Week in Review

Phew, we are finally getting back into our routine after an amazing R and R. We were so lucky to have two weeks together and celebrate the Harps birthday. R and R is the perfect opportunity to reconnect; honestly it is the weirdest feeling seeing your husband walk off an airplanes after more than 1/2 a year! I am sure it was equally weird for him to see me and how much Harps has changed.. What a life we live.

After R and R, we are both so excited for "redeployment" (yes that is ironically the term used for when they soldiers return). We just have three short months left.

Of course H lady caught a cold right as Will and then we went to get her 12 month vaccines so that was the perfect recipe for a cranky baby. Poor little lady is finally feeling better and back to toddling around everywhere. 

Here are a couple of pictures from this week...

(these little Elmo characters go with us everywhere... ) 

(she lovessss the phone, oy)

One of my closest friends and neighbor Margaret has a banana tree and had to harvest some of the bananas growing off of it! Only in Hawaii.... These tiny bananas are actually delicious.

Hope everyone else is having a fabulous week!

xoxo,

allie

Playground Fun

We enjoyed tons of fun at the playground before Will left. Harps loves going to the park and climbing, climbing, climbing... Perfect combo for nap time and a happybaby.

Here are a couple of updates on H (for those who care!)
- She loves to say "mama", "dada", "dog", and "baba" (for milk!)
- We started baby sign language when Harps was around 9 to 10 months and she is signing like crazy. It makes our lives so much easier with communication. She tells me more, all done, dog (of course) and more. I highly recommend it for all parents!
- She is still our petite but growing baby girl!
- She loves to eat grown up food. Her current favorites are eggs, grapes, apples, and chicken.
- She is walking everywhere! Still very cautiously but soon enough she will be running.
- Her favorite toys are Little People, Baby Dolls and her Stroller, Cozy Coupe, her own sized chair, Tool Set, and Bubbles.
- She loves Sesame Street. Full on obsession... we limit it to 6:00 am to 7:00 am.
- We love this girl and we were so thankful Daddy was able to spend the last two weeks with us!

xoxo,
allie

Big Island

Wow. We had an amazing trip the the Big Island. Although a completely different vibe from Oahu, we found it equally beautiful. The Big Island is the home to multiple active volcanoes and is actually close to the size of Connecticut; we decided to spend the first night on the Kona side (home to the ultra Ironman) and then we spent the last 3 nights up in the Volcanic National Park in some military cabins on the Hilo side. The Military Cabins were built in 1916 and eventually converted into "Rest and Relaxation" for the armed services (although they have a long standing history as a POW camp, Navy Housing, and a post WWII Eisenhower family vacation spot). The army has down a wonderful job converting the place into a great vacation place with restaurants, a bowling alley, tours, a movie theater, etc. We did not use many of these facilities with the H lady but it would be perfect for older kids! We also loved the hiking... there were hundreds of trails. Honestly, not that many 1 year olds can say they have hiked in a volcanic crater!

(The most Southern Bakery in the US!)

(Guava Donut)

(Crater)

(Hi Sweet Girl)

 

(Steam Vents!)

 

 (Volcanic Pools... always heated naturally to 80 degrees)

(Native Nene Bird!)

(Volcano) 

See... how can you not love living in Hawaii? We are so lucky! We were happy to return to the "Gathering Place" island full of shopping, restaurants, and people! R and R has been fabulous. We are sad it is ending this week but SO excited for January to get here in just four short months.

xoxo,
allie

KoKo Head

Will and I always been an active couple... whether running together, hiking, snorkeling, whatever... (you get the picture!). Anyway, I have been dying to go on this hike and I knew it was not a baby safe adventure and I definitely didn't want to go alone, so Harps went to school today and we jetted off for a "hike" (or climbing endless stairs). Although it was pretty tiring and very uphill, the views were totally worth it (even if it was really high!). The pictures definitely do the talking but basically you climb up this mountain on old railroad tracks. Totally worth it but totally exhausting. We ended our Mommy and Daddy date with some Mochis (delicious rice covered ice cream cakes). Perfect date.

and here is the little lady after school!

Isn't it funny that half of our conversation up the tracks centered around our little baby?

We are off to the Big Island tomorrow for a final R and R finale. I'll try and post from there.

xoxo,
allie

the big O.N.E.

(Warning- this post contains a ton of pictures....)

Wow... we had a GREAT first birthday... Yes, I say we because Will, Harps, and I all enjoyed every minute of the big birthday bash! We had her party on Sunday and had a brunch style luncheon will tons of bubbles, balloons, beautiful Hawaiian sunshine, and some of our closest friends. Today, on her actual birthday, we spent the day at the beach. It was the perfect day! Harps is such a lucky women who is loved by so so many. We had tons of adults over for the great birthday bash but I decided I would to showcase some of Harpy's friends in this post instead; she has so many sweet friends. She is so thankful for all of the nice calls, texts, facebook posts, and sweet gifts she received from both near and far!

 

(waiting for her guests... with her Hawaiian Birthday Lei!)

(12 months in pictures!)

 

Happy Birthday to our sweetest girl! We love you SO much!

xoxo,
allie