Learning to Slow Down

I am actively working on learning how to slow down my busy life! It's not easy, let me tell you. I am used to making my schedule jam packed with things, activities, and errands, but
my little belly baby is sending me messages via back-pain, to slow my roll.

It is a process!

I feel good though, and I have been spending time doing things I enjoy that are less strenuous, like vegging out at Moms house, snacking on fruit and watching movies, or taking a long bubble bath and hanging out at home snuggled up with my hunny watching movies.

Or snuggling up with Tei and taking a nap in the middle of the day. It feels so nice and relaxing.

I am now 31 weeks along and boy is my belly huge! I have those not so great feeling days when I just want to waddle into bed and sleep, cause I am just so round, and sometimes it is so uncomfortable on my hips. Plus doc keeps poking me for blood, over and over, and that is no fun. BUT I LOVE when I get to hear Micah's strong heart beat, and hearing how well he is doing makes me so happy. I still tear up everytime I hear his heart, and I always hug my belly as if I could reach in and embrace him. I seriously, cannot wait for the moment I meet my little boy.

Batatazhino - 26 weeks

Baby's room slowly coming along:)

Micah my "Batatazhino" or "Little Potato"
I am 26 weeks, Micah is the size of a large eggplant.
He kicks all the time and has the cutest little hiccups, which I read, can be soothing to him.
Dad talks to him all the time, and gives both of us lots of kisses morning and night.
I got a boppy body pillow which is finally allowing me some good sleep!
I feel good, family is good, busy, but balanced and I even get to squeeze capoeira in, here and there. Which truly makes me happy:)
Big Sis Teihani, has spent time organizing Micah's clothes and helping get things ready. She talks to him sometimes and the other day her head was close to my belly and he kicked her, she was sleeping so she didn't know:)

Daddy has been painting Mica's bedroom shelf and he picked up my glider. Baby's room slowly coming along.

Life is soo full and plentiful and full of so much love and joy sometimes it's too much to embrace.

Life is beautiful.
I can't wait to hold Micah's little hand for the first time while he looks up at me with his Fathers gorgeous eyes:)

True Friendship

A real friend knows that you love them,
even if you haven't spoken for weeks, months, and even years.

Time doesn't really exist between you, because when you do talk, it's
like you never missed a moment, and your friendship has not faded at all.

Friends respect and understand your busy life, full of responsibilities and
family obligations, and time alone or time with your loved one.

Friends know, that even on their worst day, if they called you and you didn't pick up, that you love them, and that not answering doesn't mean you
love them any less.

True friends know that you always want to see them happy.

Friends don't make you meet their unrealistic and unfair expectations, instead they love you for exactly who you are nothing more and nothing less.

If they do not love all that you are, they are not your friend.

Kind and Not-So-Kind Parenting

Parenting, done with yelling, impatience, anger, and frustration, is like watering a flower with vinegar and soda. COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.

I try really hard not to say anything when I see people I know use this emotionally unhealthy parenting approach, without any understanding of their child's feelings. It literally hurts me to be around it and to see the confused hurt look on their children's faces! These people, are loving, kind, sweet people, to their friends. But with their children, they are impatient and out of control. Guess what that does to their children? Make them impatient and out of control! Then their parents wonder "why is my child like this?" Hmmm.. I wonder... Why can't some parents understand that the language their children speak, is more action based then it is WORD based. So you can sit their and talk and talk and talk and talk and criticize and preach all you can, all they hear, is the action and feeling behind your words. For instance, a 3 year old, is in the mall, exhausted, she is screaming and crying, because as a 3 year old, she is not capable of expressing it like this:" I am a bit fatigued, and would prefer to take a nap then go shopping" Umm. No.
She is 3
You have to READ her actions. If she is starting to cry and fuss and complain, does it help to say things like: "do you want other children to see you laughing and make fun of you??? Then STOP crying!!!" To the child, this just sounds cruel. Then there's the hit, "if you don't stop I am going to spank your butt" yeah genius, hit your exhausted crying child, that will help her calm right down!!! Why didn't I think of that?? Or how about I HIT YOU??? Will that calm YOU DOWN?
Try distracting your child, if you really must shop right that moment, you should have brought,a place for the child to rest, like a folding stroller, some snacks, some books or toys to occupy them, and be prepared to take a few minutes here and there to interact and calm your child. Sorry, I had to vent, I know several people that parent, by unnecessary screaming and yelling, and hitting, and their children, are mostly ill mannered and frustrated, and constantly acting up. WHEN WITH THAT PARENT. Leave that same child alone with me, and they are calm, happy and well behaved. Doesn't take a rocket scientist!! PARENTING TAKES PATIENCE COMMUNICATION AND THE ABILITY TO LEARN YOUR CHILD'S LANGUAGE!!!!!

A Baby Shower for Elijah and Sheanna!! Ladies only please:)

These are being popped in the mail today- so look out for them:) Ciao!

This Weekend

Wow, what a weekend, somewhere in between two birthday celebrations, a wedding, Folk Life Festival, shopping, a sprained wrist, getting Teihani ready for camp, and family time,

we got to hang out with Sheanna (Elijah's baby mama to be), for the first time.

It has always saddened me a bit that we don't really know her. Her baby will be here in 2 short months. I know I have to build a relationship with her now, so she knows we will be part of her support network always.

I have met her before, even taken her to dinner, but I didn't really get to know her.
So we had her over for the whole weekend.

I took her to finish her baby registry, and to have dinner with my family where she got to meet all of our goofy counterparts:)
Everyone loved her and so do I.

They are soo young, that much is obvious, but I believe they have good nurturing instincts and that Sheanna will be a good Mommy, regardless of her age as long as she remembers to have patience and understanding at times when it feels impossible.
They seem love eachother, they are actually quite sweet together.
When all was done, ELijah said it was the best weekend of his life, and he has been all smiles ever since. He said he was soo happy to have all his favorite gals in one place, and that he wished Shawnna, his Auntie could have been there too.

All and all it was special, and I am thankful for the time we had with her.

To Micah

One day, I hope you will get to read this Micah Jo,
I want to make sure you know
how much your Mom and Dad love each other.

We love spending time just snuggling and watching you move in my belly.

We like to imagine you sleeping, right in the middle of us all snuggled up and safe as can be.

We love watching you kick around when your Dad plays his favorite songs for you.

We are pretty crazy about each other and we're pretty crazy about you too,
little one:) Cannot wait to meet you and kiss those pudgy cheeks of yours.