Yesterday was a hard day. A day where the place I’m from felt very far away, but even from here you could hear the sigh of sorrow and disbelief. I found myself watching this video of Maile and wishing we could all see the world with her wonder and joy. Or feel the world in a way where our biggest fear was that the wave would come in a little too fast and get us all wet.
It pains me beyond belief that there are children now that have already lost that wonder and joy. That fear much more than the cold water rushing up the sand.
Those are all the words I have for now – I imagine someday I’ll have to find some more to attempt to explain to Maile and Lauren. For now, Christine, Maile, Lauren and I are sending our love back east…
(Click here for the video.)
Mommy went back to work today. Hard to believe it is already that time – it feels like just yesterday we were making that drive up the coast in anticipation of meeting our little girl. I thought it would be fun to look back at how far Lauren has come already…
Lauren at 100 seconds old
Lauren at 100 days old
Today was Lauren’s 100 Day Birthday – a very important milestone for Japanese babies. You might recall us celebrating Maile’s. As we did with Maile we took out the kimonos and dressed the girls up for some pictures. The kimono that Lauren is wearing below is the same one that Maile wore for her 100 day celebration – it was originally Christine’s, made for her by her Grandma Kugiya!
Lauren's Official 100 Day Celebration Picture
Hey, let me in there...
Maile now has a big girl kimono that was also a hand me down from Christine's family - and she has a big girl 3 year old smile to match...
Our girls
Congratulations Lauren on 100 days, I'm so proud of you!
One last shot - the full kimono effect!
The weather was amazing today, so after dinner, Maile and I headed outside to play some soccer in the courtyard. Mommy (as always) snapped some great photos…
Maile has been taking soccer class after school one day a week and is getting pretty good...
Boom!
She still uses her hands too much - hand ball!
Throw in...
Hey giggles, you are never going to get the ball if you are laughing that much!
Maile has definitely patented the laugh-so-hard-I'll-make-Daddy-laugh-too-and-then-I'll-take-the-ball move...
As Daddy has been telling you, I’ve been in DC all week with Mommy, Daddy and Maile. It’s been fun, but I’m a growing girl and I don’t have time to just lounge around. I told my Mommy – no slacking on tummy time just because we are in the nation’s capital!
(Click here for the video.)
Maile Girl here – I know Daddy has been telling you all about our trip to DC. It was awesome! On Sunday, Mommy, Daddy and Auntie Elyssa took Lauren and me to the airplane museum (Dad note: the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). It was so cool – there were airplanes and even rocket ships every where! I learned all about how they fly – I think I could probably fly one myself now. Seriously.
Things started off a little slow. Daddy asked me how I thought plans worked and I said you just push. That was wrong.
Daddy took me to the Amelia Earhart exhibit (I knew about her from one of my Fancy Nancy books) and I learned a bit more about how airplanes really work...
I practiced some of the basics a little bit...
... and then I was ready for some practice sessions in a real airplane!
I learned a lot, but the most fun was definitely pretending I was an airplane with Daddy and running all around - the real planes will come later I'm sure 🙂
The main reason for our trip to DC was to visit Auntie Elyssa. Lauren hadn’t met her yet and it had been far too long since Maile had a chance to have fun with her. The girls had a blast with Auntie Elyssa – there were several times during our trip where Christine and I would be in the other room just listening to Maile chatting with Auntie about all sorts of things. We loved it.
And Auntie did a lot of bonding with Lauren too – I think it’s safe to say it was love at first site 🙂
Auntie Elyssa, Lauren (3 months) and Maile (3 years, 9 months)
Lauren meet your Auntie Elyssa - she has lots of experience as a younger sister!
Auntie Elyssa was very excited to introduce Maile to the pandas at the zoo!
On Thursday, we flew to Washington, DC to visit Auntie Elyssa and our good friends Ryan and Diana. We’re here for a week and have lots of fun planned – but first, we had some business to attend to. Unfortunately, due to the sequestration, White House tours have been canceled. Uncle Ryan works in the Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building and he decided he needed to have a “meeting” with Maile – perhaps due to her budding knowledge of China. We, of course, obliged … and once Maile took care of her business, decided to snap a few pictures as we went along…
Maile and Daddy out front of The White House
The whole family - yes, this could be anywhere, but we swear The White House is right in back 🙂
Maile Girl, patiently waiting for her appointment with Uncle Ryan...
Checking out the library with Uncle Ryan - Maile says the books weren't nearly as cool as the one in San Francisco...
Inside the Old Executive Office Building - e.g., the OEOB if you are down with the lingo or a fan of the West Wing...
Uncle Ryan, Matt and Lauren in the Indian Treaty Room.
On the way out, we stopped in front of the West Wing for a picture. I could lie and say that Maile was just intently focused behind us because Obama walked by - but really she was just tired of taking photos 😉
... these glasses help you read!
(Hat tip to Mommy for the picture AND the caption 😉
Maile and Papa Cal had some fun with Lauren and Maile’s dolls this afternoon…
Haha, Maile and Papa - you just wait!
