Keeping Busy!

Playing on the lanai
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

The departure of our house guests meant a distinct decrease in entertainment for Kathleen. To try to distract from the 75 percent reduction in fun (people, at least), we've been trying a lot of new things lately. I'm not sure that our activities have been a satisfactory substitute for doting grandparents (what could be, though?), but we've certainly been keeping busy.

To begin with, Kathleen now eats with a spoon without assistance. I won't lie -- it's a pretty messy affair. But she wouldn't have it any other way. We do better with things that really stick to the spoon, but even if the food is pretty slippery (think: applesauce), Kathleen still manages to get a fair amount to her mouth.

I can do it myself!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

In case you're wondering, that mess on Kathleen's tray is breakfast. In addition to the yogurt, that's a chunk of banana, some mangoes, and multi-grain cheerios. We've been offering plenty of variety at the Golby breakfast buffet lately.

Having mastered the spoon, Kathleen quickly advanced to using a fork. I didn't even have to offer her a fork. One afternoon Kathleen managed to open the top drawer in the kitchen, withdraw a salad fork, and spear the cubes of cheese she'd been offered as a snack. We negotiated a trade -- toddler fork for salad fork -- and the successful use of utensils continues.

Making a masterpiece for Daddy
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We've begun drawing lately, too. Kathleen mailed off her first work of art to her Daddy just this week.

Fortunately Crayola washable markers are, in fact, very washable. That was good news for us, as Kathleen had marker on her hands, face, and belly! Although we were quite proud of Kathleen's marker masterpiece, we're now working on using crayons. We've been told they're better for developing hand strength...

Fast break
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We also attended a "support the troops day" at a local high school last weekend. Of all the activities, Kathleen's favorite was the basketball toss. She marched right up to a group of teenagers who were using it, and stuck her hands up, confident they'd give her a ball. They did. And she ran with it!

We'll keep you posted as we keep busy! We've almost made it through one month...

All Over Oahu

Whatcha doing down there, Mama?
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We had a fantastic visit with Kathleen's Gram and Grampa O'Connor and with her Aunt Tia. We drove all over the island, visiting almost every tourist attraction we could think of. (We couldn't visit every attraction, after all, because then how would we convince them to come back again?) We saw the Arizona Memorial, attended a lecture on the history of Schofield Barracks, viewed Kaneohe Bay from the Pali Lookout, attended a luau at the Hale Koa, and visited more than a few beaches.

The beaches were definitely Kathleen's favorite part of the trip (well, aside from having three new adults to constantly entertain her). This past week she finally came to terms with sand. She'll now walk across the beach barefoot, as long as you hold her hands. And if you offer her a shovel and pail, she'll even play around with the sand. She's still not too sure about getting dirty; she likes to brush the sand off her hands every couple minutes.

Lanikai Group
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

But however ambivalent Kathleen may be about sand, she loves the water! Watching her splash around in Ko'Olina's peaceful lagoons this week made me wonder whether she might not be part fish. Kathleen was delighted by the calm and shallow water, and walked around, holding onto our hands for quite a while. Then inspiration must have struck her, because she decided to kick her legs out from underneath her and splash them around, still hanging onto our hands. She looked every bit a mermaid!

We miss our visitors already, and we hope they'll come back again soon.

Sunday in Honolulu

Climbing...
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We had a full Sunday! After Kathleen's morning nap, we went to mass in Mililani, then headed to Honolulu. We stopped at Punchbowl so that Gram and Grampa could see the monument. Grampa particularly appreciated the detailed mosaics of the battles of the Pacific. (Too bad he didn't have those as teaching aids when he'd tell us about the history of the US Marines in the Pacific when we were growing up!)

From Punchbowl we headed to Waikiki. We walked along the main strip, checked out the beaches (crowded with people, of course), and picked up some souvenirs. We even made the requisite phone call (to Kevin John, this time) in front of the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, with its webcam.

Hanging at the Hale Koa
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Waikiki has changed a little bit since Gram and Grampa were here 32 years ago... They were in for a big surprise! The Royal Hawaiian is tiny compared to all the giant hotels on Waikiki now, and most of its spectacular gardens are gone. Even the International Marketplace is bigger, they say! Although seeing how Waikiki has been built up was surprising (and a little sad) for them, they were impressed by how pretty Fort DeRussy and the Hale Koa are now. Some changes are for the better!

