A really great day!

I love that I am able to stay home with Kekoa, but there have been days that seem to drag on and on, maybe Kekoa gets up too early or isn't napping well or feeding well or all of the above. :)

Today wasn't one of those days. It was a really fun filled day. I was able to go for an invigorating run this morning, after Kekoa's first morning nap. Kekoa stayed home and had bonding time with daddy! Scott is such a wonderful husband and dad, I can't say it enough. He put Kekoa down for his second nap of the day to give me a little break! It is so appreciated! Kekoa is so lucky to have such a loving daddy and I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband. Putting Kekoa to sleep takes so much patience and being able to remain calm when he decides he wants to scream in the Moby!

Then we had a special treat, Auntie Tessa (a teacher friend) came to visit. She brought Kekoa a fabulous book for his Christmas present. Thank you Auntie Tessa! We walked downtown for a delicious lunch and sweet treat afterwards. It was really nice to catch up. Being a teacher is so busy and I only get to see my teacher friends during their breaks!

Auntie Tessa and Kekoa!

A really really really great thing is that our neighbors are back from their Christmas trip back east. We have been so lonely here without them. Kekoa definitely missed Ava calling his name! She calls out "Kekoka", it is the cutest thing! As I was strolling into the patio area of our apartment complex, after walking back from lunch, Ava and Auntie Cassie were going for a walk to the park. Kekoa and I were able to join them. What perfect timing! Ava had the best time on the swings and rushing down the slippery slides. She couldn't stop saying "Kekoka" while swinging. Her smile is infectious. Kekoa napped for most of the time at the park! He woke up just in time to walk home. :)

Auntie Cassie even read Kekoa his new story book when we returned from the park. He was having so much fun sitting on her lap, looking at the pictures, and making funny grunting noises...he sounds like he is a lion trying to roar. Thank you Auntie Cassie! I was able to play and get some snuggle time with little Ava during Kekoa's story time. She loves to play with Kekoa's toys, must bring back baby memories! :) We are soooo happy they are back!

Ava and Kekoa all bundled up for the walk home! Notice we have the same HUGE B.O.B stroller, just different colors!

Silly babies!Kekoa even made the evening really easy for me. During his bedtime story, he was helping me turn the pages of his book. This is the first time he's tried to do this! He went straight to sleep, after his bedtime story and nursing, no fussing at all! Aaaahhhh...what a fabulous day! I wish all days could be this easy, but I guess then maybe I wouldn't appreciate them so much!

Special Visitors!

Yesterday was a really special day for us. Auntie Joleen came to visit with Kekoa's cousins, Meilani and Jordan. It was their first visit together. We were so excited they came to hang out. Kekoa was so excited and then was so tired out, he took a 2 hour nap in the Moby!! He hasn't done that in forever. Please come back and visit us again soon!

Waiting patiently...

Yeah, they are finally here!
Jordan opens up his Christmas present from Kekoa...a foam sword!

On guard!How many photos does it take to get that perfect one? A lot (this wasn't even all of the photos I took!) Meilani is just so beautiful and photogenic. She had the perfect smile in every single photo! Jordan....well, not so much. He takes after his daddy (my lovely brother) and doesn't like to show us wonderful smile in pictures! Kekoa tries his best and smiles when we make him laugh.

Jordan likes taking out all of Kekoa's toys, puts them on the jungle mat, and then enjoys lounging in the jungle. (Notice he is sucking his thumb...Joleen is trying so hard to get him to stop. :)
Uncle Scott and Jordan watching "The Princess Bride". Jordan loved all the sword fighting and sat with his new foam sword in hand.
Aaaah, my 2 hour nap, so cuddly and tired after my fun visit with my cousins.

Meilani loves her little chunky cousin Kekoa. She is always so excited to hold him!

No love for Gorilla :(

Kekoa was trying to give Gorilla kisses this morning...it was so cute! Of course when I brought out the camera, all he wanted to do was stare into the "black box". Poor Gorilla, he feels so ignored!

I love to laugh!

How adorable is Kekoa??

Bath time

Kekoa gets to be more and more fun everyday. He is a very silly and goofy little boy.

Bath time is an especially fun part of our day. When I carry Kekoa to the tub he sticks his little butt out and his new thing is sucking on my shoulder. It is so cute, like he's giving me kisses on my shoulder. Tonight in the bath he was so cuddly. I had him lying on my stomach and he had his arm around me like he was giving me a hug, with his head resting on my chest. It was very sweet. I am still savoring the special moment.

