Beach Baby

Aidan at a beach in Waialua.

The North Shore is my favorite place in Hawai'i, not too many people go there and there's some great secret beaches. I discovered this beach in Waialua on a Saturday after I visited the Farmer's Market in town and decided to drive around to get to know the area. Waialua is a very, very, VERY quaint town. There's the old Sugar Mill (that's where the Farmer's Market takes place) and a school/park maybe? Anyway, I was driving around and found this hidden beach well it's not hidden but it isn't a frequented place of sunbathers and swimmers. I strapped Aidan in the Bjorn and then we walked along the beach for a morning jaunt. The bambino is a little timid of the water; I think it's a bit frigid right now for his liking.

So a few days later I decided to take Bambino Boy to the beach again to get him used to the water and sand. He liked hanging out on the beach but was still unsure of the water but I'm still proud of him for not having a meltdown.

I think I might've seen some guy from a show on the CW channel but wasn't sure. At first I thought he was the actor who plays Karev on Grey's Anatomy but he looked a bit young. The thing is, I didn't realize it until a few days later when I was watching an old episode of One Tree Hill (indeed sometimes I feel the need to watch a soap opera). Anyway, it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and it was so nice to be outside on the beach. Aidan enjoyed playing with his toys, trying to figure out the sand, and people watch. I enjoyed watching Aidan learn and getting some much needed rays and ocean time. I don't wish that I could be a beach bum but I do wish that I could just step outside the door and *woosh* have the ocean at my feet. How sweet the smell of the sea.

Other than beaching, I've just been job searching, doing the interview thing, still doing Baby Boot Camp (I can keep up with the instructor now), exploring the island and having fun hanging out with Aidan everyday.

That's all I've heard for today.

6 Months

Happy 6 Months Bambino Boy!

Happy Baby.

Strike a pose baby.
Zoolander Baby.

Proper Baby; he got all fancy with the outfit Grandpa got for him. He looks good in a tie.

Come and play with me baby.

In April we Shout

Hey folks! Since April is quickly approaching (I can't believe Aidan will already be 6 months this Friday 3/20) I just wanted to share that I will be dedicating each week in April to a certain cause or issue. What will they be you ask? Check them out:

1. Organ Donation
2. School development in Rwanda
3. S.I.D.S
4. Earth Day/Week

Stay tuned.

Explorer Baby

I'm going to go find me an adventure!

I know that someday when Aidan's old enough we'll get out and explore the world. Even though we've been to Seattle and are now in Hawai'i and he's meet hundreds of new people in the last month, which for some babies can be overwhelming, Aidan is loving the new faces and places. It's so great that he's a social baby right now because I think it's going to be important for when he's older. He loves staring at all of the new faces; studying them which is quite fitting with the first part of his middle name "Kamaka" which means "eye" in Hawaiian. Aidan also loves going on walks and looking at everything that surrounds him - I even think he's making comments about things because he's always going, "Ooo" or "ohhh" or "squeel!" or his new favorite sound is kind of a "hyuk" and a sqeak at the same time. I adore this new sound by the way - even though he's been non-stop for the past few days with it.

Anyway, I've always been thankful that my parents exposed me to different things during my youth. Though, I will admit that I was a huge brat at times,

My dad - "Ok, we're here at the Salt Lake. Do you want to get out of the car and see it?"

Me "No."

My dad- "Are you sure? It's something you really shouldn't miss."

Me - "That's ok, I can see it from here."

My dad- Glares through his glasses then shoots me the evil eye.

Me - Stubborn.

I can't remember why I didn't want to get out of the car. I think I thought it would get us home faster and finished with the long road trip if I didn't get out of the car. My poor dad, just trying to show me the great beauty of nature and I was just being a spoiled brat who wanted to get home to her bed, unable to appreciate what her dad was trying to do for her. I'm sure Aidan will have those moments but hopefully I'll be able to persuade him to at least get out of the car. Or maybe he'll be a normal child and get out of the car and try to see if he can swim in the dense salt that is the Salt Lake or just run about all over the place and then I won't be able to get him back in the car. I just hope that he'll be able to appreciate what is in front of him. Though I can tell that he's a bit like his mommy and even his father. We both enjoy traveling and meeting new people; people from different cultures.