Being Tourists on the North Shore

Shave Ice!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Kathleen has been thrilled with the arrival of her grandparents and her Aunt Tia! They landed yesterday afternoon, and life has been tons of fun for Kathleen ever since. These people are full of games and toys and entertaining ideas. A little nervous of the "strangers" at first, Kathleen is now completely adjusted to them, and loving every minute of their visit.

Today we played tourists on the North Shore, visiting Aoki's Shave Ice, eating at Giovanni's Shrimp Shack in Kahuku, and watching the turtles swim in the ocean. It was a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

New Rocking Chair
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Since it's already Valentine's Day in Iraq, this evening Kathleen tested out her Valentine's Day present from Mommy and Daddy, a Kathleen-sized rocking chair. Kathleen loves the rocking chair in her bedroom, which we use to rock her before she goes to sleep. She often asks for help to sit in the chair by herself and rock. But, a full-sized rocker is difficult (if not dangerous) for a toddler to navigate. So, we thought that perhaps a smaller rocking chair was in order.

Kathleen still has a little bit of difficulty getting into the little rocking chair on her own, but she really likes to try! She particularly likes sliding out of it... She also enjoys moving the chair all over the living room and putting her stuffed animals in and out of it. (She even dragged Olivia over to give her a turn.)

Another reason we thought that a small chair might be a good Valentine's Day present has to do with Kathleen's preferred method of viewing "Signing Time." Unless she's really pretty tired, in which case she'll sit on your lap on the sofa, here's how Kathleen watches the television:

With the new chair, we're hoping to see more of this:

It didn't work tonight, exactly. Kathleen was in and out of the chair and ultimately wound up hanging on the edge of the television as she normally does. But perhaps she'll improve. We live in hope!

Hugs and kisses to Daddy for Valentine's Day. We miss you!

Making Our Own Fun

Stirring Things Up
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

For those of you who don't know, Daddy is definitely the fun one in our house. Mommy's good for making food and for drying tears, but Daddy's best for fun. So, with Daddy gone for a little while, we're working on making our own fun.

When we found ourselves at about 4:45 in the afternoon and unbearably cranky the other day, we knew we needed a plan. It was too late to go anywhere in the car and too early for bathtime. (Bathtime before dinner would never fly here. We'd just need two baths, then.) So, we had bubble time instead! We outfitted Kathleen in an apron, filled the kitchen sink with a lavish amount of dish soap and water, and went to town. We got bubbles all over the kitchen, but it doesn't get much cleaner than soap and water. (Hey, my kitchen probably needs the help.) Kathleen was amused, as you can see from the pictures, and together we managed to stave off the crankiness until we could reasonably have dinner and a bath.

Godspeed, Daddy!

Cheery at 2am
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Last night we said goodbye to Daddy, who left for Iraq. As seems to be customary in the Army, he departed in the middle of the night. Saying goodbye is always hard, and last night was no exception. But for a little girl woken up in the wee hours of the morning to wait around for a few more hours in the rain on post, Kathleen handled it like a trooper. The thing she seemed most upset about is that we wouldn't let her run around on the wet pavement in her pajama-ed feet!

We say goodbye to Daddy a lot -- when he leaves for work in the morning, when he goes back to work after lunch, when he takes out the trash, when he goes for a run -- so I'm not sure that this saying goodbye seemed much different to Kathleen. Of course, it is different. I haven't yet come up with an entirely satisfactory answer to Kathleen's more-than-occasional queries of "Dada?" For now I've just said that he's at work and that he'll be back in a while. We've been looking at his pictures, though, and watching the video he made reading stories for Kathleen. "Dada" is still Kathleen's favorite thing to say.

Daddy will be gone for about six months. We're grateful that this deployment is as short as it is, especially as our dear friends handle full-year deployments. We trust that God will sustain us through the separation and that He will use it for good in our lives and to His glory. He has already been faithful, even in the first day. I'd been afraid that the middle of the night departure would make for an exhausted mommy and a cranky Kathleen, but our day has been remarkably peaceful.

We love you and we miss you, Daddy. Be safe and come home soon!

Joy to the Fishies...

