PAY IT FORWARD

Okay, so 2 of my friends on here have blogged about this and I'm totally in to it because of the element of surprise...so here's the game:

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me (i will add "semi-handmade" too just in case).

2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will pay it forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember it’s the spirit and the thought that count!

4. When you receive your gift, blog about it! If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! It's all about paying it forward.

ew Sick!

So on Wednesday I was out THE ENTIRE DAY with the stomach flu. Unfortunately, having the squirts, (yah i said it), vomiting, body & head aches, didn't excuse me from my duties as milkmaid, even though I had to supplement a lot! It was a hard 24 hours, trying to still be a mother to my kids whilst laying in bed, but thankfully the next day it was all OVER! Lole was such a help (just for that day) by getting my water, helping me with baby, and best of all, no whining from her about dresses, lipgloss, or messy hair. Laila on the other hand kept staring at me funny while I was laying there in pain. I hadn't been sick for a really long time so I'm really glad it was just a 24 hour bug. You really do have nothing without your health!

My Tongan Girl

Here's Lole trying to sing "OFA MO'ONI"--one of her and her dad's favorite Tongan songs.

THREE WEEKS

Laila turned 3 weeks yesterday and grows stronger by the day. She is often comforted by music and loves talking to her Dad. We melt every time we chance a smile from her, and laugh at her frequent farting. She is a heavy sleeper and will not discriminate when it comes to bottles, formula, or susu...she'll take whatever. She is such a joy and we are loving every minute!

Scoldings from my Sunbeam

On Sunday we left church after Sacrament Mtg, but not before taking Lole to primary. Even though I felt guilty for ditching, we arranged for Grandma or Aunty to pick her up after class, and went home with baby. I was half asleep when Lole came home and this is what she said to me and Bo after bursting through the door.

"HEY, why did you guys leave church? JESUS IS GONNA SASA YOU!"

Lol. You have all been forewarned.

Picture Tag

*From Hine

The Rules:
1. Go to your Documents/ Pictures
2. Go to you 6th Folder (if get)
3. Go to your 6th Picture
4. Blog about it
5. Tag 6 people to do the same
6. Here we go...6th photo from the 6th folder of 2009: Well, I think this picture is pretty self-explanatory. Our baby girl is finally here, and her big sister couldn't be happier. Here, Laila is 4 days old and she'd been home with us for 2 days. Lole is 3 yrs. old (going on 16) and loves her sister so much she doesn't like to share. Even at 4 days old, Laila could be seen moving her head around to find Lole's face when she talked. How sweet is that? I, on the other hand, was still experiencing the "baby blues", most especially that day because Dad had to go back to work. I cried about everything and nothing (maybe because I never picked up my pain killers still to this day) and actually missed the hospital and all the "pampering" from the nurses. Ahh, I LOVE MY GIRLS!

I TAG: Anyone

OH BABY!!!

HERE SHE IS!

LAILA FIAGATASI MALUPO

BORN: JAN 29, 2009 @ 5:54 AM

WEIGHT: 8 LBS. 15 OZ.
HEIGHT: 20 in

THE BASICS:
1/27 Midnight- Mucus plug came out
1/28 3 am- Thought my water was leaking
1/28 6 am - Arrived at Queens Hospital (contractions every 5 mins)
1/28 8 am- Found out I was still early and only about 2 cm dilated (grrr)
1/28 6 pm- Even after walking around, bouncing on the exercise ball, still only @ 3 cm, still contracting every 3-5...gave up trying to "rough it"after 12 hours and got the EPI! <--thank goodness, WTH was I thinking?
1/28 Midnight- Still at a 3, but comfortable as heck and getting some rest
1/29 3am- Discouraged and seriously contemplating C-SECTION
1/29 4:00 am- Water finally broke, fully dilated, now just waiting...meanwhile, the EPI is wearing off (AHHHH!) and nurse #4 won't give me anymore
1/29 5:54 am- After about an hour of pushing, she finally came out!

The feelings of relief and (not to mention violation) after she finally arrived were so unbelievable that I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT. I know women do it all the time, but for me, every experience was totally NEW and I am still AMAZED. Successful VBAC, healthy baby, and recovering well...what more could I ask for?

Here are just a few pics:

Just got to the hospital, anxious Mom and Dad

Big sister Lole meeting Laila for the first time

Mean muggin like her dad

Click Here to see her hospital pics.

