Update!

Since the last post we celebrated my bday and turkey day! For my bday we went up country to a craft fair and walked around a little town up there and then went to the winery! We had Jaggar come see us for Thanksgiving and we had a blasts! Michael cooked our entire dinner! He's such a trooper. I was feeling under the weather so he decided to take on the task.
I started working and it seems to be going well. By the end of the day i'm rearing and ready to go get that baby! It's amazing how much I miss her. I know it's good for us both tho. She is pulling herself up on things now. She can scoot backwards but is not crawling forward yet.
Funny story: Since her ears are pierced you are required to clean them several times a day. They started looking a little red and the stuff they gave us to clean them did not seem to be working. A lady at church told me that she used peroxide with a Qtip and that worked well. SOOOOOO being a "CONNER" I am all or nothing. Michael says I have no middle ground haha. I decided it would be best to pour peroxide on her ears instead of using a Qtip just to make sure they got good and clean. Several weeks go by and i start noticing an orange tint to the back of Isla's hair. I kept trying to figure out where that tint of hair was coming from. No one in my family had that hair color....or Michael's family. I am bringing this up on several occasions b/c it's so odd...and it' s just in the back! One day it hit Michael.......We realized I had been dying her hair with peroxide!!!! Granted it is subtle...but none the less it has an orange tint. So ridiculous!
That's it for now!! Much love!

Many firsts!!!

Aloha!!! Things are going well! Michael is loving his new job and really doing well at it! I am going to start work within a week or two. I will be going back to work for the schools part time. This of course means Isla is starting day care! She had her first day on Halloween! It was harder for me I believe than her haha. She seems to have done okay tho! I cried after we dropped her off and Michael had to give me a pep talk:). She was in a wonderful mood when I picked her up! She was super giggley. It made me feel better.
We celebrated Michael's birthday this month and took a tour of the northern part of Maui where it s a lot of one lane roads!!! Beautiful country! t was a wonderful birthday celebration. When it's his birthday we celebrate by doing whatever he wants to do for like two weeks! He ran poor Isla and me ragged....but we had a blast! We went to dinner and had sushi, watched a movie, went to the beach and the aquarium!
We have started attending a church just a few minutes from our house. We took her there for Halloween for this huge party/fair that they had. She had a blast looking around at everything and mostly playing with her green balloon haha. She went as a butterfly. I have to say she was the cutest baby there:).
She got her first tooth! She has another one coming in within the next day or so. She can sit like a pro and is starting to lean forward on her hands like she wants to crawl. If you put her on all fours she will rock back and forth. I'm starting to brainstorm on how to baby proof. OHHH how could I forget? We got her ears pierced!! She cried for the first few minutes, but then was completely fine. They look so very cute on her! I'm working on getting a good pix with them in it. That's it for now!!!
xo

My Chatty Girl!

Isla got her first cold. I think she got it at the gym childcare place. We had 5!!! doctors visits for her. She ended up having an earache, nasal congestion, and then the lung funk came. She ended up needing antibiotics, steroids for her lungs, and a breathing treatment in the office. She was a sick girl and i just felt horrible for her! Even her cry was higher pitched and so pitiful. Along with all of this came no sleep at night. So then Michael and I got sick. Oh well......i guess it had to happen at some point!

We've had several guests recently and have been exploring the island with them. My mom, Christ, and Carri came to visit. Jaggar also came over for his fall break. We've gone to a new beach and the winery up country. After Isla started feeling better she became more verbose than she was before....if you can even imagine. Anyways we were at the winery and she was yelling/talking outside of the tasting room and smiling away ....looking around to be sure everyone was looking at her. I've caught her doing this several times. If people are looking and/or smiling at her she will talk louder. I asked the lady working there what time the tour of the winery started. She told me it began in ten minutes, "but.......um.....I'm not going to be able to compete with the baby...sorry!" Basically we werent able to go b/c of miss chatty pants! So funny!

Jaggar has been soooo good with Isla. She LOVES him. She will just stare and giggle at him and of course he performs for her. I couldnt have imagined them getting along better. Jaggar has been loving Maui. He likes the pet and sporting goods stores here. They don't have them on the Big Island....at least not like these. He's been swimming a lot too at the pool here and the beach. Apparently the little brain is getting all A s in his classes. We are very proud of him!

One of the pictures is her first experience with carrots today. If you click on it and make it bigger you will see that it is in her eyebrows and mouth. Another one of them is Jaggar being a sweet bro and watching Baby Einstein with his sis! That's it for now!!!

