Sparkler

"Wow, oohh, hotz!"

Just Like Mom

I know Most people when they see Hanalei thye Say "Oh, it's a little Rustina" cause she definitely looks like rusty more than me. But when it comes to actions, she wants to be mommy's little girl.

This picture shows her with three of her favorite things. Her stroller, her purse and her beach cover up.

That beach cover up has been her favorite article of clothing lately. I think because it has a zipper. The other day we went to the beach and she got cold. So i put it on. then she wanted to go back in the water so I took it off. Freak Out! She melted. So I put it back on, back to the water, took it off again, melt down again. So I finally left it on and she went right into the water with it. Crazy kid. So when we got home I hung it to dry, and she pulled it off and brought it to me to put on. She is obsessed. The thing stinks cause it never fully dried but the next day she wanted it again.

I love that girl!

15 Months

Things I'm doing now:

Feeding my self

Tantrums, big ones!

Kicking in the bath and at the beach

Throwing my diapers and other things in the trash

Waving and saying Bye Bye to planes and potty in the toilet

Things I Love:

Milk (prefer mom's but will drink from a cup too)

Dogs, Cats, Birds, and Fish

Boats

Playing with Friends

The Beach

Walks

Exploring my neighborhood

Books

Bubbles

Holding anything with a Handle (purse, shopping bag, etc.)

Sweeping

Mom and Dad

Hanalei loves bubbles but she always wants to hold the wand and container which many times results in a big soapy mess. I try to get her to blow but she always puts it in her mouth.

Shopping anyone?

No matter how many times I sweep I just can't get rid of this furry mess

Things I don't love:

When mom takes away her make up

When I can't do it myself

When Dad goes to work

Getting molars

Chronic Runny Nose

Time to get pretty

New Words:

Neigh

Bye bye

Bath

Hi

Hat

Hotzz - Hot

Fishy - Fish

Mamo - Mo'o Hawaiian for lizard

Mahma - Grandma

MuhMuh - Mum Mum (crackers)

Buhble - Bubbles

New Signs

Water

Milk

Mom

Grandma

Grandpa

Bird

Cat

Dog

Car

Airplane

Boat

Bath

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.