Merry Christmas!

'Tis the season to be Jolly! We are certainly jolly! Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas presents! I am so stoked to have some clothes that will actually fit me for a while! We love our new Moomin-coasters! And I got a webcamera so let's skype everybody!! We have apparently been really good this last year.
On the bump-front, not much new. It keeps growing at a steady pace and sucking most of my energy out of me. Kel started talking to it too, but I don't think he's getting much response yet. It has feet and hands and even nails now and it is three months along. We have another appointment with the doctor on Monday, so maybe we'll have an update then.
Otherwise, we missed you all this Christmas! Hope to see more of you next year!

Bobo the Bump goes to Hana

Rumor had it that the biggest swell of 40 years, you know, like in "Point Break", was coming our way just in time for our day off. But being expecting is not the ideal state to be in when you are attempting a 2o footer. Not even if it is your wife that is the expecting one. So we decided to be spectators this time. Jaws was supposed to be breaking, and that happens maybe a few times a season, so why not take a look? It being on the way to Hana was even better! We rented a car for the occasion and headed out! Baldwin Beach Park as well as Ho'okipa Beach Park were both closed and patrolled to keep onlookers at bay. The traffic was backed up! Everybody wanted a piece of it! The lore that Legends are weaved of! But I didn't think it looked like the biggest in 40 years. I thought it was bigger last April, at Ho'okipa anyway. Maybe the swell diminished a bit on its way over and didn't hit with full force. Jaws WAS breaking! Going OFF! It was a long hot hike across the pineapple fields to get there, but it was worth it! H-U-G-E! Bigger waves than I have ever seen with my own two eyes! But again, they estimated the wave height at 45 feet, and yet a few years back someone rode a wave that measured 67 feet at the same spot. Humongous nevertheless! Three guys, I assume they were gentlemen, plus their jet-ski partners were battling the surf. Kel thought it looked easy...
Anyway, the journey went on to Hana and we were rather late so we only took a quick stop at Waianapanapa and the freshwater caves. The camping there required a permit that we could not produce so we had to drive another 45 minutes to Kipahulu and the Haleakala National Park to camp. It was super windy but dry! The night was in the tent was long and hard and nothing was comfortable enough to permit me any deeper sleep. Beautiful morning and calm waterfalls! The surf had come to Hana too, so Kel went out at beautiful Hamoa (on MY board with the pink deck pad) while I sunbathed and swam. Absolutely unbelievably pretty there! A quick stop at both of the stores in Hana and then we decided to begin the long journey back, around the backside of the volcano. The waterfall at Alelele is an old favourite of ours, but too many tourists and their videocameras have discovered it, making it slightly less attractive. It was an amazinglu clear day and the drive was breathtaking! But loooong! The driver got a wee bit tired... We came back to civilization in one piece and saw that the waves were still pounding the northern shores of our island.
Well, we managed to fit the last bit of Christmas shopping in and are now done! So how was that for a weekend?

Here's Occy!

Even though this guy is rich, sponsored to surf around the world, somewhat good-looking for his age, he was still the nicest guy! We didn't even buy his book! But he is an aussie after all, and aussies are very nice in general!

Surfstoke!

The bump is growing and growing and growing. It is still not big, but big enough for all my shorts to feel way too tight.. It is harder than I thought, this weight gaining thing. I mean it is not like I could go on a diet and shape up. I am actually just going to get bigger and bigger and then some.. So pucker up!
Well, I had myself a little Charlotte-esque revelation where I decided that I wouldn't let a pregnancy get in the way of doing something I love. So I went surfing for the first time since I found out. Which means that it was the first time in two months or so. I took the longboard and actually listened to my husband's pointers about the spot he chose for us. It was AWESOME! Not very big or anything, but very light winds and only one other guy except for us. I caught plenty of waves and got my stoke back! I am still homesick, but I think I will survive... The doctor said it would be OK for me to do anything I used to do before, but of course be careful. And careful I was!
After some fun surf we went into Lahaina to meet an old surflegend, Mr. Mark Occhilupo, who once held the World Title. He was a really nice guy, a bit shorter than I thought, and he happily signed a poster for us and posed for some pictures (that might make their way here).
So it was a good day and many ways! And tomorrow is Monday and we are off for two days. The surf is supposed to be humongous so hopefully we will go a look at Jaws and the guys with the big balls. And then continue on to Hana for a nice weekend of camping!
A hui hou!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful to have all of you in our lives and are hoping to see much more of you in the future! We also hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had to work, because at the Marriott, there are no holidays! The tourists are not going to take a vacation from their vacation just because it happens to be Thanksgiving. It's quite alright with me since I get paid more!
Luckily, I worked in the am so we could have some gobble! We went to a restaurant in the neighborhood. Very convenient, no cooking, no dishes!
Also, by popular demand, here's a picture of the growing belly. Have a heart about the lack of focus, it's not easy to take a picture of yourself through a mirror! Like I said before, it is really not much to see at the moment. I merely look chubby, not pregnant.
Love to you all! We miss you!

Estimated Time of Arrival: July 9th 2010!

"It was an emotional time for Buttercup" to say the least! Today we listened to the sound of our baby's heartbeat. It was fast! We also got to see more of the baby. It was a big difference from two weeks ago when it was merely a tadpole! Now it has a head and tiny arms and legs and resembles a frog. A mighty cute frog at that! It was a proud moment indeed! It has been 7 weeks and 3 days according to the calculations from the ultra sound and it should make its debut on Klara's 12th birthday, the 9th of July. If I count back in my calendar, it looks like it was conceived on Astrid's birthday. Are all the birthdays already taken?

