Growing up with a little of both and the lessons learned along the way
From the monthly archives:
Don't I look pretty in my jimbe posing in front of the kadomatsu?
Happy new year! I asked mommy to put me in my jimbe (a casual japanese new year’s outfit). The pretty plant next to me is a kadomatsu. According to my mommy, the kadomatsu represents longevity, prosperity and steadfastness for the new year. Sounds good to me. I wish all of that to all of you!
2009 has been pretty existing for me – being born and all. I can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!
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They didn't invite me to the party - so I crashed!
Today is Mommy’s birthday! My daddy made plans to take my mommy away on a one night get-a-way to the new St. Regis Princeville. Originally the plan was for me to stay with Grandma and Grandpa and for mommy and daddy to go away by themselves. I caught wind of that plan and when I saw how nice the hotel was, I decided I needed to convince them to take me with them.
(Dad Note: How did Maile convince us? We did a trial run last week by going to a movie and leaving Maile with Grandma and Grandpa. Apparently, Maile didn’t enjoy the attempts to put her to bed without a good night kiss from mommy and daddy. She eventually went down, but given that there are two other little girls in the house, we decided it would be best not to subject everyone to a prolonged crying session.)
Yesterday afternoon we drove up to the northern part of Kauai. Daddy hadn’t even been up to this part of the island before. The Princeville hotel was beautiful and, apparently, daddy called ahead because when we arrived they had champagne and truffles waiting for us!
Yeah champagne! Wait, what's champagne? Yeah champagne!
Maile: Can I have some? Mommy: No. Maile: Please? One sip? Mommy: No. Maile: I'm going to remember this - don't look at me if I spit up on you later...
After we settled in a bit, we went upstairs to watch the sunset and then headed over to the Kauai Grill. The Kauai Grill is a Jean-George Vongerichten restaurant – it was definitely the fanciest place I’ve been in. Mommy and daddy seemed to really enjoy their dinner – as for me, all I can say is that my milk just seemed to taste better in this place!
Since I came along, mommy and daddy called it a night after dinner and we all went to sleep. In the morning, daddy had breakfast in bed delivered for mommy! How fun is that!?
Breakfast in bed for mommy - even though I have breakfast in bed all the time, apparently when you are mommy's age it is quite special...
I couldn't wait to wish mommy a happy birthday so I got up at 6 AM. I was so excited I spit up on her. It really wasn't pay back for the "no champagne" rule - I was just so happy it was her birthday...
After breakfast we explored the property a bit and then mommy got a massage. Guess what the massage was called? A Maile Massage! Excuse me, an “Exotic Maile Massage”! Check out what the brochure says:
“The maile leaf is a rare beauty handpicked in the native rain forests of Hawai’i. Maile was associated with the worship of the gods, especially Laka, the god of Hula. Maile was the chosen lei of Hawaiian royalty because of its fragrance and beauty. The Halele’a Spa honors the traditional use of the maile by carefully infusing its healing properties with the Hawaiian taro plant to create rituals that are uplifting, pure and vibrant.”
How cool is that!? Mommy said it was the best massage she ever had – biased perhaps, but I’ll take it!
After mommy’s massage we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s… all in all, it was a great birthday trip and I’m very glad I crashed!
(Dad note: We’re glad Maile crashed too – it wouldn’t have been the same without her!)
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My daddy tells me I’m a lucky girl because I still have great grandparents on both sides of my family. You may recall that I met my Great Grandma Bea and Great Grandpa Irv when I went to Chicago in October. Yesterday I met my Great Grandma Kiyoko – she’s Grandpa Cal’s mommy. Mommy, daddy and I went over to her place for lunch. I was on my best behavior and I definitely think I charmed her.
Yes, my skin is quite soft. What do I use? Nothing special - I just make sure I moisturize every night.
Great Grandma Kiyoko, Mommy and Me
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As a special surprise, after we went to the beach, mommy and daddy took me to the spot where they got married at the Kauai Marriott hotel. It was very beautiful and romantic – I wish I could have been there!
