Lanikai Beach

Daddy took Auntie Nik and I to the beach today. We went to Lanikai Beach on the east side of the island. Our beach adventure had an interesting start. Auntie Nik and Daddy were spreading out a blanket on the sand and Auntie Nik leaned forward with me in the sling and I fell/rolled out onto the blanket. I was fine, but was temporarily confused how I got down there so fast. Auntie Nik and Daddy thought that was the funniest thing ever.

I really like Lanikai Beach; that sand is so smooth. How smooth is it you ask? Well... it's so smooth that I was able to crawl all over it and not get hurt. That's better than the carpet. At one point I even fell face first into the sand, but I didn't care. Laughs were had by all.

Well I need to eat and Daddy thinks I need a bath.... we'll see about that.

2010 Already... and a few days from my 7th month birthday!

I have a lot to catch you up on.  So let's get the big stuff out of the way: Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!  Now that that's done... Since I haven't written since October, I'm going to try to fill you in without overwhelming you.  Here goes.

NOVEMBER
Nona came back!  But then I left.  I went to see Mommy's family in Oregon for Thanksgiving.  That was so cool--quite literally, that place is cold.  It finally made sense why people wear clothes, and lots of 'em.  It was also my first time on an airplane.  We had a layover in San Fransisco.  Mommy said, "watch him while I'm gone.  Make sure no one takes him."  And even though I did just what she said and held onto Daddy's hair until she got back (with my newly acquired gripping skills), she seemed a little disappointed by something.

From Teldyn's First Photo Album

In Oregon I met lots of family: Grandma Dee, Uncle Chris, Aunt Sarah, my cousin Payton--she was really nice.  Payton helped Mom take care of me and even brought me her old swing to use while I stayed in Oregon.  It had a lot of lights. I met Uncle John--he had a loud voice, a fuzzy face and was kinda scary.  We eventually went to the ranch where I met Great Grandma and Grandpa Bates, Grandpa Wayne and lots of cousins. I even got to see Payton again.  met Mom's friend Megan and her daughter, Aidan--she's only five months older than me.  I also met Jess, Steve, Daisy and Dugan. Daisy really loves to talk--she makes it seem so easy!

Payton and Me From Teldyn's First Photo Album

Mom seemed really happy to see her family; Dad was distracted and stressed out about his homework; and I really liked being held by so many new people.  It was a great trip and ended with another plane ride, weeeeeeee!

DECEMBER
Nona bought me cool stuff for Hanukkah: a walker, a high chair, and bumpers for my crib.  The walker was a little tricky at first, especially on the carpet, but I've got the hang of it now!  Watch out toes and doggies, here I come, Vrooooom!

Dad seemed to get more distracted and stressed by his papers... And Aunty Nikki wasn't around as much--working, I guess.

Grandpa Mike came to Hawaii too!  And by the 18th, Dad was all normal and smiley again.  Phew!  Plus, that's the day we went on another plane ride, but this time it was really short and the rest of the family came too.  We went to the Big Island for a long weekend.  It was really cool over there.  Dad and I went on walks every morning, we ate at a fancy restaurant where everyone seemed to like me lots, we went up a mountain where I got to use my winter coat, and the coolest thing was the hot pond.  It was this giant man-made pond, that was only a little salty, and super-warm.  I stayed in there for so long swimming around with the family.  I was a super prune by the time Mom dragged me out of there.

Yummy Mommy Toes From Teldyn's First Photo Album

Christmas was fun.  I got to play with wrapping paper, and then the whole family went up to the North Shore where we met Connie, Lee, Emalee, John, Meena, and Jasper.  I got to watch a lot of them go surfing.

I went to tea with the ladies in Waikiki and met a girl.  She's only 2 days younger than me.  I'd have asked her for her number, but I don't know how to use a phone... or talk... so that will have to wait.  I also went to see a show called Stomp.  They gave me some great ideas on stuff that I can make a lot of noise with.  As soon as I perfect my grippy, I'm gonna get right to practicing.

JANUARY
New Years was interesting.  Not that I've lived through a whole one yet, but it sure seemed like a big deal to everyone else--lots of big booms and flashes.  Even I could tell that something special was going on.

I like going to stores.  Dad pushes me all over the place, spinning me around and behind his back. A few times we nearly knocked stuff off the shelves.  Ha ha!  Awesome.