Look at this!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We visited the Honolulu Aquarium on Wednesday, giving Kathleen ample opportunity to use the sign for "fish." And sign she did, although you'd never know it from our photos... Our silly little camera is too slow to catch Kathleen actually signing. Instead we get photos like this one, where I have to say, "No, honestly, she was just signing fish and then curled her hand into a fist the moment we took this picture."

Kathleen loved the fish and the monk seal, appeared unimpressed by sharks, and laughed delightedly when a hermit crab ran across Mommy's hand. She loved being able to walk (or run) up to the tanks and watch the fish swim right by her! The aquarium is small, but provided more than enough to interest Kathleen. When the variety of sealife eventually failed to hold her interest, she discovered a new fascination: the stroller. We'd taken the little, folding Combi stroller with us, a stroller we haven't used much lately, since we've either been running with the jogger or encouraging Kathleen to walk. Kathleen took to pushing the light-weight stroller around (into us, into curbs, into everything), and putting her puppy Aloha in and out of the seat. There's entertainment everywhere for Kathleen!

From One Paradise to Another

Since Jim's deployment is drawing nearer (nearer than Kathleen and I like to admit most days), we decided to take a mini-vacation to make the most of the time we have together. We booked a four-day trip to the neighboring island of Kauai, and even though we had lousy weather, we enjoyed every minute of our visit.

Kathleen was very excited about the airport and riding in a plane. Plane is one of her favorite signs, and it got a lot of use at the airport. (She'd just finished making the sign for plane with her left hand in this picture.)



The flight from Honolulu to Lihue is only 35 minutes long -- 18 minutes of that is actually airborne. That's the kind of flying that's manageable with a toddler!

We had initially reserved a hotel room at a resort on the Coconut Coast, but when we arrived and filled it with the three of us, a crib, our luggage, and the jogging stroller, we realized that making Kathleen's schedule work in one room might be a bit of a stretch. There were bungalows on the resort, too, and we asked about upgrading to one of those. The upgrade would cost a bundle more, but when we walked by the bungalows (with their ocean views) and thought about the extra space and peace-of-mind, we decided it would be worth it. However, when we talked to the lady at the front desk, she said, "I just read the notes on your reservation, and I see you're about to deploy to Iraq. I have a son-in-law in Iraq and a son-in-law in the Horn of Africa." And she upgraded us for free! Here's the view from the bungalow's lanai:



The bungalow was such a blessing. It allowed us to put Kathleen to bed at her regular time and take her morning nap, as well. We'd get up in the morning, take a run along the oceanfront trail, have some breakfast in our bungalow, and then Kathleen would nap in the bedroom while Jim and I read on the lanai. When Kathleen woke again, we'd throw her in the rental car and explore the island. (She grabbed her afternoon nap while we were driving around.)

As I mentioned, we didn't have great weather for our trip. It rained a lot, and there were high winds, so some of the sight-seeing didn't go quite as it should have. For example, Kauai is home to Waimea Canyon, which Mark Twain called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Here's our picture of that natural wonder:



Oh, well. We'll just have to go back to see that again sometime. Even in the rain, there's no denying the beauty of Kauai's mountains and beaches. They're just incredible. Less developed than Oahu, Kauai looks like what you think tropical paradise should be. We saw mountains and jungle and rain forest and wide, sandy beaches. And every now and then the weather would break, and we'd get a moment like this:



We hope we'll be able to go back to Kauai again -- and actually enjoy some sun!

Punchbowl

On Sunday we drove into town to go to church with our friends the Autrys, who attend St. Andrews, a beautiful, historic Episcopalian church in Honolulu. We enjoyed worshiping with them and are excited that George and Adeline will be baptized there at the Easter Vigil this spring. Kathleen's favorite part of the service was the ribbon banner that's part of the processional and recessional -- she got very excited to see it twirling in the air!

After church we decided to drive to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which is better known as Punchbowl. The cemetery's momument to the fallen soldiers of the Pacific is impressive and sobering. The view from Punchbowl is breathtaking, as well.

Kathleen Dances for Her Supper

So, unfortunately this video is so dark as to be almost unwatchable... But if you can make it out, Kathleen is dancing for her supper! We were listening to Tommy Makem at dinner a few nights ago (Jim and I were warming up for the Makem and Spain concert we went to last night), and Kathleen just started to dance along to the music. She's loved Irish music since she was a little baby, but now we have proof!

