Dear Food, I miss you!

Winds of change are passing through this household. 

The whole lot of us are getting pretty soggy around the middle. Even Moku Bear, our Shih tzu. Seriously. He's a chubb-o. No dog has any business being as fat as he is...especially a lap dog.

And since Ry turned 30, his metabolism has slowed down...a lot. Remember that new custom tailored suit he had made for graduation? Yeah, well, he had to let the pants out. 

The only reason I'm allowed to call Ry out on it  is because as you know, I'm not the skinniest minny myself. I'm sitting in the boat right next to him.

Though I embrace my curves and am generally uber confident when it comes to self-image, I just haven't been feeling healthy as of late. Therefore, we've all started new diet plans...including Moku. 

We're only one week into our new regimen and I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit weary. My body isn't used to functioning on so few calories. Though, I've been assured that after a few days I'll start feeling more energized. In the meantime, I'm starving!!! Somebody get me some freakin' nachos!!

Ugh. I don't know why this was a good idea. I like eating too much. Heaven help us. 

Loss of Manhood

After 4 years, poor Moku Bear finally got the snip.

He went to the vet yesterday to get neutered. And if getting his balls cut out wasn't enough, he is now resigned to wearing the cone of shame.

Oh Mokie. You're such a "special" dog.

Reading Rainbow

I love literature and I love to read. It's been one of my goals to start a large library of children's books for Lālea so that she might one day grow to love books as much as I do. On one particular night, she was all kinds of giggly and excited over one of her big picture books from Tutu. So to make Lollipop see just how fun reading could be, Uncle J decided to give her a demonstration. And of course, Sir Mokes-a-lot had to join in on the fun. This video is about a month old, but I just revived it and had to post it!!!

The best part of me is you

Darling Lālea,
It's Christmas time and Daddy and I can't stop buying you presents! You're about to be one spoiled little girl!! But it's just so fun buying you toys and sparkly things that I know you'll love! I'm so excited for Christmas day and to watch you tear open your gifts. And knowing you, you'll probably be content with just the paper and ribbons! You love love LOVE getting your hands on paper and anything you can rip apart!

Other things you love to do right now are chasing after Moku and grabbing his wagging tail. You get so excited when you see Moku Bear running down the hall. You'll sit there and giggle away while he sniffs your face and licks your hands. You also think it's hilarious to watch him wag his tail. You often try to catch it, mid wag, and stick the end of it in your mouth. Since Moku is usually so grimy, Mommy and Daddy don't usually let you chomp on his tail. But, we have succumbed to letting you chew on his newspaper toy. It's so funny to watch you with that thing. You shove it as far into your mouth as you can and just sit there, gumming it. But actually, you're not gumming things anymore. This past month you got a tooth in!

You now have one sharp tooth peeking out of your mouth. And with that one tooth, you've begun eating new foods. Right now, you're favorites are bananas and noodles. However, just yesterday, you finished off the entire half of a pare! You were so hungry! It's been fun giving you new foods and juices to try, but scary, too. You have a tendancy to choke on things.

Recently, Auntie Juliann had her birthday at Sakura. Somehow you had gotten hold of a chunk of chicken. I looked over to give you some rice and you had red watery eyes and were gagging. Mommy and Daddy tried everything we could to get whatever it was out of your mouth, but there was nothing there! Daddy finally picked you up and was about to turn you upside down when you threw up all over him! It was yucky and messy and all over Daddy, but at least you got that piece of chicken out! We were all so worried about you! It was very traumatic! Even Tutu spilled her hot tea all over herslef in the midst of the episode!! But you're safe now, and we are much more careful about the things we give you and let you play with.

Along with trying to keep you safe, we've also been trying to teach you how to clap your hands, give kisses, and wave. Another trick we're trying to learn is how to get you to sit down on your own once you've pulled yourself up into a standing position. You're so funny! You'll pull yourself up, but then get stuck because you can't figure out how to sit back down! Instead, you'll stand there and whine until Mommy or Daddy scoops you up or helps you sit down.

