anytime

Today I thought was almost the day, but somehow I knew it wasn't....."Mother's Intuition". So James and I drove out to our regular check up at 39 weeks. We were told last week that I may be getting induced today, depending on how far I had dilated since 2 weeks ago at 1cm. We packed our hospital bag, left Mahie home with my Dad w/her packed bag, and off to Castle we went. For some reason, I just knew today wasn't the BIG day, didn't feel it, hahaha. There were no emotions, nerves, etc....in fact I remembered a lot of things I had forgotten back at home.

Our check-up took almost an hour because of waiting, waiting. And then finally Tina (the midwife) checked me and was shocked I was only 3cm! However, after a little more examination her disappointment left as she mentioned, "The baby is RIGHT THERE! Basically it's just the water bag holding it up." So no inducing for us, they suggested I allow my body to go naturally which will for sure happen any time this week. If not, we are scheduled Friday morning to break my water. We were sent home with a LIST of recommendations to get baby movin'......but for some reason I don't feel like going into labor RIGHT NOW, I know selfish.....whatever happens, will happen!

Yesterday after church!

Definitely wasn't looking like this with Mahie. I may have been twice the size & for sure wouldn't have fit into this pre-pregnancy dress. (Obviously very stretchy!)

My pre-labor tradition: getting a pedi at the mall this past Saturday :)

Maybe next post will be from the hospital??!!

Kinda nervous now about the pains & recovery flashbacks....but excited that I'll be holding A NEW BABY!! What the heck!!

Baby Brother's Shower

Thank you to my Parents, Sister, Sister-in-law Ida & Tiana for such a fun "HALLOWEEN THEMED" baby shower for my son....and for all the friends and family who came out to eat, play & laugh. It was a really enjoyable evening. James and I appreciate all the gifts we were showered with, it has definitely been a big help :)

My "Thank You" to my guests was a candy bar: cupcakes w/skeleton bones sprinkles, chocolate licorice, candy corn + salty peanut mix, granola bars wrapped as mummy's, gumballs...and my fave, caramel apple lollipops!

*I suggest checking out the food section at Ross during the holidays....so many spices, candies, etc. are super cheap & one of a kind.

 

Doesn't this look REAL? & kinda gross....I never played this game before

Some of everyone who came!

All I can say is that baby shower gifts have truly stepped up with creativity! 

If you follow me on Instagram, you can see more detailed pictures of the cute Halloween decor :)

Mahalo again to everyone! It's always weird for me to be the center of attention...i love throwing parties for others, just hate it when its ME. I never know how to act. Good thing I was able to talk story with everyone who came out :)

Boys clothes.....such a transition!

Mahie is driving us nuts!

We've got a handful of updates that have occurred ONE after the OTHER here in the "Aspinall Grass Shack". Things have just been crazy and life never takes a step back to help you catch up...but we are surviving and doing good.

READ ON TO THE LONGEST UPDATE EVER!

First off- On October 5th, I worked my  LAST day at the Polynesian Cultural Center's Marketing Department. That was surreal in itself. Going from an everyday work schedule, nonstop phone calls, emails, work events, etc., etc., for a WHOLE year....to being able to sleep in, was weird. Hahaha, I'm not going to lie, I didn't know what to do with myself that first week off. And by the second day, I managed to irritate everyone in my home & was told I needed to develop a hobby or go back to work! I was told I was "Too bossy", however my reply was, "Well if I wasn't THIS MUCH pregnant I'd DO IT MYSELF!".

 My CAREER WOMAN IDOL: Larie Manutai & I

I've learned so soo much at my internship turned job. I feel more confident communicating through writing & speaking, especially in a more professional manner. I have no problem taking leads for projects and planning, keeping an eye for detail, being unafraid to basically get any task completed thoroughly. I've gotten more organized & maybe also a little more IMPATIENT at expecting others around me to do the same. I definitely have been trying to work on patience & charity. This past year has opened my eyes on what I'd like to accomplish as a career. I hope to gain more experience after baby boy is born, but right now Heavenly Father is telling me to kick back and enjoy the moment with my hubby and kids (which I'm struggling with a little?!). My body is telling me to rest & my mind is thinking about Grad School, more internships, etc. But that's a whole other blog post :)

 Red Velvet from Diamond Head Grill

My department threw me a party, Larie even drove down from her new Waikiki office. Good food as always. I will miss all the memories I made at that job and the people I've worked with and met. I mentioned to Larie that I didn't think anyone really knew me outside of our Marketing cubicle, until emails came in thanking and well wishing me on the baby. Some people who never smile said they enjoyed working with me, wow did I feel special, haha. This job totally stressed me out at times, but in the end I felt very sad as I clocked out for the last time :)

Second- NO MORE PACIFIERS aka "Dummies" "Bubba's" and what ever else it's nickname was. It was probably a week and a half ago that my parents lost Mahie's pacifier, so we decided PERFECT WE'LL START OPERATION NO PACIFIER! And that was a trip to hell! I'm serious, haha. Our daughter LOVES her pacifier, which is only a particular kind too. Over the last few months, we knew she started to always want it 24/7 and not just for sleeping. We planned on 'easing her in' at first, but since it was lost....we did it 'cold turkey' style. OMG so many tears and tantrums the first 3 days. We also probably sang EVERY LDS Primary song there is. During the day was ok, but nighttime was a headache. By the fourth day, she was good, and I guess forgot about it. We were VERY surprised. No one was allowed to say the "P" word. She did however, struggle to get used to putting herself to sleep when she was overtired, which we helped by singing, being in a quiet cool area and patting her back. We are happy for this milestone, but it seems that Mahie has gotten crazy active since. She is all over the place and independent. At this point in my pregnancy I just let her do whatever & I tell everyone that too. Lol. Sadly this has made James go nuts & he has probably shed some pounds chasing her everywhere.

