One

Jarah has had one official year around the sun, and I as a mama.

We have had great highs...standing on mountains in montana, watching the sun disappear behind the ocean, quiet morning cuddles, hugs and kisses, belly laughs, stamped passports

and the occasional low...ridiculous lack of sleep (months of getting less than 5 hours a night), separation anxieties, grumpy days, hot long frustrating days where I've understood clearly how some people drink at 9am

But we've gotten through it warts and all...with a kind of bewildered optimism and a healthy dose of humour

Here's to the next year going round!

Bloggy Vacation

so it's a bit rich to say i'm going to take a blogging vacation when i am a pretty intermittent blogger at the best of times. i have a one year old (pictures will go up this week though i promise), a master's that is THIS close to handing in, and a harebrained idea to take part in National Novel Writing Month where I am currently 12,306 words into my 50,000 word novel due November 3rd at midnight.

so i need to use my time wisely and conservatively. but i have been (in typical fashion) dreaming up some fun ideas for this space which i hope to start putting into motion mid-December. Until then I will be here, but sometimes. So please don't get annoyed if I am not here much, like Arnold the Governator, I VILL BE BACK.

Resonating with this today...

“Most people don’t recognize opportunity when it comes, because it’s usually dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work.” ~Thomas Edison

What's Hot, What's Not Wednesday

What's Hot

Hanalei: Currently up on Kauai's stupendous (yes, stupendous) North Shore for two nights in a little flat in Hanalei. It's rained that whole time and even that's hot. We counted 16 waterfalls today, collected pocketfuls of (free!) butter avocados and now are vicariously grooving to the surf guitar rock emanating from the bar down the street. Yeah for STAYcations (vacationing in our own backyard).

Kolea Cabin: Our STAYcation kicked off last weekend with a trip up to Kokee. Some friends didn't finish a reservation they had so we scored the weekend in the snugly Kolea Cabin complete with a woodfire, nights in sleeping bags and sock wearing. Shoots, I felt like I was living in a temperate climate again. Even roasted a marshmallow for heaven's sakes.

Vampires: Chum was a blood-thirty succubus for Halloween and was cute enough to raise the dead (I know, gag-o-mom alert).

3572: Words I've logged so far for NaNoWriMo.

Thesis: Hearing back from my supervisor and only having to make some easy formatting corrections, almost there!

What's Not Hot:

Sneaky Evangelicals: (Disclaimer: I am pro-God/Great Spirit so don't infer I have some sort of religious hater thing going on please!) We took Jarah to what was billed as a Halloween Puppet Show at a local theater.
Problem 1: No Halloween Story Lines in sight, I was picturing friendly pumpkins, maybe a friendly ghost or two.
Problem 2: The puppets only wanted to sing "Don't be ashamed of the Gospel," (I wasn't??), and get us to go to their wackadoo church which was advertised about 35 times in first 3 minutes. I think we lasted >5 minutes before bailing out the side door and blinking in the daylight wondering "What the $*(& was that?"

Procrastinating my writing: So got to go log 1,665 words asap.

What's Hot, What's Not Wednesday

What's Hot

Chum's most favorite words: nana (food), uh-oh (anything dropped on floor, he is way into throwing stuff on ground), dada (apparently covers daddy AND mama)

Kokee State Park: Getting ready to spend tomorrow night up at 5,000 feet...super exciting when we spend most days at around 10ft above sea level. Bring on the wool socks and beanies.

Beets: Made great chum-approved beet dip tonight

Libraries: Time to make Gramma Holmes happy, chum is now well and truly into the library. Or at least the kids at the library, made 4 wee pals today and mama traded numbers with one family for future play dates.

What's Not Hot

Sprains: I spent this morning in ER for bad foot sprain. Jumped outta bad at around 1am last night to a phantom chum cry and jammed foot into dresser. Seriously, think that whole episode was more painful than the c-section. Yowza.

Food Fights: Chum loves to throw breakfast, lunch and dinner onto ground. Uh-oh says Chum while (insert Mama tooth grinding here).

