My Birthday Adventure.

Yesterday was the perfect day! It started at 5 o'clock in the morning, driving down to Kualoa Beach Park for the sunrise. Despite it being windy and cold, having breakfast and watching the sunrise with my sweetheart was the best beginning to the day. I debated going through with this hike until the very last second...obviously, I went through with it....and I am SO glad that I did! It was a good 15-20 minute paddle out on the longboard (Chad pushed me the whole entire way - thanks Love). We hiked to the top of the island, rock-climbing and hard-core hiking all the way up. At the top, we could see 360 degrees around the whole island, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. We finished our hike and took a slow walk around the entire island. It was so fun just being able to do this together, by ourselves ;)
It was the absolute best way to celebrate with the most important person in my life. Chad, thank you for making this day so special (and for making this cute movie)! I love you sweetie ♥

An Update on my SIX month old!

It's been 6 months already?! seriously, where did all the time go. 

I feel like I just had a newborn, like yesterday...

but now, weighing in at 14lbs 11oz, Kaiyu is doing all sorts of non-newborn-like stuff.

Let's take a look, shall we?

He spends a good part of his day on the floor.

exploring,

reaching,

scooting,

and crawling.

here's a little out-take.

I like when he tips over. it's my favorite.

He can also sit by himself for a good while, with no support.

He has started to eat solids.

his first taste of real, human food...

Okinawan sweet potato.

Hence, the purple mess.

 Kai Kai also loves applesauce (he can eat a whole container in one sitting) and rice porridge.

He loves playing with his big brother. 

copying his screams, kicking with excitement, and laughing...lots and lots of laughing....

I just love watching these two.

He has brought such joy and love into our home, and has melted our hearts completely.

We love you little Kai Kai.

Happy 6 month birthday.

xoxo

Some fun things.

It's time for some fun/funny videos.

first, for some Kai-love.

did he just......?  yep, he did

isn't he..........???   just 3 1/2 months old? yes.  exactly.

Now, you might want to plug your ears for this one. (or just turn your volume down)  ;)

he is going to be a rock STAR! haha

Noa's ABC ♬

One day, on our daily walk, I was singing songs to Noa and the ABC song was one of them.

he quickly picked it up and started singing with me.

We've sang this song many times before, but never like this...

It might be hard to hear but he sings the "now I know my abc's" part all by himself....now we just have to learn the beginning.

Something that made me smile today...

As some of you may know, Chad and Noa have been visiting Chad's family in Vegas for the past 3 days {and yes, left ME all by myself on the island...}

I have missed them SO MUCH! more than I ever thought possible...

They just sent this to me and I wanted to share it with all of you, because it brightened up my day, and made me smile.

also, our dear friends, the Toma family, visited them today....

and Noa got to see his adorable girlfriend, Miu-chan :D

I so wish I could have been there.

Love you all!!!! and miss you tons!

Noa's Quarterly Report (videos!)

Noa is now 15-months old!!!
...I can't believe it!

How he's grown in the last 3 months:

☆he is SO TALKATIVE!! - his vocabulary has been expanding day by day - and he mumbles to himself a lot!

☆he can now say (mostly Japanese, but some English): Hi!, foot (あんよ), hand (お手て), pineapple, apple, pasta ("pa-pa"), baby, keys (かぎ), 着いた, ouch (いたい・たい),  no, bread (パン), belly button, milk (牛乳), やだ, eyes (おめめ), drink (飲む), doggy (わんわん), oatmeal, cheerio, cereal, banana, アンパンマン, cookie, what (なに？)・・・I know there's more!・・・ 

☆he loves to listen to (and try to gesture to) Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Popcorn Popping

☆he eats 2 whole packets of oatmeal for breakfast! (one apple/cinnamon mixed with one plain)...then wants more cereal afterwards...how is he so small?!?!

☆he loves smoothies and fruit - grapes, bananas, apples, pears, watermelon, strawberries, pineapple...

☆he sleeps through the night! (Hallelujah!)

☆he has been falling asleep on his own for 2 months now! 

☆he's starting to like vegetables...(raw) cucumber, tomato, (cooked) potatoes, carrots, celery, corn, green peppers...

☆he plays well on his own...plays with other kids even better!

☆he's showing signs of understanding both Japanese and English 

☆he says "uh-vyu" when you say, "Love you!"

☆still gives the best kisses, and blow-kisses, ever!   
☆he says "uh-oh" when he drops something
☆he loves throwing things
☆his favorite snack: a tie between banana and cheerios (the plain kind)....but when he can have it, its definitely smoothies!
☆his favorite thing to play with...my cell phone or keys
☆his favorite song: Itsy Bitsy
☆his favorite toy: mega blocks




Here are some great videos of how Noa has been growing!
(sorry my phone camera video quality isnt that great...)

