Wow, Time Flies

Has it really been a YEAR since my last blog entry?!!? Can you say slacker? C'mon Tiffany, I know YOU can!:) Well, needless to say being a mommy of TWO has kept me busy this last year! I feel terrible, I should have been documenting all the wonderful little milestones of Miss Ke`ala's first year in this blog because (Lord knows) I'm not going to remember them. But I didn't. Future Ke`ala, if you are reading this, I'm sorry.

Anyway, this past year has been a blur and FULL of changes for the Turner Ohana, I almost don't recognize my life from a year ago. As most of you know, we've moved to San Diego... thought I would like it more than I do but can't (REALLY) complain. It's nice besides the fact that we've been sick more in this one year than we were in ten years in Hawaii (what's up with that??) There is a lot of fun stuff to do here though, when we aren't coughing our lungs up and going through a years worth of boogie wipes trying to keep the snot at bay. We have annual passes to the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Seaworld. We spend a few times a month at each, fostering the girls love of animals and the outdoors. But mostly we've just been livin'...day to day...a thousand moments I can't recall but I am grateful for each and every one. Ok, I'll quit blabbing and just recap.

January and February 2011: We were still in Hawaii and spent this time trying to find a routine for Ke`ala baby, she had a rough first month of life, we spent her first two/three weeks holding her twentyfourseven! Lit.er.ally! We took turns holding her through the night, sleeping upright in a chair with her on our shoulder. She.would.not.lay.down. Turns out she had congestion and acid reflux and couldn't lay down without choking/pain. But by a month and a half old she had mastered the sleeping lying down bit (albeit on her tummy, shhhh.)

Exhausted Momma and Ke`ala

March and April 2011: Ew, we spent these months packing up and moving out of our island home (sad.) The girls and I flew to Oregon to couch surf random places (Moms, Dads, friends houses) for five weeks while Mel went to Rhode Island (or somewhere) for Officer Training (Fork & Knife) School (even more sad.) It was a miserable couple months I'd rather not remember.

The girls and I freezing in Oregon

May, June, July 2011: Mel returned from school, we packed up everything and drove from Oregon to San Diego to set up house in a great little condo in Mission Valley. Mel began work as a pediatric nurse, Cora turned four and learned how to swim (didn't take long with a private pool right outside the front door!) and Ke`ala began crawling EVERYWHERE.

Cora and her friend, Madeline, at her 4th birthday party

August 2011: We decided that our great little condo (although beautiful with exceptional neighbors) wasn't very family friendly. We started feeling like a prisoners pent up (gated community) with no green space, surrounded by freeways and concrete. I was a screaming lunatic every time Cora wanted to ride her bike because she (literally) only had the parking lot on which to ride and I was constantly afraid she was going to get hit by someone backing out of their garage or coming too fast around the corner. So we decided to bite the bullet and move into military housing (yay. another move. what are we at now? four this year. yeah.)

Mel and the girls at our new house.

September, October, November 2011: We loved our new military neighborhood! Older homes (that leave a lot to be desired) quaint and welcoming, with great neighbors. Ke`ala started taking steps and gaining more independence (a blessing and a curse for me) and Cora has (for the first time) neighborhood kids her age, to play with. Mel loves his new career. He's so passionate and driven and is being noticed both by his superiors and his patients' parents as a great value and asset to the hospital. I'm so proud to be married to him (<-- mushy sidenote.)

Mel, Everett, Cora, and her cousins when they were visiting from Oregon

December 2011: Of course Christmas, but more importantly, Ke`ala turned one! She started walking with confidence and has the funnest little personality. I was so unsure and unready for baby 2 when we got pregnant but look at her now! She completes us, this little Turner clan.

Ke`ala's 1st Birthday party!

So yeah, overall 2011 was a busy year with a lot of change and adjustment, but we are happy, healthy, thirty, flirting, and thriving (ok, so may a little past thirty but who's counting?)

Phew, and now that that's done, let's talk 2012! It's been good. Mel's into year two of nursing and we are looking forward to his promotion coming up at the end of the year! My house is coming together (I'm indecisive and lazy, it's a slow process) the girls are doing amazing. Cora will be starting Kindergarten this fall so we have been touring elementary schools and deciding where we are going to send her. She's been attending a little "preschool" once a week to get used to going to school WITHOUT Mom. She loves it so I'm sure Kindergarten will be a breeze for her. Ke`ala is sassing away with her sign language and has a few words in her arsenal now. Life is plugging along. The only major news for me is that I'm getting Lasik surgery this month! No more glasses, or contacts, or blind stumblings to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Two fully functional, clear visioned eyeballs! Can't hardly believe it. Can't wait!

Ok, I think that's it. This must be some kinda record for blog blatherings. And to those of you who read the whole thing, wow, I'm impressed because I'm not even going to proofread this dang thing, it's too long, I can't bear it. Hope everything made sense and the misspellings aren't too horrific.

Cora today, 4.5 years old :)

Ke`ala today, 15 months (already!)

Peace out friends! And come back, I won't be gone so long next time, I promise!