Hi shoes!!

This morning as I was changing Kaia's diaper, she was very squirmy so I gave her her shoes to play with. Once she's finished examining them she says 'Hi Shoes!' I've never heard her say the word 'shoes' before and It took me by surprise!
She's been putting words together a lot lately and it's so fun to watch her learn and understand more and more when we talk to her. If she ever wants to know what something is or what a sound is she'll point to it and say 'What's this?' or 'What is that?' We just can't believe how fast our baby is growing up!!
We love you so much Kaia!! Slow down and enjoy being a baby :)

Happy 1st Birthday Kaia!!

Our sweet girl turned 1 year old on Saturday. I can not begin to say how much we love her and how much she has changed our lives. We're happy to say that she is continuing to gain weight :-). At her 12 month appointment she weighed 18 lbs 3 oz (10%) and is 29 inches long (50%). She's just about to start walking, taking a step at a time. I can't believe how fast that year went by. She has grown and changed in so many ways. She can do so many things now...

She talks...
1. Mama
2. Dada
3. Dog
4. Ball
5. This
6. That
7. What's this?/What's that?
8. Light
9. Aloha
10. Bye
11. Up
12. Down
(at 12 months the average baby know 2 words)

She knows...
Where airplanes are (the sky)
Where the light is
Where the moon is
What dogs say
What frogs do (jump jump)

She likes...
Rides in her brand new wagon
playing with her cousins
Singing with mommy


She loves...
Dancing
Chocolate
bed time books with dad
Standing on her own and shaking her hips like a Polynesian dancer


Kaia has been such a good baby. I've said it a million times but she makes parenting easy! She's a charmer and LOVES to have her picture taken. She enjoys standing at the front window and waiving to all the cars, and people that go by. I could go on and on - but what parent couldn't? She's perfect and we are so grateful for her . She has made our lives so wonderful and rewarding, and I don't know how we ever made it without her. As I was looking back on these pictures I couldn't help but feel nostalgic - the last year has been a dream come true, Kaia we love you so much. Happy birthday.

Recent pictures....

Kaia loves to play in the grass, and since we have none right now, it was an extra special treat for her to crawl around and play with her friend over the weekend.
...just relaxing, and enjoying being outside...

At Kaia's cousin's birthday party, all the other kids were running around or playing, but she would rather sit in front of the stereo and dance....that's my girl!

That smile still melts me!! What a wonderful little girl she is, and growing so fast!!
....her fathers beautiful green eyes....

Chris' cousin has been staying with us for the past couple days, and it has been so much fun! Kaia just loves her! One of the many things Kaia loves to do with Becky is talk to her on the phone. (or pretend to talk with her.) Kaia will grab my cell phone and hold in just past her head....(not at her ear, but just past it) and she will jabber into the phone..
The phone is behind her head in this pic

I think she wanted a little privacy for that call...1 year going on 16....

Something else she started doing yesterday was copying her Grandpa Corotan and 'playing the congas'. She took a pack of Clorox wipes and starting pounding away at them...what can I say it's in the blood.. ( I think this is the same face my dad makes when he's playing the drums ;-)

She just keeps getting better!

I still get that same feeling when I look at Kaia. The one I got the first time I saw her, and held her. I can't believe she is mine, and I can't believe how perfect she is! We've had so much fun together this summer. She's such a good baby, and she brings so much love and happiness into our home. We are so blessed!

Our good friends (Russ and Deb) gave us a patio swing when they moved. We have it in our back yard and Kaia LOVES to swing on it. We go out at least twice a day. Just like her parents she loves to be outside and enjoy nature - (this has made camping very nice)

I was eating some milk chocolate Flipz the other day, and Kaia would not stop attacking me until I gave her one...this is the outcome...
She's a clever little girl...she didn't want the pretzel at all, she devoured the chocolate, and spit out the pretzel

Kaia slept about 14 hours one night. And it made me a little nervous that she was sleeping in so late. So I went in to check on her...She somehow pulled the bumper off the crib and crawled over, or under it. I found her sleeping like this. Maybe that's why she slept in so late...she was wresting the bedding all night...

Summer Fun!!

Kaia had her first ride behind a boat! When we started to go she looked a little nervous, but she was bouncing up and down by the time we were done, she had such a good time!

Kaikai borrowed her friends sun glasses, she actually left them on!
She's had so much fun on the boat this summer! We're so lucky to have such nice friends!
The past couple week's we've been going to a man made lake near Kk's cousin's house. She has so much fun playing in the water and in the sand and watching her big cousins run around. As soon as she saw me pull out my camera she pulled a face. Silly girl.
We went to a local swimming pool and splash pad on Saturday. She had so much fun!
She loves hanging out with her daddy, and was so happy he planned such a fun day for her.
She played so hard!! She fell asleep on the way home...sweet dreams Kk!!

....let's get caught up!

On July 2nd, we went to watch my brother Dan dance with his Polynesian group and the Freedom Festival we have in town...clearly you can see Kaia was captivated!
Chris family arrived on the 3rd for the fun festivities, as well as a family reunion later on that week. 3 of Chris younger brother's stayed with us, and it was so fun to have them there. Kaia really got to know them well, and they were ALWAYS able to put a smile on her face!
on the 4th we had all of Chris' family over for a BBQ, and then to watch fireworks. As always a pickup game of soccer began, and the wives and cousins hung out. Kaia took to eating flowers, and really seemed to enjoy herself.
..she NEVER leaves home with out her blackberry!
Daddy and Kaia were being silly with the camera...Kaia's closeup!We all went camping for Chris family reunion. Before everyone got there we went on a little hike that led us to a FREEZING cold water fall. Kaia really loves being out doors - and had a fun time hiking with her uncles, and grandma and grandpa Williamson. ...I'm on a boat... Our water baby loved being in the water, even thought it was freezing cold. That first day she was doing all she could to escape from my arms and get into the water to splash around
It was Kaia's first camping trip and she was pretty good. The first night was so windy we all thought our tents would blow over. A few hours into the night Kaia got scared, and was able to get her way, and cuddle all night in between mom and dad....
The day we got back home Chris shaved...THANK GOODNESS. Kaia met lots of new great aunts and uncles, and cousins and 2nd cousins...she was all smiles. There was never a shortage of attention Kaia received - what a lucky and loved little girl!



Camping was a blast. The Williamson's are all so much fun. Chris' Aunts and Uncles and cousins are all so much fun to be around. What a great family! We're so glad to be so close to them, and be able to get together like this every so often!
The evening we got back from the camping trip Kaia's cousin Kyle was blessed in our home. It was great to have almost everyone together...(though Dan and Nell were missed)
After having family stay with us, camping and the baby blessing, Chris and Kaia were worn out! Like any baby, Kaia's favorite place to nap is with her daddy.
We love when the Williamson's come to visit, and look forward to them staying with us. They are such a wonderful family and I feel so blessed to be apart of it. We have so much fun whenever they are around, and they will be missed!!