We've waited so long for Laila to finally arrive since discovering we were pregnant @ 4 weeks. She is a well-tempered baby (SO FAR) though throughout most of my pregnancy, I was an emotional wreck. In fact, the news of her conception came at a time when my marriage seemed to have been going to much lower lows than welcomed. Thus, her middle name (after my sister) means TOGETHER, or to bring together (as one). The timing of her arrival is no coincidence, and there's no doubt in my mind that my Heavenly Father, through the gift of her life, TRULY LOVES ME!

We love you BABY!

Aloha Harmony & Family

One of my best childhood friends left the comforts of Laie tonight en route to a new life in Utah. Harmony (Aumua) Tuisavura and her 5 kids are on their way now to join her husband Abu (who has been working in Utah for the last few months) where they will soon call LEHI their home. It's always been a comfort to have Harmony close by; she is one of those friends who are always there for you, offering her support, help at family and friend functions, or just that badly needed shoulder to cry on.

(L to R: Harm, Lucy w/daughter Hirirau, Ry)

This morning we were supposed to go out to eat breakfast one last time, but instead our good friend Mariaha (Peters) AhYou offered to cook for us. Ry made us delicious omelets (to order) and homemade waffles to die for! I think I had 3...yikes!

We didn't leave her house until almost 1 in the afternoon after catching up, snacking on donuts and muffins (after breakfast), and settling very comfortably on Ry's living room furniture while the kids ran around.

It was so nice to have one last little get together before Harm left. She'll be sorely missed, but we're excited for her chance at a new beginning and yet another great reason to visit Utah on a regular. Love you sass!

DAY DATE

Bo and I did absolutely NOTHING on our anniversary last week (Jan 15th), so today we went out for a much needed DAY DATE. We didn't have anything solid planned, but knew we needed to somehow treat ourselves in any way, shape, or form. By the time we got to town, the first place we spotted was TODAIs, so we quickly pulled over and had lunch. I was not that impressed, consuming mostly the shrimp and vegetable tempura, while Bo kept busy trying new things at the sushi bar (we're not big fans, but after today he might be)! I asked him to stop at the Walmart down the street from Todai's and help me find some things for the baby, but we were so FULL and tired from stuffing our faces that we ended up taking more than an HOUR NAP in the car before heading into the store! (I can't believe we did that!) Anyway, distracted by my need for baby things, we spent the rest of the afternoon looking for a carseat/stroller system and bassinet. We attempted to catch a movie, since we could finally watch something NOT-kid friendly, but all the good ones were too far past or too long of a wait for our tired, old bodies. Thus ended our Day Date. We didn't really get to TREAT ourselves--aside from lunch--but it was nice to have some couple time, and get the things we needed for baby. Even our nap was quite refreshing, though it clearly marks our age! I only managed to take one darn picture this whole day, of Bo and raw fish. The Day Date was fun, but I want a REAL anniversary celebration...maybe on Valentines.

I'M HAVIN' A B. F.!

Okay, maybe I should revert to my recent post and ask for GOD TO HELP ME coz right now I'm havin a "B.F. "type of day. (Watch "White Chicks" if you don't know what that means!) I don't know if it's the lack of sleep, my over-sized (not to mention aching) belly and body, heartburn, constipation, a gazillion shishi trips (pregnant mothers holler if you hear me), or WEDNESDAY in general, but today has not been good! I'm irritable and angry at nothing and everything at the same time. Or maybe I'm bipolar and don't know it? Among the top of my list of things I was supposed to do were visit my sis-in-law at the hospital, call one of my BFFs to wish him Happy Birthday, and have a night out with girlfriends for dinner and a movie. Neither will happen today, not the way I am feeling.
Today I just wanted to lay around and do nothing, but even the most mediocre/normal chores like cleaning up my room x2, picking up toys, laundry, loading the dishwasher, cooking dinner and catering to my 3 year old...all the things I DID NOT FEEL LIKE DOING today but did anyway, only fueled my irritation! I take it back on catering to my daughter, cause truthfully I only half-heartedly did so. She cried herself to sleep after I screamed "I don't wanna play with you" when she asked me to. Talk about BAD MOTHER! And even with the peace and quiet I got after she fell asleep, I still got angry at the random TV shows I was watching; Barefoot Contessa lady for making a delicious looking chocolate cake I could only fantasize about how good it tastes, some Bridezilla for demanding ORGANIC WINE for her wedding, and Oprah of all people for looking so raggedy on her show today. WHAT...IS...WRONG...WITH...ME? I called my husband to warn him that I am having a REALLY REALLY bad day as a courtesy before he comes home from work and gets caught unaware of my B.F. and the only thing he says is that"It's time to take the baby out!"--AS IF you can just go to the hospital with absolutely no labor symptoms and say, "Hi, yes, I'm having a crappy day today, so could you do me a favor and remove this child from my womb?"

