Monkey Toes

I promise! She's not scared of books or cameras...stinker!

So Aunty Yasi called it! Blakely's got the uber long monkey toes! Sometimes, Yas calls her Katie's Feet...unfortunately, the nickname is quite fitting. Sorry B!

I swear, everyone, I did not put her up to this! But if you all have seen my toes (and Tim's) then this makes a whole lotta sense. Chalk it up to genetics, baby!

Look mama! I can turn the pages with my toes! (Oh baby, that is cute, but you may not always wanna show off your abnormally long toes! But, I promise not to give you a complex!)

More books please!!! (at least that's what my mama thinks I want...)

Also good...munching on my books. I'm an early teether...a real early teether!

Alright! Daddy's home from work! Time to show him what my toes can do!

Swing Naps--A Confession

I know I've read in a few sleep books that it's not a super stellar idea to let your baby nap in the swing. I know the occasional swing nap does no harm and it really probably isn't a big deal to take a daily snooze in the rocker, but I do still wonder... B loves to cruise in her swing. On her crankiest of days, I let her nap here for hours. Sorry B, I hope that's okay!! :)

On Air

This past Saturday I had the honor of hanging with my student, Bethanie, and her family at the live taping for the Perry and Price Morning Show.

Bethanie won an award for a thank you letter that she wrote to her 8th grade counselor. As Bethanie's English teacher, I had the chance to share just how cool Bethanie is with the KSSK listeners on Oahu!

I sorta have a thing for "local celebs"  ;). This is me and Tiny Tadani of Tiny TV. Pretty cool, huh?! Try not to be too jealous!

Okay, seriously, Tim and I were stoked to meet Bob Berryhill of the Surfaris! I definitely shoved Blakely into his arms for a picture! When he first started playing Wipeout, Tim and I figured he was some local covering a cliche surf song. Once we realized that he is the father of "surf music" (whatever that is exactly), we got pretty excited!

Blakely was a champ all morning. Maybe live radio is her thing!

The radio show is taped live at Jimmy Buffett's!

Book Review

Baby Signing 1 2 3
by Nancy Cadjan



I have to admit, when I first heard about baby signing, I thought "forget it" -- I can't teach full-time, be a wife/mommy/friend, and teach my baby to sign.
I mean, there was no external pressure to try out signing, but somehow I piled the expectation on myself. When my sweet mama friend, Kaitlin, (who also teaches full-time) suggested this book, I tucked the idea away--way away--in the back of my mind.

Somehow, weeks later, I decided to give it a shot. I needed just one more small purchase to make my Amazon order eligible for "free shipping" -- so I figured it was meant to be.



Here's what I like about this book and baby signing:

The chapters are divided into developmental time periods so you can use the right sign for the right age. Nancy makes it easy to know where to start or where to pick-up again!

The pictures are crystal clear. I didn't know a single ASL sign going into this. Not even yes or no. Clearly, I'm showing my ignorance and I feel badly for it, but I'm just saying, this book makes it e-a-s-y!

Nancy suggests that signing helps parents stay in the habit of talking to their baby. It's easy for me to ramble about my B with my back to her, but when I sign, this forces me to turn around, speak slowly, and make eye contact. I like the reminder!

Research shows that babies who sign learn to speak sooner, articulate more words, and often times have an easier bout with the "terrible twos" as they can better express themselves with signs.

Of course, for Blakely, Tim, and I...the verdict is still out. I can't guarantee where this will go. We are just barely getting started.

Here's the best part of all. Baby signing doesn't take any additional time. I don't have to carve out extra minutes to sign; I just do it as I go. I'll keep you all posted! Shaka!

How Irie Likes It

This is how Irie likes it...

This is how Blakely likes it...

Start her Right

My love affair with photographs started sometime before I can remember. As far as I'm concerned, I was born with the desire to stash pictures of everyone...everywhere. Just ask my parents who've had to move multiple large, heavy boxes labeled "Katie's Precious Photo Albums" from state-to-state, home-to-home. Thanks to Chevron, every single one of my photo albums (I have at least 30) made it on the ship to Hawaii. My piece-of-junk Walmart bookshelf is now home to most of my albums. I'm not talking about the new, streamlined digital photo albums, or the lighweight, cutesy albums. No, my albums are the hard-core, hefty ones from Costco. Yasi and I used to stock up on one kind and one kind only. It held the most pictures after all!!