At my January check-up, I was super-tall for my age (6 months), and average weight.  Then those doctor jerks pricked me... multiple times.  Not awesome.

The check-up was the same day that Nona and G-Pa Mike said goodbye to me, and weren't back when I woke up in the morning.  I've seen them on the Skype machine, though.  In fact, I saw them today and they watched me crawl!  That's right.  I'm crawling now.  I finally figured out that the key is the knee--cute little mnemonic device, eh?  I'm not as speedy as I am in my walker, but it's easier to get right close to stuff and grab it this way.  I feel like this will come in handy.  Get it, handy?  Ha ha!  

I went to the movies the other day... well, it was actually "Movie Night" at Uncle Lee and Connie's house, but it was on a gigantor TV screen.  I wasn't really into the movie they were watching; I just wanted to talk.  And talk.  And talk.  (FYI, I still consider it to be talking if no one else seems to understand me.)  Lee and Connie's had some nice acoustics for speeches.

Another day, I got to meet some people that Aunty Nikki works with.  They were nice.  Aunty Nikki says that Patti has a crush on me.  I don't know what that means, but it kinda sounds like it hurts.

Well, thanks for catching up with me. I'm looking forward to the year ahead. Things change fast around here, so check in when you can. Laters.

Catch ya on the flip side! From Teldyn's First Photo Album

Inch Worm Kisses

In the above video you will see that I was being seriously accosted by wormus gigantus nicoleus.

Four Months of Firsts

I'm almost four months old already. Can you believe it? So old... so old. I feel like I've accomplished quite a bit, though.

I celebrated my first Jewish Holiday called Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) when my grandparents were still here (The G-PU's left a few weeks ago but will be back soon).

From Teldyn's First Photo Album

I celebrated my daddy and grandpa's birthdays. They keep track of their ages in years--are those long? They've collected more years than I have fingers and toes, so that's a super lot. For Daddy's birthday we went to a restaurant with an aquarium inside. A funny lady with a strange face was in the water with a sign that said "Happy Birthday, Chuck." Is Chuck my dad's secret identity? 'Cause if so, that lady blew it.

I went on my first boat ride and swam at the sandbar in Kaneohe Bay. Nonna took me in the water in my "Coast Guard Approved" life vest which I was not a fan of. Then Nonna took it off and just held me in the water, which was much better. Auntie Nikki held an umbrella over me because Mom was really concerned about my skin in the sun. I'm excited to learn how to swim. I got to watch infant swimming lessons. The babies were crying the whole time, but they sure could move in the water.

From Teldyn's First Photo Album

I started going to daycare on Mondays now. Auntie Nikki drops me off and Mom or Dad pick me up. It's fun there. I like to watch the other kids play.

I went to see a show with Shaolin monks. There were bright colors, fast movements, and loud noises. When I wasn't eating or sleeping, I liked it. After the show, we met up with Auntie Carin and Emalee at a restaurant that served Egyptian food. The PU's sure seemed to like the stuff. I wasn't too happy with it, so I fell asleep on Auntie Carin's shoulder.

I'm talking a lot these days. Sometimes I shout too, but the PU's don't seem to understand what I'm saying either way.

I really enjoy books. They're fun during tummy time. It's strange, though, even with the different colors, each page tastes the same. I'll have to find more books, I guess.

It turns out that I. LOVE. DOGS!!! They are even more fun to watch than the glow screens that the PU's stare at sometimes. The doggies make me laugh and laugh, which makes the PUs laugh too. It's a little weird when Hoku licks my face, but the PUs say it's slobber/drool karma.

I got to meet Grandma Dee from Oregon on Skype. I like her. Mommy says that I'm gonna see a bigger version of her when I go to Oregon for Thanksgiving. I'll also get to meet the people who've been sending me cool gifts like my cousin Payton!

I like to grab things these days--like both my feet at the same time and pull them over my head. Can you do that? I also like to grab onto the PUs' hair and gnaw on fingers; actually, I'll pretty much gnaw on anything I can get my mouth on... but I hear that's normal for Americans.

From Teldyn's First Photo Album

I'm supposedly "getting heavy," but we'll see what the doc says at the end of the month. I think that about does it for this update. See? Only four months and already I've done so much!