Needless to say, I feel a little better after eating half a box of choc macadamia nuts and receiving confirmation from my husband that I WILL be getting some much needed pampering this weekend. Whether it's a haircut, nails, massage, dinner, movie, shopping....whatever, even if it's just soaking on the sand alone, I'll get my fix to get rid of this pre-birth B.F.!

"SO HELP ME GOD!"

Watching the Inauguration of our newly elected President (and Vice President) of the United States, I couldn't help but key in to their last words after taking the oath of office... "So help me God!" What a humbling statement for these great men to acknowledge HE who has no doubt been instrumental in bringing them to this historic day, knowing well that they cannot fulfill such an enormous calling without HIS help. President Obama has an unenviable responsibility, what with all the patch-work ahead in healing this wounded nation. For this, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for our leader and share in his plea for the Lord's help in his every footstep.
"America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. {""Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].""} With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

Baby Marley

My oldest sister Seta had her 7th (and final) child last week Monday. Here she is, the newest addition to our family, shortly after birth. Love you and can't wait to meet you!

QUEEN'S Birthing Center Tour

After church today, I was scheduled to take a tour of the Labor & Delivery Wing at the Queen's Medical Center where we're having baby. I had not done a tour of Castle Hospital before giving birth to Lole, so this was a new thing for me, and in fact, I dreaded the thought of having to go anywhere else but Castle, since that was all I knew. Bo was supposed to come with, but he had to work, so Lole was my companion and the only child among like 20 other couples also present for the tour. Right away we were gifted some baby magazines that included samples & coupons, as well as a token photo album for our new baby (since we don't have any pics of her yet, we stuck in our family pic)

I was pleasantly surprised and extremely grateful I made the trip because I feel so much more at ease and informed. Last week someone told me that Queen's was like a hotel, and I didn't believe it until I walked into the front lobby...the ambiance was nothing like I had experienced in other hospitals! (Sorry, I was too much in a rush to take a picture) The Maternity Floor is at the very top of the tower (10 stories up) and offers great views of the city and enough separation and safety from the rest of the patients/visitors in the hospital. I don't remember if Castle had this, but the baby's anklets/bracelets are sensored to set off the alarm any time someone tampers with them, or leaves the hospital without proper deactivation, thus automatically locking the double doors--exits and entrances--to prevent baby abduction. Cool! I learned that besides having 2 C-Section ORs, on-site anesthesiologists/pediatricians, and 9 delivery rooms all on the same floor, they also offer twice a day classes to teach you how to bathe your newborns. They even have a class that preps young children (if they're going to be present at the birthing) and one that teaches them the what's and what not's of caring for/holding/touching baby. Castle never had that, nor did they have a lunch cart come to YOU everyday so you don't have to drag your post-partum body to the cafeteria<--also something Castle does not have-->for snacks or whatever...Bo will love it here. However, when I showed him a picture of what will magically turn into HIS BED, he laughed and looked at me like I was crazy.

Good luck hunny! Anyway, the whole thing took like an hour, only because there were so many of us, and we waited around a bit for latecomers. The staff was friendly and I assume a little more personable than maybe those of a hospital like Kapiolani (dubbed the "baby factory") because Queen's averages about 200 births a month, whereas Kapiolani can easily do that in less than a week. Overall, I left completely satisfied with my choice to give birth here. Now I just have to decide whether or not to continue with my original plans to have a VBAC or to opt for a repeat C-section. (Yes, I am having second thoughts!) In the meantime, here is the most recent picture of me and baby girl...almost 38 weeks!

