Official Big Girl!

Well, it has finally happened. My little girl is officially a big girl, she sleeps in a big girl bed, goes potty in the toilet and she gave up her soother. Which is a huge deal because she literally has never slept without it. So it was a very stressful thing, and I have been dreading/excited for this day.

So it all started with us going over to our friends house, and that night they cut their daughters soother too, so we thought it they can do it we can too. We wanted to do it on a night where there wasn't vacation renters upstairs because we knew there would be lots of crying, so we checked the schedule and it was almost booked every night until June, except this 3 day period which was the last 2 nights, and tonight. So we realized that we had to do now. So we have 2 soothers for her, but one she never uses..its kinda like the backup if we ever loose her purple one. So Taylor took it and cut a slice in it so their was no suction, when she went to suck on it she pulled it out and screamed "YUCKY" and then she said, "Cut sooder" so we said "OK"?? We were shocked, so we took it and cut off the top and she helped. Well needless to say, a couple hours after not going to sleep and screaming and crying because she missed her soother, and begging for the orange one, we gave in. Like it wasn't mad crying, it was an emotional very hurt kind of cry. I seriously felt like the worlds biggest jerk for even thinking of taking that away from her. I mean, she literally doesn't not know how to settle down for bed without it, it was such a comfort to her. But right after we gave it to her, she fell right asleep.

But the next day, Taylor took her orange one and cut another hole in it without telling me...because at this point I couldn't bare seeing her that sad again (I know, pathetic right?) But later that she went to take her nap, and she noticed it was yucky again, but she could still get some suction, so she went to sleep. Later that night she came up and said she wanted to go to bed, so I said ok. I saw her lay down and suck on her soother for a few minutes and then she came running out saying, "cut sooder," and Taylor and I said, "Madilyn, if you cut this there are NO MORE SOOTHERS." But she just kept yelling, "CUT SOODER." So we got out the scissors and let her cut off the top. So a couple hours later she finally got settled into bed and she kept asking for them, but we showed her the cut soothers and she seemed ok with her choice. But then I think she came up with every excuse in the book to not go to bed, so finally we left her and she cried for a good 20 mins I would say. But she finally passed out!!! Yeah! She did it, but she did wake up earlier than usual. And for nap time, she cried again for another 15-20 mins, but passed out again from exhaustion. It was a shorter nap, but she still did it. So I am just hoping tonight goes smoother. You can tell she was ready to do it, and she knew what she was doing...but it still makes it hard for her to let it go and learn how to sleep without it. So hears to hoping tonight goes better.

I think for Eliza we will get rid of the soother before she turns 1, so its not such a hard attachment to break. But I am excited for the big changes Madilyn has made in these past few months. She is officially a big girl.

My Big girl, just winding down by watching a show!

Tsunami...

Well, in the time period that we have lived here this was our second tsunami warning. Thursday night I was at the relief society activity on campus. At around 9:15 I left to go home, the minute I turned out onto the highway, I saw cars lined up all along the road on both sides trying to get into the gas station. I immediately knew something was wrong, and I got a really sick feeling in my stomach. I knew it was either a tsunami was coming, or gas prices were going to go up even more, we are already paying $3.94 a gallon. So I tried calling Taylor, no answer, so I called about 4 times and he finally picked up. I told him I was really worried, and that something weird was going on and asked him to hurry and check on the Internet or something. A few minutes later I pulled up to the house, and Taylor was waiting for me outside talking on the phone and ready to jump in the car. He said, "there was an 8.9 earthquake in Japan, and we are on tsunami watch." He was going to take the car and try getting gas, our neighbors were on their way out too to get gas. She was telling me her father is a geologist and has been telling them for days now something was going to happen, and he wanted them to leave the island. Anyway, Taylor left and asked me to get the house ready by filling up ever bucket, cup, anything we could find to fill with water. He was gone about an hour, I am surprised at how fast the line went. He said it was crazy over there, he was the last person to be able to get money out of the ATM before it ran out.

We are very very blessed to live in a location were we are in the safe zone, so we didn't have to leave our house this time like last time. The other amazing thing is, earlier that week Taylor and I felt impressed to get our food storage, so we ordered our kits from the LDS distribution center, and while doing so Taylor accidentally ordered an extra set of stuff. It was shipped out on Tuesday, and miraculously arrived to us Thursday afternoon. Just in time for our crazy weekend.