For The Birds

Kathleen is completely enamored of birds! Her daddy made a very wise investment of about three dollars in some bird seed, and our lanai is now bird central. There are all sorts of little birds, and occasionally a not-so-little bird. Kathleen is thrilled with all of them. She runs up to the sliding glass door, waving her arms, and squealing with delight, mystified when they fly away. Other times she'll just sit quietly, entranced by the birds' hopping and tussling over the food. All the time she signs "bird" when she sees them. Despite our best efforts to teach her the sign over the course of several months, she's only learned and begun to use the sign thanks to her "Signing Time" video, which, aside from the birds, might be her favorite thing in the world. She loves to watch the little children signing, and her ability to sign has skyrocketed because of it. (Her daddy and I tell ourselves that having the "Signing Time" theme song constantly running through your brain is a small price to pay for your daughter's increased communication... although we have a more difficult time remembering that when we're trying to sleep!) We haven't managed to get a good picture of Kathleen and her birds yet, but we'll keep trying and we'll post it when we do.

Kicking Off The New Year

Kicking It
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

The new year arrived with plenty of fanfare here in Hawaii. Apparently the Golby household is the only household on the island that didn't spend thousands of dollars on fireworks to set off all New Year's Eve. If you've never been to Hawaii for New Year's, then you've never seen anything like it! I thought that Germans lit a lot of fireworks on New Year's, but they'd meet their match in the Hawaiians! Mercifully, Kathleen slept right through the festivities, but Jim and I sat on the lanai and watched the fireworks for hours. They began at about 7:30 (so Kathleen got to see a little before she went to bed) and continued right into the new year!

Kathleen's not slowing down for 2007! She's still very, very busy. We took her to the park the other day, and she had a great time tossing her ball and (a new trick) kicking it. She's still entranced by basketball on television (which works out great for her dad) and plays her own little version of basketball with an empty oatmeal container. We hold it up above her head and tell her, "Dunk it, dunk it!" Kathleen, in turn, runs up, sticks the ball inside, and then cheers madly. We're not kidding -- WNBA, here she comes!

We're realizing that Kathleen also understands more than we'd given her credit for. Yesterday I was talking about a rhino for some reason, and Kathleen starting sniffing. She was sniffing because in "Moo, Baa, La, La, La" the rhinoceros snorts and snuffs! Kathleen can also (mostly) show you where her ears and nose are. She can always show you where her bellybutton is. She's utterly fascinated by it! Her signing is coming along, too. It's not consistent yet, but she's signed "fan," "baby," "ball" and "banana" recently. I think 2007 is going to be a big year!

The Best Gifts Aren't Wrapped

Christmas Eve
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We received a Christmas card from our friends that said, "The best Gifts aren't wrapped." We've found that to be especially true this year. We've been blessed with good friends, a home in beautiful Hawaii and a darling little girl. And even though we were far from many of the people we love and who love us, we were grateful that our little family could be together to celebrate the God who lay in a manger so that we could know His love. Our first tropical Christmas was very merry, indeed.

We attended services on Christmas Eve at our church, which is just up the hill from our apartment. Our friends the Autrys came with us and they and some other friends from church stopped by after service for some cider and cookies and a piece of Buche de Noel. (That's French for yule log, for those of you that aren't Marie Childress!) We have lots of cookies left over, so if you've got a sweet tooth and you happen to be on Oahu, you should definitely stop by!

Presents
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Christmas morning came slightly later than normal, since Kathleen had been tuckered out by all the evening's festivities. But when she did wake she was very excited to see the gifts under the tree. Kathleen has been blessed by some very generous relatives, and they blessed her with lots of gifts. We opened presents, ate breakfast, played with presents, played with wrapping paper and boxes, opened more presents, and then had to take a break for a nap! And when she woke up, we did it all over again. Well, except for the breakfast. That time we had lunch.

