It has been so long...

BUT, it is not my fault. Unfortunately, I rely on a typist (my Mom), who claims that she has been too busy caring for me to type the things I want everyone to know. So, I am sorry it has been so long, but I am back to tell you about all of the neat things I've been doing!

I don't remember much about November except that I really started moving. I could pull myself up on EVERYTHING and I starting trying to navigate the house more. I got to go shopping for Christmas presents for people and picked out things to send to our family and friends who live far away. Mainly my Mom and I got ready for our trip to Hawaii at the beginning of December, which meant lots of errands and catching up to make sure we were ready to leave home for awhile.

I went to my 9 month check-up early, just in case I had a weird reaction to any of my shots. They measured me in at 29 inches tall, and 19 pounds 5 ounces. I am now in about the 75th percentile for height and the 30th percentile for weight - which really make me wonder what that kid who is 100% looks like! I am starting to work towards the goals Dr. N set for me, including 3 meals a day and my vocabulary. So far I only have Dada and Mama down. I make all sorts of sounds, but still no other words. I am not behind, it is just our goal.

I LOVED Thanksgiving. I ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and a crescent roll. I didn't get any brussels sprouts because they had nuts in them, but I did get to try the cranberries. I would have gotten pumpkin pie too if I hadn't been asleep. I think it was the chemical in the turkey - it knocked me out!

Soon after Thanksgiving we were in the final countdown to our trip to Hawaii, which was awesome! We left on December 6th and spent 2 days on Oahu. I did great on the flight. I made friends with the people behind us and tried to give them "fives" all the time. The ladies on the plane gave another passenger a different seat so that I could have my own chair between my Mom and Dad. I didn't cry at all, and honestly, I probably didn't even need the juice my Mom gave me, but I liked it, so I won't complain.

On Oahu we went to the commissary and stocked up on baby food and diapers for our cruise, we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center where I was the main attraction for all of the college girls who work there. My Mom says it is inevitable - you take a cute baby to see a bunch of LDS girls who just left Young Women and they will want to hold the baby. I made LOTS of friends and had girls dance with me and sing me songs. The lady in the Samoa area made me a headband and I got to eat a Coconut dumpling. My Dad learned to play the Ukulele and the lady there held me the whole time my Dad sang and played. I also went to my first Luau where I ate all kinds of fancy things I had never had before, including Jell-O, which made quite a mess. Also on Oahu we went to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. We were going to go on the anniversary, but decided we needed the whole day to go to the PCC so we went the day after. I met a survivor who had been on another ship in Pearl Harbor. It was really neat. After Pearl Harbor we went to the North Shore and I got to eat shaved ice from Matsumoto's - they had a picture of Tom Hanks on the wall eating a shaved ice, and a picture of Hurley from LOST. I guess the place is famous for their shaved ice - I know I really liked it. Then we went to a surf shop and got the scoop on the Pipeline Classic and I got some slippers for the rest of the vacation. Then it was back to Waikiki to board the cruise ship.

On the cruise, I got my first tooth, a rash, and some new friends. My Mom thinks there was something on the sheets and towels that gave me the rash - it went away as soon as we got home. Despite the teeth and the rash though, I was a champ about being a tourist. Our first stop was Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. We went to Volcanoes National Park and saw the steam vents and areas of Mauna Loa that had errupted. We wanted to go to Pua'a and see the lava flow but we were told it was impossible to see the day we were there, so we went to lunch and waited FOREVER for food and then went to a Rainforest Zoo. It was a cool day.

Next we went to Maui for two days where my Dad and Grandpa snorkled and I screamed because I thought the water was WAY too cold. I tried, I just couldn't take it. I did discover sand though, and I like to eat it off of my hands - driftwood tastes pretty good too. On Maui my Dad and Grandpa saw a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. How is that for vocabulary improvement?? My Mom got to take care of some shopping and got a cute dress for my soon-to-be little sister and I got a stuffed teddy bear made out of Hawaiian fabric. I also have to endorse the ABC stores, because they are pretty cool. On our second day in Hawaii we made the mistake of driving to Hana. A three hour car ride with a baby isn't such a good idea. But Mom and Dad went into a natural pool to see a waterfall - they took a picture and that was it. We went to a black sand beach and saw some pretty flowers and rainbows. Now I can say that I have survived the road to Hana, and I don't think I'll be going back.

After Maui we went to the other side of the big island and spent most of the day in Kona at the beach. Mom, Dad and Grandpa snorkled, I played in the sand and got my picture taken for our Christmas card, then we went to lunch and visited a marketplace. We also found the temple in Kona and got some pictures. It was pretty.

My favorite stop on the cruise was Kauai. It is such a pretty island and the tempo is a bit slower. My Mom says it reminds her more of Grand Bahama Island. There is life, it just moves slower - and that makes it relaxing. On the first day in Kauai we took a boat ride up the Wailoa River. My Mom and Dad were married at the Fern Grotto, they joked it was a shotgun wedding, whatever that is. There are TONS of wild chickens in Kauai and one of them almost jumped into the car with us. After the boat ride we went to the burger place my Grandma likes and got some good grub and a smoothie which I must say I LOVED! We ended the first day with a trip to Wal-Mart where I got to see Pierce Brosnan who is my Mom's favorite James Bond. She says he is really good looking, Dad and I really don't see what all of the fuss is about. After stocking up on all manner of goodies at Wal-Mart we headed back to the cruise ship for the night. Our last day in Kauai was a relaxing day of napping and shopping and driving through a tunnel of trees and seeing the beach one last time before we sailed to the Napali Coast and then headed back for Oahu.

It was fun to go, but I missed home and seeing my friends and having my own bed to sleep in. The recovery has been quick for me, but long for Mom and Dad. We only had about a week before Christmas and we frantically went to see Christmas lights, visit with friends, set up our own Christmas tree and have our family traditions. Christmas morning was so much fun. I tried to eat my stocking - but then I discovered it had good stuff inside - a book, a DVD, a ball, and a lion lovey. My Mom and Dad got me a Leap Pad that I played with, and then we all got ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had eggs and orange rolls and then opened presents. It was sure a lot of fun, but after awhile I was ready for a nap. Christmas dinner was wonderful, Trav and Heather and Dominik and Jackson came and we ate Prime Rib and Veggies and Potatoes and Rolls. Yum.

Lastly, I celebrated my first New Year's baby style. I went to bed at about 7:30 and my Mom wishes she had joined me. My Dad slept through Pirates of the Caribbean and they ended up making it home at about 11:00. We are not party animals. I have taken my first step in the New Year, I love Elmo and going for walks. I seem to change everyday according to my Mom, but I just know that I am loving life. I promise to update sooner next time. I love you!