Hello LA!

Posted by Liberty on Jun 9, '08 1:18 PM for everyone

It was such a double treat to experience the joy of
wrapping another Aloha Package for our Name The
Baby Game we had! This time it was for Christy (of
TimeLord) from the Los Angeles area.

I was wishing I could squeeze myself into the box so I
can visit Christy at the same time in LA. My Mom who
helped me take some of the pictures suggested some
very comical shots to suggest that I was trying to get
into the box. We were rolling in the floor laughing when
my husband walked in on us and gave us the most
quizzical look when he could not understand what we
were trying to do. (He found me prostrate on top of the
macadamia nuts, etc!). Ha-ha-ha.

In the end, I decided I would just use the "normal"
shots. I''ll play crazy on you guys on another entry. Ha-
ha-ha.

The contents of this package are slightly different

from that of Liz of UK. I know a few things about

Christy and I knew she liked the Hawaiian cake that we

have on the islands called Haupia cake/pudding. So I

included a couple of packages so she can try cooking some.

And when she bakes/cooks some, I don't want her to

burn her fingers. So I enclosed a potholder/mitten that

will protect those lovely hands of hers. Of course, it

has to have a Hawaiian print on it. And Christy I have

the other "hand", the TWIN of your potholder!!! I

bought two of them this morning for the two of us. So

when you use yours, maybe you'll remember that the

twin of your potholder is right here in the islands, with Me.

Just like the first Aloha Package I sent to Liz, the box

contains lots and lots of macadamia nuts and candies

and Hawaiian coffees. But like me, Christy loves dark

chocolates so I made sure I packed a few of dark

chocolate covered macadamia nuts for her too. And a

few other treat I will not describe here so Christy will

have some fun opening a few more that I did not divulge

here. Hint: some of them are for Christmas. Hi-hi-hi. Hawaiian style, of course.

But lo, and behold. After I have sealed the box, Kainoa

found some candies left behind on the floor!!! Ooops!

Okay, this is it for now folks. I have a baby shower to

throw tomorrow. Right here in our home so some

preparations are in order and it's now 8pm my time. But

before I go, let me post my mom's picture here. "Hello, Christy. We hope you like your presents"

WANTED: BOYFRIEND (bwa-ha-ha!

Aloha London

Posted by Liberty on Jun 5, '08 7:36 AM for everyone

Though short, this entry is a very exciting one for me.
Wanna know why? It is because today I am able to
finally announce who the lucky winner (s) is for that
Name Game I did before my baby Kainoa is born!!!
It took me a while coz my daily life sems to be so
wonderfully topsy turvy these days. Between a babbling
baby and endless dirty diaper changing, time seems so
slippery these days. They just run through mommy's
fingers like water chasing the sand.

Okay, without further ado, I wish to congratulate my
dearest friend LIZ and MR D from UK as our name
game winner!!!! Yehey!!!!! Clap, clap, clap!!!! It was a
confirmation from the heavens when she suggested that
we named him KAI.

You see, my baby's name came to me in a dream. And
while I was so in love with it from the very beginning,
my husband was not so sure about it at the beginning.
And so mommy's crazy name search for baby began! It
nearly drove me mad. In other words, insane. Ha-ha-ha.
There are just so many beautiful and meaningful names
out there.

The whole significance and meaning of Kainoa's name
for us will be the subject of a future entry for me.
Today, I wish to congratulate and thank Liz for being
the first soul to come and suggest the most wonderful
name for my baby, which is a ctually a confirmation of
God's message for me in a dream and many other signs
He gave me.

Except for me and my husband, everyone in our family,
both sides, call our baby boy KAI. And everytime they
do so, I think of Liz. Thank you very much Liz. You are
like an angel sent to us by Mister God Himself, as one
of His further confirmations we are to call our son
Kainoa.

The above picture is the Aloha Package I promised to
send the winner of our name game contest. There is
something for MR D too! Hi-hi-hi. And of course! I pray
they all make it to Liz's home in good condition. I sent
them via Priority Mail on June 2. The day Liz was
coming back from her exciting cruise. I forgot to ask
the Post Office clerk when it will get there.

We actually have a second winner. Yup! The other one is
from the United States. I originally announced in my
name game contest that I could only pick one winner
from the US, but it was almost magical that LIZ was
the first to come to my blog to make a name suggestion
and she hit bullseye right away.

