Nanea 23 Months

Nanea has grown a lot this month, especially since the birth of her sister. She:

*absolutely loves brushing her teeth.  

*likes to tie her hair up now.

*likes to chose what clothes she wants to wear 

*can put her pants on by herself

*plays hide and seek in the blankets and in the cabinet.

*sings and dances "Pop corn popping on the apricot tree" and "Book of Mormon Stories" that tutu taught us.

*amazes us with new frases daily.

*has adjusted to having a younger sister in the house.  She helps bring diapers and wipes to change and throws the dirty one away.  She also loves hugging and kissing her sister, sometime a little too much.  Sometimes she gets jealous because I'm feeding Hali'a so much.  

*she's a good helper.

*looks forward to when daddy comes home to play with her.

From Her Head Start assessment, Nanea: 

• Comforts self by seeking out special object or person, accepts redierction from adults, plays near other children; uses similar materials or action; seeks a preferred playmate; shows pleasure when seeing a friends; responds appropriately to others' expressions of wants; experiments with different ways of moving and balancing; expresses feelings during a conflict; manipulates balls or similar objects with stiff body movement; grasps drawing and writing tools, jabbing at paper; identifies familiar people, animals, and objects when prompted; follows simple people, animals, and objects; uses some words and word-like sounds and is understood by most familiar people; initiates and attends to brief conversations; uses appropriate eye contact, pauses, and simple verbal prompts when communicating; practices an activity many times until successful imitates others in using objects in new and/or unanticipated ways; recognizes familiar people, places, and object; looks for hidden object where it was last seen; looks for familiar persons when they are named; relates object to events; matches similar objects; recognizes people, objects, and animals in pictures or photographs; imitates actions of others during play; uses real objects as prompts; verbally counts; matches 2 identical shapes.
• She is beginning to:
• orient book correctly; turns pages from front of the book to the back; recognizes familiar books by their covers; to make simple statements about recent events and familiar people and objects that are not present; to demonstrate confidence in meeting own needs; manage separations without distress an engages with trusted adults; to demonstrate concern about the feelings of others; to use refined wrist and finger movements; to use 3 to 4 -word sentences; may omit some words or use some words incorrectly.

Falling asleep to her favorite movie, Strek

 

Vertigo

Since the birth of Hali'a I have been consistently very dizzy and experiencing Vertigo!  It really sucks.  I've have episodes while growing up but barely once a year. However, since her birth, I have had multiple episodes, about twice a week, and the intensity and is increasing significantly.
The cause of vertigo inclue: Inflammation of the inner ear, disease of the nerves to the inner ear, movement of calcium particles in the inner ear, and/or poor blood flow to the balance centers of the brain. It lasts for as long as I'm awake.  So, the only way that I have been able to make it go away is by going to sleep.


Today, I was hospitalized per request of my Dr. because the vertigo was extremely horrible, throwing up, using the toilet, fever, etc.  I could not stand up on my own without wanting to fall down.  Keeping my eyes closed help more than opening them. I ended up just laying down in the bathtub since I couldn't make it back to the bed since I was still vomiting.

Hali'a 1 Month

Weight: 11 pounds 2 ounces
Length: 22.5 inches

• 3rd (Sunday) Hali'a Marama Smith was given a baby blessing in our Laie 8th Ward.  Priesthood in the prayer circle included: Jason, Jermaine Kaka, Jomaia DeCaires, Kimo DeCaires, David Whippy, Bishop John Elkington and his counselors.  We didn't do a big feed since our church starts at 8 am and everyone attended their wards after coming to ours.

This month, she has definitely made a mark in the Smith home.  Hali'a:
*Has a very distinct cry, more like a scream, which she does when she's basically hungry, has gas and/or needs a change.
*Recognizes mommy, daddy and sister Nanea's voice.
*Is very alert and attentive to things that are around her.
*Is strong and is already picking her head up and turning it to follow objects and follow and noise.
*Is just like the rest of her family in that she loves to take a bath and the water.  Soon, once mommy is cleared, she will be introduced to the water at the beach.
*Eats a lot.  Although we had to introduce baby formula because of Mommy's hospitalization, she didn't  mind as long as she could eat. We're trying to introduce the bottle to her earlier which will make it easier for us to have other people watch her because Nanea would just scream herself hungry to sleep rather than drinking from the bottle.
*Sleeps a lot.  I think we forgot how much infants actually sleep fresh out of the womb. She also sleeps with her eyes open/rolling and like her mommy, with her arms above her head.  She doesn't really do the swaddling thing, but sleeps good when her arms are out.
*Wakes up several times a night 2-3 and sometimes 4 a night.  Mommy is still adjusting to this night thing.
*Wakes up Nanea when she is hungry which is why she sleeps in her bassinet in the kitchen. It's also easier for mommy to feed on the couch versus on the bed.

