California Trip: Part 1

The plane ride from Oahu to California was a success! Alex was an amazing baby. She slept half of the flight and was just lounging taking in the new sights the rest. I did what everyone was suggesting, breastfeeding on the way up and the way down. I think it really helped because she did not cry at all on the flight.

Since we have arrived in California Alex has been meeting so many new and loving faces. On our first day here she had eight new visitors! I think she got a little overwhelmed and over stimulated because she was rather fussy towards the end of the day. Everyday since then she has been great. Alex is getting used to her new surroundings. She does Facetime with her Dad every day. She talks and laughs with him. I know she misses him.

She loves her Baba! (Don't mind my Mom's eye- she is still recovering from eye surgery.)

Infant Travel Essentials

Since Alex and I will be traveling for the first time together on Wednesday. Eeeek! So nervous! I thought it would be good to write a little about some essential items I picked up for our voyage...

1. Along with 2 packs of Wet Ones (I am going to look so crazy wiping the seat and just about everything down), I also wanted to have wipes safe for baby. BabyGanics hand wipes are what I found!

2. PaciGrip is a pacifier holder. So it snaps onto babies clothes and has a little tether to wrap around the pacifier. I also really like this one because you can use the tether to wrap around any toys or teethers that might fall on the ground.

3. I was a little worried about getting the car seat and stroller dirty and all banged up at the airport but I found these great travel bags. I also got something similar for my stroller but a lot of people prefer to stroll their baby onto the plane and then load the stroller at gate check.

4. Toys. Something to keep 'em occupied. Hopefully. A new favorite of ours is Sophie the Giraffe. This is great because it makes noise and is great for a teething baby.

5. My carrier. Ergo Baby, I think, makes the best carriers. This will be my life line.

6. For breast feeding moms, it is going to be essential to have some sort of cover. The probability that you will be annoying other passengers is pretty high, so might as well not make them uncomfortable too. I prefer Aden & Anais muslin swaddle blankets as my cover. They are big, breathable for baby, and easy to tie onto your bra strap.

4 months

Alex Marie is 4 months old today!

Alex is growing so fast. I know all parents say that, but geez! 

She is still drooling like crazy (picture above- drool chin). She is grabbing at everything lately, and of course it ends up in her mouth (picture below- even my camera strap while I am taking her picture). She found her toes. She has yet to try and eat them. I am not sure if she is just not flexible like her mom or if she just hasn't thought of putting them in her mouth yet.  No, she thought of it. Just hasn't happened yet. Soon.

She has begun to use her leg muscles as if to walk. She hold her legs straight and stands on them for a lot longer now which is exciting especially because it makes her laugh. Life is good.

Baby Beach Day

Alex had her first official baby beach day. She loved it! There was so much to see from the pounding waves to little chickens running free. Her Aunty Julie put her little toes in the water for the first time. She got really stiff from the chill of the water.

I, on the other hand, had a difficult time. Taking a baby to the beach is stressful! But those that know me understand how I stress about quite a lot of small things. I am an over thinker. Taking Alex to the beach I have all these things going through my head; is she over heating, is there sand somewhere it shouldn't be, is she getting sun burnt, is the sunscreen going to give her a rash, is it too bright for her, etc. Like always, I just needed my other half to remind me I was stressing about the small stuff and from there on I tried not to worry as much.

All in all, it was a great first experience and with summer around the corner there will be many more beach days to come!

Green Papaya Salad

Sorry, this was just way too simple and delicious not to share:

At the farmers market, over the weekend, there were pre- julienned green papaya and carrots. Only $2 so I couldn't resist and figured I would try something new. Yum! What a good decision that was. Not to mention, I was able to utilize my veggie garden, well the herb part.

So once I washed the green papaya and carrots. I cut up tomato, thinly sliced some fresh ginger, chopped basil, and some green onion. After putting this mixture into a bowl I made the dressing.

For my dressing I used:
(give or take)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fish oil
juice from 1 small lemon
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 tsp chili flakes
1 minced garlic clove

Whisk this together, poor over the salad and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour. That simple!

I love my meat.  And well, we only had chicken in the freezer. So, I chose to do a teriyaki chicken on top. This would have been great with shrimp or fried tofu. Maybe next time. Also next time I would like to add some boiled green beans and maybe even toast some peanuts for on top!

Afternoon with Alex

Can you tell we like stripes?

My Garden

I am not sure what it is about gardening that makes me so happy... maybe the new life that I get to watch grow and mature, the ability to have fresh herbs and veggies, or just being out in the sun light tending it. Maybe it is the memories of my parents planting their summer garden in spring and knowing that my mom's beefsteak tomatoes would be a plenty just around the corner, or that summer is almost here.

Yes, I live in Hawaii and many people claim that it is always summer in Hawaii. But now going on my 6th year out here I have become extremely acclimated. 70 degree weather is cold especially when it is raining almost every day! I am ready to get back to my 82 degree days with not a cloud in the sky and only a bikini on.

I am so excited for everything to ripen. In my garden I have:
2 different kinds of tomatoes, Romain lettuce, kale, eggplant, green onion, cilantro, parsley, basil, a whole bunch of marigolds to hopefully keep all the bad bugs away. I have 2 strawberry plants, the start of a blueberry bush, and pineapple in their own pots. 

It feels so good to finally do something with our little patio.

Life, love, and a little bit of Aloha

My poor baby had her first little virus. Her stomach was upset this weekend which made her extra fussy and not wanting to sleep, during the day. Which made her even more fussy. Even not feeling good our little angel still sleeps through the night. We are so lucky!

                                                                        

I am so in love with this top by Stone Cold Fox. Like always, I have my eye on a new bikini. You can never have too many... brand new line called Issa de Mar. I love this Bora Bora top!

I have been dreaming of warm summer days and also about Waiola Shave Ice. Some people believe that Matsumoto's on the North Shore is the best, but honestly that don't have anything on Waiola. They have a large variety of toppings to choose from- personal fav, condensed milk. Don't knock it till ya try it!

How We Built Our Planter Box

Tools you will need:

• wood
• nails/screws
• landscape fabric
• rocks
• soil
• handy husband

I am not going to take any credit for building the actual box, except for all the nagging so that it would finally get done. Dane built my veggie planter after looking at simple examples like this.  Now once he built the frame- I will take the credit from there! At the gardening store I bought some landscaping fabric which is just really thin plastic with a bunch of holes so that water can drain through. Oh I forgot, I did make Dane go to the other side of the island to pick up bags of rocks on the side of the road... thanks Baby! It is so helpful to have someone strong to manhandle 3 huge bags of rocks!

On Oahu there is this awesome place called Hawaii Earth Products and they sell this great composted soil they call "Menehune Magic." They sell it by the cubic yard, which is a lot! We only got a half cubic yard and it filled this planter and then some.

After that I was able to do my favorite part, shop for plants!