Mother’s Day 2012

So after having a full house, it soon became just Brayden and me. Chris left for his 4 month deployment the same day my parents went back home. It was tough saying good-bye. The Sunday after they left was Mother’s Day. My good friend, Jenn, knew I was now without family and that it was my first Mother’s Day, so she invited me to dinner at her house. I’m so grateful that she thought of me that day because it would have been pretty depressing fixing up a Mother’s Day meal for just me. Brayden and I had a great time over there and the food was delicious!

Brayden on Mother’s Day (left) and Brayden at two months (right)

After Mother’s Day, it was just a matter of waiting to get Brayden’s passport in so we could purchase tickets to visit my family while Chris was gone. Those few weeks were tough and exhausting because Brayden was not a good sleeper. He’d either wake up as soon as you laid him down or he’d sleep for 40 minutes at a time. Thankfully, we are part of a good branch here and a lot of good friends helped me out when I needed sleep most. As soon as Brayden reached 3 months, things got a lot better. He still didn’t sleep the greatest, but he went from being super fussy to super happy. We flew to AZ at the end of June, and he was the perfect little traveler. He hardly cried at all. He didn’t sleep much, but he was cheerful and talked the times he was awake. He reminded me of a little Tarzan with the way he talked. The only downfall to our travel was that he pooped A LOT! He had a blowout on the first flight that got all over me. I was good to bring a change of clothes for him, but forgot to bring a change of clothes for me. So I had pooped stained shorts for the rest of our flights.

At the Naha Airport waiting for our first of three flights to AZ.

Forest Adventure with Mom & Dad

We decided to test just how brave my mom and dad were, so we took them to Forest Adventure. It is one of my favorite things to do on this island, but who wouldn’t like zip lining through a forest?

We tried one day, and it rained, so the park was closed. But the following day was beautiful!

Our parents come to town

With the arrival of a new grandbaby, grandparents jump at the opportunity to meet and hold their new little one – even if it means traveling to a different country! When planning the trip for our parents, Chris and I both decided to have them wait for me to recover and come a month later for the baby blessing. We weren’t sure when the baby would be here and if they were willing to come all this way, they’d probably would like to see some of the island – something they wouldn’t have been able to do much right after I had the baby. So it was set. Chris’s parents would come for two weeks and my parents would come for two weeks, overlapping by a week.

First we had Clint and Stacey come. They are a little more adventurous in trying new foods than my parents, especially when it comes to seafood. So we took them to lunch to a sushi restaurant. We showed them American Village, the hardware store, and I had Chris take them snorkeling/diving while I stayed home with Brayden and did laundry!

Grandma Stacey loving on Brayden at the sushi restaurant.

Then my parents arrived and the party began!

Fukushuen Chinese Gardens and Kokusai Street

Brayden loved being held ALL the time.

Shuri Castle

Brayden’s first dip in the ocean.

While Clint and Chris scuba dived, my dad snorkeled. We also had lunch there.

Grandma Stacey and Brayden’s bonding time.

At the Dragon Boat Festival

My friends from the Navy Women’s team – and they won!

Brayden’s Blessing Day

At Araha Beach

Grandpa Clint playing with Brayden before they went.

And Brayden left him a departing gift

We also went to the aquarium and shopping on Kadena, but I don’t seem to have pictures of those events.