While out running errands yesterday afternoon Harper and I took a small detour to one of the many grassy areas lining the beach and just sat together taking it all in. It was another one of those perfect Hawaiian December days. The sun was shining, small waves were rolling in and there was a mellow beach scene littered with retirees and Canadians escaping the harsh weather.
We stayed for a while chasing birds, watching the clouds and people pass by, enjoying our seemingly private oasis in the middle of one of the worlds largest tourist destinations. Being so fortunate to live in a place (where in the middle of December as the world counts down to Christmas and many sit around fires, bundled up and thinking of scenes such as the one I was living) I knew that I had to embrace this day to the fullest.
There was only one thing to do. Harper and I headed home and pulled out our veto power, requiring papa to take a mid day break from work and head to the beach with us. We quickly suited up, grabbed a board and headed down to the water. Walking down the street with my beach babes I couldn’t help but grin. I have two of the cutest, most loving surfer boys on the beach and as my big man cradled my little man coaching him on the waves we were about to ride, I couldn’t have felt more proud to call this bunch my family.
And so the day before my little grom turned 11 months old he rode his first solo waves.
That’s right…after paddling around with Harper and having papa push us into small waves along the shore we finally felt comfortable to turn little man loose on his own! Papa balanced Harper on the board, would walk him out to a tiny little ripple and just as the wave was beginning to stand up he would give a gentle push placing him perfectly on the wave. Smiling from ear to ear Harper made his way down the green and as he reached my open arms (excited to see him surfing and stoked to have him safe in my arms!) he clapped for himself and signed for MORE!
After about 30 minutes of surfing and catching nearly every person in the vicinities attention (still waiting for videos to pop up on YouTube!) we decided to call it a day. As we piled into the warm tub, soaking our surfed out arms and unwinding from all the action I couldn’t help but think of how many other “milestones” Harper has checked off the list this month alone.
In short:
The kid says “Mama” , “Papa”, “Nene” (pacifier and night night in Hawaiian), “Hamma” (grandma”) and “nada mumble mumble mama” (not the mama to papa)
He has 4 teeth (2 upper and 2 lower)
He plays Peek-a-boo
Shares his favorite snacks
Waves “Hi” and “Bye” to anyone that walks by and gives the occasional “High five”
Points at absolutely everything
He can sort through his books and bring you the specific title that you ask for
Can pick out and point to different animals in his books
Points to “nose”, “eyes”, “hair”, “ears”, “mouth”
oh….and he walks! 1st it was 1 step to mama, then 3 to papa and these days he can pretty much walk across a room if motivated by the right toy or a group of onlookers ready to clap and shout Hooray! The little one will do pretty much anything for a crowd 
It’s hard to believe that a little over 11 months ago I was still dreaming about the day I would meet this little guy, wondering what he would look like, what his personality would be. Today we sit amazed at the beautiful little boy unfolding so rapidly before us, laughing at his sense of humor and how he loves to entertain us. We are continually impressed by all that he learns and how quickly he picks up on things, he is so observant, so fast and occasionally so very frustrating and challenging. More than anything that I could have asked for, more than any amount of dreaming I could have done, this guy is 100% our world, our light and our love.
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