Exploring the Big Island...Every Last Inch

Though, I had to return home to vacaction from my go-go-go vacation (Next time we rent a car, I'm going to make sure it has a mileage cap. Brandon has the must-see-everything traveling disposition. Endearing, but exhausting for a pregnant mama. [Oh, yes, I'm pregnant. Due in February. We are thrilled, of course.]) our trip with Anali and Brandon's parents to visit my Aunt Pam and her family in Hilo, Hawaii was priceless. I hadn't seen Pam in over a decade and a half, so her kindness in opening her home to us was overwhelming. The Big Island was big and lush and diverse and beautiful on so many levels.

Anali and Rachel at Akaka Falls, The Big Island, Hawaii.

A warm beach at Mauna Kea. Brandon though it would be "cute" to bury Anali's legs in the sand. She didn't think it was so cute. But she sure liked playing with her bucket.

A black sand beach at the edge of a 1990s lava flow.

This was one of my favorite spots on the Island, the entrance to the Waipi'o Valley, where the kings of old purportedly lived. We had to drive a 4x4 down a 25% grade to the bottom of the valley to get to the real scene. This was the kind of fun that is really, really freaky, the kind of fun that's more fun when it's over and you know you survived. You should have seen Brandon's mom, the picture of grace. Me, I was a doubting Thomas, a whiny bedwetter who wouldn't trust our Mercury Mariner its 4x4 capabilities. Despite my wussiness, I loved every minute. Most minutes. We were going to a place no rental car company would bail us out of, and I was extremely aware of that fact while we drove through streams and up a hill so steep the downhill traffic had to yield to the uphill lest we lose our grip. That said, I've seen few places more beautiful on earth...The view standing beside Anali's crib still tops it, though.

The Seattle Aquarium

Thursday, Mom and I took Anali to the Seattle Aquarium. One of her favorite "words" lately is fish, which she says like "sh, sh" as she makes the sign for it. She was beside herself when I let her reach in and pet the starfish and other sea creatures (it's allowed). She wanted to climb in, at one point. Our favorite was the octupus, who would swim right up against our faces and give us quite a view.

Time with Friends

Susan, Jasmine, and Anali at the Carbon River.

Isaac and Natalie DeBoer "cuddling" with Anali.

Running in the sand at Spring Canyon where Brandon's 10th high school reunion was held.

Summer Fun

Swimming at Lake Tapps.

Anali is really taken with her Daddy lately. She rarely cuddles, but when they hug, they hum together in some strange sort of loving dissonance. It's off key, but endearing.

Brandon feeding Anali. After I fed Anali, she fed herself, stole food from her friend Jasmine's breakfast plate, then crawled on Dad's lap for another bite to eat. Her appetite made our loads easier to pack up. Here we are camping on the Carbon River with our friends the Dumontets. Though the tent frightened her at first, she became fascinated by it and spend a good fifteen minutes walking around and bouncing on the Thermarests. First camping trip: successful.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

I cannot believe how dainty Anali looks in this picture. You should see her sling a purse over shoulder. She even knows what to do with a brush.

HOWEVER, she's a balanced young lady. I think she prefers dirt, rocks, and sand to any pretty purse.

She was one happy wet little sand flea.

July Sunshine

Jasmine and Anali love to ride along to the swings.

July 7, at Susan's 30th birthday party!

Susan and Jasmine, Me and Anali enjoying a soak in the pool. The girls loved "jumping" in from the side of the pool. They were very brave!

More Pictures

Twelve Months Old

Ava, Anali, and Jasmine playing at Ani's little party.

My first day of school. Brandon and Anali joined me at the University of Washington as I began my first class for my Master's. I start full time for three weeks tomorrow. Pray for me. I'm a little scared. They keep emphasizing how "intense" it is going to be, and if my professors say it's intense, whoa baby.

Anali started walking today, July 1! When they get it, they get it, I guess. She decided all of a sudden, "What's the big deal, guys? It's nothing." She's been walking across the livingroom, around the yard, around the kitchen all afternoon. I'm curious if she'll be able to sleep tonight! Brandon and I are proud of her; she's so brave!

Anali's Birthday

We began our day at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. I took the day off, and we had a "buddy day," as Hannah and I used to call special days growing up. Our friends Susan and Jasmine joined us for our first trip to the zoo.

She was crying here, but I wanted a shot so badly I didn't save her. I got a few glares from more attentive mothers around me. She recovered easily when we moved on to the puffins.

Every year on her birthday, we'll take out my wedding dress and get a snapshot of her in it. A fun way to watch her grow. Good thing we had a daughter, because I don't think a son would think much of posing in Mama's wedding dress.

Her first cupcake, and she didn't hesitate to dig right in.

For Anali's first birthday, we had a few close friends and family over for an informal barbeque. We ate and visited, took pictures of her in my wedding dress, wrote notes to her (for her to read when she's grown), watched Anali devour her cupcake, then headed indoors to share with Anali what we loved most about her (That was the start of a really special tradition we hope to continue in our family. Thanks to those of you who shared. Anali will treasure those messages throughout her lifetime!), and danced to her favorite song. Brandon and I were extraordinarily blessed to have in one room so many people brimming with love for Anali. This year has been sweeter than any cupcake!

Father's Day Hike

Brandon and Anali at Sunrise on Mt. Rainier

Look at the deer!

Anali and Jasmine at Play

Anali and her best friend, Jasmine

A Trip to Spokane

Riverfront Park

At Duncan Gardens, where Brandon proposed five years ago

Riverfront Park

80 Degrees...Bring on the Blow-up Pool

All you need for an action shot with a toddler

is a gray cat to chase

and some good old fashion lawn.

I had a really hard morning at work today. I was so grateful to come home to a sunny afternoon and a baby in a bathing suit. God is so gracious to give me such good gifts on the other end of the teeter-totter.

A Day Trip

These pictures were taken in Port Gamble, Washington, one of many short stops during our ten-hour trip around Hood Canal. We walked the loop around Port Gamble's historic downtown, ate gigantic sandwiches at the Coastal Cafe, and I read the final pages of Khaled Hosseini's newest book A Thousand Splendid Suns as we drove the route home. It was a perfect sort of day.