20 wEeK uLtRaSoUnD uPdAtE

Since my last entry was getting kinda long I decided to split it up and talk about the ultrasound here. We were very fortunate go to during a slow afternoon, so we were able to get some 3D shots for free :)

We also discovered what everyone wants to know: We're having a...

GIRL!

I thought it was gonna be a boy and Keola didn't have an opinion, but we're very happy to be having a girl and already have part of her name picked out (besides Birano). Her name is going to start with Nōweo. It means bright or shiny in Hawaiian. As soon as we found out we were pregnant I found this word and fell in love with it. I could not think of any other name (boy or girl) and I know that if we had a girl that would be her name. I told Keola about it after the ultrasound and he really loved it. I do need to add more to her name to complete the meaning (so it'll be Nōweosomethingsomethingsomething), and then we'll also give her a Japanese name. But for now, we call her Nōweo and it really helps us bond with her. She moves quite frequently now and kicks quite furiously for a 21 week old fetus and I love it. Keola's also been able to feel her moving. To have all of this good news right around Thanksgiving makes the holiday even more poignant for us. She is already the brightest part of our lives and we can't wait to meet her!

p.s. Click here to see the rest of the ultrasound pics! xoxo

gIvInG tHaNkS

This year there we have been blessed with so much! Where do I start? Keola and I have reached 3 years of a deliriously happy marriage, we were able to find a nice place close to campus so we could easily walk to school, he finished his first year in the counseling psych program successfully at UHH with a 4.0, we've been given the awesome calling of working with the YSA in our ward, Keola was able to stand in his best friend's wedding line and watch him marry an AMAZING girl, and a couple weeks later we find out that we're gonna be parents! A couple weeks after that, we find out that BOTH of our tuitions are fully covered, and ON TOP OF THAT, he received a $15,000 scholarship and several smaller scholarships for this year. I suspect he'll finish this semester with a 4.0 as well, although that remains to be seen. He has had great classmates, great internships, and great faculty to work with. This is his last semester of classes. Next semester, he is going to focus solely on getting the 300 hours of internship required to graduate. Yes. GRADUATE May 15!

As I reflect on all of these things, especially in the latter half of this year, I can't help but marvel at the timing of it all. We've been in grad school for two years now, and never have we received the kind of financial aid that we did this year. The only difference this year is that we are welcoming a child into the world. I cannot help but think that we are receiving divine aid as we prepare for the journey of parenthood. I have often heard that parents receive special help from Heavenly Father because children are so precious to Him. I cannot help but feel that now. I know that although this is a scary step to take, Keola and I are not alone. We are truly blessed!

tOo eArLy fOr ChRiStMaS??

So if you're reading this you've seen my Christmas themed blog background. Maybe you're rolling your eyes thinking that it's too early for Christmas stuff. I am certainly usually the first the criticize the commercialization of Christmas, especially when I walk into Walmart and see Christmas stuff before Halloween, but this year...

I'M SO EXCITED....AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!!!

We booked our tickets for O'ahu and we're having a baby moon at the Ala Moana hotel for a couple nights. We stayed there once and it was SUPER nice plus close to everything, and there's a special Kamaʻāina rate of $79 a night! That's dirt cheap for a hotel like that. Then we're heading up to Lāʻie to spend Christmas with the family. I get to meet a new little cousin who should be born while we're there. In a way, I'm looking at this Christmas as baby's first even though baby won't really be experiencing anything. At least it exists...in my belly....

In other news, we're going in for our 20 week ultrasound TOMORROW! That is Wednesday, November 18. I can't believe how fast this month has flown by, but it really has and I'm so glad because I thought this day would never come. I am now half way done (phew!) and we'll hopefully find out the sex. Some people say wait till it's born, but I NEED TO KNOW. We're looking forward to what is sure to be a great bonding experience for Mommy, Daddy and Twix.

Yesterday Keola felt the baby move for the most time. It was a little kick, and then I'm pretty sure the baby started hiccuping. It felt just like what I've been reading online the hiccups should feel like, so I'm pretty sure that's what it was. We could feel that too from the outside.... sooo cute!

All in all, I feel like pregnancy is really picking up now. I've got an ultrasound tomorrow, a midwife appointment on Wednesday, and then we'll have family over for Thanksgiving so they'll get to see my progress. I'm starting to show more. Someone actually told me "I didn't know you were pregnant!" And I said "How did you know?" And she said "Cuz I can see!" That made me feel good. Let's hope the second half goes faster than the first half!

a DaY wItH a CoOl oLd LaDy

One bright sunny day this past summer, we decided to take Grandma out for a trip to Lahaina.

We took a walk on the boardwalk and let the wind blow through our hair

Went to lush and looked at lotion that looked more like food...I was surprised and delighted. if you live on O'ahu it's at ala moana by the foodcourt. Check it out. it's one of my fav places and I am so jealous of you!) Their stuff ROCKS! especially the bath bombs. seriously. your skin has never felt so soft!

...and we exfoliated...yes, all of us (grandma needed a little nudge but she was pleasantly surprised at how soft it made her hands)....

....then we went to a burger joint for lunch. Seriously. whose mouth is THAT big?

...guess that answers that question! (just joking...that was my onion ring burger, but I've never seen grandma open her mouth that wide before)

It was a lovely day in a lovely place with lovely people!

hApPy BdAy bRaNdOn "sIx-PaCk" MeYeRs

This past Friday (yes, Friday the 13th) my littlest brother Brandon hit 14 years old. For those of you who haven't seen him in a while...well...let's just say he's growing up too fast! But he's still my little bro.

Wait...is that 14 or 41?

oh that's better....

So he didn't want to look at the camera smile (he just woke up...go figure) but at least he smiled.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!

Hello everyone. I'll now be adding to the content of this blog so that you can have a better perspective on our family. Through the eyes of a Martian (men are from mars). Hopefully through reading my blog you may gain a better perspective on Martians such as I. I know my wife is still trying to figure me out. Martian out.

sLaCkeR

Hey everbody! Sorry I've kind of dropped of the face of the planet. I've just been SOOOOO busy lately with school and when I'm not busy with school, I'm busy being tired and hungry :) Plus I've been doing weekly youtube video blogs, so it's kinda pointless to say the same thing over again so check those out for updates.

BUT, I do have a fun bit of news that merits its' own blog entry. This morning, as I was just waking up, Twix decided to give me a nice little "good morning mom" by kicking so hard that I could feel it on the OUTSIDE :) This is a milestone that all mommies can't wait for - the moment where daddy can also feel the baby moving. I've been feeling Twix for a couple weeks now, here and there, but NEVER from the outside. I put my hand where Twix was kicking and hoped for another kick. I got no less than 3 kicks that went right into my hand!!! I was so excited I freaked and shook Keola awake. He thought something was wrong but I just said "Hurry up! Feel my belly!" So I put his hand where I felt the kicks coming from but I think I freaked out so much that I scared Twix away because Keola didn't feel a thing. I don't think I'll be feeling Twix that strongly again anytime soon. It was probably a really rare moment, but it won't be long before I'll be complaining about getting kicked in the ribs. Half way mark next week baby! Stay tuned for 20 week ultrasound pics!