Mind if I take this call?
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

A few toys emerged as clear favorites, though. A cell phone from her cousins was an enormous hit. (Should it trouble me that my toddler knows how to flip open a toy cell phone when it rings?) She loves the Noah's Ark she got from Mommy and Daddy, and how she can put the animals in and out of the ark's door. And a bench from her Uncle Kevin and Aunt Marie was the first thing she went for Christmas morning. The bench has her name on the top as a puzzle, and she loves to pull the letters out to play with them. The other thing she really likes about the bench is climbing up on it. We have lots of this going on here lately:

So Tall!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

On Christmas afternoon we headed to the Autrys, where we enjoyed an absolutely delicious Christmas dinner, and entertainment courtesy of Kathleen and Adeline. Adeline had received a wagon for Christmas, so after dinner the girls got to ride around the block in style! And after that, we all went home, full and happy and tired.

Holiday Cheer

Holiday Cheer
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Okay, so we know these photographs are a little blurry, but they were just too funny not to post.

Kathleen wasn't sure about wearing the hat at first; she preferred putting it on either Mommy or Daddy. But eventually she figured out that she could wear it, and then she was a little ham, dancing around the living room. She'd still try to put the hat on one of us occasionally, and we didn't take any pictures of that. You'll have to take our word for it -- she's a lot cuter than we are!

Anyway, if this little girl doesn't bring you holiday cheer, we don't know what will!

Dancing
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Happy Birthday, Kathleen!

Look at the candle!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Yesterday was Kathleen's first birthday! It's hard to believe that it has been a whole year since she was born. At the same time, though, it's hard to believe that the teeny-tiny baby girl we brought home from the hospital in Kentucky is the same girl who now toddles around our apartment in Hawaii. Time really does fly!

We started the day off on a less-than-celebratory note, but an important one, nonetheless -- we took Kathleen for her one-year check-up. She weighed in at 24 pounds, 15 ounces (I think all the running around is slimming her down) and measured 31 inches tall. She's still practically off the charts. She was a trooper and only cried a little when she got her shots.

In the evening we celebrated! Our friends Zach and Laura, and their brand-new baby Colt, and George and Kerry, and their daughter Adeline joined us for a little birthday party. We shared a meal of Kathleen's favorite foods -- chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, steamed veggies, and grapes. Kathleen and Adeline are always very entertaining together, so watching them play was possibly the best part of the evening. We did open a few presents, but found that the gift bags, wrapping paper, and ribbon were almost as fun as the gifts themselves. Kathleen's still carrying one of her gift bags around this morning!

Kathleen didn't blow out the candle on her birthday cake, but she did enjoy everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her. (It was also a hit when her cousins the Gustafsons sang it to her on the phone.) She dug into her piece of cake, but didn't overindulge. When she'd had her fill, she just signed that she was done -- she didn't even throw the cake off her tray!

All I Want For Christmas... Is Not To See Santa

No Santa!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We attended the battalion Christmas party this weekend, which Kathleen genuinely seemed to enjoy. The party had a lot to offer to Kathleen -- a score of children running around a community center, cookies (a newly-discovered love of Kathleen's), juice, and Christmas cartoons.

What Kathleen did not enjoy -- not at all! -- was visiting Santa. She sat on his lap for less than a second before erupting into true screams of terror. Mommy snatched her back up as quickly as possible, but not before Daddy snapped this photo, capturing the less-than-idyllic holiday moment.

Kathleen calmed down again fairly quickly, at least once she'd been plied with an oatmeal cookie. She did, however, remain firmly attached to a parent's hip or leg until Santa Claus left the building.

We realized after the fact that we don't think that Kathleen has ever seen a man with a beard -- much less a man with a beard, glasses and a fuzzy hat. As Jim pointed out, "Santa Claus could only be scarier if he came with a vacuum!"

Happier Before Santa
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

The Best Toys Aren't Toys at All!

Stirring Things Up
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

We've discovered lately that Kathleen's favorite toys aren't really toys at all. Oh, she plays with the shape-sorter and with her stacking rings, and she vigorously hugs her stuffed pig and monkey, and she happily totes around her books for reading (and chewing). But the things that really capture her interest and imagination are everyday items, not toys. She's fascinated by the television remote and her daddy's cell phone (particularly the way it snaps open and shut) and the pots and pans in the one kitchen cabinet that we haven't quite managed to put a safety latch on yet.

Yesterday afternoon Kathleen and I made cookies to take to a friend with a new baby, and Kathleen inherited the empty oatmeal canister. She's been playing with it since then, carrying it and its top around the apartment, sticking a wooden spoon in it, and rolling it on the kitchen floor. She loves it!