Actually, you've become so dependent on Mommy and Daddy lately. If you're not chasing Moku around the house, you're crawling at my feet and following me from room to room. You've also started recognizing strangers. Mainly, you know when you're being held by someone you don't recognize. You'll generally be all right for a moment, but soon enough, the tears start pouring down your cheeks and you're looking straight at me, begging me to rescue you from the unfamiliar person. It's sad to see you cry like that, especially since so many of these new faces already love you so much! And who wouldn't?!?

You are the sweetest thing in the world and the most dear to my heart. Of course, I love Daddy and Tutu and all of our family just as much. But, the love I have for you is so different from the way I feel about anyone else. You're the giggle on the tip of my tongue, the smile at the corner of my mouth, the apple of my eye. And no one will ever love you the way I do. I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

xoxo
Mommy

Deck the Halls

As I was cruising around town today, I was slapped in the face by nonstop Christmas music. It seems as though Cozy 106.5 and KSL are in full swing. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music. It's just that as I was listening, I started thinking about all the money I don't have to spend on gifts this year. Good thing we drew names. And while I was stressing over not having enough money to buy everyone presents this year, my thoughts turned to the gifts I hoped others had enough money to buy for me!!!! Thus, my Christmas wish list came to past.

iPhone 3G
If you think about it, it's really quite a good investment. I was gonna ask for a new phone and a new iPod, but with this, you get 2 for the price of 1. See? I'm being economical!!
iTunes Gift Card
So I'll have something to jam on my iPhone. Actually, I really want the Kina Grannis album, and while it's not available in stores (or on isohunt for that matter) the only way I can purchase it is on iTunes.
Rochelle Charlotte Wooden High Chair in Cherry
If this thing is gonna be taking up room in my kitchen, it'd better be pretty.


However, I'd take the Eddie Bauer version, too.







CHI 1" Ceramic Flat Iron
Gotta keep the Hawaiian Halo (aka Frizz) under lock
Lennox Chirp Place Settings
If anyone has had the privilege of eating dinner over at our house, you know that our dollar store dishes aren't cuttin' it. Pyrex 17-pc. Bake and Store Set
Somehow I've ended up with like 19 of these little lids but no baking pans to go with them. Also, Ryan thought it was a good idea to use my measuring cup whilst staining the kitchen cabinets. Needless to say, my measuring cup is now caked with lacquer.KitchenAid 11" Wok
I've been on this big Asian kick lately.Bubble Glass Tumbler Set
Minus the stemware...just the tumblers. Again, our dollar store cups just ain't doin' it for me.
Hot Pots
I'm pretty sure Four Seasons Hot Pots and Dumplings doesn't have gift certificates, so I'd be good with a dinner date. MMMM...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I've just decided that hot pot and dumplings (aka manapua) are my desert island foods. Sorry, saimin. You've been replaced.















TADA!! There you have it. My Christmas wish list. Emphasis on the word wish. I know I'm not gonna get even half of these things...maybe just the iPhone and the hot pots...I could live with that! But if you're feeling generous and wanna contribute to my Christmas, most of these items can be found at either Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

By the way, here's what Lollipop has been doing since I've been typing up this list.


She hung around with Mokes for a while,
did some work at her desk, but then she had to take a bathroom break. Don't forget to flush!!!

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

Not much has happened since my post last night and right now...but being the English nerd that I am, I just felt like writing.

Oh! I do have one piece of news. I hear congratulations are in order for Smokey. YAY for finally conquering the Avenged Sevenfold song on Rock Band. You are a the true dragon warrior.

So, I was going through all the picture files on our computer, and I found some random ones of the babe. Thought I'd share.

Lollipop after a crying spell, but I think she looks just absolutely beautiful.




Bath time boobies.





What happens when babies start to crawl.





A budding friendship.




Refer to Lolli's drunk picture...



...now compare it to this.

Well, I think that's enough baby overload for one post. But as a parting gift...
For the past two days, a stupid fly has been buzzing around are room, driving me insane. The other night, Moku was lying on the floor and all of a sudden, he popped his head up and snapped his jaws shut. That was the last of the fly. Who knew that Moku was the next karate kid.