Living the American dream, today was a fabulous day. Darwin and I met Amy and Chloe for coffee at the Cafe around 10am we then spent the entire day at Baldwin Beach. Darwin had a great time kicking about with his Floaties on in the ocean, he’s such a water baby. He finally took a nap just after 2pm and slept for an hour and a half like a log, it was a lot easier on me just letting him tire himself out and nod of when he thought was the right time only all afternoon he was very excited and full of energy. Especially since we joined Tina and Mia at the Cafe for a coffee and Nuttella Crepe after the beach and then had Julie, Ryan and Vann over for a 4th of July BBQ dinner.

I’ve not been able to sleep before 10pm this last week which is super strange for me, Jason and I have got into the habit of drinking tea in the dark on the deck which sparks conversation and is a nice way to go to sleep.

I love the life we live, we my not have all the money in the world but were lucky to live on such a beautiful island and have such great friends.

We all have the flu, boo hoo. I’m taking advantage of Darwin’s naps and really resting up, I feel so lethargic and achy. Poor little Darwin and his green runny snot nose, he’s got so much energy surprisingly. Yesterday we tagged along with JC, he had to work in Wailea for a few hours so Darwin and I strolled about the shops, resort and beach. It was a muggy overcast day, today is better although I have no desire to leave the house…just yet. I want to be well again, everything is easier then.

Well were do I begin? The Van Der Ark Family arrived on Monday, they came over for coffee Tuesday morning and we enjoyed the catch up and seeing how everyone had grown over the year. They are here for 1 month so we will be sure to see more of each other, it’s really nice that we’ve been in contact over all these years I really enjoy seeing them.

Darwin and I have been mixing up our schedule and staying at home most mornings then heading to the beach (Pavills at Ho ‘okipa) around 2pm then back home before dinner. I think it’s because of this transition to one nap, it’s earlier and i’ve been tired too so I can lye down when he naps which helps.

Last night was Amy’s Birthday Party which Trish and Cinco hosted at their lux pad, it was a Disco Party with plenty of platforms and afros. Jason and I were only there for a couple of hours while Lindsey watched Darwin at home for us.

The office is almost finished with just the inside trim to have it’s final coat of paint. I’m excited to have Jason move all his computer stuff off the dining table and to move the couch from the spare room in there too. I’m planning to make the spare room into Darwin’s new room where he will sleep on a twin bed but who knows how long that transition will take?

I didn’t last the week of my “Darwin sleeping in project, he wakes between 5 - 5:45am and that’s just that I’ve finally accepted that he is an early riser and thats that. I count my lucky Zzzz’s that he goes to bed at 6:30pm and doesn’t wake again until morning. After all it can’t go on like this forever…can it, at least when he’s a little older he won’t need me right there with him as soon as he wakes up hence trying to get him into his own bed early so he can get out and start his day on his own.

I spoke to Jazz yesterday for the first time in well over a month, we are really looking forward to their visit in September. I think about Jayne all the time, all the people I’m not in touch with very well these days I think about you all, all the time and I’m sorry I don’t keep in touch.

Well with all that said and done. It’s another beautiful day in paradise and I’m off to read a few books to our wee one before his nap. Peace.

Ahh, today I feel relaxed and more like myself. I’ve started a new strategy to try and solve Darwin’s much too early mornings. For one week I am letting Darwin cry for 20mins when he wakes between 5 - 5:30am, today was the third morning he woke at 5:14am and to my surprise after about 10mins went back to sleep and woke again at 6am! I’m also keeping him up until 9am when he then takes his first nap, he is buggered and goes right down usually still for less than an hour but that forces the next nap to be around 12:30 and then I’ve cut out his 3rd nap which came back only because he was waking up too early for my liking.

Anywho I feel much stronger making these decisions when it’s just us and I don’t have to be anywhere. Which brings me to the next topic “Money Matters”. Yes it does. Jason and I had a sit down after Mum left to discuss our finances which has become a worry after paying Taxes and building the new Office/Guest room. The idea of me returning to work was a hot topic as well as selling my car and getting a cheaper more fuel efficient one and getting a less expensive mobile phone plan. All very good ideas other than that of me returning to work! I’ve become very good at what I do and feel panic and pain at the thought of entering the work force again. So once again we will “attempt” to cut costs and make sacrifices. It’s everyones worry in times like these, I have to look around and am so thankful for the life we live we just have to take action and make a change so not to dwell on money matters.

