Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Where have the last few months gone?

It seems time has flown and our little one year old girl is now just over 16 months and is a full-blown toddler. She's eating solid food, literally running around the house, usually trying to dribble a ball or chase Chloe, she is talking, traveling and my goodness is she growing! Her last check-up she was 29 lbs and 34" tall. That's almost 3 feet tall! I'm a bit blown away by it all, and we are just so, so happy that she's healthy and happy and still sleeping 11+ hours a night, with a three hour nap during the day. Yay for sleep!!!

A celebratory wave/high five after her doctor's appointment


Bill went back to work last month and so our neighbor has been watching her during the weekdays, and next week Cristina will go in to a group day care with 3-4 other kids. It's so convenient as it's right down the street from my work, and so drop-off and pick-up will be a breeze.  Let's see how Daddy and Papa do with letting her go to someone else's house all day, though...I'm a bit nervous about it, as she's been in the cocoon of our house since she came home at 9 days old. I hope she adjusts ok...I'm being a bit of a nervous parent about it...but I'm sure she'll be fine.

Labor Day weekend we had our good friend and Cristina's god father in town. So both god parents had to pose for a beach pic with our beach babe.  Cristina loves, loves, loves the ocean. And has no fear. I can't wait until she can swim! It will make me feel much more comfortable, too.

Kay, Cristina and Todd

About two weeks ago Cristina and I flew to see my father, who had had a stroke, and is not doing very well.  He had never met his granddaughter so we really felt like it was time to get to Illinois to spend a week there. The travel was brutal, and poor Cristina was such a trooper...being strapped to me like a monkey in the Ergo carrier while I lugged a carry-on and the diaper bag and one checked bag around. Many a flight attendant and passenger helped me snap snaps, and adjust her just right...thank God or else I would have never been able to do it.  The trip was worth it, and through the jet lag and the different surroundings and the non-baby-proofed house we were staying in, we made the best of it. And in the end, the big Papa got to meet the littlest grandchild. So the mission was accomplished!
Papa Sr. and Cristina saying their hellos...and goodbyes...

This iPad Guy case SAVED the iPad on the trip! Highly recommend it!

Even though we spent a lot of time at the hospital visiting my father, Cristina was on her best behavior and made the best of it...such a good little girl.

All strapped in and ready to go home!

Making the same face, after a very long jet lagged nap


Just as I got back from the trip, our sweet blog friends Laura and Brea of Mamas & Sons were on vacation in Hawaii with their two adorable boys Blake and Ben, and we got to have lunch and finally meet them after following each other's journeys to become parents. There's something very special about meeting people you've never met but know so much about -- their struggles, their victories, all of it...and then you finally get to see them in person. We had a great lunch at The Contemporary Museum and then let the boys and Cristina run on the lawn. Fun times...!

Cristina is also a big fan of copying us making faces...here she is making fish lips!



And of course she's full of wonder, a curious little girl. 
Just love her so much.

Thanks for following along....
DBCC

Friday, July 19, 2013

Playing with other kids...

Since Bill has been the stay-at-home-daddy from day 1, we haven't had a huge amount of socialization with other kids Cristina's age. And being such a big kid (95th percentile for height and weight), I get worried that she may accidentally hurt another child.

I am sharing this video because I actually caught this on camera. Cristina and our friends' son, Ryan (who is 19 months), playing together.

"Playing house", so to speak. Super cute...




Thursday, July 11, 2013

Sister Bonding

I think we have an official "sister bond" going on in our house. You may have remembered my post in 2011, concerned about having a baby in the house with a dog (more of a puppy as she was just under 2 years old).  Well, all of my concern has been alleviated, evidenced by the past 13 months of bonding that has occurred.  There definitely was some signs of reticence on Chloe's behalf when Cristina showed up in May of last year -- but we are certain that now the two of them get along famously. It's so fun to watch...

Also, I don't know if many of you saw this recently in the Wall Street Journal or somewhere else, about "Why Dogs and Cats Make Babies Healther".  Very interesting research being done by the journal Pediatrics. 

So while you may think that Chloe slobbering all over Cristina is gross, we're actually fighting against infection! Enjoy the video...


DBCC

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

When Mama Is Her First Word

Thanks Huffington Post! You can read my latest entry here.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

D

Monday, July 1, 2013

Happy Weekend in the Sun....

We had such an amazing weekend in the sun. A friend was visiting and "out-of-towners" are usually our excuse to get out and do some "touristy" things...which usually means that I get to have my way. And Bill doesn't get to do his house projects. LOL.

But I always tell him that we live in Hawaii for a reason -- to enjoy it. So here you go...our Saturday in a nutshell.

Cue the beach, the sun, the ocean, a sappy song, happy dads, a super happy 13-month-old and a proud uncle...



Happy Summer All...
DBCC

Monday, June 10, 2013

Just a bunch of fun photos from the weekend...

I think this little girl is growing up...full of wonder and love and surprises. All good so far!  

Enjoy...