 

It has been interesting this month, having to adjust to another child to attend to.  It has been difficult adjusting to being a house wife at the same time.  I'm used to going out and about to do things and studying, but now am home with the girls daily.  It is a blessing, yet draining. We have established a somewhat daily routine, which helps us to successfully get through the day productively.  I think once I can run again, things will be better, because I will have a way to release stress and any anxiety. The hardest thing has been having to wake up several times throughout the night to feed because it then makes me tired the rest of the day, but I'm just grateful to be able to breastfeed and for two healthy daughters.  Daddy has been an awesome support financially, emotionally, and spiritually. The beach is an escape for all of us and a way for us to let off some steam and enjoy time together as a family.

February

• 1st (Friday) We finally submit Jason's application for the Advanced Standing Master's Program at University of Hawaii at Manoa.
• 2nd (Saturday) Nanea spent the weekend with Tutu and Pi'i as they took her to the Punahou Carnival. She got her face painted and road her first roller coaster.

• 9th (Saturday) we celebrated Waitangi Day with other kiwi at PCC. We also sold our faithful 1994 Toyota Camry. It has served its purpose for us over the past 2 years. Since. The miles have gotten high from me traveling to town for school we have decided to part and look for a newer model.
• 10th (Sunday) I was hospitalized for my vertigo
• 12th (Tuesday) We submit Jason's application to work as a Community Working Facilitator at QLCC here in Punalu'u which he was recommended to apply for from Employees currently working there.
• 14th (Thursday) Happy Valentine's Day-we were heart attacked by our neighbors, the Gillet's.
• 15th (Friday) today we bought a 2006 Chevy Aveo with 114,000 miles, Automatic, A/C, from a dealer in Wahiawa.  It was from an ad in Craigslist.  It was  a little more than I wanted to spend but worth it because it's the most current car we've owned.

• 16th (Saturday) Jason and I went to the temple to do sealings.  Our NZ neighbors, the Gillet's watched the 2 girls for us which was a blessing. They have 6 children and a puppy, which was more than enough to keep Nanea entertained.  It was our late Valentine's date and just what we needed.  We have been recipients to so many blessings, from medical attention to care from our Laie 8th ward, employment for Jason, so we are happy to be able to attend the temple regularly even more now that we have 2 daughters.  We also have big decisions to make so we want to make sure that regular Temple attendance is consistent so that we can have the guidance of our Father in Heaven.
• 18th (Monday) President's Day-Hanging out with tutu and Pi'i at Ho'omaluhia while mommy and Hali'a rested a home and daddy worked.

*24th (Sunday) I was called to be the Assistant Secretary in the Relief Society. I also wen visiting teaching with my companion, sister Kakuhiokalani.
*25th (Monday) I went to my 6 week postpartum appointment and got cleared to start being active and exercising and swimming. Weight: 152.4 pounds. 17.4 pound to loose!
*26th (Tuesday) we started a play group with Erin Campbell, Roo Kalama, Sanoe DeCaires, Kehau and any other moms that want to join in. We alternate locations weekly between the Campbell house and the TVA park. This is so helpful for me and Nanea to get out some energy and socialize with others our ages. I went for my first run. It sucks how your mentally ready, but physically not. It felt nice to get a sweat on! Now I can start shedding these extra baby pounds.
*27th (wednesday) I went to my first appointment with the ENT Dr. (ears, nose and throat) to help me figure out why this vertigo problem is going on. He said that i may have this disease where my ears don't drain. I have to have a hearing and balance test done next week and start doing therapy. I hope this helps to take it away. Today I also found out that I PASSED my FE Exam! We went to Surf-n-taco's to celebrate! All of the added stress and studying during the last semester payed off! I'm one step closer to becoming a licensed engineer.
*28th-I interviewed to become a substitute teacher at Laie Elementary for the windward side of Oahu. We also filed our taxes.