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Can I just say that the very first time Lole went to Jr Primary, she was so scared that I had to sit with her during opening exercises, hold her hand, and accompany her in class to prevent the waterworks that began the second Sacrament mtg was over. She bawled so much that I almost gave up and took her home, but I knew that the only reason she had a hard time was because she became so accustomed to our (mine and Bo's) inactivity, that even Nursery was no longer a desire, let alone Primary. At the turn of the year, I knew this was a wrong I needed to fix. It's now her 3rd week as a SUNBEAM and I am so proud of her for not requesting my presence ever since. In fact, she loves her teacher and tells me each week that she's definitely going to her OWN class and will NOT cry for me...so far so good! I admit I peek in on her between classes only to find she is perfectly fine, but I miss her even for those 2 hrs. I am so grateful for her adjusting and giving me another reason to be more active, after all...Jesus wants ME too for a Sunbeam.

Lined up with some of her class, waiting for Primary to start

SEVEN POUNDS

No, I haven't watched the movie yet...I had my 36 week appt yesterday and found out that's how much weight I've gained in 9 days...WHAT THE? -- So I'm pushing the 40-something lb. pregnancy gain mark (about the same as when I was with Lole) and even though it seems like a great excuse, it's ridiculous that my gain is so close to Lole's current 45 lbs. WOW. No extra desserts for me from now on.

I'm Back!

O-M-G. Yes, I'm still alive! For the past month I haven't had much access to the comp so when I did get on, I ended up just staring at y'allz pages without bothering to post anything. I finally got a new PC so this should go much smoother. Baby no. 2 is still nameless even though she is due within the coming weeks. I have been "nesting" lately and trying to mentally and then physcially gather the things I need for her arrival, but I'm still stuck on a name. (Sorry sweetheart!) Anyway, our Christmas and New Years was great, and I don't mean that in a worldy sense. I was greatful that my daughter didn't really care about presents so much as she did the IDEA of Christmas. Of course her Dad had to get her something ridiculous in my book, but she loves her little ATV. New Years Eve we stayed home and burned money like everyone else, but it was great to say goodbye to 2008 and turn a new leaf with a hope that things will be better than they were. Here's wishing you all a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

THE CHRISTMAS BOX

JUST WANTED TO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK BY RICHARD PAUL EVANS CALLED "THE CHRISTMAS BOX" FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A QUICK HOLIDAY READ. IT'S VERY SHORT AND SWEET, AND A GOOD REMINDER FOR US ALL OF HOW WE SHOULD CELEBRATE DAILY THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS.

HOALA NA PUA/NA KAMALEI - K.E.E.P.

My daughter attends a local early education program called HOALA NA PUA, servicing parents and their children ranging from 18 mos. to 4 years. Its parent non-profit organization called NA KAMALEI works with the Ko'olauloa community of Oahu and through Hoala Na Pua strives to nurture parents and children "in an inclusive environment by providing stimulating experiences, utilizing the Hawaiian and English languages in music, language development, socialization and creative arts."

One of their major developments includes The Ho'ulu Hou Project: Stories Told By Us, a series of books published in Hawaiian and English, which feature the "stories of the history, geography, language and culture" of the Ko'olauloa Community. They are very unique and fun to read because many authors and pictures are recognizable places and people in our community. As a courtesy to the children of Hoala Na Pua, we receive most, if not all, of the published copies which are now s0ld at our local Borders. Isn't that awes0me? They're very interesting/entertaining and we love and cherish our collection. At our recent Thanksgiving party, we were gifted 11 more titles and a free Na Kamalei book bag!

For more info about our school (now recruiting and accepting applicants) and/or the books, visit http://www.nakamalei.org

Belated Thanksgiving Post

This is way late but better than never. Thanksgiving was awes0me this year because all of my holiday food cravings were met. I actually started eating turkey and ham for dinners leading up to Thanksgiving s0 I had more than my share, but I gotta eat for two right? We feasted at my sister's this year and everything was s0 yummy cause she made all the meals, even little festive centerpieces, all I had to do was chew! Thanks sis for letting me invite myself and my family over. Here are a few after pics:

My sis and her beautiful family

The kids pose

And another

Balloon Fun

After a long Saturday night, we all woke up too late for church and consequently spent the whole day at home. Besides sleeping & eating, this is how Lole and her dad spent the better part of their day...playing with balloons! (Lole made daddy's hat, and he made hers...too cool!)