But one of my cyber sisters, Christy (of TimeLord )
was the OTHER WINNER!!!! Like Liz, she also
suggested the name KAI. Can you believe it? KAI is not
a very common name outside of Hawaii. But both of
them thought of that name. If that's not divinely
inspired, I don't know how else to call it.

But Christy hasn't sent me her shipping address in LA
yet so I was not able to send it to her. Or maybe, she
sent it to me and I missed it? Can someone help me
remind her to send me her address to my email box?!!!

And to all of you who came and participated in my name
game contest, I deeply thank you. I wish I could use all
the names you sent me. They're all beautiful and so
meaningful. And sent to us with so much of your love.
Thank you very much. Your participation meant a lot to
me. To my family.

Aloha oe, everyone. Kainoa sends his love and aloha to all of you.



Aloha Package contains chocolate covered macadamia
nuts, honey glazed macadamia nuts, classic, dry
roasted macadamia nuts, garlic sprinkled macadamia
nuts (ha-ha-ha! They're from Hawaii. What do you guys
expect?), Kona coffees, different flavors- chocolate
macadamia, vanilla macadamia, ha-ha-ha and Kona
Classic flavor. More macadamia chocolate candies, a
hawaii made soap (out of pikake, jasmine flowers), a
hawaiian inspired photo frame, a hawaiian souvenir, and
a gift for Mr D. I included some more small items there
for Liz to find out later, since I already divulged most
of the contents here. I hope Liz does't mind.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! CHRISTY has just sent me an
email giving me her address!!!! YEHEY!!! She apparently
has sent it to me but I missed it. Alright my love,
tomorow or Saturday, your Aloha Package is coming
your way too. With some dark chocolates too!!! I love
you!!!!

All packed and ready to go!!!

BUNDLE OF JOY

Posted by Liberty on May 22, '08 3:32 PM for everyone

hEllo eveRyBody! My nAmE Is KaInOa. 
I am My Mommy's bUndlE of joY these days. I'm keePing hER so Busy these days She cannot COme here Often...Sorry...
But I know she MIsses you all. 
DOn't worry, I think she'll be able to come Here Soon....

I am now 13 and a half pounds Heavy and two feet long at eight weeks! 
I babble a lot, coo and laugh and I dunno when I do that my momma laughs and then cries...??? Okay, I gotta go now. BUrp!!

KAINOA THOMAS SMITH IS HERE

Posted by Liberty on Mar 29, '08 10:43 AM for everyone

 

....... MY STORY ABOUT THIS WONDROUS

 

EVENT TO FOLLOW.....

 

KAINOA THOMAS SMITH

 

WAS BORN ON MARCH 18, 2008 AT 10:31 IN

 

THE MORNING, AT 8.5 LBS, 21 INCHES

 

LONG.......

Nest Is Still Empty

Posted by Liberty on Mar 13, '08 12:02 PM for everyone

Mwaaaahhhhh.....I am still pregnant! Baby boy is taking his sweetest time.....

I was at Kaimana Beach, my old favorite local beach in Waikiki last Sunday when I found this perfect little nest lying on the grass. Empty of eggs or any hatchlings though. It looked so perfect and beautiful. I'm not sure if the winds blew the nest down from a nearby tree or the baby birds have already grown and have flown away. 

It was amazing though to find a bird's home so perfectly built by its mother bird for her young.
Empty though, like my nursery room...waiting for my little birdie....

I saw my doctor Tuesday and she wanted to induce me in a day or two from that day but I said No. I wanted to give my boy another week to come out on his own. But beyond such time, things may get a bit iffy though so I may be open for inducement next week. Please pray for me and my baby for a safe and hopefully natural birth.

Some of the comments you guys have left me are so funny. You guys are so sweet and cute and funny. I needed that. I really feel so miserable now with the weight of my belly.
I'll keep you posted....love yah all......aloha.....

I didn't want to leave the nest empty so I filled it with some baby cones. Hi-hi-hi.

Sunday, at Kaimana Beach

See how big my belly is now?

My Honey and I last Sunday....

Two Turtle Doves and I Still Wait For My Chick

Posted by Liberty on Mar 8, '08 3:28 PM for everyone

If my baby came today, it would have been swell since it's my mother-in-law's birthday. I love my mother-in-law. I regard her as my other mother here on earth. She is a beautiful human being who lives her life in love for her family and in love for our God. And she has a great sense of humor too!

