Discovering Grass & Other Great Things

Such a Big Girl!

Ryenne is totally mobile and she's amazed me so much in the past week! She's now got two little teeth coming up from the bottom - she's a bit fussy but working through it. She's such a trooper! She's loving her walker from Gams and Pops and can cruise from the dining area into the living room and our room.

Now for the big news... she's pulling up on everything! She loves to stand up and pulls herself up on lots of things. We also play a fun game where I hold her arms and she 'runs' really fast. She looks like a little ballerina on her tippy toes!!

I know that she's frustrated because she really wants to walk. I keep telling her that she WILL and not to be so fussy about it. heeheehee

We're all doing well. Getting organized (thanks Mom!) and working through Ry's fussiness - trying to get sleep whenever I can cause it's so important to my sanity!

First Tooth Breaks Through!

Ry-Ry's first tooth broke through her gums today! She's getting her lower right front tooth first and it looks like the left lower tooth is soon to come after!

Big Walker!

Ry-Ry is loving her walker. Today she started out in the dining area and walked into our room and then back out to the living room. When I called her to walk closer to me she got so excited and walked over. It's so amazing to see her moving around like that! She even grabbed one of Peter's shirts that was hanging over the couch arm and put it on her walker tray. It was so funny. It was like she was collecting things she could reach.

I got an offer to work casual at the Four Seasons. A couple of days a week in reservations - it'll be some much needed extra $$ and also an opportunity for Ry to get more accustomed to being without her mommy 24/7. I went in today to fill out paperwork and I'll probably start at the end of the week I think. Cool!!

The Stone Came Out!!

Peter's kidney stone finally came out yesterday!! I am so happy that it's over and done with because I hated seeing him in so much pain. It was surprisingly much larger than we both had anticipated.

On a different note, now that Ryenne's First Birthday is only 5 months away, I've had to really start thinking about how I'm going to decorate, ect. So I was watching QVC cause they were having a scrapbook show and they had these beautiful vintage floral papers. And WHAM it hit me - Vintage Garden Party! And I'm sure a Flower Fairy will make an appearance too. So I think I'm going to get pale tablecloths for the tables and put paper circles down the middle for color accents and get some potted flowers as the centerpieces. Simple and chic and unlike any other bday decorations I've seen. I'm so excited!

It's been a really busy week. I had two weddings and a portrait session, a birthday party, a bridesmaids dinner, and a belated Christmas party! Next week I've got absolutely nothing planned and I'm kinda lookin forward to being a house bum!

I'm a proud Mama!

My princess is 7 months old already. Gosh where does the time fly to? She actually made 7 months yesterday, but I have a junky cold and I was totally out of it and didn't post.

After a few really tough nights, Ryenne is now sleeping in her crib all by herself FINALLY! At first I was really terrified to make her sleep by herself. I thought that it was mean of me to want to kick her out of my bed, but I think she's actually sleeping better. She slept for 10 HOURS last night! Let me tell you, it was fabulous!

She's also a very smiley little girl. She is scooting all over the place, laughing like crazy, and when she's really happy she kicks out her leg and looks like a little can-can dancer!

Life is good.

The Year in Review

Well, here we are on the last day of 2006. It has been quite a year for the Dagupion ‘Ohana.

In January we moved from our Napili condo to the plantation cottage in Haiku near my parents. We absolutely loved being in an actual house and enjoyed the goats, chickens, and the mule that lived across the street. Not to mention being close to my family was awesome and all the cooking my mom did!

February marked Peter’s 5th year working for the Westin in Kaanapali. With this level of service, he has now earned 3 weeks vacation per year, which we intend to take full advantage of in the future!

On June 5th our amazing daughter, Ryenne Alicia Grace Waiwaipuhia, was born via C-Section at 6:21pm. I was one of the fortunate few who never felt the pains of contractions and actually had no clue that I was in labor. After a routine check-up, it was found that I was dilated to 5cm and could go right up to the hospital. She came in at a whopping 9lbs 10oz and our lives haven’t been the same since!

We decided to move back to our condo in August, so for the second time in 8 months, moved our entire household again. The main issue was Peter’s commute to work. It’s so nice and convenient to be only 10 minutes from work! The downside is that we’re back in a condo sharing our walls with four separate neighbors.

November was great because we took Ry to the mainland for the first time. She got to meet all of her maternal great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and cousins. We had so much fun and she loved the cold weather!

My photography business has done well in 2006. 2007 brings more competition as a whole fleet of photographers have moved to the island. I find myself wanting to go back to the photography that originally inspired my love for the art - children, pregnancy, and family photography.

The past 6 months have been wonderful getting to know our precious baby girl who we lovingly call “Ryenne Munchkin Poopypants”, her personality, her likes and dislikes, seeing her amazing smile, watching her grow.

2007 looks to be like a big year of change for our small family. We’re ready for new adventures, ready for a home of our own, and to expand our horizons.

Wishing you all a very safe, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Love,
Peter, Mariah, and Ryenne Dagupion
Chico & Dexter pups too!

Here we go!

Here we go with Ry-Ry scooting all around! I let her play on her mat while I got a glass of water and I heard her having fun. So I peeked around from the kitchen and caught her playing with Daddy's DVD's! Time to move things up off the ground for sure!

She's loving being all decorated with a bow from Christmas!

After being tickled on the play mat.

Merry Christmas to All!

This Christmas, Ryenne's first, has been wonderful. We are so blessed to have so many family and friends that bought Ry special gifts. She loved ripping open the wrapping paper and trying to eat it. hehe

She was such a happy little girl today. We took chicken to the Westin for Peter and all the bellman. They had an awesome pot-luck. It was nice that he had an early shift today so that we could all spend the afternoon and evening together. I'm actually cooking today! I have a meatloaf in the oven as we speak! I'm trying to get more handy in the kitchen.