Hot Dogs: For some reason we ate hot dogs yesterday. Why God. I think we were tired, hot and somehow deluded they would be delicious. Which they were most assuredly not.

Square Eyes

Thanks to the lovely Miss Maddie who captured this dubious shot sometime during the early morning hours she and my sister Auntie Bridget were supposed to be babysitting. I pictured Chum getting lovingly nurtured with some organic oats, a light massage and perhaps a walk around the block. Instead I now have disturbing evidence that The Real World, Rock of Love and The Game Show Network were more the order of the day.

Just kidding ya guys, look at the love (and family resemblance) of these two soul mates...



Jarah and his best mate Bridgy.

Speaking of Bridget, we just booked out tickets to Arizona, the annual Taddonio family (and our own tiny Taddonio-Holmes Southwest adventure to Utah and/or Southern Sonaran Desert) will commence on lucky 13, December 13th. Bring on the cactus, the mojitos and killer sunsets...

What's that...ah, the heat of the evening is breaking as rain starts to fall on the banana trees outside. Lovely.

What's Hot, What's Not Wednesday

What's Hot

A'o (Newell's Shearwaters). It's fallout season for the birds Nick studies, which means the young chicks leaving their burrows high up on the mountains are ending up confused by the light, and subsequently crash onto the ground where they are easy prey for cats, dogs or car strikes. Today was the Shearwater release, this (now annual) event is where some of the fallen birds who have been rehabilitated get released by local school children with a Hawaiian blessing for their future. We watched 6 of these endangered chicks successfully release from Lydgate Beach park this morning. A Chum approved event, he lifted his hand and hooted after each one took flight.

Pumpkin Bread. A pal in California sent us a lovely fall care package complete with the most freaking-delicious-cinnamon-spice-pumpkin bread mix in the whole entire world. We baked it for dinner two nights ago and I think it lasted less than 12 hours before being reduced to a crumby pile.

Teeth. Chum is finally sprouting a wee upper tooth.

Running. Chum doesn't walk, he runs. It is a haphazard, face-planting exercise executed with great gusto many times a day.

Hair cuts. Nick's mullet is gone...hurray.

What's Not Hot

Orange seeds on the carpet. Choking hazard dad!

Furloughs. State government now laying off more people, grrr.

Sleep deprivation. Spending many late nights up this week. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...

Belated! What's Hot, What's Not Wednesday

So it's Thursday...ah well.

What's Hot

Cornsilk Locks (loving Chum's hair texture)


Banana-Kale Smoothies

Watching frigate birds fishing

Fennel filled tomato sauces

The color of the sky around 6am

Skype

Daydreaming about when to use my birthday spa certificate

Looking at real estate

What's Not Hot

Chum's new wake up time of 5.45am

Chum's new 1.5 hour time it takes him to fall asleep at night

Power bills

Geico Car Insurance refusing to cover us renting a VW camper van for planned vacation to Big Island, stating it's a cargo utility vehicle not a passenger van

Looking at real estate that smells like dog pee

Need to Hug a Tree

There is a tiny leaf from the ohia lehua laying in a coffee stain next to my laptop. Pretty nice image that encapsulates the last few days. Daddy and Chum went with our pal Jeff "boysin" into the Alakai today, even did a little off-roading up Kawaikoi Stream...while Mama stayed home getting square eyes looking for wayward commas and naughty semi-colons. I'd rather have been here:



Besides forest walking and river stomping, I am ready to break out the long (it's Hawaii so no wooly sweaters and socks) skirts and start looking ahead to the upcoming holidays, need to make Chum some Yoda ears for Halloween. Also feeling some odd yearning excitement for a Thanksgiving feast (I have never tried to roast a turkey and am feeling the bravery that comes from an event more than a month away) and maybe a Solstice celebration.

Just added Celebrating the Great Mother and Seven Times the Sun ro my Amazon wishlist.