Anyway, I say all that because I feel the strong need to start Blakely off with a sincere appreciation for photo albums. Here's a peek at my mini-project from this afternoon. Besides instilling a love for pictures, I want to help Blakely learn the names and faces of our loved ones on the West Coast. Aloha!



Just a sampling! Don't be surprised if she knows your name next time she sees you!

It Just Hit Me

Wow! It literally just hit me that I have a daughter. I have a daughter!! She's not going anywhere! People have been asking me if it's really "real" -- the whole mom thing. So far, I've said no. I mean, I've gushed about how much I love being a mom, but it being "real" -- that's another story. I can't even explain the moment I just had.

Blakely was stirring from a nap. I could hear her spurts of dragon-like grunts and squeals. I was working on my Axia Class. I decided she'd slept long enough and I'd relieve her from the Woombie and offer her her favorite dinner (yummm more breastmilk), but when I looked at her closely, she seemed content to drift back. I just watched her for several minutes. For the first time ever, I realized that she's not going anywhere. Well, I mean, she'll outgrow her crib before I know it and I'm pretty sure if she learns to move as quickly as she "talks" (if you can call grunts and shrieks talking) -- well, we'll be in trouble. But, alas, that's not what I mean ;).

Here's what hit me: Blakely is my daughter. I'm her mom. While we are both here on this earth, nothing can change that. Wow. I'm so honored. So happy. Thank you Jesus for letting me take care of one of your precious, beautiful girls.

B's First Pool Party

We love our dear friends Abby and Zeke. What a comfort it is to have a friend who can re-hash the past, both good and bad, here with me on the island. Not only does our past line up, but so does our future! Tim, B, and I can't wait to meet Baby Lyons...any day!! We are so blessed by Abby and Zeke and we love them dearly. Today was a special day to relax poolside and enjoy a Monday.

4th of July

Regret

I love being a teacher. But, I love being a mother more. Of course, it's possible to be both and in one capacity or another, I think I'll always be both. I start teaching for University of Phoenix on Monday. I can't wait to sit on my physio ball and bounce B on my lap while I type welcome notes to my new students! I'll probably brew a cup of decaf add a splash of vanilla chai creamer (apparently none of my stores are carrying coconut right now), crank Justin Bieber station on Pandora, and get to work "teaching" first thing! I'm actually very much looking forward to exploring my online classroom and "meeting" my students.

Well, Phoenix aside, my real conundrum is my "real" job. Tim and I need to make a descion about how this year looks. School starts in three weeks! Yes, "Fall" comes early here. Here's the thing...it just hit me today (on my way home from the dentist with a VERY numb mouth)...I think I'm scared. Scared I'm going to live with regret; regardless of the choice. I can't exactly quit a teaching job on a whim, so it's pretty much a perma-decision, at least for the next ten months.

I'm scared that if I stay home next year (and teach online a bit), I'll regret losing the financial freedom to do things like buy plane tickets to the Mainland and pay surprise medical bills. I can't envision living across the Pacific and not being able to fly "home" when we need to/want to. That feeling is now compounded due to our recent addition! I'm also scared that I'll regret not trying out this fabulous technology teaching line that I get to design.

The flip side is that I'm scared to work full-time (and teach online a bit). I'm scared (hugely scared) that I'll regret missing moments with Blakely. I'll regret not being able to change all her diapers and clean-up all her spit-up. I'm mostly afraid that the next ten months would fly so fast and I would ache to have had more time with my baby.

There are many more factors. But revelation today is that the root of this decision is the fear of regret.

Hmmm...I wonder if much of life's decisions come down to that in one way or another.

I've been back to Ecclesiastes lately. This is definitely my "comfort" book -- strangely. Maybe these bits will encourage you today too! (oh...and these "bits" aren't the "standard" Ecclesiastes verses, if ya know what I mean ;))

"So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him." (2:24-26)

"Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don't fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life." (6:13-14)

"So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them.: (8:15)

Our Stubborn Baby Wakes

The Silent Laugh