Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

So, Kauai was breathtakingly gorgeous, as always. We certainly had a different traveling experience this trip what with a 9 month old in tow. He decided that napping on the 7 hour flight over there was for wussies, so I got to stand in the aisle for a loooooong time while he used my seat as a jungle gym. I'm so glad I brought a big bag of toys for the flight (wrapped in colorful paper and ribbons for additional distraction) when his favorite objets were an empty beer can, a plastic soda cup, and a paper cup from the water fountain.

Fortunately he did sleep most of the return flight (a red-eye), and we had an empty seat between us so he could stretch out. United Economy Plus is DEFINITELY worth the extra money!

It was great to have my dad and stepmom there with us, both so they could experience Paradise for themselves and to spend time with Snackbox.


We stayed at our time share resort, the Point at Poipu. We had a partial ocean view unit, which had a surprisingly full ocean view.

What we really love about the resort, though, is the pool.


Sam and I did not stray too far from the resort so that we could maintain Ryan's nap schedule, but we did make it over to the Hyatt next door for the torchlighting ceremony (and $17 mai tais - ouch!).

We drove out to Waimea Canyon during one nap, with just enough time to catch this beautiful rainbow on the Na Pali coast before hopping back in the car to keep Ryan asleep.

2009 Kauai Family Portrait - we'll be back!

I am the Ryan, the Mighty Mighty Ryan

My friend Julie handed down this cute little Broncos warm up suit, and even though I could care less about football (though I have always lived smack-dab in the middle of the most fanatic football regions - Minnesota, Boston, Denver), I just had to put this on him - mainly because I couldn't find any other pants that fit over his chubby thighs!

Note the little tennies, too. Here he and Grandpa are discussing the remarkable ending of last Sunday's game.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

We took Ryan in for his nine month check up yesterday. He weighs 22 lbs 3 oz (75 percentile), is 29 inches long (75 percentile), and he impressed the nurses and the doctor with his flirtatious charm and remarkable core strength. He's got a couple of teeth poised to poke through his top gums any day now.

Over Labor Day weekend we also had a visit with an educator from the Parents as Teachers program. This is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about their child's developmental stages and how to encourage mastery of various skills. For example, Ryan has just started to cruise on the furniture. Ann suggested we place a noisy toy (and oh, do we have some noisy toys!) at one end of the sofa to lure him to cruise to that end, and then switch. Seems simple enough, but I hadn't thought of it. Of course, it is also nice to have strangers and child development professionals comment on what a genius our baby is!

On Cheerios and Whole Wheat Pasta

Two minutes of finger food madness.

9 Months In, 9 Months Out

Okay, so the whole 9 months pregnant thing is a MYTH made up by people who are bad at math (40 weeks gestation = 10 months), so when your baby celebrates 9 months everyone (the aforementioned "bad at math" folks, and obviously those who have never been pregnant) say "Oh, that's as long as he was inside you!" Umm, not quite. We'll celebrate Ryan being out in the world for as long as he was swimming laps in my tummy on October 5.

Anyway, so we have had a crazy couple of weeks. Ryan is pulling up on anything and everything, and recently started to "cruise" along the edge of the couch and the kitchen cabinets. He is SO adorable, I just can't help grinning from ear to ear when I'm with him (and, frankly, even when I'm not with him).

With a sweet potato mohawk crafted by Daddy (and a sweet potato booger of his own making)

Ryan turned 9 months old on Saturday, which we celebrated with two of the other babies from our Survival for New Moms group and their parents.

David and Rowyn

Mmmm... beer

On Sunday we drove up to Winter Park to spend the night with the Haces at their condo. Scott and Sam went mountain biking, Heidi and Suzy went for a run, and I just lazed around and hung out with the babies. I think I got the best part of the deal.

On Monday we went for a hike. Ryan loves to ride in his backpack, as you can see:

Rockin' the flannel shirt, Kurt Cobain-style

Hmm... nature tastes funny...

Oh, we also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Love you forever, darlin'!