So I tried getting a hold of family, while I cleaned the dishes since our water was going to be shut off, and could potentially be out for days. Oh ya, the first wave was suppose to hit around 3 am and it was around 9:45pm so we had time for preparations. I filled up everything imaginable with water. I got on facebook to wait for our Bishops guidance on what we should be doing. He was telling all the off campus families to head to TVA and find shelter on the 2 floor with everyone else. Since we were far enough from the ocean we decided we wanted to stay home and let our girls sleep through the craziness. But I remembered our friends the Hitz's that live on the same road as us, but they are close to the beach. We called them and offered them to come on up so they could put there kids down here. They took us up on our offer, and they brought along their brother and his wife who are also in our ward. So in total, we had including us, 6 adults and 6 kids going to be staying in our tiny place. I had been talking to the vacation renters upstairs and they offered room to anyone that needed it, since it was much bigger and there was only 3 of them. So I asked if it would be alright if the family coming over could use a room of theirs. They were very kind and allowed us to stay there as well and watch the TV they had. Another funny thing is they were all from Alberta Canada, 2 from Edmonton (Millwoods area) and the other aunt was from Calgary...small world.

So while all of this was happening the tsunami "watch" turned into a full blown "warning" with sirens and all. I felt very at peace the whole time, and felt prepared for it. We had almost everything we needed. The only thing I was in fear of was if something really bad happened, that we wouldn't have enough for our family plus helping those who had lost homes or whatever it might be. But as you all know, we were very blessed and only very minimal damage happened in certain areas. But you can't take any of these things lightly, especially after watching the footage in Japan. My heart aches for all those people, the ocean is such a very powerful and scary thing. I pray for all those who lost loved ones, homes, and are still in desperate need of help.

Well as the night went on we kept our eyes peeled on the TV watching and waiting. The first waves didn't appear until around 3:30am or 4 ish. All the while, I think every person in Hawaii was awake waiting. It was so crazy watching the ocean suck back the water leaving only the ocean floor. So crazy, but we were so blessed that even though it was receding back the length of a football field, the water didn't rush in as fast or as high as expected. So by the time most of the action settled down, it was around 7am, just in time for our girls to wake up. Haha, needless to say we did not sleep that night! But I am so grateful it didn't turn out anywhere close to as devastating as the Japan tsunami.

But those are just some of our adventures here in Hawaii. I told Taylor that if we ever end up living here long term, I refuse to live anywhere near the beach, and I want to have a HUGE food storage! All in all everything turned out better than we could have hoped for, for us at least, we were well prepared and were in a good location with amazing neighbors and friends. So even though it didn't end up being huge, I sure hope everyone doesn't start ignoring these warnings. I am glad for the peace and comfort I felt throughout it all, and for all the prayers.

Burnham's visit Hawaii

Well this past week we had some visitors, we love visitors!! Christie got here a day earlier than Rob and Colette, so that day we mostly just hung out at home while Chris got some rest and then we headed out to get some shaved ice. Our theme song that day was Justin Biebers Baby song. And yes, Madilyn was full blown singing along. It was hilarious, she kept requesting it over and over again.

Even Eliza loved the shaved ice, she got lots of sugar while Christie, Grandpa and Grandma were here.

Madilyn at granny and grandpa's place, just eating some nachos before heading to the beach. She looks like a little diva in this picture.

So I thought Eliza was asleep in here stroller so I walked down to take some pictures...I turned around and this is what I saw. She was just peeking out trying to see what was going on.

So naturally I had to get closer to get a cute picture of my little monkey.

we did what all tourists do...the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is always so fun having visitors because this is stuff I don't get to do on a day to day basis.

Granny wouldn't go in the water, so Madilyn was trying to push her in.

Granny and Eliza

Madilyn and her best pal Grandpa

Out of order pictures, back at the PCC. Christie being a little naughty!

Waiting for the Tonga show to start.

She insisted on sitting on her own bench, this was before it started filling up.

She got really into the show, waving her hands, chanting etc...until she saw grandpa coming with "chwes cweam" (ice cream)...then she lost all interest in the show.

Eliza took a face plant in the sand, as she does everytime we go to the beach...she here is a picture of many to come.

Last but not least, Madilyn decided to start potty training while they were visiting...so Grandpa and Granny got her a bike for her potty training/birthday since they won't be here for it. She loves her bike so much, this was right after she woke up in the morning and saw her bike.

I didn't take near as many pictures as I should have, but I will try and get some from Colette since she took lots!

Potty Training

This is probably not the most exciting post in the world, but it is for us! It is mostly for my own journaling purposes and those family members who care and are not able to be around for all of it!