Aloha!!

The trip and home again

Our San Antonio trip was great! Isla really really surprised me and was gem on all flights to and fro. I was so nervous...but it went wonderfully. By the end of our last five hour flight she had made friends with everyone in our row and the row behind us and the two coorosponding rows across the isle. She was laughing and smiling at everyone. She is quite the social girl. I lugged this enormous daiper bag filled to the brim and almost spilling out, of toys for her to play with. She had zero interest in any of them for more than one minute. Her toy of choice...PAPER!!! She grabbed and destroyed any piece of paper that was in arms reach of her. Anyways, enough about the flights.

Let me start by saying how much God has blessed us with AMAZING family and friends. We got to spend quality time with my mom, dad, brother, grandparents, aunt roxy, brother in law and fam, nephews, and friends. The only really hard part about living in Hawaii, haha, is that you really really miss being able to see friends and fam more often. She did so well meeting so many new people! She has zero separation anxiety which is great. I feel like she really got to know her family while we were there. We had fiftieth birthday parties for both of my parents while we were there, cookouts, playtime with nephews, walks, etc. I included pix of Isla's great grandparents and grandparents (my grandparents and parents). It was a trip we shall not forget!!! Hope you all are well! XO

The Maui Move and more!

Hey guys! So we are finally moved! It has been a whirlwind. We found out and had three weeks to get ready to move. We have been here for a week and a half. I think we will LOVE Maui. It really seems to suit us. There is much more to do here and most importantly.....more shopping! haha. We found a car for me...a nissan xterra. It is white and I just love driving it. We are still in the Four Seasons until we get our place settled. I am growing by the day eating room service three times a day! Its a bit gluttenous! We have found an apartment here in Kihei, but it is currently filled with boxes. It is much much smaller than our condo on the Big Island so we will have to downsize considerably. This is good tho, it will force us to get rid of a lot of things that we really dont need or use anyways. Our apt. is really conveniently located in town next to a strip mall with everything you need in it. Michael really likes his new job and the people he works with. I am getting ready to go to San Antonio to see my family on Sunday. Isla and I will be gone for three weeks. When we get back I will look for work, hopefully part time.

Jaggar has officially started middle school! He is a big sixth grader! He seems to be liking it other than the increased homework haha. Isla is just a trip!!! She has found her voice in a big way! She enjoys talking at the top of her lungs in public places! Its a little hard to tell a four month old baby to quiet down! She isn't upset when she does it....just talking! I had to pull her out of the Four Seasons pool on one occasion b/c she was SO loud and would not stop! Yes, its funny to everyone for the first five minutes or so, but after that it starts getting a little much. She also giggles and laughs way more now. Her little personality is blossoming and I just love it! She seems like she will be a bit of a chatterbox....still trying to figure out how that happened :). Her favorite passtime now is grabbing everything she can. This includes earrings, sunglasses, hair, skin, paper....anything she can reach. She had her four month check up yesterday and is 15 lbs! not bad for four and a half months!

Apparently a hurricane is approaching us. I've been told it will miss us and seem more like a storm than anything. Michael says this means big surf for him and he is very excited. That's it for now!!! aloha!

Here today, gone TO MAUI!!!

Aloha! So we finally got the word and we are moving to MAUI!!! Our move date is August 2nd. We thought we would end up on the mainland....but clearly that didnt work out. I have to say that I'm sooooo happy tho! We really love Maui. It is by far our favorite island. Maui has more beaches, shopping, no vog....etc. We will be there for about two years and then on to the next stop. We will be staying at the Four Seasons for two weeks while we find a place (rough, I know). Luckily we are selling my car!! I'm very over it and look forward to getting a new one. We are also selling our condo and will rent for the next few years. Anyways, that is our big news.

Since our last posting we celebrate Jaggar's 11th bday! He got a soft air gun and some video games etc. We went to putt putt and pizza as well. He is getting ready to start middle school! Isla is growing very fast. She loves standing up and will talk your ear off. She also has a funny quirk where she yells before she sneezes.... very amusing. She just started drooling like two weeks ago and I'm told teething follows, cant wait:). We've been getting her in the ocean as much as possible and she really seems to love the water.

Isla and I are coming to Texas in late August and staying for three weeks. A lot of our family is there and even more are coming to visit. It should be plenty of fun minus the plane ride haha. That's it for now! Much love

shall

I know....I'm so bad!

