Life with Zadie and Gala

trampoline fun

2011-12-27T18:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks Nana Becca for the trampoline... Check out my dance, jump, split and karate moves.

zombie scarecrow

2011-12-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

Auntie Shannon made a zombie scarecrow for Mikhail and Zadie did the final bloody touches.

opening presents (finally!)

2011-12-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

A fun morning with the family and Auntie Shannon. We tried to keep it simple and not get too much stuff as the girls have plenty to enjoy as it is. Apart from a sand/water table, we also avoided too much plastic which feels good. Other gifts flowed from family and friends so Zadie was certainly spoiled anyway. Zadie painted little canvases (Z giving Gala her's pictured) for everyone as well as a little jellyfish (pictured) that was in Mom's stocking. Thank you to everyone that sent cards and gifts!!!

christmas firsts

2011-12-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

G's first Christmas and the first for the family in the house. We are all unbelievably blessed! Merry Christmas to all our friends and family out there. Wish we could all be together.

boat trip with tiki

2011-12-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

fall semester

2011-12-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

basketball game with dad

2011-12-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

Dad took Z to the Maui Invitational for some basketball action.

9 months

2011-11-19T13:28:00.001-08:00

Look how big my sister is getting! She is getting into everything, cruising, starting to feed herself bananas and pasta, moving to music and has begun mimicking.

nanas

2011-11-19T13:27:00.001-08:00

z feeds g

2011-11-07T19:34:00.002-08:00

unicorn

2011-11-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

daily walk through the hood

2011-11-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

robot infinity

2011-11-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

The robot family (along with our Mad Scientist Shannon and her assistant Ryu) took to the streets for some trick or treating fun. We all had some technical difficulties maneuvering in a box, but Gala loved chewing on her funnel hat. A nearby neighborhood goes wild for Halloween making it an all out block party complete with haunted house and one man who offered hotdogs and water to all the revelers. As I was putting her to bed, Zadie told me in her robot voice "I-love-you-in-fin-ity." It was worth all the work for that.

halloween dance at Z's school

2011-11-01T17:56:00.001-07:00

hairdresser

2011-11-01T17:55:00.001-07:00

Zadie and Gala emerged from the bathroom as Zadie announced she did Gala's hair.

on dad's chair

2011-11-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

this year's fair

2011-10-05T22:26:00.001-07:00

peekaboo stills

2011-10-05T22:22:00.001-07:00

peekaboo gala

2011-10-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

crawling

2011-10-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Crawling. Just filmed today.

still asleep

2011-10-01T14:30:00.001-07:00

Gala only a few weeks old...

the crafting maniac

2011-10-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

Zadie made some beautiful candles which she now lights before bed for songs and blows out before she falls asleep. She says its like having a birthday every day. She's now on fall break so we also finally got around to starting the "castle" project. (She has been saving toilet paper rolls for months.) Her artwork is truly becoming more beautiful and refined each day. Her topics are still pretty typical...rainbows, hearts, flowers, and trees. But her stories to explain the pictures blow me away. Will post some examples....

can i smoke this?

2011-10-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Gala has been crawling lately and we are finding she has a nose for our phones, the remote control, the newspaper and electrical cords. Yikes.

niner nation

2011-10-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

tons of teeth

2011-10-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Gala already has four teeth on top and three on bottom. She likes to snort when she eats and has started making clucking sounds with her tongue as well as giving people rasberries.

sunday morning with the aunties

2011-10-01T10:48:00.001-07:00

screams and giggles

2011-09-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Finally figured out how to upload videos from my phone. More soon!

learning to crawl is exhausting

2011-09-07T13:38:00.001-07:00

monk seal

2011-09-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate enough to catch a monk seal chilling out at the beach. They come to shore to rest from time to time, but this one we heard was there for a week. They suspect she was molting her fur. Z was thrilled to see it up close while it flopped around basking in the sun. We even caught a roar which was aimed at a woman walking by who came a little too close.

out cold

2011-08-27T19:30:00.001-07:00

she sits, she eats

2011-08-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

6 month progress: Close to sitting on her own, eating solids, babbling is *almost* sounding like words, and in the "grabby" stage.

