Mele Kalikimaka

We spent 11 days soaking up the sun in Kauai to escape the cold Oregon grey.

 This was Milo's first real plan trip (I'm not counting the 60 minute ride to central California).  I forget how far Hawaii is. Six long hours. Collin is fine as long as he has the iPad (and yes it's the only time I don't care that he watches four straight hours of screen time) plus some coloring and books to keep him busy. Milo on the other hand is now a squirmy baby. We had quite a few walks down the aisle and also visited it with grandma, grandpa and Uncle Devin all on the same flight. Milo managed to sleep about an hour in our laps. Then there was a two hour layover in Honolulu. Clearly the state of Hawaii does not feel the need to update any of their airports which feel like straight our of the 1960's with some fast food offerings and touristy shops.

It was basically 12 hours of travel before we made it to our condo steps from the beach in the eastern side (Coconut coast) of the island.Big sigh of relief when I sat outside and could hear the soothing waves and feel that light breeze without needing a jacket.





This was our first time to Kauai and I could immediately see why it's the "Garden Isle." Maui is beautiful and one of my favorite places in the world with the beaches you envision on postcards--white sand, swaying palm trees, plus it has Haleakala and Hana. The Big Island has the volcanoes and also some nice beaches though a lot of it resembles a desert. I've only seen the airport in Oahu so can't really compare much to that island. But Kauai was like stepping into another country all together. Lush with canopies of trees that look like they belonged in the Serengeti. So much green and all the tropical flowers I love--Hibiscus, Birds of Paradise, with a scent of Plumeria in the air.



I had been fighting a cold that was struck down by the heat and sunshine. We tasted fresh fish, the best banana bread ever, surprisingly great Mexican food, shave ice and fruity cocktails. Everywhere we went, we seemed to run into people connected to Oregon. This includes a guy who owned some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted at Tropical Dreams. He was proud to show me his Linfield shirt for his son's first college year. He offered me tastes of fresh flavors like guava, coconut almond fudge and lemon gelato. I brought back five half pints for New Year's Eve and it was devoured. The owner just bought a house in McMinville and plan to move in the fall (of course they have to keep a condo in Hawaii). He plans to offer his ice cream at PSU and Linfield (lucky college students).



Collin loved going back and forth between our condo, my parents and Devin's, and Sherry and Olivia's. He spent half his day battling the waves and laughing as his skin darkened to a nice tan. Milo wasn't too keen on the ocean but did like touching the sand (and trying to eat it). We went on a couple hikes while my parents watched the kids. One was called "Sleeping Giant" and had a tough climb with a great view from the top and tropical birds giving us beautiful melodies. The other one was awesome the whole way with panoramic canyon views.












The beach by our condo was fun and perfect for Collin. I still haven't found a beach that rivals the ones in Maui where I feel like I could just lie down all day but they certainly didn't disappoint. We explored Hanelei which was beautiful but the waves were way too rough for any swimming. Waimea Canyon was awe striking, though the drive there could practically rival Hana in Maui (twisty corkscrew turns equal nausea for me)! Everyone says the helicopter tours are amazing but I couldn't swallow the price. Maybe next time.



It was hard to leave the tropical sunshine for the inevitable cold and rain. Collin said it best, "I want to go to the beach everyday and live here."

In the meantime, perhaps our next tropical vacation will be without kids. The flight back felt like it was eternal. Collin napped (mostly because he was exhausted from the sun) but Milo slept for a total of ten minutes and proceeded to squirm the whole flight back while we switched turns entertaining him.

Mike and I still fantasize about buying a place in Hawaii later in life and spending the cold season there (and the rest of the time in Oregon and traveling around the world). I read an article that said Hawaiians are the happiest in the country and who could blame them. Get up, play in the beach, relax in the tropical sun, hike in a rain forest...Someday.

Fa la la la

Collin and Milo had their holiday concert last week. Collin loves music and singing and has been practicing his French songs at home over and over. Milo can bop up and down to the beat and likes to clap (though he hasn't quite mastered his French ABC's).

All the kids were dressed up and headed back stage with their classes (except for the babies). Class by class they came up on stage to demonstrate their singing skills. There was definitely some funny moments with the little ones who were all over the stage and one kid who dominated a microphone. The Nonours (teddy bear) class came up with the parents holding the babies while the next level up sang.

Good job clapping Milo!




Last but not least was the Lions pre-k class. Collin and the other classmates stood together in harmony and sang the familiar songs we've heard at home. Collin was proud in the front row.

Ten months, oh my

Poor Milo is going on his second ear infection in less than a month. The antibiotics they gave him caused a skin reaction (though not an allergy, just a side effect) and didn't seem to do much so they swaped him to another drug. Hopefully it'll do the trick. He's been wailing in pain and tugging at his ear. Hopefully his immune system will be built up by the time he starts school.

Milo is a happy, squirmy, droolie baby and meets the definition of "busy boy." Changing his diaper takes mad ninja skills. Getting him dressed might as well be torture. He gets into everything. Outlet covers? Check. Cords? Check. Cat food? Check.  Big brother's toys and art supplies? Check. And he would most definitely go for the kitty litter if he could. Milo, please stop trying to kill yourself!