I'm very bad b/c i havent updated this since we were in the hospital!!! i now intend to do a better job!! Isla is 10 weeks old and healthy as can be!! She weighs about 11 1/2 pounds. We feel very blessed that she was born healthy.

She FINALLY started smiling!!! For the longest time she was the most serious looking baby i've ever seen. She has become very alert and social. If i start talking directly to her, she will start jabbering back at me while looking me in the eye and smiling! We can converse like this for awhile now. The speech therapist in me is thrilled haha. She can now sit in her big girl chair (bumbo) and has been doing that for several weeks now! We have taken her in the ocean on several ocassions. once she cried, another time she fell asleep, and the last time she enjoyed herself and cried when i took her out. i think it was cold when i took her out. she also loves standing now while we balance her. she has adjusted to the baby bjorn and loves facing outward while we do household chores and go for walks. that's it for now!!! xo

shall

Our little fighter!

Hello! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Some of you may know this already, but our little princess gave us a good scare over the last week. It started last Tuesday. I was hit in the stomach at school by one of my students (on accident). I began having more Braxton Hicks contractions and went to the doctor that next day and then again on Friday. They ended up finding out her amniotic fluid around her was dangerously low. They shipped me off to Oahu to recieve more critical/advanced medical care with specialists that handle premies. They gave me steroids to increase her lung growth in case she had to be delivered early. Over the next few days her fluids decreased and then increased. They said the only reason they left her in was because she was doing okay and not going into distress. Needless to say they had a monitor on her 24/7. By Tuesday her fluids were the highest they had been and they sent us home to be monitored her. I had an appointment yesterday (Wednesday) and they had gone down several points. The doctor wants me in 2 times a week to check the level of fluids and monitor her. I'm to stay on bedrest for the meantime. If her fluid levels drop below a certain point they are going to take her. Apparently she is breech and does not have enough fluid to flip so we are more than likely looking at a C-section :( So for now we are just praying that she will stay in a few weeks longer so she can grow some more. She is just under 4 lbs right now. The good news is that even through all of this Isla has stayed strong and active! Apparently she is a trooper and the doctors are all shocked at how well she is doing in such conditions. We are so grateful for all of the prayers and support we have recieved. We feel extremely blessed to have such an amazing , loving, group of people around us. We will keep you posted on the status of this little miracle baby!!! Love
Shallon

The Home Stretch!

Aloha! So now we are in our final trimester! I cannot believe it! Things here are good! I've really started to put on some weight and grow a large belly. I find I get winded much much easier than before, require more sleep, etc. Also.... my favorite that just started this week is waking up with a puffy, swollen face and NOSE!!! I'm horrified! The pregnant swollen nose thing has always really creeped me out... I just CAN'T be getting it! I will keep you posted. If it continues, future photos may be from the neck down haha. All joking aside, I am really enjoying this experience and am finding it to be an interesting adventure!

My children at school are very cute about the whole thing. They have 2 mindsets 1) they could give a rip OR 2) obsess about it and ask endless questions. They like to touch the belly and talk to her. They keep asking me when she's coming and can I take her out. It's very cute to watch their reactions.

Isla has been getting hiccups on a regular basis now which completely amuse me. She also has gotten big enough that she protrudes at times and we can feel her little body. I'm still not able to make out body parts as of yet tho. We have started collecting "the tools" that you need to care for babies. We now have a stroller/carseat, bassinet, and a slew of other things that people have graciously given us. Our guest room is now becoming our catch all for the baby stuff.

I guess that's it for now! Hope you all are doing well! Much love!

6 Months!!!

So this is the ever growing belly at six months. I am standing at the Pololu Valley lookout. I thought it made a better backdrop than my entryway wall:). Things are going well! Isla is continuing to grow and is still active! I'm actually able to see her roll occasionally instead of just kicks and punches. I've actually been off of work for almost three weeks for holiday break. I have been nesting, cleaning, relaxing etc. I've also been registering and looking at baby stuff. I had NO IDEA how much stuff babies need. I was obsessing over carseats for awhile trying to find the perfect one. Fortunately for me, consumer reports just did a study! Sadly enough only 2 out of 12 carseats they tested were found safe! This made my decision much easier. We have decided to go with a tropical/surfergirl theme for Isla's nursery. It looks like we are probably moving in June and won't set up her nursery until we get a new home tho. We still have no idea where we will end up. I am praying for Austin Texas! Michael is doing well. He just lost 23 lbs! I told him he just had to wait til I was gaining weight for him to lose:). Jaggar is enjoying his time off and hanging out with his grandparents. That's about it for now! XO