Kekoa is enjoying the use of his hands more and more. He has so much more control of his arms and hands. While on his changing table, after his bath tonight, he was trying to "eat" his bath towel. He also reaches out and grabs whatever I am wearing or grabs at his own clothes that I'm trying to put on him!

Mmmmm, my blue elephant is delicious.

A couple more Christmas night videos...

Kekoa had such a great time on Christmas. Jenny read his bedtime story to him and he was soooo happy. Kaiwei was on the bed too, having the time of his life playing with Buzz, the giraffe.

Kaiwei loves books! It is so entertaining to watch him read to himself.

My Very First Christmas

This was such a special Christmas for our family. The holidays are so much better with little ones around! Last year at this time is when I found out I was pregnant and now here we are with our little 4 month old baby! Time sure does fly by.

It was a very relaxing day of eating, drinking, opening presents, chatting, and a lot of laughter. We were even able to "see" Scott's family in Texas via Skype. Kekoa is the big hit of course, no one really wants to talk to us! :) Technology is a very cool thing. It is pretty amazing we can all see each other and talk!

Scott's turkey turned out so juicy and delicious. He also made his mom's amazing gravy, for the first time. The gravy also turned out so good. My new stuffing recipe with swiss chard, parmesan cheese, and Italian sausage was a big hit too. I think it will replace my sourdough stuffing that I usually make. My dad's secret recipe, never the same mashed potatoes were especially yummy!

Not only did I love having everyone over, but Kekoa loved having all the company here too. He is getting quite the little personality and enjoys hanging out with all the family around. He was so pooped out by the end of his night, but still didn't want to sleep in the evening. He took a super long nap today to recover from all the action of Christmas day.

The holidays really make me appreciate family and friends. Thank you everyone for making our first Christmas with Kekoa such a memorable one!

Our beautifully decorated tree. It fits perfectly in our apartment!
Family photos...


I can't stop staring at Uncle Mango's shirt! Fascinating!


Staring at my mommy while she plays and sings ukulele to me! She is just so awesome! :)
Too much turkey. Gorilla is a comfy pillow! In my family, this is called going for a "jog". Scott and my dad are jogging pretty strenuously. :)
Christmas presents opened and everywhere!My new friend Gorilla!
Lots of stripes!My chin is so cute!



Kaiwei is such a ham! He always makes Scott and I crack up. He is such a special little guy. Hard to believe just last year at Christmas he was the baby.

Kaiwei loved these block that Kekoa gave him for Christmas. He had fun knocking them down whenever Jenny stacked them back up!
Hmmm, my fingers fit in Gorilla's nose!

Say cheese...

Kekoa loves chillin' in Papa Beezy's arms...this time it is even better because he has his Sophie!

Kekoa opens his first wrapped present, with a little help from Daddy!

Toy or wrapping paper? Which do I like better? Paper wins!!

Kekoa's First Christmas Morning

Yeah! It's Christmas!!
Kekoa was so excited for his first Christmas morning and to see what Santa brought for him! He was up bright and early at 6:15 a.m.! He just loved his stocking stuffers...his favorite is Sophie the Giraffe, a special teething toy that all the babies have! By the time my dad and Jenny had arrived, Kekoa had mastered putting Sophie in his mouth! Kekoa doesn't put everything in his mouth yet...he is selective! :)

Scott made me a delicious Christmas breakfast...his famous scrambled eggs with mushrooms and chicken sausage, and we had fresh biscuits for a treat. Scott's turkey was cooking in the oven and our whole place smelled so delicious. We all enjoyed the morning and went for a Christmas walk. It was a beautiful Christmas morning...clear blue skies and cool, crisp air.

Kekoa's new trick is "airplane". When he wakes up in the morning, we play airplane in bed. It gives mommy a great arm workout! :)
I love airplane!

Ready for my first nap of the day!Mmmmm, breakfast is delicious.

Up from my nap, ready for my presents now!Airplane with daddy...
Hmmmm, what is all of this?
Thanks Santa, my new rattle is awesome!

What a really wonderful Christmas morning...

Kekoa was all smiles while we looked in his stocking to see what Santa had left for him!

Kekoa showing off how talented he is with getting Sophie in his mouth. Gorilla is a stuffed toy from when I was little. My brother, Mingwei, and I loved our stuffed animals growing up and Gorilla was one of our favorites. Kekoa wasn't sure what to make of him yet.