Aloha Friends and Family!

Greetings friends and family to my new home! This is what I get to wake up to in the mornings. Isn't it lovely? Although, Aidan and I haven't been able to really enjoy the beauty of Hawai'i due to being ill since our arrival. The poor bambino was starting to get an ear infection and I was getting another cold and had some weird allergic reaction to a Korean soup. We are just now getting the energy to be fully social. Actually I got ourselves ready today for a walk but as we were about to step out the door it started to rain. Nice. It's like one of those vacation horror stories; it's rainy throughout the holiday and then when you leave it's beautiful. I'm not about to let bad weather get me down though. There's always later or tomorrow.

So what have we done so far? Besides being sick? Nothing really. Let me start from the beginning. Last Tuesday we flew in from Seattle and for those of you who are thinking about traveling to Hawai'i soon or ever DO NOT fly with Hawaiian Airlines. You would think with 2 full flights that they'd have more than 1 counter agent available but no. That wasn't the case. Many passengers had to wait in line for almost 2 hours and some of us (this include Aidan and me) almost missed our flight. It wasn't until I got to the counter that they decided to open up all of the counters. Anyway, that was a cluster of a morning because when I got to the counter the agent told me that Alaska hadn't relinqueshed control of my ticket from Boston to Seattle so Hawaiian Airlines couldn't process my ticket. I think you can guess what happened from there.

Anyway, we made our flight though I'm sure I looked quite goofy sprinting through the terminal with a stroller. I kind of felt bad for cutting in front of the family in the security line (mainly because there was a preggers mommy with a toddler, she had her hubby to help her so I didn't feel that bad) but they were too slow. Survival of the fittest? I had a flight and I was bound and determined to be on it. No stoppin' a pissed off mama. Anysnooze, it was a decent flight - sat next to a woman who had been everywhere and done everything. Aunty Patty picks us up. Aidan finally gets to meet Uncle Eddie!!!

Wednesday...slept. Aidan's cough started to get worse. Went somewhere around Mililani. Aidan's cough getting even worse and he's getting mighty fussy. Hmmm...we'll see how it goes tomorrow. It just might be the teething (he was a wreck the day before we left for Hawai'i - called his pediatrician who said he was probably just teething).

Thursday - he's still coughing but to the point of gagging now so my Aunty Patty and I decide to take him to clinic. Wait forever and a day in the clinic. Doctor's bedside manner needs improvement. Doctor Grumpy diagnoses Aidan with the start of an ear infection mixed with the teething makes one unhappy baby. Prescribes an antibiotic. Me being anti-medication inquires about a more natural way of going about treating him. Doctor McGrumps becomes Doctor MacNoyed so I decide to go with the anti-biotic but give Doctor McGrumps the evil eye. Dr. McGrumps is nicer while we walk out the door. Never ever will we step in that clinic. We go to pick up Aidan's prescription and buy some more baby stuff while we wait for the medicine and food that we ordered. I could feel myself starting to get sick. We get home, feed Aidan and give him his medicine. Put baby to sleep. Eat. Get allergic reaction to Korean soup. Aidan is passed out and happy. Thank goodness!

Friday - BAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's all we say about that. We were supposed to meet up with my cousin Jessica, Aunty Lass and Uncle Tim but Aidan and I were too sick to be with people.

The Weekend - Attempted to unpack and do laundry.

Monday - Feel better. Aidan is almost back to normal. He's less fussy and starting to babble again. We met up with Aunty Patty, Uncle Roy and his family for some dinner. Aidan is in love with Uncle Roy's grand-daughter Kiani. She danced and sung for him. It was nice to get out of the house.

Yesterday - YAY! We feel normal!!! Finished laundry and unpacking. Took some phoots. Played with Aidan. So nice to hear him laughing more than coughing.

Today - We attempted to go for a walk. Hopefully we'll get a chance later today. We might meet up with Uncle Roy's family again for to watch a basketball game. Aidan is taking a nap right now, which is the only reason that I'm finally able to give an update and post more photos.

I'm hoping to get a chance to see more family this week. I'm so excited to see my cousin Jessica. It's been a few years. She's kind of like a sister to me - us biting and sitting on each other and all.

Anyway I can hear my little bambino starting rouse so I'll wrap this up. Check out the photos below. I'll post another shoebox soon on my website.

That's how bright it is - I can't even keep my eyes fully open.

Aidan sleeping in an outfit Grandpa got him.

What now mama?

Rice cereal! Yum.

It's really yummy.

I like my walker.

My beautiful bambino.

Some photos to oo and aww over

Aidan after a delightful bath.
Big cousin Erin telling Aidan a story with puppets.

It's a bit blurry but that smile was too good to pass up. Look at how happy of a baby he is!

