birth.

it’s been so long since i’ve posted here.  life has been happening too fast for me to record anywhere but in my memory, which is rapidly fading.  i forgot what it’s like not to get solid sleep.  i’ve had plenty of short sleep nights but it is tough to readjust to an hour or two at a time.  kai has been pretty good about all this, but i’m sure his time will come.  i try to help out where i can, but sometimes alicia has to wake me up several times before i am conscious.

i took some shots in the hospital – tried to keep it clean and unobtrusive while at the same time being “there” in the moment for my daughter’s birth.  we have some favorite shots of kai when he first came out that we don’t show anyone else, but enjoy looking at privately to remember what a miracle his birth was.

let me just say that it is great to have family support at a time like this.  i don’t know how we would get by otherwise.  as we were warned, 1+1 is much more than 2 when it comes to kids.  i have greater respect for parents as time goes on and i experience the challenges of raising a growing family.

we love little kalena and will need to make sure she gets the same documentary photojourney her brother did.  thanks for all of your well wishes and advice.  lots of posting is going up on facebook so be sure to keep track there.

alohas…

advice, please

so instead of reading a bunch of books right now, i am asking for all your input/advice on changes, difficulties, and ways to make having 2 kids ‘easier’.  i have already heard a few ideas (buy a gift “from the baby” for the first child; trying to read to the older one while the baby naps), but i was wondering if there are more things that you’d advise on doing or not doing as our big day of change approaches.  i will probably tackle some books later, so if there are ones you recommend feel free to let me know.

mahalo and wish us luck!

is it just that age?

kai has been extremely difficult the last few weeks.  hitting and starting fights, not listening when we tell him to stop something, and using reverse psychology on us! partly i wonder if it’s the upcoming changes in our lives with new baby, etc., but many friends have told me it’s just that age.  apparently, when your child turns 2.5 yrs old, they start this rebellion that doesn’t really end until, well, 4.  that is not exactly what i want to hear as we are due any day and i know the sleepless nights are nearing…but seriously, it must be something i am doing wrong, right?  have i slacked in my discipline?  is he just taking advantage of that fact that mommy is slower physically?  what is the deal???

i just read a friend’s blog that says, “learn to embrace the lack of control that having kids brings into your life.”  oh how true that is.

real rainbows

i grew up my whole life never seeing an entire “full” rainbow.  it wasn’t until a few weeks ago, that i saw one for the first time!  before, i had only seen half rainbows i guess.  so today as i was driving into town, i got onto the freeway and there was another one – a gorgeous full rainbow smiling over one end of the freeway to the other.  it was spectacular and made me instantly happy .  i guess this technically could be added to my last post on why driving here is awesome, but we’ll just keep it separate for now.

baby is in motion – i am pretty sure we won’t make the due date.  more on that later.

Why driving here is so nice

Of course there are always exceptions (like tourists), but for the most part:

1. People here never honk.
2. People will actually stop for you to make a lane change if you are stuck behind a parked car or a bus.
3. They know how to merge.
4. People often let you go ahead of them, even if they have the right of way (and watch out for you).

My son reminded me of these simple pleasures as I was pulling out from the grocery store, trying to make a left turn onto a busy 4 lane road. A guy who was also turning left into the store from the busy road stopped and waved to let me go first. Kai saw this and excitedly said, “Mama, he waved “hi”!”. I explained why he waved, and drove home happy to feel the aloha spirit once again in this beautiful place.

are you my sister?

the other day we had some friends over who recently had a baby girl (2 months old).  rick was holding the baby, and said “look kai, a baby”.  kai immediately rushed over to come see her, and said, “oh hi, baby kalena”.  we all couldn’t stop laughing that he thought this was his newly arrived sister.  a few more weeks, kai

here's kai after a vaccum hair stylin' by rick

we are still alive

aloha and apologies for a very long lag in our blogging.  r was taking the bar, a&k were in the mainland, and we have recently moved (although still in paradise).  not to mention a is now 4-5 weeks away from having baby #2.  due date is oct 13, and we plan on naming her kalena (“kah-leh-na”).  we are totally excited and looking forward to all the many changes that will occur this coming year.  a is just trying not to pull muscles, eating constantly and trying to keep k in line.

k is growing up fast, as he regularly reminds us – “I am a big boy, not a baby”.  thankfully, logic now works with him (most of the time).   his favorite past times are singing songs to himself as he plays with his animal figurines, swimming, and hunting for lizards and frogs outside.

r is getting ready for some new adventures with work (more later), boogie boarding weekly (and getting nicely toned from it i might add), and working on his business.

even more exciting is that we are now not alone in having the only grandchild in the a family.  j just had an adorable baby boy that looks just as mixed as our kid, even though he’s only a quarter korean!  we can’t wait to meet him.

Pregnancy Countdown Ticker

our family is growing!

Interested in pregnancy? Read about being
10 weeks pregnant, 20 weeks pregnant,
30 weeks pregnant and 40 weeks pregnant.

requests and dedications

this blog has been neglected in favor of twitter and facebook lately.  i’ve also been too occupied to post many new pictures.  for that i apologize and promise that i will post something as soon as i have time.  in the meantime jason has requested that we list him in the blogroll, so please take some time to view his blog.  note that the first post may be offensive to your eyes, particularly if you don’t have children.

de-lish!

ok, i know many of you will disagree..but this is one of the best sandwiches i have ever eaten (perhaps it’s the pregnancy’s doing)

avocado slices+wasabi passion fruit mustard (or honey mustard)+sharp cheddar cheese+canned japanese style ginger soy sauce marinated sardines+baby spinach+toasted whole wheat bread=HEAVEN!!

i’ve eaten one for the past 2 days in a row. ;D

(r prefers his with salami/sandwich meat instead of sardines)