy!

Until next time...

School's Out For..Some Indy Time

I am so cute, right?

It's been a long wait, but the last four months have passed and you know what that means? It means INDY TIME! I get to have uninterrupted, one-on-one, in-your-face, Indy time. I am so excited and Dan and I couldn't be happier.

Indy has changed so much in the past six months. She cashes in at 19 bucks now and she's also 28 inches long! She's my "Little Pudge", as we so endearingly refer to her. She has folds on top of all of her folds, she has two dazzling, pearly-white bottom teeth, she can reach for her bottle, toys and faces (she really loves to put her hands on our faces) and she babbles about everything from Dan's comic-art to my fragrant gas after a dinner of veggie-chili (seriously--it's lethal right now).

Another huge milestone for Little Pudge is her transition to solids. She now eats a nice, delicious bowl of porridge every morning (rice cereal). It looks like runny, disgusting nonsense, but she loves it. She's also eating some Stage One baby foods: sweet potatoes and carrots! She gobbles them up like it's nobody's business.

Feed ME...

Or I'll get ANGRY!!!

That's better!

She sleeps pretty well, but does like to get up for a mid-night snack. She gives me a continuous little whine, kind of like this "eh, eh, eh eh, eh, ehhhhh, ehhhhh", until I get up and feed her. That's made for some sleep-deprived teaching days, but I am surprised at my energy levels while teaching. I can pretty much survive on four hours and still be my usual spastic self, so that's good.

This summer I plan to hang with Indy as much as possible. We're going to run together with the jogging stroller (I have finally used it and she enjoys the ride). We'll go to the beach, people watch and hang out in our diapers...uh...I mean she'll hang out in her diaper. :) Who knows. I could really let loose this summer.

Hangin'

Family Unit

I like Grandpa!

Mommy at the Color Run--she looks scary!

Dan is doing great! He's been really busy with some new and exciting projects. We're proud of Dannyboy! What I Love most though, is Dan's journey as a father. He's really been exceptional. Indy LOVES her daddy so much and it is seriously amazing, gorgeous and heavenly to see Dan with his daughter. He manages to make the most mundane and disgusting tasks look adorable. Like this morning, Indy made butt-sauce--really thick butt-sauce and Dan scooped her up, carrot-poop dribbles and all, and sang to her while wiping the poop from every crevice from the waist down. She just cooed and smiled at him, as though there was nothing to be humiliated about! Well, Indy's a baby, so she doesn't have to worry about humiliation when it comes to pooping, but it gets me thinking about how much better the world would be if we all handled our accidents like Indy. "Hey, I pooped my pants! So what?! Let's sing and smile and wipe each other's butts!" I like her philosophy!