Uncle Mahi in da house!

So Uncle Mahi finally came to visit us and even stayed the night. Nanea took a while to warm up to that big man, but once he picked up the guitar, he had her.  We hope he comes over more often when he comes to Hawaii.

April

*1st (Sunday)-Started the month with a bbq feed after General Conference at the Kaka's with the Fruean's and the Karaitiana's.  It's a little "tradition", I guess, for us.  It's nice having friends around.  The kids are really growing up. They have built a porch and are doing other improvements around the house.  Nanea played on the steps with Raglan.

*12th (Thursday)-Jason had his last day of school! He is officially thru with taking Social Work classes. Now, all he has to do is his Internship Practicum this summer and 2 GE classes come Fall 2012.
*14th (Saturday)-BYUH Graduation.  Jase was actually supposed to walk this semester, but held off so that we could graduate at the same time, December 2012, and so that we'd still have affordable housing at BYU (the best deal in town).  As such, we gave gatorade lei's to his graduating classmates like Maki Hohaia.  Liam Strong graduated too.  His wife, Veronica has been one of Nanea's baby sitters. We're going to miss them.

Maki Hohaia and Paul

Ashley, Ali and Rachel

Janelle, Ashley and Maki

Richard and Nia Sidal-They were our neighbors downstairs and watched Nanea sometimes for us.

Liam, Veronica and baby boy Strong

Jessica

*16th (Monday)-Jason landed an internship at Queen Lili'uokalani Children Center (QLCC) here in Punalu'u.  This was an answer to many prayers because he will be close to home and, therefore, will not have to drive to town daily.  Also, since he's close, he will be able to hold his job as an RA over the summer.  It will be a sacrifice as he will be working a lot this summer.  I am so blessed to have a husband who is willing and able to provide for our family.
*22nd (Saturday)-We went to the temple this while Nanea was watched by Aunty Cheka (she loves her and Uncle Maki)!  Then off to Castles!
*28th Family beach time.

Nanea 13 Months

She is growing too fast.  Nanea can do too many things that sometimes makes us feel like if we blink, we will literally miss the next thing she masters.
Nanea...
*her walking is coming along.  She can take about 10 steps without anyone and can stand up on her own.
*knows how to say "All Pau" when she finishes reading a book, is pau bathing, eating, etc.
*can go on both playgrounds here at TVA by herself.  She especially loves the slides.
*says, "bird" and loves  them.
*says and waves both, "Hi!" and "Bye!"  She blows a kiss when we leave.*has a new favorite toy, her shape ball that Tutu bought.  She's getting very good at it.

*likes to dance by rocking back and forth now.  I also caught her standing up and dancing too.  She is so cute.

*is more picky in her eating although she really likes rice and noodles.

*now drinks milk out of her sippie-cup to go to sleep.

*sleeps through the night.

Attacked by moquito's!

At pounders with daddy...he shades her from the sun and wind

This is her excited face...looks a little wicked. It's much more pleasant in person.

BYU Culture Night

Jason has been practicing for a few weeks for this year's culture night.  I know that he misses, yet enjoys, being involved with Maori culture and thing going on around here in the community. So, I'm glad that he decided to do it this year.  Maybe some day I'll have the guts to join in!  

Hospital-Weaning-Sleep-thru-night

*5th-Thursday afternoon I starting coming down with something and by the evening, after Jason's Social Work Graduation dinner, I had a fever and the chills.  With a blessing and comfort from Jase, I was able to sleep and the fever broke over night, so I thought I was in the clear.
*6th-But, when the morning came around, everything and more came even harder.  Thanks to 'Good Friday' I had no school and my mom and Pi'i came out to watch Nanea because by then, I was vomitting had diarhea, body aches and more nausea (sorry for the descriptions).  I couldn't keep anything in. This lasted throughout the day.  I tried to wait out the 103.4 degree and 102 degree fevers with popsicles and ti-leafs, but had no luck.  That night Jason had Culture Night.  This is when we officially started making Nanea sleep thru the night and weaning her because I literally had no energy to get up and feed because I hadn't eaten much.*7th (Saturday)-Jason had an assignment due at 7am, to set up the TVA Easter Egg hunt, and weight loss weigh-in.  I wasn't doing any better so he took me to the doctor, which basically led to being checked into Kahuku Hospital since nothing improved within the next 2 hours.  While there, I got hooked up to the IV, got a bunch of other meds to alieviate the back and body aches and all the other symptoms, but there really was not much process after 2 IV bags, so they kept me there over night.  Meanwhile, our neighbors watched Nanea and then my mother and Pii came back over in the evening.  I knew Jase would have no problem because he's an awesome father and knows Nanea so well. She drank warm milk from her sippie-cup, watched Shrek and went to sleep.

*8th (Sunday)-I was cleared to check out at 9am and came home to my beautiful family who I have definitely taken advantage of.  Just 1 night away from them was 1 night too long.  I missed them so much.  Now Nanea cannot nurse for this week because of the meds I have to take which has led to the weaning by default.  She is handling it much better than I am simply because I was not ready to part with my special time I get to cuddle with her.  I know other mommies look forward to this moment, but I'm quite the opposite.  I feel such a close bond with my beautiful daughter (not that daddy doesn't have one too).  I will miss the times that she looks at me while nursing and feels my face and plays with my shirt, etc. Sleeping thru the night, however, is much needed. Hopefully that means mommy will be in a better mood!

Jason Social Work Graduation

After 2 very quick yet challenging, Jason has done it!  Within a couple of days, he will have finished all of the graduation class requirements for Social Work here at BYU.  He will be doing a full-time Social Work internship over the summer and then go to school Fall 2012 just to take 2 BYU GE classes and so that we can still have affordable living, but overall, he is Pau!!!  I am so proud of him and so is everyone else.  The Social Word Department had a Graduation dinner to honor him and his other classmates who have been with him throughout the late and sleepless nights, stressful tests, papers and assignments.  It was a night to enjoy good food and help them prepare for the future.

Nanea's first steps

Unlike other parents, Jason and I haven't really been encouraging her to walk because right now she is at a manageable stage where we don't have to run after her.  Well this time will be very shot lived. Check this out:

Nanea is also interested in covering her water bottle.