Farmers market today, glad it's finally starting to become routine. Nick and Chum have an important job to do, find Mama her favorite spicy argula. Mmmmmmm

A Week of Wonders

I've given this blog posting a hopeful title to reflect my hopeful mood about finishing my Masters by Friday.

Nick is taking a turn being a full-time Dad for the week (thank you Family Leave Act!) and he and Jarah are currently planning their many hikes and cooking adventures together (hello Sweet Chile Noodles, we've missed you at our table!)

So wish us all luck...forMama imitating Mozart at the computer, Daddy with the diapers changes and nap time cuddles and Chum with patience to put up with his mad parents.

Top 10 Things I'm Wondering About This Morning...

Why does Chum prefer to breastfeed standing up?

Can the neighbors hear me sing the "Wash the Dishes" (a song I made up to entertain him during this otherwise most mundane activity) song

How much, if anything, will we get pre-approved for today at our big mortgage meeting?

Should I shower before this big meeting, or will my shower last night suffice?

Why did I not get out the pots and pans for Chum before?

Did we want to rent a VW camper van for our holiday on Big Island?

Can we afford to rent a VW camper van, or should we just pack a cardboard box?

Should we have a big birthday blow out for Jarah or a nice, tiny family-only one?

Think I can convince my husband to venture into kitchen and make dinner?

Am I going to be able to get into office today and catch up on everything I am falling behind on by being a 95% stay at home mum and a 100% full time student?

Bonus Wondering: Can I spread Chum on some toast and eat him for morning tea please?

What's Hot, What's Not Wednesday

One of the blogs I love to occasionally stop in and check out is Loobylu, a delightful nook in the webworld written by a sister of one of Nick's old Charles Sturt mates. She's started a "What's Hot, What's Not" column every Wednesday and I am down with the concept...

WHAT'S HOT:

Grandparents
Jarah's grandparents (and spectacular) Liz Aunty spent the last 6 weeks taking turns visiting from Melbourne to watch Jarah while I finish my M.A thesis in Community Development. This gave Chum super special time to connect with Gramma and Grandad, and saved us from resorting to childcare or hard drugs. Mahalo, thank you, gracias...a million times over Dave & Helen!!!

Each Peach, Pear, Plum
Jarah's current hands down favorite activity is reading this little rhyming book (that his Mama loved as a wee one too!). I only have to say "Each Peach, Pear, Plum" and he starts to squeal.



Hikes
We are loving the family hikes in our household lately. The Grandparents Holmes brought out a swanky Macpac hiking backpack and our little buddy can't get enough of it. Chum likes the wind on his face, the jungley bush, and don't forget the all-important hiking snack.


Mama and Chum at Mahaulepu



Poppa and Jarah on Pihea Trail in Kokee State Park (and yeah...about Nick's hair of late...)


The "No-Cry" Sleep Solution

Planning a vacation to Big Island and Maui (haven't bought the tickets, made a single plan and are aiming to fly out in about 10 days, woo hoo to last minute)

Spicy argula and buttery avocados at Kalaheo Farmers Markets

Chum learning to stand better every day

Breakfast for dinner

Sons of Anarchy & House (two current t.v addictions)

Getting ready to hand in my thesis!!!


WHAT'S NOT HOT:

Our kitchen floor which desperately needs a good mop

The pile of laundry waiting to be sorted

60% humidity and no trade winds

Video games on I-Touch (I am going to break Nick's soon)

Buying a hand of bananas that refuse to ripen

Chum's prickly heat rash

Changing Winds

The winds are up again...feels slightly, just slightly cooler. Finally drying off our sweat-drenched top lips and making it possible to put on clothing around the house again. A welcome relief to hear the autumn rain dancing on the roof and the windows rattle in the night.

Change is in the air! Yahoooo!

Photo Evidence

So while Chum has yet to replicate his weekend steps, here is the evidence captured by Grandad Holmes!




Special time with Daddy at Hanalei Bay...