Darwin is eating like a king these days, I’ve been getting much more creative since Mum’s inspiration. This morning he ate French toast with bananas and honey and a warm weet-bix with milk and apple sauce. I love making his meals. Vann and Darwin have been catching up on lost time and have had a blast riding in the car together checking out Garage Sales over the weekend.

Now I have to pull myself together and return to the life before your came. I’m sure I’ll find myself thinking I must have left you at home next time we go to the beach or when I get a coffee, order two. Most of all I’ll just miss “you”, although when I think of how much of you is actually in me…we are together all the time!

I love you Mummy my Darling,  Aloha and Mahalo for everything!

Today is Mum’s last day, I can’t believe 5 weeks has gone by so fast she’s really become part of our everyday lives. Darwin has grown so much during her stay, this morning he pooped on the potty for the second time consecutively. He can now also feed himself with a spoon or fork and drink from a glass all on his own.

This apparent napping “transition period” is still all over the place, he wakes between 5 - 5:30am and has been taking between 2 - 3 naps a day. It is really wearing on me and I’m exhausted come early evening.

Last night Mum and I had a very romantic dinner at Mama’s Fish House, we were treated like rock stars it was a perfect evening.

Happy Fathers Day Jason! This morning Jason got to sleep in until 7am then Darwin and I jumped in bed with him and gave him his card and present. After a sausage and eggs breakfast we started to work on the new addition … the office not baby!

After lunch while Jason worked on the office, Mum Darwin and I went to the Upcountry H4 wild stock weekend to watch the wild west show.  Tom, Anne, Kawika, Julie,Ryan and Vann all came over for a Father’s Day dinner after their weekend on Lanai.

We’ve reluctantly decided to pull the plug on our Lanai camping adventure, the Plummer and Electrician are both going to do their thing this weekend and our builder needs Jason’s help with some final touches. We are sad although have plenty of things to keep us entertained here on the valley isle.

Darwin enjoyed his very first Galato in a cone this week and Nannie was very happy to have been the instigator. He was adorable eating it and copying our licking technique.

It’s another beautiful evening, the Gin & Tonic’s are flowing and were juat about to sit down to a few more episodes of Californication so that Mum can finish the season before she bails…boo hoo.

So much happens in such little time sometimes I wonder how I have enough time to really breathe.

Saturday we surfed over on the South side again, the surf was really fun and the weather hot enough to coat us all in nice tans.

On Sunday while Jason worked with our builders finishing the office/guest room Mum, Darwin and I toured the island Garage Sale shopping. Darwin was very well behaved, we scored lots of great stuff and saw a lot of Maui in a different way. We ended the morning at Kula Ace Nursery which then forced our twiddling green thumbs into tackling the gardens. Mum did an amazing job weeding and making a feature of our entry garden after 2 days of blood sweat and beers.

The last few days I have been a little confused with Darwin’s schedule, he stared to skip the morning nap then the afternoon then both all together and since yesterday has now gone back to 3 naps a day go figure? It must be his teeth, I’m addicted to the “all natural” teething tablets which he loves too but there’s nothing I can do when he wakes during the night which isn’t often any more. He was waking screaming once or twice a night for about a week but the crying only lasted a minute or so, night terrors? teething? Today he woke at 6:10am rather than 5:30 so of course I was really worried and up before 6am anyhow. He’s growing up so quickly and getting so smart, tonight he fit 3 shapes into the right holes of his shape cut out box without any help and he hasn’t touched that box in weeks. It’s amazing to see.

Mum is having a great time and we are getting very used to her cooking and spoiling, tears are welting our eyes at the thought of just 8 more days. Don’t go Jo Jo!

South side surfing, cafe lounging, family time, friendly picnics and home renovations, good times, good times!