The March of Indy...

Indy is now mobile--really mobile. She's walking around and loving the opportunity to explore the world she's a part of. February 20th was her first official day of promenading . She is not very sturdy on her feet yet, but with each day she gets more confidence in her step. She is what I imagine a drunk, meandering baby to look like--she's headed straight for the book shelf and then veers right; she wobbles before finding her balance again and is off in another direction; she falls on her bum and then rises again, only to stumble once more and head back to where she started. It's endearing and so fun to watch.

Don't make me angry!!!!!

Indy is also really into her super heroes. Above, she can be seen donning her Hulk and Captain America mask. She is also drawn to a Disney character whom she loves dearly. We currently have no pictures of the two cavorting together, but she most definitely loves her bounty hunting friend, Boba Fett. She also hugs him and she'll call to him too, "Boba? Boba!!!". Again, so cute. Indy just loves all the characters that Daddy has exposed her to. She even pretends to have them fly around the house, using her own sound effects!

What can I say? Clearly, Indy is a young lady with tons of spunk! She is always having fun and being silly. Although, she has recently shown us her sassy side and we both know we need to figure out how to treat that. She recently threw a tantrum after leaving a birthday party before she was ready to go. She started contorting her body in every which way, which made it impossible to pick her up comfortably. She squealed and kicked and certainly let it be known that she wasn't happy---what to do in situations like that? We'll have to practice and see what works; it's quite hard to reason with a one-year-old.

Indy recently drew her first picture while out to dinner with us! It made Dan so proud; I think he may have teared-up a bit. It was the first time we'd gone out to dinner as a family in months. Indy was having an absolute blast: playing, laughing, swinging her arms and legs about and we were really relieved that things were going so swimmingly. We have learned quickly that when a couple goes out to eat with their baby, a pressing, urgent and ticking time-line starts the moment you sit down with your little one. So, when dinner arrived and things were looking good, we should've known better. At the moment we dug our forks into our dinner, Indy glanced over at the two of us with an odd, blank expression on her face. Immediately following that expression? VOMIT SAUCE DOWN THE TORSO! Oh dear! She recovered nicely, with no crying or discomfort; she went right back to acting happy, but boy did we have to do a quick clean-up. Luckily, everything worked out. We chocked it up to Indy eating richer foods than she's used to--garlic rolls and creamy sweet potatoes were a little too much.

The following picture is just fun: Shadow Pals

And lastly....

Get me my toys and books!!!!!!!!



Anyway, we've got one cool kid on our hands!

New year, new post...finally

Bad Santa!

You must excuse my absence; I have become a little negligent since Indy turned ONE! Can you believe it?! I am still convinced that it was yesterday that I told friends and family that Dan and I were pregnant. Indy is now almost 14 months old! She's crawling all over the place, chatting about everything, although it's somewhat tough to decipher all that she says, and she's getting ready to take her first step! It's outstanding to see her develop into a little girl. Oh, she is also a Little Miss Sassy Pants! She says "Hiiiyeee", with a dramatic and repeated flip of her wrist. She will throw her little wave into your face and demand a "hello" in return. She cracks us up! She's also incredibly congratulatory to herself. When she learned to crawl, she clapped and cheered for herself. When she could pull herself up on furniture, she yelled "Yeah", as if she was completely satisfied with herself. She is now standing up on her own and the celebration is a trio of yays, yeahs, and clapping! Too cute. 

Anyway, here are some high points from the past eight weeks: 

1. Indy turned one and indulged in her first cupcake! So yummy. She had a great day! (Disclaimer: her birthday was celebrated on Thanksgiving. We all got the flu on her actual birthday--low point, indeed.)

2. Indy gets to open presents! She's getting the hang of it now too! I am sure we're in for trouble:

3. Getting to hang out with her cousin, Caitlyn! Box-pushing!

4. Standing on my own!


This is such a cute reaction














Anyway, that's all for now! It won't be so long next time.

Fall is in the Air...Finally!

A poem is in order for my favorite time of year!

Fall is the season I most enjoy,

For reasons that I shall employ, 

Leaves in hues of red and brown,

Halloween decor all over town,

Jack-o-lanterns, and pumpkin pie,

So many goodies, so much to try,

Plump, little babies turning one, 

A year of growth has been such fun,

Little newborn, to tiny-tot,

Indy Sunshine, we LOVE YOU A LOT! 

Okay, so excuse the cheesy poem, but I get really excited for Fall. It really is my favorite season and it's an added perk that Indy's birthday falls during this time of year as well. Indy has been so much fun! She's growing so fast! She wears 24 month clothing now and I feel like each time I look at her, she grows another inch. She's donned six teeth and has a million dollar smile. She also chuckles, not just laughs or giggles; she actually chuckles with a nice hearty guffaw--almost like a fat, old man. I just adore it! 

Big girl with a sippy cup!

Family time and fun has also been a common thread to the past several weeks! Check out these fun moments with our little tot!

Mommy, don't eat my ear!

Grampy Shaff

My little fall pumpkin!

The cutest bag of bones I ever saw!

Love my Daddy

Today, Indy made her first visit to the Peltzer Farms Pumpkin Patch! She had so much fun! While she was a little too small for all the exciting activities, she still was amused with everything she could feast her eyes on: Pig races, gem-mining, a petting zoo, pumpkins galore, a corn maze and much more! She loved it, and so did we: 

So much fun! Stay tuned for more exciting Indy adventures...

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...