testing testing

on the move...

ok...i have a new blog. i'm not sure what I want it to become, but i'm looking into blogging as a WAHM (work at home mom) option, and maybe selling on etsy (still trying to figure out what...maybe diapers if I CAN GET THEM TO STOP LEAKING!!!! I hate buying crap and would never sell crap) and I didn't want to maintain two blogs which I had previously been doing.

Soooooo, I combined this blog with another family blog and called it pupukababy, which I think sounds much cuter, like it could be a brand name or something. It even has its' own domain so simply go over to www.pupukababy.com if you wanna keep reading about what's going on in our little family. You can subscribe to the rss feed or you can sign up to get email updates, which I think is a whole lot easier than logging into the blogger dashboard every time I want to check other people's blog updates.

And while you're there, PLEASE click on the "top baby blogs" link to the right and vote for my blog. I will love you forever if you do. Well, maybe love is a strong word, but I definitely like you all regardless.

Feel free to follow me on twitter @pupukababy. I never really got the point of twitter, but lately i've been getting into it.

See you all at www.pupukababy.com :)

ode to exercise balls

Yesterday, we rediscovered the benefits of the exercise ball. We first bought it because it's nice to have during pregnancy. There are several exercises you can do to relieve back pain (especially during labor...so I hear. I didn't have time to use it), and help move the baby down the birth canal. I loved hanging out on this thing during the last weeks of pregnancy, but be careful because it can make your butt hurt after a while.

Until yesterday, we had it deflated because we figured we weren't going to use it for a while, but I remembered hearing that it's really calming to bounce on it while holding your baby. I liked the idea of letting the ball bounce the baby and me not having to exert extra energy to bounce her with my arms. Yes I know there are products that will bounce your baby for you without having to hold the baby, but I enjoy holding her and have the luxury of time to do so, so I don't mind.

ANYWAY, I just want to say, that it pretty much works like a charm. Nōweo was pretty fussy yesterday and this ball knocked her out.

Soooooo, I'm adding baby-putter-to-sleeper to the rather long list of benefits to the exercise ball.

P.S. I DO plan to exercise with it...eventually...

conversations with an infant

Me: Good morning Noweo!Noweo: WaaaaaahMe: Are you hungry?Noweo: Waaaahhh....eat eat eat eat eat yum!....waaaaaahhhhhMe: You wanna go in your wrap? (put her in the wrap)Noweo: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Me: Ok...i guess not. Are you still hungry?Noweo: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh eat eat eat eat yum! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhMe: ok...yes and no? How's your diaper? (change diaper)Noweo: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!Noweo: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNME: ok your tired...(try to rock her to sleep....she falls asleep, I try putting her down)Noweo: waaah....waaah....waaah....waaahMe: Ok how about your wrap again...(put her in the wrap)Noweo: I'm sorry...she didn't actually say anything because SHE'S SLEEPING!!!!Me: Silent *YES!* Now to return to my cold breakfast....

a NaMe and a BlEsSiNg

Since Keola's family was here from Maui to see him graduate,

(which isn't easy for them to do),

we decided to bless Nōweo the next day.

Naturally, Keola was nervous because he's never blessed a baby before,

but on Sunday I was reminded that blessings come from God, not people.

He blessed her with all the things I hope for her. Some of the highlights are...

That she would be a good person.

That she would stand up for what's right.

and MOST importantly

That she would know how INCREDIBLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED SHE IS.

We tell her every day. several times a day. I hope she's getting the message.

mAsTeR BiRaNo...can you say that? like dOctor?

Well, a chapter in our lives has once again come to a close.

Isn't that what life is?

Things ending and other things beginning?

This weekend Keola's time a student as come to an end...for now.

He graduated with a Master's in Counseling Psychology.

For a guy who statistically isn't supposed to make it to college, that's pretty dang good.

that makes me EXTRA proud.

What makes me even happier is that HE knows he deserves it,

HE knows that people value his opinion

HE knows that he can make valuable contributions to our world.

THAT education is truly priceless.

He used to think he wasn't worth anything.

So...it was a happy day.

a very happy day.

I don't know where Nōweo is at this point...getting passed around between the tutu's and the kupuna...

yeah yeah...I'm a horrible mother.

my life

I'm sitting here covered in spit, regurgitated breast milk and a thin layer of sweat, but somehow looking at my daughter snuggling up against me and giving me half-awake sleepy smiles makes it all worth it.

I think I've learned more about love in the last 3 weeks than in the last 24 years.