little fish

2011-08-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Zadie has been taking swimming lessons, and although she has always been pretty strong in the water, the lessons have helped her swim faster and longer. She can now swim the length of the Olympic-size pool and tried the diving board today. Gala is also becoming friends with the water, now enjoying herself so much that dad put her underwater a few times.

back to school

2011-08-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

Zadie is back at Montessori for the school year. I took this photo for her cubbie and I am amazed at what a beautiful little lady she is becoming.

water baby

2011-07-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

Gala still does not like the water, but we must persist! After whining about being put in the ocean too often this week, she much prefers getting toweled off and relaxing under her umbrella. Meanwhile, Zadie went off to explore a blowhole with Tristan and Evie.

sunflower

2011-07-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks Auntie Cara for the care package. Gala especially loves this outfit and Zadie's paper bird now hangs in her room.

last days before school

2011-07-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Zadie did a few camps this summer and she's home for the last week before school. We've deemed this reading camp, so have been giving her reading lessons daily and trips to the library (and pool!). She also has no problem finding stuff to do in her playroom. Building, puzzles, books, elaborate adventures with her stuffed animals, princesses, or horses, painting and crafts, the playground. She does a little of everything every day, including Pilates with mom!

silly headband

2011-07-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

first pool day

2011-07-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

We took Gala to the pool for the first tiime. She didn't cry, but she did protest with a constant low moan. She was all smiles when we took her out, although the hat did not please her.

i want this, no that

2011-07-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

sunday snorkel

2011-07-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

La Perouse for the Sunday paper and a little snorkel on dad's back...

bright new day

2011-07-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

MY giraffe

2011-07-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

teeth

2011-07-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

Gala's bottom teeth have arrived, along with a waterfall of drool...

mat play

2011-07-13T16:08:00.001-07:00

morning meditation

2011-07-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

Not quite a month and the garden is going strong.

4.5 months

2011-07-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Gala has been grabbing anything in sight (including my camera). She babbles constantly like an old lady who doesn't care about anyone's opinion but her own, has teeth coming in, and prefers standing to sitting. Zadie makes her laugh more than anyone and it is so sweet to see them together. She's hitting the sweet spot where fussiness has subsided and a sweet little gal has emerged.

picking flowers

2011-07-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

Picking flowers at Auntie Shannon's is hard work!

how fast they grow

2011-07-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

We visited Christina's newborn Makena. Gala is no longer the "little" baby.

all aboard!

2011-07-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

It's Not a Box! Zadie asked me for a paper plate and when I asked why, she said, "I can't drive my train without a wheel."

dear dad

2011-06-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Zadie and I made magnets this morning out of an old Scrabble game. We decided the first refrigerator note would be to dad. The drawing (if you can't tell already) is of the family around dad's garden.

Dad's Garden

2011-06-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

Dad has put a lot of work and love into the garden and we're excited to see it grow. We have been talking about a compost and chickens too, but one step at a time.

bathtub bubbles

2011-06-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

dad's birthday

2011-06-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

We had a housewarming/birthday party for Dad this weekend. Emily thoughtfully made a Tiki birthday cake. For the actual birthday we caught sunset at the beach and had a hotdog picnic.

princess gala

2011-06-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

Styled by sister Zadie.

Zadie's version

2011-06-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Zadie's rendition of The Throwdown's "Kihei Town" recorded by the lead singer Erin Smith. She likes to swap Kihei Town for Tiki Lounge which is very appropriate considering the "stumbling around" part of the song. We didn't know she knew the words until we heard her singing to herself on the toilet.

osh kosh

2011-05-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

missing camera

2011-05-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

We recently found a camera I thought I lost on Halloween 2009. What a gift to find it in Mikhail's car and see old photos of Zadie when she was 2 1/2. The Butterfly Frog returns with her friend Tristan, the flying monkey from the Wizard of Oz...Enjoy!

popeye

2011-05-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

crib

2011-05-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Gala has been sleeping beautifully. She is now sleeping in her own room and only wakes up once a night for a snack. Her naps are slowly getting organized as well with a short one in the morning, a two hour one in the middle of the day where mom is grateful to get stuff done, then sometimes a short snooze late afternoon. She yelps a little when I put her down, but she knocks herself out within five minutes. I thought she'd be a tougher nut to crack, but it was pretty easy once I decided it was time.

standing baby, take 2

2011-05-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Mikhail is at it again... Gala doesn't lock her legs the way Zadie did, so she doesn't stay up too long. But she has been working on her standing exercises with a little help from dad.

sisters

2011-05-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

zadie's ride

2011-05-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

Lola got Mikhail a push mower for the new house, but Zadie of course had her own ideas about what we needed...

what do you see?