An Apple A Day

An Apple A Day
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Last night Kathleen kept pestering Daddy for a bite of his apple, and so Daddy gave her one of her own. He thought she'd just carry it aroundwith her, but she made pretty amazing progress eating it! She put her teeth to good use, and helped herself to a serving of fruit. And, when she was done, she used the apple like a ball, tossing it across the living room floor and running after it. She thought it was great! We thought it was hysterical, but stifled our laughter long enough to explain that we don't throw food. (For the record, we're having a tough time making that concept stick. Even though Kathleen will make the sign for "all done" when she's finished with her dinner, she generally throws any remaining food from her tray before she signs to us!)

Does This Girl Want to Run, or What?

Run!
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Off and Running

Ready to Run
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

After months of deliberating, this weekend we finally purchased a jogging stroller. We researched the subject to death, only to find that our choices were pretty much limited to the strollers we could find on the island, since shipping a jogging stroller to Hawaii comes with a fairly hefty price tag. (No free shipping deals for us!)

We finally settled on a middle-of-the-road jogger, the Baby Jogger Q-Series, with 16 inch wheels. And while we were worried about finally taking the plunge, the only regret we now have is that we didn't do it sooner. Kathleen, as you can see, is quite pleased with the stroller. She fits in it comfortably (with lots of room to grow) and chatters and kicks her legs as we jog along. She likes to look up through the sunshade's window to check on the person pushing her, which is pretty cute. The jogger performed beautifully on its maiden voyage, a four-miler around the air field on post. And it did equally as well for a shorter run this morning, which we were able to squeeze in right before breakfast. And speaking of squeezing in, the folded jogger fits in the trunk of our Nissan Versa and in Kathleen's closet. Hooray for portability and storage! Anyway, enough about the jogger.

Mommy and Daddy aren't the only ones doing some running lately. Kathleen's been working up some speed herself. She's moving around more and more quickly, though she still trips herself up frequently. She runs around our condo with her own little agenda, purposefully striding from one room to the next, carrying things back and forth, laughing and babbling. We're not sure what she's doing, exactly, but we know she's hard at work!

The Untimely Demise of a Camera

We're sad to report that our digital camera recently had an unfortunate encounter with a leaky bottle and now refuses to function. We're particularly sad about this because there's so much we wanted to show you. For example, we wanted to show you how much Kathleen loved having her Aunt Angela visit from Illinois. We could have shown you Kathleen and Angela with the giant sea turtles on the North Shore, or in the gorgeous sunset on the beach. Or we could've wowed you with pictures of the thanksgiving feast we devoured in shorts. We really wanted to show you how Kathleen was literally the life of the party at the luau, putting on her own little show for Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Angela. Oh, well. I suppose you'll just have to imagine it.

We've gotten another camera, though, and we'll be putting it to good use soon, we promise!

Not-So-Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Smile for the Camera
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Late Sunday afternoon we packed up some things and headed to the lagoons at Ko 'Olina for a run. The view is gorgeous there and there's a nice, relatively flat trail to run along. Because we've never actually gotten around to buying a good jogger, we have to take turns running and watching Kathleen. Ko 'Olina is a great place to do that, because there's a lot of distraction for Kathleen. In addition to all the normal beach attractions, there are lots of children to watch, and Kathleen gets to wave at her parents when they run by! Mommy and Kathleen played on the grass and at the edge of the sand while Daddy ran, and then Kathleen and Daddy went for a swim while Mommy ran.

The sun had set by the time we were all finished up, and we'd gotten to enjoy a good run and a beautiful sunset.


Prettier than the Sunset
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

A Snapshot of Kathleen

Big Grin
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Kathleen's nearly eleven months old, which is a little hard to believe. She's growing and changing and learning so much, so quickly. I thought that we'd try to give you a bit of a snapshot of not-so-little girl.

She's walking like a champ! Kathleen toddles all over our condo, exploring everything. She still topples over some -- all twenty-six pounds of her thudding into the floor. But she can bend over to pick things up and right herself and manages to catch her balance when she's momentarily thrown off. She particularly likes to carry things around with her while she walks. She carries her toys, Mommy's purse, cups, and yesterday she attempted to move Daddy's boot.

