18, nearly 19 months old

Hi everyone.  Sorry it's been so long. Wow, time flies!  Looks like the last update, besides Auntie Nikki's tear-jerker, was about 6 months ago. There's a lot to catch up on. 

I'm still a big healthy boy: 34.5" long (95th percentile and 28lbs 2oz heavy (75th percentile).

I finished swimming lessons not too long after the last entry; August 20th to be exact. Mom wanted to make sure I was as water ready as she hoped I'd be. So, with the instructor's permission, she hovered me just over the water and dropped me in the pool. It was scary, weird, but fun. I popped up feet first, kinda kicking Daddy in the face. Then I thought Daddy was going to pick me up, but then Aisha (the instructor) told him to back away and I went straight to my float. 

Mommy and everyone else clapped and congratulated me, so that was pretty cool. When Nona and Grandpa Mike came in August we went to the neighborhood pool and they watched me swim. Nona was so happy to see me floating and swimming that she started crying. I guess the novelty of me swimming wore off after a while because I haven't been swimming recently. However, I do love running and climbing. 

My climbing skills have improved so much that a few months ago, Mommy took off one of the walls to my crib because I was scaling it on my own. Also because of my climbing, Auntie Nikki bought a bookshelf for my toys and books instead of the play-yard that wasn't containing me anyway. 

From Teldyn's Second Album

Now, I don't have to climb into the play-yard anymore to get my toys. So the nest-like papasan chair is back in the living room.  Peahi really likes it in there. Sometimes I climb in there too. It is so fun when Daddy rotates and tips it around when I'm in it. He says it's like a Tilt-a-Whirl or something. I have no idea what he's talking about, but it sure sounds fun. Do you know that if you pull out the drawer under the oven, you can stand on it and then see over and reach onto the stove. The PUs always seem to flip out as they put me back on the floor when they find me there. I don't get it. 

With Mommy and Daddy's help I recently taught myself how to jump. I like jumping off the couch onto the floor or into Daddy's arms. I also like jumping on beds, especially because when on the bed, even falling on my face is funny.

I like to dance. For a while I was dancing quite a bit at home, but then I dunno... I'm just not as into it anymore.  Anyway, here's a clip of me getting' down.  I really like acoustic guitar.  

I love animals. I have a giant animal book encyclo--something or other. Anyway, it's a big book. Mommy helped teach me a lot of the animals in it. I can recognize and describe pictures of cheetah, hippo, crocodile, frog, fish, gecko, dolphins (eee eee eee), monkey, elephants (berooo), rhino, turtle, emu and many others.

Nona and Grandpa Mike were back here again. Nona showed up before Thanksgiving. She and I watched animals on her computer, and she watched me a lot as Mommy and Daddy were busy with school. 

I went on a whale watch with Mommy, Daddy, and Nona.  It was really fun to be on a boat and see whales up close.  

From Teldyn's Second Album

On Wednesday I took a shower with Daddy. I was pretty stoked by the whole thing since he was able to shower while I kept myself entertained by getting wet and scrubbing the walls with a big brush I found. Then once I was all dressed I walked down the stairs all by myself. I used the wall to support myself, but yeah, me, stairs. Ha ha!

On Wednesday night there was a pretty serious and scary storm. It rained all night and sometimes the night sky lit up and then a big scary noise came. It made me cry. At one point Daddy came in my room because I was crying. While he was there the loud noise came again. I got scared, started crying again and hugged Daddy.  For some weird reason, he started laughing. I think the noise is super scary, but I'm glad that Daddy doesn't.  

And the biggest, but slightly dated news for some is that  it looks like I'm going to be getting a sister around early May.

I guess my New Years resolution is to make sure that Mommy and Daddy are better about these updates.  I hope you had a great holiday season and that I will get to see you all in the coming year.

Bye

From Aunty Nikki

Dear Teldyn,

You said "bye," but this one is different. I moved out. You probably don't quite know what that means. But basically I'm sorry for those times when you look in my room or to the couch saying "Nikki" and don't find me. I'm also sorry for taking my iPhone with the "gecko" and "octido" [octopus]. Moving away from you is the hardest thing I remember ever having to do. I'm gonna miss you so much. I think I'll even miss changing your poopy diapers! Seriously, that's how much.

I'm gonna go become a better aunty by gaining experiences and skills to help make this world a better place for you. And I'm gonna start by living in a place called New York. It's so very different than Hawaii, and it's super cool in it's own way. I can't wait to show it to you!

I know that you have the resiliency of a skinned knee, so I'm not so worried about you. (Not to mention that your two amazing parents will ensure that you'll always have as much attention and love as you can stand.)

Besides, while I don't live with you anymore, I'm not gone. I know you're getting good with the phone and Skype, so please keep in touch. And call me about the "small stuff." I want to hear you say "elephant," speak in sentences, learn to count, ride a tricycle, and the rest of it. I am still going to celebrate your milestones with you. In fact, I will be back to see you become a brother!

This will be a big responsibility for you, and I know you can handle it. You're so good at picking up after yourself and helping Mama and Dada with things around the house that this should be a piece of cake for you. Plus, you will be learning from a true master on how to be a supportive and protective big brother. Be patient if you feel you can't live up to his example. He's the best anyone has ever seen, and he's been at it for a lot longer than you.

I have cherished living with you and being one of your parental units. Each day is magic, filled with wonder and joy, a new adventure. You speak more words, find more answers, soak up more worlds--you're a different person everyday. Seeing you asleep in your car seat at the airport, I knew that I wouldn't see that version of you again. You will be so different next time I see you. It was sad and thrilling.

I'm so grateful that I was there for the first time you laughed, walked, played with bubbles and I was holding you when you first saw an octopus. Those things might not seem like huge deals to you, but they are for me.

I will really miss dancing with you, laughing with you, reading with you, discovering the world anew with you. You have provided me hours and hours of blissful memories and claimed your very own nook in my heart.

My Chubbobo, Grumpobo, Mister, Little Man, my Love... Thank you for all the hugs, fist bumps, kisses, smiles, and all the other cuter-than-cute ways you let me know that you love me back.

No matter how far away I am, I will always be your Aunty Nikki. So keep up the trumpeting and growling--I swear, I can hear you from here. Cockadoodledoooo!!