Apart from that we went through some other preggo-stuff and it turns out that I am in quite good shape, I do not have gestational diabetes, my blood group is 0+ and I have gained around 6 pounds so far.  It was recommended that I get a flu shot and a swine flu shot. Since my timing is impeccable, as always, Kaiser Permanente had just received its first batch of swine flu vaccine today. The only hitch being that it was only available at the Wailuku clinic. Some phone calls were made and I could drive over a get both shots and they would hold one of the only 25 swine flu shots for me. They sure know how to make a girl feel special at Kaiser! If I wasn't pregnant I would not have wanted either shot, but you got to do what you got to do!

So now I am immune to the flu! And one out of 25 mauians immune to swine flu! Wow! 

We finished the outing at the Maui Mall Megaplex with "Pirate Radio", which really could have been better. It had lots and lots of good music though, including "Whiter Shade of Pale" one of my favorites! 

"We skipped the light fandango, turning cartwheels 'cross the floor. 

I was feeling kind of seasick, but the crowd called out for more"

The size of my belly is still not much to see, I look a little chubbier than before, that's all. But I do feel the pressure to post a picture, so I will soon! Promise!

'Tis the season to be queesy...

No interesting pictures, sorry. Nausea is not very photogenique.
As the pea in the pod keeps growing, I am going through the preggers symptoms one after another. The all-day-sickness has eased a little, but now I am constantly out of breath instead. Everything is a project that require planning in advance. Spontaneity is out the window in other words. I quit all unhealthy habits and am now in the process of making my husband quit his. But even though the beloved little dot has grown 10000 times since it was conceived, a stranger would not be able to tell by looking at me. I think it's showing of course, at least upstairs.
I dream about the baby a lot, but it never reveals if it is a boy or a girl. We do not intend to find out either, it will have to be a surprise. I think it would be fun with a boy, considering the number of females on my side. I know Kel would rather have a girl, but I am positive we will both be happy either way. We are also discussing names, but that discussion is for our ears only, so far.
We miss you all!

What to expect when you're expecting..

And the answer is spelled B A R F!  We are of course overjoyed and all that, but even though our offspring is less than the size of a pea, it can already make me feel like a mix of part hangover part Montezuma's revenge! And throw in some motion sickness too! 

He or she goes by Baby Bobo at the moment, for no apparent reason other than it stuck. 

Next week, we are going to listen to his or her heartbeat, which is already beating! Amazing! 

I sport a nice rack of lamb these days, but apart from that there are no telltale signs yet. Still, people at work seem to have it figured out already. So soon we will have to make an official statement I assume.

Please feel free to share any old wives' tales on how to beat the so called "morning sickness"!

Much love from us!

Happy Halloween!

The camera was not where it was supposed to be, so I didn't get any pictures of the pumpkin I carved for work. Another contest. I used whatever I could find around the house, which in our case wasn't much. I did find the staple gun and made cracks in the pumpkin and dripped black nail polish into them and then stapled it together. Gnar-gnar as we say over here! 

We took a stroll on Front Street to look at the level of creativity this year. Seems like it was lower than ever...more skin than imagination. I had covered up completely! I was the Phantom! The comic-book character, not of the Opera. Kel finally gave in and dressed up as Magnum P.I.

We had a great Teppanyaki dinner at Kobe's! 

Mom and Dad's visit in a few pictures

We had an awesome time together! Everone else, take a cue from them and come visit!! My Mom learnt how to swim under water and my Dad learnt how to brownbag it in style!

Polipoli!

We finally made it to the last outpost! Now we have really been here and done that! Waipoli State Park is located high on the sloped of Haleakala, aka the Crater, and is a big forest. There are a few Redwood trees, which was the main reason we went up there, and plenty of fern, pines and other big trees and plants. The campground wasn't exactly crowded, after dark only our tent was to be seen. We found wild strawberries, black berries (not the ones you can call up your buddies on) mushrooms and some telltale signs of wild boar... It was unreal up there! It got so dark at night, no moon that night! We ran out of batteries in the flashlight, so we took a dark walk under the stars, above the clouds! Unbelievable beauty! 

More Twenty-ten celebrations! And the world's cutest Mollie!

I got a gift certificate for 24 hours in Copenhagen from my sister! What a pressie! Included a visit to the Tivoli Gardens! The next day we took the train back to a SUPRISE party with friends and family and otherwise beloved. The best cakes ever made! And then a little picture of me and Mollie, getting so big already!

More piccies from Sweden

We are looking at the happy couple emerging from their magic pumpkin! Even the toiletpaper reeked of LOVE! The newlyweds first waltz as hubby and wifey. My bilingual baby Astro reading a book in Finnish and then my fellow University of Hawaii students!

Flashback!

As I finally got to uploading my pictures from Sweden , here's a sample! More to come! We got the bride and the groom, the pre-party at Anna's, me in a ball on the canal and The Sounds rocking Malmö Festivalen!

Kellyfornia!

'






We had a jolly good time with the wonderful Wrights! But, like all vacations, it was far too short! The Dodger's game was awesome, the fireworks show afterwards was amazing! We had a great time at Nancy and Rich's and it was so good to see everybody! Knott's Berry Farm was a huge hit! Those rollercoasters! But the best part of it all was to have the whole Wright family close! We love you all very much! Thanks for a GREAT vacation!