The Lareau's

Hanging out on a friends deck in the pack n play while Dan, Auntie Becca and Ashley were kayaking, Evan decided to pop up on those cute little feet. He was giggling, squealing and wobbling with excitement. He’ll be cruising in no time!

Evan has officially been in the world as long as he was in the womb.  Nine months, ten days.  I cannot believe how much he’s changed!!  In the last three months, particularly this last month, he’s changed the most.

He has six shark teeth, with two more on the way – no more gummy smile.  Loves to eat his solids – current favs are chicken, peas, sweet potatoes and puffs. Crawls everywhere and with a purpose.  Claps and waves, but not on demand, it’s all on his terms.  Rough-housing and wrestling are becoming more regular and he is learning it’s okay to hit Daddy in the face, but to be gentle with Mommy.  He started snuggling again and it is the absolute sweetest thing ever.  Just last night, while we were reading a Bible story before bed, he snuggled me, then snuggled Dan, back and forth, back and forth.  Love, love it!  He’s extremely laid-back and easy going, at least when his Mom and Dad around – he’s recently developed stranger anxiety which is normal and okay.  Reading books has become a favorite past-time for him.  When we’re done reading a page, we lift up the next page, he turns it, then politely puts his hand back in his lap and waits for the next page to be turned.  It’s adorable!  For the first time yesterday, he was “reading” all by himself – laying on his tummy turning the pages of his truck book like he was reading a novel on the beach.  Everyday he’s growing, learning and becoming his own little person.  And, of course, we love every second!

The other Friday we lavished in Aloha. Evan contemplated life while Dan surfed to the sun setting.

Christmas in Hawaii is interesting.  The weather stays the same, you’re still in flip-flops and shorts, the waves are bigger than ever and the beaches are full of aloha.  No sweaters, cold temperatures, soups or snuggling up in a cozy blanket.  But this illusion of summer doesn’t stop the shopping center’s from going all out with wreaths and Christmas trees and playing Mele Kalikimaka in the breezways. It really is strange.  This year, we found ourselves struggling to get into the spirit, so we did everything we could to bring the season alive starting with…visiting Santa Clause.

And spending an evening at the Hawaii Kai Marina boat parade.

Each year this one street in Kaneohe is lit up with a ridiculous amount of Christmas lights, actually making up for the whole island’s lack of hanging Christmas lights.

No need to clean up the junk in the front yard…just decorate it!

Then came Christmas Eve.  In true Hawaii style, we had some friends over for grilling and pool time – it was a picture perfect day.

Meanwhile, Evan had received at least one package a day for about a week straight.  I would say we were in the spirit and ready for Evan’s first Christmas.

Our first Christmas as a family of three went something like: presents, church, food, Skype, more presents, friends, food, more presents and more Skype.  Better than anything we could have wished for!

In the midst of all these festivities, we managed to make a couple trips up to the North Shore to watch Kelly Slater and John John do their thing at the Triple Crown.  Awesome is an understatement.

Thank you, Hawaii, for another memorable Christmas season.

Wowee.  It’s been six months since Evan was born.  If he could talk, here’s what he’d say about his world.

I love to eat.  Whether it’s from Mommy, the bottle with Daddy or from a spoon.  In fact, my latest new food is prunes.  Not sure what’s the fuss about ‘em.

Ever since I started eating big boy food, my muscles started getting much stronger.  Now, I can break out of my swaddle and sleep on my side.

While I’m waiting for Mommy or Daddy to get me up from a nap in the swing, I usually get bored and try to escape.  What’s up with buckles on everything?

Rolling from my belly to my back is so yesterday.  These days I prefer rolling from my back to my belly.  My parents get all excited and clap for me.  No big deal.

My next goal is to sit up all by myself.  Sometimes I get to practice in my Boppy and it’s fun because I get to see that my toys are just as awesome from the top as they are from the bottom.

Lately, my family has been taking trips to the beach.  It works out perfect because I sleep in the car ride there and back while Mommy and Daddy talk about how much they love me.  Who doesn’t love day trips to the North Shore?

Sometimes I snuggle a little with my parents when I get up from a nap.  It makes them feel special.

Other new tricks are pulling my paci in and out, recognizing my name and sucking on my toes.

Life is good and here’s proof.

Not really a fan of rice cereal at first.

Bananas took a few days of getting used to.

And sweet potatoes were a big hit from the first bite.

The boy LOVES to eat.