Our Days with Daddy

Nan and Grandpa O'Connor have been here with us, first helping out with the big move, and then to be back-up for the baby's arrival. When Jim first got home, Nan and Grandpa took a vacation within a vacation and stayed at the Hale Koa Resort on Waikiki. We're so glad that that they were able to take a break from all their hard work and enjoy the sun and sand and surf!

The view from Nan and Grandpa's hotel room.

Grandpa has already headed back to California, but Nan's still here, camping out for the baby's eventual arrival!

Kathleen's little sister is apparently in no hurry to arrive. She's currently two days late, and it looks like it might be a few days more. She's made a little bit of progress, the doctor has assured us, but it's only a little bit. We're hoping that she'll decide to join us in the next few days, but the doctors will begin considering inducing her if she's still not around early next week. (Good thing, since that's nearing the end of our time with Daddy!) Since Kathleen arrived ten days early, we never really thought that we'd get to this point with her little sister. Shows what we know!

Although we're anxious to meet this new little girl (particularly before her Daddy heads back to Iraq), we've been thoroughly enjoying the time with Kathleen. She and her Daddy are getting along famously. It must have been all those videos and VTCs, because she seemed to know who he was right away. We are so grateful for that!

We've made a number of trips to the park, where Daddy has witnessed first-hand how much Kathleen loves the swing. On one occasion that was the only thing she wanted to do at the park! Since then, she's also displayed her climbing and sliding skills for him. Kathleen and Daddy like to head out to the park when Mama needs a bit of a break, which works out well for everybody. And when the running around at the park makes Kathleen too hot, we follow it up with some running through the sprinkler!

Kathleen seems to enjoy running through the sprinkler, but what she enjoys even more is being carried through the sprinkler! (Daddy's such a good sport! Mama's not having any of that!)

We went for one of our favorite easy outings -- a trip to the pet shop and then a stop for Jamba Juice. Kathleen ran all around the pet shop, pointing out and naming the different animals for Daddy (rabbits, birds, turtles, fish, dogs). Daddy also got to see how much Kathleen truly loves her "juice," recognizing the shop and running right in. Fortunately, a taste for Jamba Juice must run in our family, because it makes Mama and Daddy pretty happy, too.

This stuff is tasty!

No R&R in paradise would be complete without a few trips to the beach, so we've managed some of those, too!

Kathleen's a lot more interested in the beach now than she was when Daddy left. At that time, Kathleen wasn't too sure about the sand or the water. Now, she loves to dig in the sand, fill her little pail, build things, play in the nice little waves that wash up, and venture out into deeper water with Mommy or Daddy. The only thing that's slightly difficult about a trip to the beach is the car ride there. Kathleen seems to be afraid we'll change the destination on the way, because she checks with us about every 15 seconds to make sure we're still going "swimming" at the "beach!"

We're having a wonderful time together and we're treasuring every moment. We just wish we could make it last!