2011-05-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

almost 3 months

2011-05-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Gala had her "2 month" check up a bit late. I'm shocked she'll already be 12 weeks next Tuesday. She weighed in at 13 lb 12.4 oz and 23". Notable achievements:
- Smiling a lot and has a little "hehe" giggle going on
- Very ticklish on her chin.
- Cooing and moving her mouth trying to "talk"
- As a belly sleeper, her neck is very strong. Last night was her longest sleep yet having an 8 hour stretch so I'm hopeful she'll find her rhythm soon. Although she still prefers being held to sleep, she will soon learn how to do it on her own.
- Still can't stand being put down, but has finally become friends with her swing.
- Nicknames include GG, GalaGala, Buddha, and Chunk.

bathtime with lola

2011-05-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

playground

2011-05-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Mikhail scored a deep soak tub and Zadie (and eventually Gala) got a playground. Zadie's already figured out she can go across the monkey bars all by herself.

keys

2011-05-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

With the help of Lola and Lolo as well as the boys at Tikis, we moved this past weekend to our first home! When we arrived our friend and realtor Dan McDonnell thoughtful left us a treat along with the keys. More pictures of the new digs to come.

chunk

2011-04-25T16:43:00.001-07:00

austin trip

2011-04-25T16:42:00.001-07:00

lolo's serenade

2011-04-25T16:40:00.001-07:00

tumbled dry

2011-04-25T16:39:00.001-07:00

easter dress

2011-04-25T16:38:00.001-07:00

all smiles

2011-04-25T16:37:00.002-07:00

in 8 years

2011-04-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

We moved to Maui from Brooklyn 8 years ago this coming May. These old suitcases are what we arrived in Maui with and contained all we had in the world.

beach day

2011-04-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

last day with nana becca

2011-04-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

the girls

2011-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

all dolled up

2011-04-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

Nana Becca gave Zadie a little glamour lesson.

puppet show

2011-04-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

lola's here

2011-04-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

beach walk

2011-04-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

quick bite

2011-04-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

bikini photoshoot

2011-04-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

While lamenting one early morning that Gala would never get to wear this cute bathing suit since she fattened up so fast, Zadie and I decided to have a photo shoot. I had to stuff her in this suit sans straps which were impossible to get over her pudgy arms. Zadie decided it would be silly to hold Gala in her pajamas, so she ran upstairs and put on her own suit. Ironically, we decided to go to the beach later that day, but I couldn't torture the poor baby to put it back on again.

the softie

2011-04-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

Leoncio was so sweet with little Gala always speaking Spanish baby gibberish to her. He took her out every morning to get some sun.

sumo baby

2011-04-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

belly sleeper

2011-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

tiki kids

2011-04-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

old school

2011-04-03T20:07:00.000-07:00

brand new vintage

2011-04-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Been having fun with Vignette, a camera effects app for my android.

zadie behind the camera

2011-03-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

Zadie took this photo and I thought it was pretty sweet. Gala looks so much like Zadie when she was this age.

sister kiss

2011-03-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

optimist, pessimist

2011-03-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

phone polaroid

2011-03-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

upcountry with nana becca & leoncio

2011-03-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

deep in thought

2011-03-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

golden children

2011-03-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

my little potato

2011-03-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

I asked Zadie what to call title this photo, and she responded, "My little potato." Gala is 5 weeks today and she weighed in today at 10lbs.

gala's bassinet

2011-03-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

i got ya kid

2011-03-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

pink buddha

2011-03-18T16:59:00.002-07:00