Loving Salt Pond's baby beach

Chum is a little water baby, while the big waves make him nervous, there is nothing better for him in the world than a handful of wet sand in the shallows. I love this beach bum with his fat little guava opu (belly) so, so much

A Stand Up Kinda Guy

This just in...Chum is now vertical! He decided to spend Sunday morning learning to stand on his own two tiny feet down at Salt Pond Beach Park. Later that afternoon, his Poppa was snacking on some chippies up at Hanalei Bay (his shoulder is still injured so he had to make due with watching the big surf) and Chum was intrigued. He stood and hooted, chumspeak for "Man, those look pretty good, pass 'em here Pops." Nick jiggled the bag and suddenly Chum took off lurching one!two!three!four!five!six!!!! steps.

Then he didn't get a chip. To make matters worse, we were cheering. I think Chum felt quite offended so out popped the notorious bottom lip and there were more than six tears.

Oh Chum. We are so proud of you. Sorry we won't feed you potato chips yet (or Mountain Dew ever!), but we really do love you...

Poi Boi

Jarah's all-time, guaranteed to please, meal of choice is poi, hands down. And not just any poi, but Hanalei Poi:



This pasty Hawaiian staple made from the kalo(taro) plant is a superfood. A fat-free, high-fiber, low-sodium, gluten-free source of vitamin B, calcium and phosphorus filled treat. It sustained the Polynesians who took taro to the islands centuries ago, and now our little chum.

Heading off this afternoon to the Kauai Pow wow. A pow wow on Kauai? Never been and intrigued...

On a developmental milestone front, Chum stood today for eight, count 'em 8!!, seconds. We are so stoked (and a little nervous) for him to begin his vertical adventures.

New Tooth or Demonic Possession?

Chum is currently acting as if he's been possessed by one of Satan's imps. In between his guttural groaning (a la Regan from "The Exorcist"), red faced howling and the current transformation of our once quiet home into an inferno of despair...I'm curious. Either he's about to get another tooth (has a recently sprouted new lumpy, bump on his lower gum) or take us all on a jolly good tour into the 3rd Circle of Hell.

Stay tuned folks!

Chum Eastwood

The little guy has developed some real personality in the last three weeks. He and Easter now have something in common, both full of ham!

His favorite trick at the moment is to squint his eyes, to which he bursts out chuckling at the hilariousness of himself. Kind of a Clint Eastwood on laughing gas or a couple of coronas.

Still has not managed to sleep a night...or even half a night. If I don't blog as much as I should, suffice it to say I also don't do laundry, exercise, bake or even cut my toenails as much as I should. It's a miracle I get out of my pajamas at all.

1 more month until I am a "Master of the Universe." Move over He-Man. Then some day I'll smoke a scholarly pipe, wear a tweed jacket and regale Chum about the smashing afternoons we had where he napped 3-4 minutes during which I managed to type out a whole chapter on collective identity while cooking dinner with my left toe.

End of an era

Chum woke up hungry sometime around 4.30a.m. this morning, I remember the stars were still out in force and there was no hint of the sun in the eastern skies.

I brought him to bed for an early morning nurse. Now that I don't get up during the night to feed him (instead still enduring his 1am wake up call), the early morning nurse has seemed a good compromise. He gets a full belly, we both get to snooze until a more reasonable hour.

This morning I woke up in the still dark to a crash. That crash being Chum toppling out of bed and onto the floor. He was totally fine, just obviously angry about the sudden change in location. I on the other hand was not. Where were my supposedly razor sharp mothering instincts?

I still want to puke when I think about it.

So no more early morning snuggles in bed Chum. I have no idea what to do next...perhaps it's go feed him on the living room couch while trying to write my master's with one hand or watch early morning news shows. I may end up with a rise time of 5am now but at least I don't have to encourage Chum into a career in base jumping just yet.

...shudders

On the day you were born...

Little Chum turned nine months old last week. These day he looks so different from this tiny, wiggly creature except for those nostrils. TThe first thing I thought when I looked at him was "so he's got his daddy's shnoz."

There's a challenge for you Chum, can your nose can hold as many dice as your poppa?

Thanks for the video Dad! (aka Grandpa "Uncle" John).