She's not talking much, really. She says "Mama" and "Dada," but not consistently. Mostly she babbles, practicing her consonants. She can understand us, though. If she's feeling cooperative, she'll follow through on small commands like, "Will you please bring your book to me?" She can do the same for her dog Aloha, the ball, and some other toys. She knows the word "no" and just about jumps out of her skin if you come up on her playing somewhere she knows she's not supposed to be, like near the toilet.

She loves the water, whether it's at the beach or the pool. The jury's still out on the sand, though. We think she'll like it more as she gets a little bigger. She loves to watch other children play, and waves to them and tries to get their attention. She still loves her stuffed puppy Aloha, and sucks on his tail to soothe herself to sleep. She also loves her stuffed pig and another stuffed dog, which she walks around the house hugging. She loves eskimo kisses. She loves being tickled, watching Mommy be tickled, and playing peek-a-boo. She hates having her face wiped after meals and will yell if you try. If, however, you wipe her face while saying, "Let me see you, Kathleen. Oh, you're so pretty!" she has no complaints at all.

Kathleen's very much her own person of late; she has distinct ideas about what she'd like to do, and she's not afraid to express her displeasure, should we elect to do something else. For example, Kathleen has recently decided that she has not interest in eating anything from a spoon. (That effectively ended my love affair with making baby food, which we won't mention to any other children we might one day have, as I suspect it was a first-child undertaking!) She loves to feed herself, so it's all finger-food, all the time. The only possible exception is if one of her parents happens to be eating something on the sofa. Then Kathleen's a little beggar! She almost doesn't care what she gets that way, because just getting it from Mommy and Daddy is the fun part.

We like to say that Kathleen has a "big" personality (which is in keeping with the rest of her, I suppose). She's funny and stubborn and clever and rather impatient. Pray for us, please, because even though she's the most fun we've ever had, I think that parenting Kathleen is going to be the biggest challenge, too!

It's a Zoo Around Here

Checking Out Elephants
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

The Golbys packed up and headed for the zoo yesterday, making the most of Daddy's last few days of convalescent leave. (He returns to work on post tomorrow.) We're still not quite used to the weather here -- we must have commented on the sunny, 85-degree weather four or five times during our excursion!

But it was perfect for a walk around the zoo, and Kathleen really seemed to like it. She was most impressed by the monkeys, chimps, and gibbons. She'd giggle and kick her legs when she watched them swing through the trees. She liked the zebras and giraffes, too. Although, to be perfectly honest, I think that what Kathleen liked best about the zoo was other children! She'd be happy to watch them run around all day long.

No Tricks, Only Treats!

On Our Way Home
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Kathleen's first Halloween was a rousing success. She was a darling little Dorothy, and her favorite puppy dog Aloha made a perfect Toto. Kathleen was fascinated by the glitter on her Ruby Red Slippers, even though their little heels made her walking a little more wobbly than normal. Mommy and Daddy even joined in the fun, resurrecting their Oktoberfest garb for the evening. (You were right, Jarvii -- Halloween costumes for life! Thanks again!)

We spent the evening at the home of our friends, the Autrys. Adeline, who's just a month older than Kathleen and smidge smaller, made her debut as Supergirl. She was absolutely super. We took the girls for a quick outing around post, to visit some friends and show off their cuteness. And then we enjoyed a tasty supper courtesy of the Autrys, and were entertained by our little girls' antics. They were sweeter than any candy we could have gotten!

Getting Ready for Halloween

What's In There?
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Kathleen's getting very excited for Halloween. Her costume is finished. Mommy sewed the last little bit a few days ago, so she's all set to be Dorothy. We even found Ruby Red Slippers while we were in Illinois. (How we miss Target!)

This afternoon we carved our pumpkin. At first, Kathleen wasn't sure what to make of it, but she caught on quickly. She always seems to like things that involve getting messy! Jim drew the jack 'o lantern's face... It's supposed to look like Kathleen, if you couldn't tell. There's a gap between the two front teeth, just like our little girl!

All Over Illinois!

Kathleen was literally all over Illinois last week. She flew into Peoria and then visited Kewanee, Bloomington, Dwight, Joliet (okay, that was just lunch), and Morton. She's a well-travelled little girl, that's for sure. But Kathleen didn't just see lots of Illinois, she saw lots of people!

For one, Kathleen got to see her Grandma and Grandpa Golby in Kewanee.

