All about Kauai, Hawaii (Part I)

Well, our adventure starts Friday with Zarik, Mika and I trying to join my parents in Honolulu. Zarik got called into work that night, but it was a flight to LA, so we decided Mika and I would hop onto his flight and we'd then grab a flight to Honolulu that night. The best laid plans of mice and men, right? We get to the airport to find that Zarik's flight was delayed 3 hours!! Which of course ment we'd miss the connecting flight. We decide the best thing was to still go to LA, spend the night, and get to the airport first thing to hop on a flight direct to Kauai (our ultimate destination - my parents just decided it was cheeper to get an overnight in Honolulu after their flight and hop over the next day).

After a long and eventful night getting to LA and getting a hotel (Skywest gave Zarik a room for the night since he was technically on duty, but it was not their normal hotel and it took an extra 45 minutes to get everyone {company, hotel, us) on the same page and get us a room. We woke up and went to LAX early the next morning, got through security VERY easily and amazingly got on the first flight we tried!! We even got seats together! We got to Kauai a few hours before my parents, picked up one rental car, and went to our home for the next 10 days in Kapaa (the middle of the Eastern side of the island). Everyone else got there that evening.

The next day was spent recovering for travel. We did go to the local Safeway and pick up our food for the week....aaaaand....my dad decided Mika needed a birthday balloon!



We also tried out the pool.





Then went to dinner at a semi-nice restarant called the Hukilau Lanai‎. It had AMAZING food, but we got lousy service. Not even bread for 45 minutes! Mika was starving! (as were we all)

Monday we started exploring beaches by going down to Poipu. I'm still not sure how my parents found out about this one, but there was a beach with public access next to the Sheraton Hotel on Hoonani Road. The water was a little rougher and deeper than the others we went to later, but it was a LOT of fun for all of us adults (I can't believe I can call my baby brother an adult now!). It was probably a little too rough of a place to introduce Mika to the ocean. All she did was cling to me or Zarik, and then start crying! She did like the sand, though, and tried eating a bunch.



Later we drove to Waimea (continuing our journey west) and went up north to see the Waimea Canyon. Big!!



After coming back down the canyon road we tried to continue west to see the sunset from the west coast, but got lost so we saw it from a little bit inland. Still very pretty.



Tuesday was another relaxing day. We went out to breakfast at this GREAT little place called Kountry Kitchen Restaurant in Kapaa. Amazing and HUGE pancakes!! Even Mika got one (although we had to help her out)



Zarik still tried to stay active. He worked out in the morning, and then went boogie boarding/surfing in the afternoon at a close beach called Kealia Beach.



Wednesday we went north and then west to another beach called Ke'e. This beach is protected by the cove and was a GREAT kids beach. Mika still wasn't too happy about the ocean, but she liked the boogie board! And during lunch we discovered by belly is good for something - a table!






On our way back to Kapaa, we stopped at Lappert's, a famous ice cream parlor for an afternoon treat. YUM!!

Thursday Zarik, my Dad, my sis Shanna, and bro Jonathan went on a 17 mile kayak trip around the western side of the island. So my bro Brandon, my Mom, Mika and I had a relaxing morning in the pool, then went the The Smith's Family Tropical Paradise for a Luau! We checked in and took a tram tour of their grounds. Then we went and got her stroller and did our own tour looking at all the animals! They have 30 acres of gardens that are amazing! We then went back to the main pavilion for dinner. It was an amazing spread! Very yummy! After dinner we went to a stage that was built over a pond to watch the hula show. It was a neat "History of Hawaii" hour long production, complete with fire poi's!






When we got home our kayak-ers were home and dead asleep. I walked into our room and, according to Zarik, yelled at him to not fall off in bed! In reality, I walked in to find him half hanging off the bed (one arm and leg) and in an urgent whisper woke him and told him to roll over so he wouldn't fall off the bed, lol!

Mika's 1 year Dr. Appointment

We've been so busy this week I forgot to actually blog about her dr. appointment!!