Well, the time has finally come for potty training. For the last few months I have been begging and pleading with Madilyn to try and go potty on the toilet. But my child is EXTREMELY stubborn and would not have it any way but her own, and you cant physically force your child to go on the toilet. So I have tried waiting patiently, giving lots of encouragement and promising her a bike it she would just go once on the potty. Well, on Monday just before Christie was going to leave to the airport we could tell Madilyn was getting ready to go #2 in her diaper (we know all the signs) so Taylor asked her if she wanted to go potty on the toilet, and she said yes. But that wasn't a big surprise because she often sits on the toilet, but never does anything on it. So he sets her on and then tells her he will shut the door and let her go alone. Well a few seconds later we hear, "I DID IT" and sure enough the evidence was there!!! We were all SO SO SO pumped, because she is 2 years and 9 months old and that was the VERY first time she has gone on the potty. She of course we had to go thru with our promise and go get her a bike. It was 5pm and we all drove into Honolulu, a 1 hr. drive. We got her a bike, and she could hardly stand the excitement of it all. We got home really late because we were dropping Christie off. She has been training like a dream, we put her straight away in big girl undies and she only had 1 #1 accident the first day, and the second day she did nearly perfect. So lets see how today goes. And I do put a pull up on her for naps and bedtime, I have no idea how to potty train for naps and bed time...so if anyone has any great advice for that I would really appreciate it. She usually wakes up dry after naps, but never during the night. Anyway, that is our very exciting news for the week!!! Finally!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the very next day she rode her bike with training wheels all day long, and in the morning she had no idea how to get the bike moving, and now she can do it all by herself. I am so impressed with how well she has been progressing and learning so quickly. And out of nowhere she can count to 10 perfectly!

Next I will post pictures from Rob, Colette, and Christies visit here to Hawaii!

My Valentine!

Happy Valentines Day

Well, like everyone else I want to express my love for my amazing husband

and two beautiful little girls. I can honestly say that Taylor is my very best friend, and there is no other person I would rather spend my life with than him! I am so grateful for all he does for me, and for our little girls. Life is sometimes crazy, but I am so excited that he is the one I get to go thru it with. But here are a few pics of our little girls and Taylor tonight!

I feel so blessed, look at my amazing little family...I love them SO much!

Note the blanket...it is definitely because it was cold out, we were trying to protect the girls from mosquitoes!

These pictures are from yesterday...I couldn't help but post pictures of my little girls too!

They were looking at daddy, they love him so much!

Madilyn is honestly so good with Eliza, they are already starting to play together and laugh together!!! Love!!

Bath time...

Okay, so our new place here in Hawaii does not have a bath tub...it really stinks. So Madilyn absolutely loves bath time, so we decided to get her super pumped about taking showers instead, which worked. But while my mom was here Eliza was in need of a bath, so my mom cleaned out the kitchen sink and gave her a bath in there. Well Madilyn thought that was super awesome, and wanted to get in so so bad, but I wouldn't let her. Well the other day she was begging Taylor for a bath in the sink, and he decided to let her because he was trying to leave for the day and thought she would not freak out if she got a bath. So he cleaned the sink and put her in.

It looks hilarious with her in the sink because she is way too big for it. But I thought well, I guess I should give Eliza a bath too since the sink is all cleaned now, and I who knows how long Madilyn will stay in here. So I decided to quickly throw Eliza in with her. Haha

Luckily for us, the sink is pretty big...but lets just say it was a bit tight, and both the girls thought it was great!!

As for other news, Eliza is officially a crawler. It is honestly so adorable, I have a video of her crawling on her first day of it. I will post it next time for my family who is interested to see!

Wikiki Weekend & more

So this past weekend we got together with Mike and Becca. First we met up at their place, that is downtown Wikiki and had some lunch and met new baby Jackson. He is so stinkin cute, so mad I didn't get a picture of him. But after awhile of chatting and getting ready for the beach very slowly, we finally got going. So we headed down to the beach and played for a few hours. It was so fun to catch up with the Olsen's, we missed them. Madilyn and Bentley are still little buddies. So we also made a list of things we want to do while we are here this time in Hawaii, and every Saturday we plan on accomplishing one of those things with Mike and Becca. So I am sure you will see lots of pictures to come. But for now, this was our week.

Madilyn and Bentley together again, these two love eachother. We honestly loved getting them back together to play!! Right after this picture was taken they started dumping piles on sand on eachothers heads.

This is good old Wikiki, it is always so crowded there, but the beach is really nice because it is so calm, all the waves are on the North shore right now. Becca is in the background sitting with baby Jackson!

Hard at work buiding a bridge or something along those lines with Mike and Bentley.

The sun absolutely exhausted Eliza, she passed out in the stroller for about an hour, it was awesome. Oh and we made Madilyn miss her nap so we could spend the day there, it actually went really well.

This is what happens on the car ride home after spending hours in the sun and missing a nap. It was great to hear silence in the car from both girls!!

We came home to this little guy living in our house, at first he was in the kitchen, then he moved to live in Madilyn's room. Our own little gecko!

These next pictures were at Temples Beach, in Laie.

Madilyn loves being buried in the sand, she for some reason calls it "baby"...I guess because she has to lay down?

This is actually at Temples beach earlier that week.

She is just getting around, not sure how yet, but she gets where she wants to go.

Madilyn's room, soon to be Eliza's room as well

This is the view from part of the living room into Madilyn's room. More pictures to come of our house!