aloha friday!

Good morning!!

I had written all this stuff but just wasn't feeling it, so anyway ALOHA!

I hope everyone has something fun up their sleeve planned for the weekend. Rob comes home tomorrow for a 5 day weekend. We have lots of stuff on the agenda, but I'm hoping for some downtime too. Some of my favorite moments are the planned activities, but impromptu trips to the beach, or walk down the street to the park where we hunt for BBs! (The kind from the Airsoft guns.) It is our mission in life to collect ALL the BBs. It's like an Easter egg hunt every time we walk to the park.

I'm really hoping to be able to get some surfing in very very soon. I've been craving it. Physically craving a surf session. It's true. But our weekend (and Rob's days off) will be filled with the usual: beach, various toddler activities, NAPS (I'm willing it to happen), time with friends and family... and hopefully a surf for Mama.

Also, I would like to say that Christian had a pretty fantastic day yesterday. He got to spend the morning with Mimi at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) where he's in a toddler/preschool type class with other 2-3 year olds. He will learn very basic Bible lessons. Mimi put him down for a nap (and he actually slept!) which meant a fantastic afternoon with Mama. Christian woke up from his nap to some presents from Nannie that had come in the mail. Let me just sum it up with Cars and Planes. Christian hasn't been able to put them down!

And how cool are these lip balms she found? They're all "beer flavors." Perfect, right? 

Also, I just ordered this Halloween costume for Christian. When it comes to everyday life, creative I am not, but I don't think Christian minds. ;) He's just stoked to be Dusty!

Have a great weekend!!

a moment to myself...

Please excuse the mind dump that's about to happen as I enjoy this moment to myself, sipping my venti iced coffee with milk, 3 pumps classic syrup. Yep. 

These past few weeks have been really challenging for me. A lot is currently revolving around the fact that Christian won't nap. And he doesn't really "do" quiet time. He jumps up and down, takes off his clothes, tries to pull down the curtain... All kinds of shenanigans. And truly, it is my problem - the frustration it brings me. But if he doesn't nap, he's a totally different kid at the end of the day. Despite that, I need to channel my frustration in a way that I'm not a heap of tears by the end of the day and cradling one of Rob's home brews. It really makes me wonder if I'm even cut out to be a mom of more than one child because many nights (like last night) I feel so undeserving of the love Christian has for me ...and that I'm a failure of a parent. But I have decided that IF I attempt to leave the house with Christian, and he hasn't napped, he has to go in the stroller or the Ergo. End of story. Also, let me clarify, this is only the case when Rob is flying.

But needless to say, it's been one hell of a month, and we're all still in recovery mode. I've started working out again which has been huge for me. I started a 5k training plan, which I feel a little silly about but I have no endurance right now. To be expected, the doctor said. I also resumed attending Stroller Strides, or as Rob calls it "Baby Mama Bootcamp." It was so nice to see some familiar faces as we took over the sidewalks of Waikiki with our jumbo jogging strollers. And got our pictures taken by tourists. Weird. 

Speaking of doctor, I had a successful follow-up today. We are still waiting on genetic testing results for little Leilani. And I do believe that we will try again, one day. Hope. Hope keeps us going. We have hope that one day we will have another healthy baby. But you know, if Christian ends up as an only child, our family is complete. I am so happy, so blessed, to be here, to be healthy, to have Rob, and to have a wonderful, sweet, smart, healthy two-year old boy that I love to the moon and back. 

Also, the TV show "New Girl." Have you seen it? I stayed away for so long because Zooey Deschanel just kind of bugs but I LOVE this show. Rob too. Heh. First two seasons are on Netflix, and it is exactly the laugh I need at the end of the day. Oh, Schmidt. 

I am looking forward to pumpkin picking at Aloun Farm in October. I think Christian will really love the tractor ride even more this year. And then the sunset picnic at the Ko'olina Lagoons afterwards is a must. I feel like this is the only time of year that I can talk about our perfect weather and no one gets mad. It's cooling off around the rest of the US and everyone loves Fall. And yeah, I love Fall too... I just love the Hawaiian version of Fall. It cools off at night (hello upper 60s/low 70s), and I may wear a long sleeve if I go out after sunset.

Ok. If you actually read this whole ramble, well done, you must have been really bored.

leilani hope

Her name is Leilani Hope. (lay-LAH-nee)

Heavenly lei.

Royal child of heaven. 

Heavenly flower. 

Flowers from heaven. 

One of our favorite descriptions we came across said this, "A lei is the familiar Hawaiian necklace of flowers, shells or feathers. It symbolizes regard and love for the person to whom it is given."

And Hope. We have hope for what the future brings, but trust in the plan that God has for our family. 

When we lost David Clark, I leaned on Jeremiah 29:11.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Despite the heartbreak, and the sadness, we do have hope for our future. And I know that our God is faithful, because we have Christian Reid Makana. Our gift. He was our hope, and he is our future. 

Leilani Hope. She is our heavenly flower. 

planes

Today Rob, Christian, and Papa had a boys' afternoon out. They went to see the movie, "Planes." Naturally.

I was very curious to know how Christian would do sitting through his very first movie at the theater, or if he would sit through it AT ALL. A few hours later I received this text from Rob: Movie was really good! CRM did great, watched the whole movie. Ate a bunch of popcorn, drank papa's fanta.

Well, there you go. Christian's first trip to the movie was a huge success.*

I'd also like to add that right now Christian has his big plastic Dusty Crophopper toy in a headlock, while sleeping. 

*Notice the t-shirt change. Papa's Fanta.