6 Months
Maggie’s Sixth Month by hannah
Maggie,
You are an authentic traveller now! After logging some time in the tent over the summer, you now can say that you’ve been on an airplane; however, at this point I’m not sure that anyone would understand what you are saying! We’ve had so much fun with you this last month, you are such a happy, happy baby.
While we were in Hawaii for two weeks you spent lots of time in the water with Grammy and everyone else that was on the trip. At one point you were swimming in the salt water pool with your parents, grandparents and great grandparents, not to mention your uncles, aunt and Chach! You were the star of the trip and I think everyone fell a little bit more in love with you, which is hard to believe since we all adored you so much in the first place.
You have developed the habit of screaming for joy at the top of your lungs. Of course we think it is adorable, but I’m not sure about strangers that don’t know you. Our condo in Hawaii had lots of mirrors and you were content to look at yourself and scream, scream, scream! It is safe to say that everybody knew when you were awake because you’d be shrieking at yourself in the mirror.
You’ve also continued to love to stand up and are working on pulling yourself up! You aren’t really content to sit if somebody is nearby that will help you balance. We’re working on encouraging you to crawl, but I’m not sure that you will be crawling for long since you love standing so much. At your 6 month doctor appointment they had you sit on the scale because you were trying to stand on it in the first place, obviously not wanting to lay down.
In the arms of either Papa or me is your very favorite place…even when you’re sleeping and I can honestly say that you might be starting to hate the car seat a tiny bit less. I think you may have traumatized Chach from your loud, angry screaming when we drove up to Hawi to look at the Pololu Valley. She opted to ride in the other car on the way back to The Casa.
We love you, little girl. I hope that this next month brings as much happiness as this last one did. Having you around just keeps getting better and better…
You continue to be so loved.
Mama
On Why Vacation Matters
I’ve been here before. I mean, I’ve been to Hawaii before. I came as a young girl when I was 12 with my mom, two friends and their mothers. I came with my family the first Christmas after my Grandpa Lowman died. I also came with a friend’s family in place of her dad, who couldn’t come because he had to work. I’ve been here with my family celebrating my Grandma & Grandpa Elvrum’s 50th wedding anniversary. I’ve been here with Barry lounging on the beach and hiking up mountains.
I’ve been to Hawaii for a lot of different reasons, each reason more different than the one before. The reason I’m in Hawaii now is not only because I love the sun and fruit, but mostly because I love my family. I want Maggie to experience vacation and time uninterrupted with our family and recognize all that the world has to offer.
Our group stretches out to 11 people in all, and we range in age from (almost) 6 months to 80 years old. Sometimes our days are spent all together with our cars caravanning though the lava flats to a sandy beach, but other days we splinter off and do what our bodies allow. Yesterday that meant that some hiked, some napped, and some simply swam.
This time in Hawaii Barry and I are spending our days relaxed, phones off, happily taking what comes. Maggie is the apple of everyone’s eye and contentedly squawks, shrieks, and grunts while getting passed around. I know she won’t remember this trip and we’ll have to fill her in on the details, but I hope what she takes with her when we leave is the feeling of being here….together.