He just discovered how to crawl up the stairs and cruises across all the furniture. He stands by himself for a few seconds before plopping to the floor and loves to push the wagon across the room. There isn't a sight much cuter than seeing my boy's chubby little thighs walk across the room. We'll see if he walks on his own before a year. He bounces and claps to music and it's rare to see him without a smile. He can also wave. We've introduced sippy cups but those are more fun to throw on the floor.





I'm also going to proclaim "mama" as his first word. He says it while looking at me with his arms stretched out, or when someone else is holding him and he wants me (and of course if he's hungry). I'm still nursing him in mornings and night but introduced formula during the day which he does fine with. I'm hoping to continue to nurse him past a year as long as he doesn't chomp down on me.

Milo tries to get in on all the action in daycare and tries to escape the baby gate into the classrooms. Like Collin, he doesn't seem to have inherited my shyness. It's funny how neither Mike and I are extroverts, yet we ended up with two little butterflies.

Milo's interpretation of finger painting

Future Picasso, no?

 

Hmm good thing this is just made of flour, water and food coloring

Yum

Can I marry you Mama?

I love how sweet and innocent Collin is at four. How he looks at my wedding dress hanging in the closet and says, "Will you marry me mama? And wear your dress because I love you."

It hasn't been an easy run with Collin. He's always been our "spirited" child. Full of never ending energy, high powdered screaming pitches if he doesn't get his way, hitting, spitting, running off. And then with Milo and all the other changes in our lives things were just getting worse and I was beginning to lose my confidence at parenting. I wanted to throw out all my parenting books in the trash and scream at the top of my lungs or lock myself in the bathroom (while Collin pounded on the door).

But things are starting to look up. The last few weeks have been easier and I'm trying to shift my mindset and stay more zen like with him (aka not lose my cool, remind myself of what a great kid he is and focus on the good in the moment). We're also giving him more independence and trying not to tell him what to do so much. The hardest part is when he's aggressive with Milo and my mommy instinct kicks in or when he freaks out on us and starts hitting. Being silly and distracting him makes a difference. One day as I could feel myself getting really pissed at him, I suddenly changed from a typical stare down to attack of the tickles and giggling and Collin instantly flipped a switch. "Do it again mom. Be mean and then funny!"

 Mike's also been able to spend more time with him and bond which helps a lot. Collin definitely needs dad time. I'm trying to do more one-on-one special time with him as well. My little sous chef loves baking and cooking (he is especially proud of his egg cracking ability). He's learning to lose a little more gracefully at Candyland and likes to draw and write his name and other letters. It's also awesome to hear him speak or sing in French and teach me new phrases.

I know part of why I've always had a difficult time with Collin is because it can be like looking in a mirror. He's got my dramatic, tenacious and stubborn personality. Parenting forces you to confront things about yourself you may choose to ignore because you can see it projected on your children. I want to help him learn to channel and control his energy and emotions. We both can be fixated on things and while that can translate to success it can also translate to annoying the hell out of everybody. So we'll work on stuff together. I know I'm growing just as much as he is.

And while I know he's not going to say he wants to marry me ten years from now (I am sure he would be appalled at the very thought of every saying that), hopefully he'll still want to talk and hang out.

9 months

Nine months to grow a baby. And nine months on your own. And here you are.

Standing, cruising, tasting, laughing, babbling, clapping, exploring.

Milo is such a happy, easygoing baby. He gives huge smiles to anyone and is in a rush to catch up to Collin. It won't be a surprise if he's walking before a year. This is definitely a busy boy. I think I'll be dealing with two high energy kids but have a feeling Milo will be less dramatic than Collin. He is still a super eater but especially loves any kind of fruit and bread.

He doesn't like to nap at daycare but hopefully that will change soon. At home it's usually 2 hours twice a day. So much stimulation happening with all the big babies around him!

He loves his giraffe blanket (his official lovely or doudou as they say in French). He claps and bounces to music and everything goes in his mouth.

And he was not so much into the photos this time.

8 months

Here's what's happening in the world of an 8 month old:

About a week ago Mr. M graduated from his army crawl to full on knees. He's also trying to stand like the big babies in his class. Not yet Milo!



I don't remember Collin putting everything into his mouth to the extent of Milo.  Anything Milo finds equals taste exploration. He's fast too. The minute you spy the cord, the tiny lego, the cat food kibble or three-day old cheerio he's already reaching for it. He squeals at delight when Collin runs around or entertains him and also at Hurley the cat.

He's also talking a bunch. "Mamamama" most frequently. I'm not sure if I can correlate it to me yet, at this point it seems to mean more food. (That and slamming his hands down on his high-chair tray).

And there are teeth. Two little perfect pearls on the bottom. The not so fun part of teeth. Chomping down on mom (aka) food source. I gave him a stern "NO," and he erupted in tears which made me feel a little bad but not really. I'm hoping he doesn't make this a habit because I'm hoping to nurse him at least a year.