24 & so much more...

This past weekend we celebrated my 24th birthday. When growing up if you had asked where I would be at 24..I couldn't have dreamed this big! Daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece..all these things I have 'been' since birth, but I have added wife and most recently mom to the list.
I feel truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life! Thanks to everyone for making me who I am today. The world is a better place because all of you are in it, and I am better for knowing you. Thank you!
Here's to another round of 24 years...may it be as wonderful and joyous as well as challenging as the last 24!

Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike 

Parasailing with my hunny! 

Ren's Zen

My little man sharing the secrets of a happy life with his friend Octavo, the friendly octopus! Little did he know that I speak octopus and understood every word! The world according to Ren ...

Live each day to it's full potential
Cry, smile or laugh when you feel like it; its okay to feel that way
Cry, smile or laugh just because you can, its fun to see what people around you do when you do..
and every now and then a power nap is in order..

"Be yourself everyone else is already taken" - Oscar Wilde
I hope everyone loves who they are and where they come from. I love you! Live each day to its fullest and enjoy life! Children know how to do it right, man!

Checks and Balances...

This precious little goober came into my life and everything changed. Being a Momma has been one of the biggest, best, and hardest adventures. I am loving it.

We have a painting in our house of a Momma holding her baby and the artist has titled it "A New Beginning". My baby has been a new beginning in my life. I lost freedoms, gained responsibility, and learned more about life, love and happiness than ever before.  I never knew I could love this much, be this content, or live life so fully as I now try to each day.

However, as this new beginning continues to bloom and grow I wonder about starting other new beginnings in my life, specifically my career. My ultimate goal is to get my Nurse Practitioner degree in Pediatric and Public Health (dual NP program at UH), and work in pediatric hospice. But the steps...the hows and whens are a completely different matter. When should I pursue these goals? How can I get there? Should I even be considering this now? Ren comes first no matter what, but when should I step up to the plate and pursue my goals and dreams...that is the question that has been on my mind lately...just don't know how to answer it...

2 Months....

We went to the Doctor for Ren's 2 month check-up. He weighs in at a whopping 12.7 lbs, and measures 241/4 inches long, placing him in the 90th and 75th percentiles respectively for his age.

These past 2 months have really flown I can't believe how much my little man has grown! Lets recap!

Day after birth (April 17th, 2011)

2 Months and loving the sling! 

First adventure, leaving the house for the first time after birth. Cafe Kaila
April 27th

First Bath April 25th

Meeting Grandpa and Tutu Goodier, May 9th

Meeting Nana and Poppy, May 27th

Sitting with help, June 7th

Making Friends! Meeting his cousin, Lana!

Beach time! At Baby Makapuu, first time in Ocean. June 12th
First trip to the beach, May 31st

It's Back to Work we go....

The seven dwarfs were on to something there. Whistling or not I had to return to work this week, after a 3 month hiatus. (Pesky bills, so annoying!) But everything turned out all right. The first week back was great, still love my job..even if it took a couple days to get back into the swing of things.  Although it's hard to leave my little one in the morning, its perfect coming home to both my lil' man and my big one after a long days work.

So many changes in my life the past year...and all for the better. Although, now that my home life has made some transitions..I am thinking about transitions for my career path. Where do I want to go, what do I want to do in nursing, and the all important question when do I start these transitions.

Where I am now is good, and I have a plan brewing for where I want to go. We will see when I spread my nursing wings again where my goals will take me...I look forward to the flight.

But for now, I'll continue whistling while I work... I love my job. :D

Getting my Heart On..

Well, tomorrow I will be, once again, joining the throngs in the dance that is the ever changing vehicular choreography  known as the morning commute. After just over 3 months of maternity leave I will be returning to work, this time as a Momma.

I have mixed feelings about returning, but am optimistic that everything will work out. Although I don't look forward to missing out on my morning snuggles with Ren,  I have missed my job. I love my job. The "hands on" aspect of nursing provides only a foundation for the branch of nursing that houses that is the "heart on" care of Hospice work. It is that "heart on", that ability to connect with people on multiple levels, that draws me to hospice and what originally drew me to nursing.

So, tomorrow I will get my heart on...while my pieces of my heart stay home with my little man, I'm betting my heart is still big enough to share.

Return to Pooh Corner...The Journey of a Lifetime

 On the evening of April 15th, 2011 I started the most transitional journey of my life thus far.

After a 26 hours of labor, on April 16th, 2011 at 9:50pm Ren Benjamin Goodier joined us in this world. 

Scott and I chose to do a home birth, so I labored and eventually gave birth at home without medication with the midwife and her assistant. Scott was my rock and was always by my side to help me through the labor process. But the most magical part was pushing..no REALLY! Ok, so it was also the hardest...but still. I lay on the bed with Scott sitting behind me, holding me..supporting me. In between contractions I would lean back against my hubby and I swear this veil would lift, pain would be gone and an overpowering peace just washed over. There really are no words to describe the experience...

8 weeks later my little man isn't so little anymore. Weighing in at 10 1/2 lbs at his one month doctor's visit. We have had ups and downs on this new parenting roller coaster, but its all worth the ride.

I can't wait to see whats waiting around the corner...