We survived night 1

Last night was our first night of trying the sleep sense program. It was excruciating! But after 2 hrs (yes 2!) of babygirl crying on and off and us going in to check on her every 10mins, right when I was about to give up, she fell asleep! And then she slept for a straight 8 hrs! Which is a first. At around 6 am she woke up and I fed her and then I laid her back in her crib still awake and she drifted off without so much as a whimper. 3hrs later we were up for the day. While it pained me to let her cry and as much as I wanted to pick her up and nurse her I'm glad we stuck with it because I desperately needed a good nights sleep.  Hopefully tonight will be better!

Sleep Training..

So it's happened, Zebryna has gotten into the bad habit of having to nurse to sleep. For a little while she was able to be put in her crib sleepy but awake and she would  coo herself to sleep. Then she started to fall asleep while nursing and I would lay her down, which wasn't a big deal (or so I thought) because she would stay asleep. Well then teething hit and a growth spurt and I let her comfort nurse and now she nurses to sleep and then after being put in her crib will wake up in about 20mins wanting to nurse some more. Nursing is the only thing that will calm her and putting her to bed has turned into a hour + event. As a result I am exhausted and dread her bed time. So I've decided something must be done. I've been unable up to this point to let my baby CIO. I've tried a couple of times and always caved. But after a lot of research and much sleep deprivation I've decided to try the Sleep Sense Program. For the sake of my sanity I think it's necessary that Zebryna learn to sooth herself to sleep without nursing. Wish us luck!

Living the hilife

It's January 9th and I'm laying on the beach next to my sleeping baby soaking up the sun and thoroughly enjoying the hilife. As ready as I am to move there are definitely things I will miss about living in Hawaii. The beaches being at the top of the list!

It's a beautiful day and I have my sister LeAnn and her hubby Doug in town. We're all just hanging out and enjoying the beauty. Hopefully my hubby will be off work soon and can join. 

Yesterday was Zeb and my 3 year anniversary! I can hardly believe we've been married for 3 years already. I'm so lucky to have found such an amazing man to share my life with. He surprised me with a dozen red roses plus three white ones (my favorite), one for each year. And then he surprised me again taking me to a lovely wine bar for dinner. It was especially sweet because on our first date he took me to a wine bar and I always told him that's why he got a second date ;). 

Beach bummin it up.

The view.

LeAnn and Doug

3 year anniversary!

Happy New Year!

Well it's a week into 2014 now and I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's celebration! One of my very best friends flew in from Japan on new years eve and surprised me! Sadly she had to leave this morning =(. But we had fun while she was here, going to the beach, pools, hiking and touring around the island. My sister and her husband will be here in a couple days so our guest bed won't be empty for long!
Today I spend cleaning house which includes taking down Christmas decorations. As I was taking down lights I was struck with the realization that this was our last Christmas in this house. In April we will be moving to San Diego, which I am very excited about. But I was still a little saddened by this thought because this was the first home where Zeb and I spent Christmas together as a married couple. It's the home we raised our dog Asher in. And the house we brought Zebryna home to... It holds some wonderful memories =).

New Year's Eve on the beach.

Getting ready for the countdown.

Love.

New Year's day by the pool.

Love those sun rays.

So proud of my hubby. First hike of the year, first hike post surgery and he's got the baby on his back!

Almost to the falls.

Waimea Falls.

Our Christmas Celebration.

It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and New Years is just around the corner! Our Christmas consisted of having over a few single sailors and those without family for Christmas eve dinner. It was a good time with food, friends, and a white elephant gift exchange. Then Christmas day was a day in with just our little family =). Zebryna was the cutest while opening her gifts! And there isn't any other way I would rather have spent the day than in with the hubby, baby and dog.

Putting the angel on top of the tree Christmas Eve.

Auntie Rosie playing with Zebryna.

The guys singing carols

Waiting to open presents Christmas morning.

Wrapping paper tastes good!

So happy =).

Playing in one of her new toys!

6 months old!

My sweet baby girl turned 6 months on the 15th. I can't believe she's already been in our lives for half a year! Yesterday was her 6 month checkup and she weighed in at 18.4lbs and was measured to be 26inches! I can't believe how big she is getting.. She's becoming more talkative lately and can now sit all by herself (with the occasionally topple over). I've added broccoli to her diet and tonight we try sweet potato :). She's also started sleeping 6-7hrs straight at night! Which may not sound like long but is a very welcome step up from 5hrs.

Last week we had friends come visit from Florida. We also had the hubby's command Christmas party and our ugly Christmas sweater party that we threw with our neighbors. It was a busy week but a lot of fun :). 

Baby with her broccoli.

Christmas photo shoot at home.

Masquerade Christmas Party.

Ugly sweater party.

Santa hats all around.

Hanging with the big kids.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Wow, I cannot believe we're already into the second week of December! I've been meaning to post since Thanksgiving weekend... but better late then never right? One day I will keep up with my blog better (hopefully). Anyhow, so thanksgiving has come and gone. We had a wonderful thanksgiving with some great people. We hosted dinner here and I made a turkey and all the fixings. Mmm I love turkey! Last year I was pregnant and having a major aversion to poultry so wasn't able to make or eat turkey. I definitely made up for it this year =). Of course as soon as thanksgiving had passed it was time to put up Christmas decorations!! Growing up my mom always insisted we wait till the weekend following thanksgiving to put up our Christmas decorations and it is something that has stuck with me and become tradition in my own home. Zebryna was the cutest little helper while decorating =). I'm so excited with it being her first Christmas!
Baby girl will be 6 months in less then a week. She grows more and more everyday. She's nursing well and gobbles up her rice cereal. I've given her banana for breakfast the last 3 days. Sshh.. don't tell my pediatrician, she recommended I wait to introduce other foods till after 6 months. But the way Zebryna eyes our food while we're eating I truly believe she's ready for solids.  I'm considering trying Baby Led Weaning. I was a little bit skeptical when I first heard about it but when I feed Zebryna her rice cereal she grabs for the spoon and is happy to hold it herself while eating off it. So I began to look into BLW (baby led weaning) and the more I research it the more I think I want to try it. I intended to make her food myself anyways, partly to save on money and partly because I like the idea of knowing exactly what she's eating. So it could save me a lot time and energy to go the BLW route. I kind of already tested it out with the banana. Instead of mashing it up and feeding it to her I removed most of the peel, leaving enough so she would have a "handle" and let her feed herself. She loved it! I'm still not 100% sure what I'm going to do but I will keep you all updated. I also welcome any input on the matter!

Thanksgiving Feast!

Christmas Decorating.

Putting the star on her own little tree =)

First Banana!