Daddy told me this is where the wedding ceremony took place - between the big white columns...
Mommy showed me how she walked down the aisle...
The fish wasn't really involved in the ceremony, but mommy and I posed in front of it anyways...
Mommy, thank you for showing me this beautiful and important place!
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I was under the impression that umbrellas were for the rain, but daddy says it will protect me from the sun. And by "me", I think he really means "us"...
Let’s call a spade a spade – I may have gotten a lot of mommy’s looks, but I definitely got my daddy’s skin tone. There is nothing “hapa” about my white skin. And since I’m under 6 months old, I can’t wear sun block yet – so mommy and daddy have been very careful about my outside time.
I finally convinced them that if I was going to be on Hawaii, I needed to hit the beach. First, we did a practice run in the backyard – mommy and Uncle Steve set up a pool and I played around for awhile in it. I love my baths and the pool seemed like one big bath, so I had plenty of fun.
My first bathing suit didn't fit - my head was too big! I had to borrow a suit from my cousin. So embarassing.
Things went better after I found a suit that fit - I had great fun playing in the pool in the backyard.
After the practice run, it was time to hit the beach – we headed over to the Kalapaki Beach. (For those that came to mommy and daddy’s wedding, its the beach right outside the Marriott hotel.)
I was a little timid at first, but I started to relax after a little bit. BTW – in the pictures below I’m the one in the pink bathing suit and ivory white legs!
Daddy, you are going to hold me tight, right?
Ooh, this floor feels squishy between my toes...
We also checked out the kiddie pool at the Marriott – since Daddy is haole we looked just like tourists!
How does my stroke look? Are my arms cutting the water correctly?
Swimming is fun! Yay!
All in all, a successful first trip to the beach! I can't wait to come back ...
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Taking a cue from Auntie Elyssa (she’s been making cookies like a fiend) – I asked Grandma Gail, mommy and daddy to show me how to make Christmas cookies. They were more than happy to oblige. We had great fun, although I have to say, I feel like I’m missing out a bit because I can’t actually eat the cookies yet. Kind of a tease, don’t you think?
Mommy showed me how to roll out the dough
Wait. You're saying I can MAKE the cookies, but I can't EAT the cookies? Seems like a rip off to me. I protest.
Well, even though I can't eat them, it's still fun to decorate the cookies with daddy!
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Grandma Gail and Grandpa Cal thought the girls needed some transportation for the backyard. How do you get three girls around? With a wagon, of course!
(Dad note: I honestly think this is the first time they all sat still together this whole trip!)
Three cuties all lined up in the Radio Flyer
Since Maile is the youngest, Katie held on to her tight - she's was a very good older cousin
Mush, daddy, Mush!
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Family Picture - Week 23 (Chris and Maile are showing off the matching jammies that Daddy got them for Christmas)
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After Grandma Gail saw that Maile started rolling over Thanksgiving, she kindly asked that Maile deliver a similar holiday milestone when she came to Hawaii. We made no promises, but Maile indeed had a milestone up her sleeve. Unbeknown to us she had been practicing her sitting – and one morning busted it out for all to see. It’s still a little rough around the edges and she can’t pull herself up to a sitting position, but once she’s sitting she can stay that way for a good while and play with toys. Needless to say, Grandma Gail was quite impressed and pleased with Maile’s little Christmas gift…
(Click here for the video.)
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Maile’s first Christmas was action-packed. We had Christmas parties with the whole Morisato family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In addition to meeting all of her aunties, uncles and cousins, a highlight for Maile Girl was definitely meeting Santa. Apparently, she didn’t get the memo from her cousin Emily – as Maile was quite pleased with the man in red. She sat in her lap and loved the present he gave her. Very nice of old St. Nick to stop by and make some time for Maile Girl on Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately daddy was trying to balance both video and photo duties so he apologizes for the jumpiness of the video capture for this historic moment:
We took lots of pictures over the Christmas holiday – see the slide show below for the highlights…
(Click here for the Maile Meets Santa video.)
(Click here for all the photos.)
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