Aroha, Arohanui

Last night I had an interesting experience with Lily. Around 1am she woke up and was whimpering. I left her for a few minutes, hoping she would soothe herself back to sleep. Slowly she started crying and I got up and went to her. She nursed hungrily for awhile, and let out some nice toots- something made her gassy I guess (who knows, this girl can toot with the best of them!). Anyways, after nursing for the better part of 90 minutes I was exhausted and she really need to go back to sleep. I had tried putting her in her bed a few times, but I guess her belly hurt too badly. I tried holding her belly to belly on me, but that made her arch her back and scream. The only position she was happy in was literally, her 'happy place'. Well, I wasn't up for that so I got her binky, and tried again to hug her to my chest. She was screaming but I took a deep breath to remain calm and started singing a song I learned in New Zealand to her...
Aroha, Arohanui
When a baby smiles, out comes the sun
Aroha, Arohanui
Love to all, love to everyone

Well... it did the trick! she was calmed down by the time I completed this short song one time, and asleep shortly after that. It may have been just a fluke, who knows. My girl and I have had this kind on connection since hours after her birth. The Peds doctors wanted to keep her with them for observation overnight, but the couldn't get her to settle and stop screaming. The minute they laid her next to me she was sound asleep. My Lily Girl. I can't believe she is 10 months old in a few days...

When I looked up the meaning of the Maori words this is what I found, it makes perfect sense to me :)


The word “Arohanui” is a Maori word and, as with many Polynesian words, there is no direct translation into English. The literal meaning is “big love”, or “much love” or “great love”. And, like most words in most languages, it has several meanings. In naming this book, “Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand”, “Arohanui” is used in its more expressive meaning, “enfolding love”, or “that love which binds a community together”, or “that love which creates bonds of mutual trust and loyalty”, or “that love which builds and carries forward culture or civilization”.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.....

Christmas is creeping up on us here in sunny Florida. Preparations are in full swing but it is difficult to truly get into the spirit when its in the 70's every day (not that I'm complaining!)



We originally wanted to get a real tree- one that we could plant after Christmas, but we found such an amazing deal on a 6.5' fake one that we couldn't pass it up. Besides, our yard is pretty full as it is! It was pretty special to decorate it. TQ and PopPop sent up a box of ornaments that were mine as a child, and Grandma and Grandpa also sent a box of pretty holiday things. I had such fun explaining all of the ornaments to John, including the egg shell that I remember making in first grade with Mr. Ramsey- Alexis' Dad. Oh, the memories.

John and I had planned on having a few of his friends over to decorate gingerbread men over the weekend, but instead John ended up at the Doctor on Friday after school and on breathing treatments after that... Oh well. Fingers crossed that we are all feeling better for Christmas!


Lily looks on as John learns how to use the nebulizer.


Poor baby.

To wrap it up... here are a couple fun pictures!

John.

My boy. As active as ever. Many of the photos I try to take end up looking like this:



He is making so many great friends at school. Today, he had a friend over and I heard the most amazing laughter coming out of his bedroom- what a joy! We've been working on his letters and writing lately, our front porch tiles and some sidewalk chalk have
turned out to be a great spot!








4 can be such a trying age, but there are many little things that get us through- just look at that sweet smile :)

9 months

Lily turned 9 months on Thanksgiving day- November 24. She had her well baby check the other day and is weighing in at 17lbs 15oz and measures 28.5inches. Our baby is saying a few words with regularity- Daddy was the first word but has since included BAH BAH (bath) and NonNon (JohnJohn) and when she is really upset, Maaamaaa! She loves to eat and would gladly sit in her highchair snacking away for hours at a time. John will tell you 'Lily eats what she sees' and its the truth!
She truly is a delight... and a ham! Such a little model, always stopping to pose for the camera.