Noa saying "pineapple" :)

Noa got a hold of my phone...and recorded a video...

This is how Noa has fun, while daddy is studying in the library!

 

translation: "gyu-nyu" = milk and "pan" = bread... "oishii" = YUMMY!

I'll be back to post his 15-month stats after his doctor's appointment soon!

Rockin' the curly tail...

Happy Halloween, everyone!!!!

Halloween is such a fun holiday, and this year, Noa is going to be........

I ADORE his little costume! - especially the curly tail and the plump tummy/bum. :D
Thank you, Grandma Betty!

12-1= 11 months!!!

 NOA is 11-months today!!!

What he has learned in the past month:

*he can imitate sounds really well - and tries to "talk" to you {in sentences}

(he can say "nana" for banana/food, "nenne" meaning sleep, "nai-nai" to put things away, "dada" for Dad, "mama" for Mom, "tta" when he finds things...etc - All in JAPANESE of course...)

*he understands "sit down" and other short commands...

*he knows the word for water - he'll go look for his sippy cup when you ask him where water is...

*he "blows" kisses {video coming soon}

*he does a lot better with strangers now

*he can make the "awawawa" sound with his hands and mouth {video coming soon}

*he is almost running! He walks so fast, his feet can't keep up

*he has completely gotten over his fear of grass!

*he says "no no no" while shaking his head - its quite hilarious...{video coming soon}

*he bows his head when you say "thank you," "sorry," and "good night" (in Japanese, only)

*He give you hugs, and cuddles with you! but he's mostly just up and going ALL the time

He is learning and growing up soooo fast!! I just want him to stay little forever...but it is really amazing to see him develop and discover new things. He is such a JOY to be around!

Go on over to my photoblog for some more amazingly adorable pictures of my little guy!

Exciting developments!!!

You know how my little boy likes to always reach his milestones right before his MONTH-marks? - LIKE: getting his first tooth just before turning 4 months, or pulling himself up onto his feet before turning 6 months...? well, he's done it again....{he never ceases to amaze me}

Just these past few days Noa has started to stand up without holding on to anything...doing some squats here and there {working those glutes!!!} - but thats not even the exciting thing...

THIS is:

Yup, he is taking STEPS!
It all happened so quick, first he was crawling super fast....then standing up holding on to things.....slowly letting go of things.....walking with a walker.......standing up without holding onto anything....balancing on his feet....doing squats.....and now, taking a few steps {the most we've counted is 8} - This all happened within a couple weeks

Only 2 days away til his 9 month birthday, and Noa is starting to walk!

Noa's (newer) newest trick!

Remember this toy:

??

Well, amazingly, it transforms into.............

...a walker! and of course, Noa mastered it on his first try!

Chad and I both walked at 9 months - according to our parents - so I'm thinking it'll be really soon for Noa too...? the only thing is - I'm not sure if I am ready...
There are so many babies in our ward who have or are turning one, and none of them can walk yet...maybe Noa was in my tummy for longer than 9 months??!!

Noa's newest trick!

My AMAZING baby, at it again (He's such a fast learner!!!!)....now on top of being able to wave "bye bye" on command and respond to *clicking* sounds of the tongue by doing it himself,
Noa can now *CLAP*


- "pachi pachi" is one way of saying "clap clap" in Japanese -

isn't it adorable? - isn't HE adorable?! - makes me smile just watching it!

*Videos*

*For my family, and for whoever is interested enough in my sons life to watch ALL these videos*

Noa is learning and growing so much everyday, it is so fun to watch him develop new skills and do weird/cute baby things....
Lately, he's been sticking his tongue out a lot....so we taught him to copy us - we would stick our tongues out, and he'd do the same... it's so cute!

The second trick, or skill, he is trying to master is -----
standing on his own. {this is not the best video of it, but he only does it really good when no one is watching...}

This morning I looked over and he was practicing letting go all by himself (everytime he let go, he stood on his own for a good 5-10 seconds)...i wish i could have recorded it, but once i got my camera out, he was done for the morning....so this is the best i can do for now...

At the park the other day - asleep on the swing...

He must have liked it, because he was OUT.

He must have been hungry - I have never seen him suck on his toes as much as he does here!

The sounds that he makes (his vocab) have now expanded to - "ma" "da" "pa" "na" "ya" "nya" "pff" "ah".....and he mixes the different sounds up, instead of just the same sound over and over like he used to. exciting, right?
His sounds also includes.....