But my baby boy missed this date too. I think he wants his own original birthday. Not willing to share the limelight (I think he got that from his, ehem, momma). Hi-hi-hi.

Did some walking again today (while shopping) in the event that I may cause some shaking and rattling for the bebe. And some more house cleaning. They say all that helps. Plus, one more activity that I'd rather not mention here . Ha-ha-ha.

Okay, let's see what happens tomorrow.

4 Calling Birds Are Gone And Da 3 French Hens Are Here

Posted by Liberty on Mar 7, '08 3:45 AM for everyone

And I'm Still Pregnant! Ha-ha-ha!

I was not able to make an entry yesterday because I had a full day . Breakfast with some dear girlfriends at the beginning of the day, pedicure spa for lunch, some shopping then a hair appointment later the day and an Italian dinner out with my husband.

I was pooped by 8 pm. Went straight to bed. But at least, I'm " prettified " for the main event. Ha-ha-ha.

For now, imagine me like a mother hen, not French, but an exotic one, maybe, clucking and clucking, waiting to lay her egg.....

Five Golden Days, But Where Is My Ring?

Posted by Liberty on Mar 5, '08 9:46 AM for everyone

I went to see my ob/gyn yesterday and she measured my cervical dilation if there is any. It was a whopping one centimeter! Ha-ha-ha!

A woman to be ready to give birth should have a 10 cm dilation. And my belly has not even dropped a bit as well. Oh uh, it looks like I am in for a longer waiting.


Okay, I'll keep on counting and singing, in between my all night moaning and grunting. Gone are the days when these words mean entirely different.....I better stop right here .....

Six More Days But I'm Ready To Go!

Posted by Liberty on Mar 4, '08 3:28 AM for everyone

Hmmph......awwwww........ouch.......these are just some of the unfortunate sounds my poor husband is subject to every nite as we sleep.

It's really getting so impossible to sleep comfortably now. And just when you think you've found the right position, you need to run back to the loo.

I am ready. I'm ready now to free this baby out into this world! Okay, I don't want to keep him anymore all to myself! Baby, meet all your new aunties and uncles in the world.

Hmmmph......awwwwwww....ouch.....

Seven Days To Go?

Posted by Liberty on Mar 3, '08 3:42 AM for everyone

iT FEELS LIKE i'M hOLDING MY BREATH EVERYDAY! jUST LIKE THE BABY IN THE PICTURE. iSN'T HE ADORABLE?

i AM JUST GOING BY WHAT MY OB/GYN TOLD ME AS MY DUE DATE. wE ARE AIMING FOR A NATURAL BIRTH SO THE DATE i AM LOOKING AT IS NOT A SCHEDULED ONE. jUST AN APPROXIMATION BY THE DOCTORS.

bUT tODAY IS mY DARLING hUSbAND'S bIRTHDAY! YEHEY! i WISHED MY bABY WOULD BE BORN TODAY BUT IT SEEMS liKE OUR LiTtLE ONE IS STILL CoZYING UP INSIDE MOMMA"S bELLY. hE'S LIKING IT HERE mUCH i GUESS.

sO THIS ENTRY IS DEdICATED To MY WONDERfUL HUSbANd! hE IS THE BEsT PrESENT GOD HAS EVER GIVEN ME. eVER!!!! sO MANY TIMES, ALL i NEED iS TO LOOK AT HiM AND STARTS cRYING. oUT OF SO MUCH LOVE i HAVE FOR HIM. oUT oF SO MUCH AWE IN HIS ABILITY TO LOVE AND fORGIVE AND BE GENEROUS iN eVERY wAY. i AM SO bLESSED BY A MOST LOVING GOD FOR hAVING hIM AS MY HUSbAND!

HaPPY bIRTHDAY mY LOvE  !

8 Days, Still Counting

Posted by Liberty on Mar 2, '08 9:09 AM for everyone

Nine Days and Counting

Posted by Liberty on Mar 1, '08 3:31 AM for everyone

Ten Days And Counting

Posted by Liberty on Feb 29, '08 6:12 AM for everyone

This was the inspiration for my baby's nursery room. I think mine turns out better than this model but wait until I am able to get actual shots of the room. The problem is my angling shots are so tight since the room is tiny so I cannot capture it the way I want to. But I'll try again. (This picture is specially for Liz who was inquiring if the room was ready for the baby)

My baby's crib

The crib with the net pulled away to the side.