We also bought our airline tickets to Raleigh! We're going from April 12th to April 23rd. LOTS of flying, so we made the trip a little longer so that it doesn't feel too rushed. I continue to look at the real estate MLS and am in complete AWE of what we can buy there and have a manini mortgage payment. Of course, there are lots of really expensive houses too, but for an entry-type home, it's more than I ever dreamed of having over here on Maui. So I'm really, really excited!

Christmas evening is as I always had imagined it. Ryenne and Peter are playing on her new playmat. She's happy and scooching along while playing with her counting Frog, Lilly. She's so smiley and beautiful and Peter is so wonderful with her and I - I just couldn't be happier with the way my life is going.

Lots of love to all of you this very special Christmas!

First Christmas Pictures!

Here's some pictures from Ryenne's very first Christmas!! Enjoy!!

Ryenne's First Christmas!

We had our first "Official Christmas" today in Haiku. It was SO fabulous! When we walked in the house, the Christmas tree looked so beautiful!! It really took my breath away. We started our day with our traditional Christmas morning breakfast - a savory bacon/cheese bread pudding. Then it was time to open stockings followed by the gifts. It was really so much fun!

Ryenne got some really great stuff - a walker (which she loves!), some foam floor pieces for her to crawl on, clothes, wipes, diapers, bath shampoo, hair ties... really everything she needed! Peter got everything on his wish list and I got some great stuff too - including a great pair of slippers which I really needed!

Dinner was awesome followed by the famous Kuau Pie!

We took some great pictures which I'll get online as soon as I have moment to process and re-size. I am so greatful for Ry's first Christmas - really everything I wanted for her to experience for her first holiday season. I don't know where we'll all be next year, but it will be hard to top this Christmas!

A Toofer?

Well I think Ryenne's first little tooth is popping through her cute lil gums! I noticed it today - it's just barely piercing the gum. It's her upper left "fang" - what is that called... the insisor? Gosh I can't believe she's getting her first tooth. I sure love that gummy smile! Once it comes out a little more I'll have to take a picture!

She's in training...

to be a little shopper! We started our Christmas shopping today and Ryenne had a great time reaching for every toy in arms reach. She was having so much fun being out and about and seeing everything all decked out for Christmas.

She still has some congestion and coughs, but no more fever. I'm so excited to celebrate her first Christmas!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yesterday we had a great time in Haiku with Mom, Koa, and Shaina. We decorated the Christmas tree (a real one!) and it was so much fun going through all of our ornaments. Some of them are older than Nick and Koa! Nick stopped by for a little bit, but it seems like everytime he comes up, Ryenne is sleeping. LOL.

We had such a great time. I'm so excited for her first Christmas. I just need to start my shopping!

She has a cold!

Oh no! My poor baby has her first cold! She had a miserable night last night.... woke up every hour and a half to two hours totally stuffed up. The bulb syringe helped, but poor baby was having a rough night. We went to buy her some meds this morning, and she now smells like a little Vicks Vap-O-Rub girl! She's still a little stuffy, but her fever went away and she's much happier. Now if only she'll go down for a nap so I can sleep too!!!

I took the pictures of her yesterday. Boy they came out cute!!

Scoot Scoot

Oh boy does Ryenne want to crawl! She's been scooting around all day today. She can get her cute lil butt in the air and then doesn't know what to do from there! It's the cutest thing!

I can't believe my sweet baby is growing so fast. It really is amazing, how after (almost) 6 months, she has progressed so much. From a helpless little thing, to a little girl with quite a personality (and attachment to mommy!).

She is so amazing, so beautiful. It's wonderful watching her grow!

Let the Holidays Begin!!!

It's official! We're now in the holiday season!!! Ryenne got her very first picture with Santa today! She was such a good girl... wouldn't smile, but at least she didn't cry!!

We went and got a wreath for the front door and a little 2 foot christmas tree - it's fake, but it's pretty cute! Gettin the house all feeling christmassy (is that a word?).

This evening we went to Landon's big first birthday party. It was fun - me and Ry danced together. I'm loving how cuddly she is.... definitely mama's girl!!!

Peter and I have found a place we're thinking of moving to - Cary, North Carolina! We're gonna make a trip there in April to go check it out in person. Very exciting!!!

Mainland?

Well I've been thinking AGAIN about moving to the mainland - Las Vegas in particular. This came up a few years ago and we decided to stay on Maui.

Still totally on the fence. I would love to do it. Start a new adventure, have more opportunities for Ryenne, better schools, able to save money for her, buy a house. But then I'm scared that if we didn't like it, we couldn't come back.

Our mortgage payment is like $2700/month and if we sold and moved and bought a house (not too big) than our mortgage would be like $800/month. HUGE DIFFERENCE!

Peter is leaning toward staying here at home. But I'm feeling so afraid, so stagnant, how can we have another baby here? Where would it go? How will our life be if every month we're 'just getting by'?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh... it's so hard being a grown up.

Love to you all... thanks for listening to my rambling!

Lafayette, California

Our last day was spent with Uncle Johnny, Auntie Patti, Ryan, and Jessie. We had a great evening hanging out and it was great seeing my cousins!!

Livermore, California

What a great reunion we had with our San Saba friends! Traci and I were best friends and it was so cool to see each other after all these years. Her daughter Cadence is adorable! We had a great time talkin story with Tia Aura and Uncle Dave!