We went in last Thursday (Aug 21st) for her 1 year old appointment. It was a couple of weeks late because of our Hawaii trip (darn, huh?). She is 19lbs, 10oz; 21.25" long, and her head is 45.75cm around. That is 25% in weight, 52% in height and 50% for head. All in all she looks great!! She has added a few percentiles in weight, which we really wanted to see, and is the same percentile-wise in height and head. Yeah!!

We now have switched her completely over to whole milk (organic, of course!) from her formula. We tried to switch cold-turkey, but she wouldn't have it! It took us about 3 days to fully wean her over, but that's not bad at all. She's also good to eat everything but nuts and shellfish because they are the most dangerous allergens if she is allergic. She doesn't have any teeth yet (bet we're in for it when she starts teething!) but we mash up pretty much everything for her to eat.

She did get one shot, but only cried for a second and then was fine. My brave girl!!

I'll get our Hawaii pics/story up as soon as I can. 'Till later!

Back from Hawaii!!

We had a great time!! Mika switched over to Hawaii time pretty easily. She loved seeing her Grandparents and Aunt and Uncles. It was definitely a little hard on me trying to have fun and not be left out while being 7 months pregnant and with a 1 year old, but my mom was such a help an let me go with Zarik on things I could a bunch. Zarik absolutely LOVED Kauai. He's already talking about moving there, lol! (Not going to happen anytime soon!) He woke up and went for a jog along the back roads we were saying along almost every morning. He, my dad, brother Jonathan, and sister Shanna went on a 17-18 mile kayak adventure, too! Zarik definitely wanted to stay there longer than we did, lol! We went to 3 beaches around the island (Poipou, Ke'e, and Tunnels) where we were able to snorkel and/or just hang out. Mika didn't like the ocean, though. She was fine on the beach, but hated being out in the water for the most part! Even the most calm beach (Ke'e) was a little too wild for her. She got to eat plenty of sand, though!

I don't have many pictures as my mom played photographer for the trip, but will be getting copies of her pics in two weeks so I'll post some then!! For now I'll leave you with my li'l "homegirl" getting a bottle from her Uncle Jon.

3D ultrasound of Urijah!!

Yesterday, on Mika's birthday, we got to see Urijah in 3D!! It was so neat!! The little goober wouldn't wake up and move around for us, though. Figures! He moves around all the time, and especially all night, then when we try to say hi he just snoozes!!! Oh well, it was still fun!! The black triangle on the left is his elbow. He had one hand up behind his head. Looked like he was comfy!! And watch out for the "boy oh boy" shot! ;)

On a quick sidenote, it was really fun being in my midwife's office on Mika's birthday! We were all saying things like "a year ago today we were at the hospital!" Even with the ultrasound technician we got to say "a year ago yesterday you were doing an ultrasound on Mika and found we had no amnionic fluid left!" It was special.

Enjoy seeing our li'l guy!

First Birthday Portraits!

Mika's first birthday party!!

Today we had Mika's first birthday party!! It was lots of fun! We started it out in her splash pool where the kids all had a blast. Then inside for food and fellowship (this was more for the mommies!). I was very thankful that since Zarik unfortunately got called to work, a daddy came and manned the BBQ for us and cooked up some good hamburgers and hot dogs!! (GO RILEY!) After that we opened up Mika's present. Then onto Cake!! Or at least it was cake in Mika's case. I made "sand" and "aquarium" cups for everyone else, but Mika got to pick out her own cake from the store to dig into - although she didn't do much digging! In case you can't tell from the video, it's an "aw-oo" - Mika's word for dog. All in all we had a great time. I loved seeing all my "mommies", and Mika had fun with all her friends! But all that playing wore her out. She crashed right after the party. Just BEFORE everyone left, lol.

Fun in the pool!


"Uncle" Riley tickling some of the girls!


Presents!


About 15 minutes AFTER singing happy birthday...