Close-up of monkey on the wall. Doesn't he look funny?

I think this orange giraffe is so cute.

The bear in the middle cracks me up. When you squeeze him, he prays. Well, stuck between the lion and the tiger, who wouldn't? LOL.

This is the diaper changing area but for now, all his jungle friends are hanging out there.

A closer look of the gang.

Some of the cute frames, books and other stuff...

The lanai door/window framing the room...I need to take a better shot with no light facing my camera.

As you enter the room. this is the wall on your left, where the light switch is on. Facing the lanai door/window.

Sweet elephants in Hawaiian prints adorning the doorway.

And where is Momma's spot in all this?

This is the spot where Momma will rock the bebe.

The next time you see this rocking chair, it will have me sitting on it with the little angel in my arms....

Eleven Days and Counting

Posted by Liberty on Feb 28, '08 3:34 AM for everyone

Baby Shower, Women Power

Posted by Liberty on Feb 5, '08 3:38 AM for everyone

Apart from the precious gift of life our Creator gives us when a woman is blessed with a child to bear inside of her, there is another wonderful treasure one finds throughout the journey. The amazing gift of love from fellow women, sisters by heart. 

Venuses who have vast capacities to love, nurture, support, guide and inspire another woman as she goes through the most sacred passage of motherhood. Or preparing for one.

Three days ago, my lady friends threw a baby shower for me. There were at least thirty women who came. All the beautiful preparations for the event blew me away. From the invitations to the decorations, the gourmet feast, the games, the giveaways and all the most wonderful, precious gifts, all these beautiful women did all that for me. All I needed to do was show up with my pregnant belly, and enjoy and receive all their love. I was so humbled and awed by their love and beauty.

The baby shower was fantastic and full of joy and excitement. But what was even greater was the gifts of love those beautiful lady friends have lavished on me.

These are the women that all throughout this beautiful, and sometimes very difficult journey, have been there supporting me, guiding me, encouraging me, and praying earnestly for me and my baby to be healthy and safe. I can't help but choke up every time I pause and think about how much love they have been lavishing on me.

Women are such beautiful creatures of love. Even all my cyber sisters out there...you all have been so generous to me. Loving me, being happy for me, sending me all your warm and loving wishes for a successful pregnancy. They all mean so much to me. Words are not enough to express the gratitude I have in my heart for all of you.

All these beautiful women of love have welcomed me so warmly to the sisterhood of motherhood. I pledge that I will continue to make this circle of love gets bigger and bigger and more open to embrace any woman who desires to be loved and to love. This is the genuine power of women, the power to love.

To all the beautiful women out there who choose to love, I salute you and I thank you.

MOMMA BELLA

Posted by Liberty on Jan 22, '08 7:01 PM for everyone

It's 2:30 am....I have been up since midnight....Here is another sleepless night for me.....can't seem to find the right position to sleep on, what with this burgeoning belly of mine...my precious baby boy keeps stirring inside me...keeping momma awake, again, for yet another night....

It is a good thing tonight...for I started surfing my blog neighborhood and I decided to make some kind of appearance tonight.....please forgive me for being such an absentee these days....I miss you all but home renovations, ob/gyn's appointments and all other kind of doctor appointments and infant care classes can get to be so exhausting for me these days....

But here are some pictures taken of me and my preggy belly. I should have some nice pictures taken while I am pregnant but the energy for that seems to elude me too...so bear with what I have here ok? Hope you like some of them.....

Somewhere between 26-28 weeks of pregnancy. How do you like my newly-painted pumpkin wall?

Same night, in our house. The big anthurium covers my pregnant belly though. Ha-ha-ha!

Can't resist showing off that belly! Hi-hi-hi!

Now, let's not forget the man responsible for my distended pouch...my darling husband Tom, the sweet smiling man in white shirt next to me. Our friends Bob and Kelly were visiting us from Santa Barbara, California.

Hanging out with some friends in our neighborhood, Jerry and Chris (Christine).

My honey, in an infant care class....

He seems to be having fun giving the "baby" a bath...

Okay, one last look at my pregnant belly...