His first time in a high chair - he's growin' up.

I love this photo because he's with his great, great Aunt Lucy.

Aidan with his Aunty Brooke.

That's it for now. Will write more later; just wanted to share some photos.

Last hurrah and first plane ride.

***I meant for these photos to be at the bottom of this post but for some reason it won't let me on this computer. These are from my last night in the city with my coworkers.

My boss lady and one of the smartest accountants in the co.Me and Lady Sassy Pants.

Me and boss lady.

Sandwiched between two swell investment fellas.

He made me 2 tubs of pasta sauce for my maternity leave.

My 4th floor rock and my "I'll die without you."

My first shot in a year. Yikes! Accompanied by my fave - Guiness.Lovely ladies.

Awww...I'm gonna miss you Doctor & Princesa. ;o)

I like this picture of you my favorite Sommelier.

We'll start with Aidan's first plane ride. I have got to be one of the luckiest moms out there because this kid (knock on wood) is so mild tempered. He didn't cry once on the plane; he mostly slept or giggled throughout the flight. We were lucky enough to have a row to ourselves from Boston to Portland. Our flight from Portland to Seattle was thankfully only 30 minutes because we had to sit next to a husky fella on a shuttle plane. Aidan LOVED it! He was having fun with the man sitting next to us - who knew how to act around babies since he had his own and one on the way. The little bambino got compliments all around for his great behavior. Which was funny because we had to play musical chairs on the shuttle flight. At first we thought we were going to have a row to ourselves again but the flight ended up being full. BUT the row in front of us was open and the flight attendants didn't think anyone else was coming so we moved up one. THEN we found out that some folks who were going to Alaska were coming on the same flight - so we had to go back. One could get frusturated from it but I think delirium had settled in for me, so I mostly found it funny. We got into Seattle at 11'ish. Got home at 1am. Slept in. I feel a bit sick from the jetlag but Aidan seems to be doing great! Grandpa, Aidan, and I went to downtown Poulsbo for a nice walk - which is Aidan's favorite thing. Anyway, that's the news so far. We have the day to ourselves pretty much today since Grandpa is talking to schools about Organ Donation today and Grandma is at work.

We'll be meeting up with a friend later on today.

So that's the news as of yet about being back in Washington.

I'd like to add that I grew up in one of the most beautiful states in the US.

Get a load of that mug. Can you even deal with how happy he is?

Whatcha got there mama?

On to my last night on the town. Nothing too crazy. I had one last hurrah with my coworkers, who I will miss dearly. For me, it's always important to have a good team to work with; a good mesh with the company since that's who I'm spending the majority of my days with. They need to feel like family in order to do what I do because administrative work isn't my ideal job - so the people in the company have got to be AMAZING. I was really lucky with my company. They were my 2nd family in Massachusetts. Seriously! When we were interviewing for a new admin I was very picky about who I gave good reviews to because I wanted to make sure that they would not only work hard and fit in but would see great opportunities that aren't so apparent. It's like picking a care provider for your baby but not as obsessive.

Anyway, we spent my last night in the city at The Red Hat, the what seems to be "Going Away" bar of choice. I simply chose it because it was close to the train station. It was a good time - some people came for a short stay and some people stayed until the end. I was grateful for everyone who showed up.

Oh and thanks for a night of tamed debauchery.

More lasts to follow.

For sentimental reasons...

As I sit here looking out at the snowy conditions and worry about whether or not our flight will be delayed - I think about how it was when I arrived in Massachusetts. Snow, snow, ice, slush, more snow and yada, yada, yada. I guess my journey here in the home state of the Kennedy's has really become a full circle.

I came to Mass in the hopes of experiencing the city life and have a job away from children; I had been a babysitter throughout colllege, au pair for a year after, and then a family assistant when I returned to the states. After two months of my arrival I had found a job at great company full of zany and good-hearted folks.

Nine months later I had found an apartment in the heart of the city. It was weird to leave my family in Rowley, who I had grown to love so much and become accustomed to the go-go life they lead. Then when I moved into the city apartment I was all by myself for the first night - my roommates were out of town. After a few months I had learned that the city wasn't really my style. I loved to work in it but it was nice to have the change of pace when I came home to my cousin's house in the country. Though I am thankful that I did move in with my roommates because they're both very special to me now.

I have made some great connections here, some I know that will last for a lifetime and some for just a moment. I'm thankful for all of the connections that I've made...every last one.

One important connection brought the most beautiful and precious person into my life, my son, Aidan. I'm a little bummed that he won't be able to experience growing up in a great place; full of great history and passionate people but I know that our next place of adventure will be just as fulfilling, if not more.

Though I am excited to be in a place of constant warm weather and new culture - Boston will always have a special little nook inside of my heart and I'll always consider it a home.