He would randomly do this, or he would do it copying us, after we start clicking/clucking our tongues. This might be my favorite trick he's picked up recently.

I love this age! He is so alert and aware of his surroundings and his body...because of this, I have actually started to sign with him and to teach him 3 basic baby signs that are useful to know and use- milk - eat - more -
Although he can't produce the signs himself, I'm noticing that he is starting to understand that the signs correlate with certain actions. I can't wait for him to start doing the signs himself! It definitely requires patience and effort/not giving up on my part.


It's so fun to watch him learn and grow!

Latest Developments

There's never just one thing I can report on a blog post....I have to list every little thing that has happened in our lives! ~ so here it goes:

I can't express enough how AMAZED I am of my little boy...

This past weekend we were over at our friends' house for a dinner and a movie...[Thanks Kuni and Satomi!! We had so much fun!]...anyway, they have these 4 steps going up from their movie theater (yup pretty sweet :D) to the main level in the basement. The set-up is pretty awesome ~ but even cooler was the fact that Noa could climb UP those stairs!!!!!! too bad I didn't have my good camera there to capture the moment, but thank goodness for a cell phone with camcorder capabilities!

Ever since he "stood up" on his own [Feb post] he is always trying to grab onto something to stand up!!
Everyday, in his playpen...

BTW, it's Chad video taping AND trying to make Noa fall!

This past month we've graduated Noa from just rice/rice cereal to some veggies!
First, we tried fresh carrots (boiled and mashed) but he didn't like it very much....so I bought some jarred baby food and he doesnt mind it as much...at least he eats it!

I LOVE the face he makes! Priceless...

And of course, More PiCTURES! Enjoy :D

First "food" throw-up...YuM...

Noa thought it was pretty funny...

I "promised" Chad I wouldn't put these pictures up...but theyre too funny not to! ...Sorry babe!!


Before going on a walk..."so he wouldn't go anywhere " - Chad

"well, good morning SunShiNe"
...baaad case of bed head...

Last, but not least, my latest project:

A yellow rose headband...it's kinda huge, I know...but I like it

what would you call this...?

So you know a couple weeks ago, Noa was starting to take the crawling position and rocked back and forth (the video from the previous post)...well just a few days ago he started doing this....



i dont know if you can call that crawling or the so-called "army crawl," yet, but he does get from point A to point B, especially when he knows exactly what he wants.

Also...lately he's been "talking" and saying things like "ooomam..." and "mamama..." ~ He gets a kick out of me getting so excited that he might actually start calling me mama that when i try to get him to repeat it, he just smiles and laughs :D But nonetheless, it is adorable!

He's finally done it...

Two days ago (a few days short of his 4-month birthday), Noa rolled over by himself! and he's been doing it ever since....he absolutely loves it too!! The only problem was every time I tried to video tape him doing it, he would either take a really long time to be able to do it or he wouldn't do it at all...most of the time Id just look away for a few seconds and when I look back, there he was on his tummy smiling and giggling.... BUT today, I was finally able to get a few good clips of him rolling over, so ENJOY!

(look at that face...you can tell that he's so proud of himself)

Needless to say, babies get really tired in this position rather quickly (using all those baby muscles and such) and Noa still doesn't seem to be able to turn himself back over onto his back...so...he puts into use his vocal cords to let me know that he's done being on his tummy....he is definitely learning how to use those babies and he knows that he will get his way no matter what

(don't worry, as soon as I turned the camera off I helped him turn back over...)

It's AMAZING to me that babies just know/learn how to do things on their own, without anyone teaching them...and they hit milestones all by themselves! I still can't believe that Noa's reached this HUGE milestone already! It's so exciting, but at the same time, it feels like the time is just flying by...I really want to enjoy every second I have with this little guy

*Funny Videos and Pics*

Here are some ( or A LOT of) funny videos and pics we have accumulated over the past few months...Enjoy!

sticking his tongue out...

Noa started copying Chad after a while, it was pretty cool (it takes a little while, so be patient)

wants to crawl so bad!

his legs are really strong...his arms, not so much. can't quite crawl yet

"This is what happens when daddy dresses me..."

...he's just so dang cute!

in this family, we like to...

....*zZzzZzzZz*....

...sleep...

...sLeeP...

...and...SLEEP!
(I found him sleeping like this one day and I had to take a picture...looks so uncomfortable...)

Noa screaming at Chad:

...apparently, he doesn't like getting his face touched...(please ignore the mess in the background! I promise our apartment is not always this messy)

Working out:

This is how Noa keeps in shape ;)

ok, just a couple more!

Playing with Daddy:

having a great time!

Laughing with Mommy:

soooo adorable! I LOVE his laughs!!