Hanalei, My Toddler

Hanalei Is Learning Like Crazy!

12-14 months

Things I Love:

Mom and Dad

Dogs

Helicopters, planes

The Moon

Books, my favorites are Airplanes at the Airport, and The Going to Bed Book ( they both have a Moon in them)

Eating strawberries and green onion from the garden

Nursing, but mom is getting stingy

Drawing pictures

Things I No Likey:

Shots and blood work (mom let them do that to me!)

New teeth

Nails being clipped

Diaper changes but I am fighting less

Words:

Dada - Daddy

Dah - Dog

Mama - Mommy

Doll - Ball

Ah o - Uh oh

Oohh- Moon

Woo woo - doggy noise

Doe - No

Signs:

Baby

All done

Shoe

Fish

Hat

Food

Please

Thank you

More

Ball

Wash Hands

Mother's Day

For Mother's day this Year I wanted to go play tennis. So instead of going out to a nice place to eat I decided that I would rather have Rusty beat me in tennis. I hate losing. Next year I will take the dinner. But I did get a lovely lei from my hubby. It smelt delicious.

So looking back on this last year as a new mother, I have enjoyed my roller coaster ride. The ups just seem to be getting more and more thrilling and bring me pure joy. Those downs can bring me down and get me so frustrated but are quickly forgotten when hanalei gives me a zerbert on my tummy. I love that girl, more than I have loved anything. She makes me happy everyday! I am so grateful to be a mother. It makes me grateful for my own mother. It makes me feel grateful for my Father and my husband. It makes me especially grateful to know I have a Heavenly Father who has given us a plan and so many tools to raise this child in faith.

The Fruits...

Of our Labors

Hanalei Loves the garden. Well she loves the tomatoes in the garden.

Yum Yum YUM!!

More Please!

Our tomato plant was very fruitful. We shared with our neighbors for many weeks

We also grew green beans and Green Peppers.

We let some of the green peppers stay on long enough to turn into red peppers

of course we had some strawberries.

We also planted cilantro, mint and snow peas.

Gardening has been a real rewarding experience. I know my mother is probably shocked to hear that from me. I never liked it when I was younger. Now what should we plant next? Any thoughts?

The Party!

Well, let me warn you that I took zero pictures because I am a bad mom. But luckily I have friends who took some. So here is what we ended up with.

It's not a party if there isn't a pinata

Pin the tail on the donkey was a big miss, that is no one hit the target

So here is my introduction to the years of cake decorating to come. I felt like I had to pull out the big guns because my family goes all out on the cake. How'd I do fam?

Dallin seems to think I did a great job.

As much as I tried to encourage her to get all messy, all she really wanted was rice! What kind of kid prefers rice to cake and frosting!?

We sure do love this girl!

It's crazy that one year ago we welcomed you into this world.

Nothing has brought me greater joy than to experience life again, for the first time, with you.

The Big One...12 months

Feed Me!

My new tricks:

I can sign and say ball but it sounds more like doll

I nod my head for yes and

Shake my head when I am doing something I know is wrong

I drink from a straw which makes mom happy

After I see a dog I make a dog noise ( high pitch whimper)

I Still Love the Beach!

I always have my bucket and a spoon for digging

As soon as I go outside I head to La'akea's House I call him "Ahah"

I like to climb the rock wall with my Dada then go down the slide

I love looking for chickens, Dogs, and now Helicopters!

A few days ago I almost grabbed a baby chick

12 Whole Months!

11 months

Things I'm Doing Now:

Running, sort of

Signing "All Done"

Clapping

Saying Dada, yeah and Dah (dog)

Dancing

Climbing: stairs, couches, slides, and lots of other scary things

Giving kisses with my mouth wide open

Giving zerberts on mommy's tummy

Wearing shoes

Things I love:

Cats, Chickens, and Dogs

Feeding the Chickens (they come every morning)

Playing in the Ocean

Sitting on the stand up paddle with My Mom and Dad

Playing With La'akea, Dallin and Lily my neighbors

Taking Baths

Doing anything outside

Tomatoes

Things I Don't Like:

My nails being trimmed

Changing my Diaper and my clothes

When the sprinkler gets me all wet

Utah

Hanalei got to meet Great Grandma Rueckert

Thanks to Rusty's mom watching Hanalei, we were able to play. Not just snowbaording but Hockey too in their frozen lake! Rusty and I were the lasts ones off the mountain!

This is the cabin we stayed at. It was beautiful the whole time we were there. We played games and did some sledding.

These guys might look tough but they are push overs.

We learned a new game about beans. It was a ton of fun!

Nestor's brother Miguel came with his wife Lacey and their baby Vander.

Rusty always refers to Miguel as his brother. It was fun to see them.

Hanalei in deep thought as she explored this winter wonderland

She was happy to be outside even though she had to be bundled in her bear suit from aunt Sallie and her beanie from Granny.

Parker tasting a delicious ball

Carson was pretty fearless on the sled

Asher would rather play with the ice sickles than go down that hill

This is where Brielle hung out most of the trip, she looks warm and chubby!

After all the fun in the mountains we had to rush back for Brielle's special day. She was getting blessed.

Cousins are too much fun!

Hanalei with her Aunt Spring. Notice how focused she is on that object.

"I think I could fit that in my mouth."

To the founders of the family! Thanks for a great trip! And for no broken bones.