Anysnooze, he loves his walker - he gets really excited when I'm putting him in it that I sometimes have trouble getting him in. I'm definitely going to be in trouble when he starts crawling (which he probably will within the next few weeks, he's able to get on all fours and rock a bit) but I'm going to need some sort of tracking device when he starts walking. Which method do you think is best, cow bell or squeaky shoes?

Okay enough...wait...doesn't he look so freakin' cute in that picture?!?!?!?!?! My perfect little dork in his sun hat and sunshades, scootin' around in his walker with his onsie and little shoes.

Bad to the Bones Baby

Zoom in to see the skulls on my bambino's shades. It's official, he's hardcore. Oh and his onsie says, "My Mommy Rocks." Thanks Jensen!

He's out to steal your baby's bottle! Watch out!

Baby Boot Camp Kickin' my Booty

Work it mama!

Above is a photo of Aidan and me at Central Oahu Regional Park just after finishing a Baby Boot Camp session. In an attempt to get back into shape I have signed up for an exercise camp where I get to bring Bambino Boy with me. Baby Boot Camp is such a great concept - moms get to workout with their children - pushing them in the jogging stroller or using them as a medicine ball substitute for abdominal exercises. This class is freaking amazing! I'm in love with it. It's totally kicking my ass though - I am way out of shape and it's worse than I thought.

I sort of noticed that I was gettin' a bit slow when I had to haul balls one night from work to the train station. I left work a bit later than usual and was on the verge of being just on time or late for my train home. So hoping that I wouldn't have to wait for the next train I ran my ass off from the Cambridge and Staniford (in Boston and only a 0.4 mile distance) intersection all the way to North Station. Pre-baby I would've ran out of breath but then catch it within a couple of seconds. Post-baby I felt like I was going to pass out. Anyway, that was one reason to kick up my heels and get back into shape.

Some other reasons for me to get back into shape:

• I feel fat; the sight of my unsightly stretchmarks is really getting to me.
• I'm in Hawai'i so I've got to be bikini appropriate
• I miss being able to put on a pair of jogging shoes and just go or more like putting on a pair of cleats and kickin' the ball around
• It's good for my health - there's a risk of diabetes and heart disease in mi familia
• The most important reason is to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle for my son

If I want Aidan to grow up to be a healthy being then I have to show him how be one. It's amazing how some people, like me, can forget how precious of a temple their body is and that it's their only one. So it's time for me to treat my body like one.

I'm very excited about the class and I think Aidan is too - he giggles when he watches me do jumping jacks and laughs like there's no tomorrow when I use him as a medicine ball for my ab workouts. He also enjoys just being outside - he's definitely an aire libre baby...no matter the weather. I still huff and puff when we jog - did you know that it is even harder to jog with a stroller? Oh yeah. I feel it in my arms but I love my jogging stroller.

Anyway, here's to getting back in shape (high school weight +5 or 10 lbs, maybe be able to run a 5K or full out marathon or mostly join a soccer team and be able to keep up with everyone else) and living a healthy lifestyle (staying green, going organic, and no television until night time).

Kick my own ass, me!

Baby & Kid Bath Products to Avoid

First read the list of products to avoid and then read this article.

Here's another list to read.

Be careful! Just another reason to be Green and Organic.

Antes de mi bebe

Captain Adorable

I just had a little chuckle at myself just now. At this moment I am nursing Aidan and typing at the same time. It's not so easy or time efficient to type with one hand but I am a true believer in multi-tasking. Anyway, I was reading the blogs I usually follow by friends and popular blogger parents and realized that I haven't checked in on my "before Aidan" blog, The Sartorialist for...well ever since he was born. It's a blog about fashion on the streets, a man has been traveling around the world photographing random strangers on the streets who are chic and fashion forward. I used to check the blog everyday, seriously, and I'd always look forward to the next issues of Vogue (all of the Vogues, Paris, Britain, Australia, and it goes on) especially what I call the bible, the fall issue. I'd look through the sites Anthropolgie, Urban Outfitters, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenburg, and my all time favorite Betsey Johnson during my lunch breaks.