Plus, Grandma and Grandpa Golby organized a lovely open-house event, so Kathleen got to see a lot of extended family, too. While we were in Kewanee, we stayed with the Gustafsons, so Kathleen got to see her cousins, Matt, Ali, and Lizzie. Kathleen had lots of fun playing with the vanity at their house. I can only imagine how much time she'll spend getting ready when she's sixteen, since she has spent a considerable amount of time playing at it already!

Kathleen thinks her cousins are the best entertainment ever. When we went to pick her cousins up from school, Kathleen was getting a little fussy. But when they piled into the van, she lit up like a Christmas tree.

After staying in Kewanee for a few days, we headed to Bloomington, so that Mommy and Daddy could go to Tom and Lannie Boswell's wedding. On our way there, we stopped at Tanner's Orchard, so we could have a full autumn experience. Kathleen checked out the pumpkins, discovered that she adores apple cider, and fed some goats.

The fun continued for Kathleen. While Mommy and Daddy went to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding, Kathleen stayed first with Aunt Angela, and then with the Stewarts. Aunt Katherine, Uncle Eric, Sarah, Ethan, and Melissa Stewart came to Bloomington from Dwight and spent the whole day with Kathleen. She even took her first trip to the zoo!

(Special thanks to cousin Sarah, who spent the night at the hotel with us, so that Mommy and Daddy could stay and dance at the reception.)

From Bloomington, we headed up to Dwight, so Kathleen could continue playing with the Stewarts. Upon arriving at the Stewarts', Kathleen was excited to discover not one, but two dogs! It really was Kathleen's own version of heaven. Our time in Dwight was too short, but long enough for Tim, Shannan, and Megan McFadden to stop by for a visit.

We met friends Paul and Alison Krattiger for lunch in Joliet, then stopped back in Dwight before heading to stay with Aunt Angela in Morton. We flew out the next morning, narrowly missing the storm that closed down Denver airport (which was one of our layovers). Wow! We're tired just typing about all that!

Headed for the Hog Capital

Piggy Back
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Mommy, Daddy, and Kathleen are headed for the Hog Capital! We'll be visiting Grandma and Grandpa Golby and Kathleen's aunts and uncles and cousins. Kathleen is very excited to be able to play with her cousins, because all she could do the last time was lie on her back and watch them! Watch out, everybody, here comes Kathleen!

Stepping Out

Kathleen has been taking some tentative steps, but today she really got the hang of it. Good job, little girl!

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Candlelit Dining
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Kathleen experienced her first major earthquake yesterday morning, when a 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Hawaiian islands. The last earthquake Kathleen was in didn't even wake her from her nap -- it happened this summer when we were visiting her grandparents in San Francisco. There was no missing this one, though. It shook long and hard. Kathleen was already awake, but it definitely woke up her daddy! (It was his first earthquake, too.)

We're thankful that the damage on Oahu seems minimal. We lost a couple picture frames, but nothing else. Well, the only other thing we lost was the power! The power was out until late last night, so Kathleen enjoyed a late supper by candlelight. By the time she awoke this morning, everything was back to normal.

Play Ball!

Kathleen shows off her nascent athletic abilities. She knows she's supposed to throw and she gives it a good try, but she doesn't have much of an arm (or aim) yet. Still, she's far more excited about playing ball than her mother ever has been.

Dreams of Flying

Matt and Kathleen
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

This weekend Kathleen had a vist from Jim's friend Matt Driskill. Matt's a Naval Flight Officer, and his squadron was stopping through Hawaii on their way home from a deployment in Japan. He stayed with us overnight and got to watch Kathleen watch football on Saturday morning. (I'm sure that's what most people want to do when they visit Hawaii!) We've been trying to teach her to say "touchdown," but all she does is squeal. Still, we think that's pretty cute.

Kathleen did some flying of her own recently. She doesn't need a plane, though -- she's Supergirl! We'd found the costume through the wonders of ebay and had hoped that Kathleen would be able to wear it for Halloween. (Not that she needs an excuse to wear a superhero costume. We knew that Kathleen would be a superhero before she was even born!) Sadly, our giant little girl has outgrown the costume already, so we're on the lookout for yet another Halloween costume!

It's a bird...
Originally uploaded by the golbys.