maui summer 2007 114

Originally uploaded by goodness.

After spending all summer on Maui, we are finally getting ready to fly thousands of miles back to Brooklyn. Kawena is a very smiley baby now, always laughing and talking, ready to play, ready to go. He has really come a long way since he arrived. Now he is very engaged in the world, and loves new experiences. Besides his regular old baby behavior, some basic traits have continued to be strong or show up: overall, he is very calm, a “cruiser” as Jen put it. Kawena seems to talk more when he is with Mom, and that includes complaining too! He has great hand skills, manipulating mangoes, tangerines, bottle, balls, toys, and soon utensils too. He is cautious and observant when encountering new things – i.e. today he saw Auntie Terese’s very loud little dog and watched it carefully before reaching towards it. He recognizes humor and playfulness and is filled with laughter. He has come to complain and grumble, rather than crying, when he is hungry or upset and he is developing a very loud yelling voice. When we sucked his boogers out of his nose with the little plungey thing he hated it at first and started yelling – AAAAAAAAAGHH! Not like a baby crying, more like a sports fan yelling at a bad call. He likes books; when given a choice between a toy and a book he goes for the book.

The summer has been good to us, lots of things accomplished around the house and with the family and we lucky to have been surrounded by love and visitors: Grandpa Manu, Grandma Kathy, Grandma Sherrie, Great Grandma, Uncle Avi and Jen, cousin Katie, The Fogarty clan, Uncles Nick Brian and Sean, cousin Max, Auntie Stayci and Uncle Mike and cousin Tasha, Big Uncle Nick and Uncle David. For a family so spread out, it was really something to see the parade of loved ones promenading through. Kawena got to go all over the island and see Iao, Kaupo, Twin Falls, Kula, Paia, went to Waikiki, and even saw Ulalena! (Thanks Nara!) He got his 2 and 4 month doctors appointments and all his shots, he got a stuffy nose, learned to stand and grew 3 inches and gained 10 pounds. And when you call his name, his face lights up like sunshine.

Not bad for a little monkey!