Now my obsession is researching about making baby food at home, the best jogging stroller, 529 Savings Plan, or teething. My favorite reads now are anything about parenting; I read Parents, Parenting, American Baby, Family Circle, and I've still got my edge with Vanity Fair and NY Times. I no longer tolerate Vogue. My favorite websites are RockNSprouts, Smarter.com, HawaiiMomsLikeMe, CrunchyGranolaBaby, GreenBabies, Baby Center , again anything baby. I love shopping for my son and researching about what I can do to make my son's life a good one. Reading the e-newsletters from my parenting magazine subscriptions is a part of my "self pampering" time. My life really does revolve around Aidan.

I could go to a lecture, a concert, for drinks, or shopping whenever without a care. These days I have to have a day's notice if someone wants to go out at night, like last night, my cousin asked if I wanted to go to the open galleries and a party for her friend's Vintage Clothing store - totally "my scene" - but without a day's notice I can't go out at night. Another example is that I missed my favorite photographer (who is now totally bankrupt) Annie Leibovitz speak in Harvard Square last November.

The "surprising" (I put quotation marks because it isn't all that surprising because...) thing is that I didn't really care or feel like I was missing out on anything because Aidan is my life. I understood what I was getting into when I decided to raise him on my own and I have no regrets about my decision.

My little sweet potato

Aidan with sweet potatoes all over his face.

Mr. Kamaka'koa has now been introduced to baby sweet potatoes food; Gerber's Organic Sweet Potatoes. I just purchased a book on cooking baby food at home; I had planned on making the baby food for economical reasons but after reading a few things about "regular" baby food it's become more of a, "I only want real ingredients to enter my baby's body" movement. Now this baby food all over Aidan's face is "Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth" and USDA Organic. The ingredients shown are organic sweet potatoes and water but how convinced am I that this organic if these packs of baby food are sitting on a Target shelf in Hawai'i? Unrefrigerated. Anyway, I won't go into a "dietribe" about it but I'm just not totally convinced of this certified organic jazz if it isn't made in front of me or isn't regfrigerated or frozen.

So that's why I picked up the So Easy Baby Food book. It's a "personalized guide to making baby food at home." For me the book is more of a recipe book so that I can properly know how to make baby food for Aidan. It tells me what I need to purchase at the store, gives me some variations on all of the recipes, suggets which foods are good for each stage of the baby's life. It's a pretty nifty book in my opinion. I'm excited to start making Aidan's food - it's another way of connecting with him for me since I will be making his food and watching what goes in it so that he's properly nourished - perhaps I won't miss breastfeeding him so much.

At this stage in Aidan's life I can introduce him to: Acorn Squash, Apples, Bananas (done), Butternut Squash, Green Peas, Pears, and Sweet Potatoes (done). He seems to like the sweet potatoes and I'll continue to feed him them or the rest of the week. Next week I think I'll introduce him to Green Peas. Growing up I couldn't stand green peas but maybe he'll grow up liking them; they are a great source of protein, potassium, iron, vitamin A, etc.

My only objection to the book is the use of the microwave. I'm not sure if it is a European thing but while I was in Norway I got used to reheating leftovers on the stove (the family didn't have a microwave) and felt that the food tasted better from the stovetop rather than the microwave. I dunno - it's probably the whole radiation jazz that I fear but I'm just not that into them. So my substitute will have to be to just use the stove.

I'm also excited for the challenge of keeping my carbon footprint down by trying to only use local produce like mangos and papayas. In a few months I'll also introduce Aidan to fish. I read that if fish is introduce to a baby before he's 12 months that they'll most likely grow up to enjoy fish - if they don't have an allergic reation. It's very important to observe any allergic reaction to any of the foods being introduced. That's why it's suggested to only introduce one type of food per week.

Anyway, that's what I'm interested in at this moment and again very excited about making Aidan's baby food. I'll be researching about "Oregon Tilth" and their organic certification process - mostly because I'm a nerd.