Miss Kolohe getting caught pinching the family dog, Cooper

Third- Mahie's pacifier addiction has been replaced with a "Tangled Ever After" addiction. She can watch that friggin' movie OVER and OVER again. And since we only have the itunes version, she will cry and whine when she sees our laptop. We give in when we need to get things done around the house. But when we need to LEAVE the house and take her....boy is it a pain. She will cling onto the laptop for dear life, wiggle from our grip and run back to the laptop.....ANYTHING for Tangled, lol. We have since downloaded to all other Apple devices for easy travel.

Pretty much she hogs the laptop & no one can break her concentration

Fourth- No More Movie Theaters! Mahie at 18months has pushed us to our limits. She does not stay put at the movie theaters, even when we plan on a movie during her nap time. She stands up, waives and says HI to everyone behind us. Whines when we hold her firmly. Tries to push her stroller, climb the side stairs, walk around....and when James tried to hold her on the side aisle, she'll scream Mama! Mama!! Hooooly Moly! So we put our foot down, because lately we've been leaving the movies early....and I told James it feels like we're basically just donating to the theaters.

Alone at Laie Theaters watching Hotel Transylvania

Lastly- I am almost 38 weeks and I really feel like this baby will be here soon. I didn't feel this way with Mahie. I've actually started to dilate two weeks ago, now that my appointments are every week. I haven't been able to sleep, which is annoying. I stayed up until 4am one night watching documentaries on Netflix. I feel those lower cramping and pains even more now....but then I freak out and drink tons of water to get rid of them. My baby shower is this Tuesday, so my Mom says I have to keep him up there until then! Since I've recently ended work, I feel like I'm cramming to prepare for our son's arrival. I was ready months in advance with Mahie....so I hope I don't go into labor this week ( I had Mahie at 38 1/2 weeks) because I don't feel ready. And also, my head hasn't wrapped around the idea of LABOR!!!!!!!

Until the next blog post!

-Ashlyn, James, Mahie & Baby Brother!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

ISAAC

(far left in black)

We LOVE You!!

Thurs, Fri, Sat......

It seems that as soon as I turned in my two weeks notice, everything got hectic: work seemed busier and required more hours in the office, family activities filled the rest of free time, and pregnancy this far along is finally taking its third trimester toll. Braxton hicks are here!!! I get exhausted easily but can't find any comfortable position. Mahie always wants me to carry her or to sit on my lap, even when her Dad's arms are free. I walk slow, I drink way more water, the aches and pains come and go....basically I'm PREGNANT PREGNANT!

So let's see....

Thursday
Mahie started a little "Pre" pre-schooling with Project Spirit, under the sponsorship of Alu Like. My Aunt (Dad's Sister) works for Alu Like, and therefore was allowed to include Mahie in the program. It's fairly new, and so the boundaries include visiting Hawaiian keiki from Waimanalo to Nanakuli side. There are many programs out there for Native Hawaiian's and I'm glad that Mahie gets to benefit from these one-to-one educational home visits, especially since it's my Aunty. It's also not only a learning experience for Mahie, but also for the parents & grandparents (which they strongly encourage). The first week's lesson was really interesting...I'll post more of the program goals, etc., later.

 Our little "St. Andrew's Priory" girl in the making w/her UH tee from Aunty Ulu

Friday
Again, there was work + town errands....I was VERY tired & achey, didn't even get a nap in before heading out to the Laie Elementary Carnival that evening. I'm surprised I survived. My Dad came along to help me with Mahie. We had a lot of fun. We arrived early, so that we could leave early, haha, but we hit all the "rides" that we knew Mahie would enjoy. First off, the horse rides! Mahie was really excited until it was her turn to climb on, and then she just got really quiet. She rode the "miniature horse" named Ace, and finally her inner paniolo kicked in on the second ride around. She waved at everyone and yelled hi. Of course I took a million photo's of here, every Mom there was! At least Mahie enjoyed herself because I was paranoid of the bigger horses around me. (Yeah, my Native American instincts didn't kick in)

Dad & Mahie also caught a ride on the train, which died 2 minutes after taking off. We ate until it restarted, but then all these older kids jumped on and were so rough, even pushing little ones. No one was supervising the ride, the kids got rough jumping off or hanging on the side....so we scolded them. Lol, that's how! Friggin' kids & your dumb parents.

Saturday
My older brother Eric drove me, Mahie & Hill out to Tayden's 3rd birthday at the Waterpark in Kapolei. Good thing we didn't hit traffic build up because of the bridge in Wahiawa. We enjoyed ourselves, except for the fact that it was a bit overcast and windy for the little ones. Brenson (Tayden's Dad) is Eric's good friend since forever, and it's always nice seeing how close their group of friend are, and always come together to support each other. I'm thankful that Hill came along to be a life gaurd/entertainer for Mahie. I was just trying to find a comfortable spot the entire time I was there. Lunch was sooo good!

A lot of fun activities....but I'm tired. And it's the kind of tiredness that eh, you can't fall asleep because there isn't enough pillows to make you comfortable, or enough fans to cool you down. I'm a little bummed since I've had to put as many hours in as I can to have a good last paycheck, that my free hours were dedicated to errands & family time....hence, I couldn't really hang out with one of my besties! She knows who she is :) We text all the time, but hanging out in person is way better.....next time when I'm not pregnant, or I'll come find YOU when we go Disneyland. Anyways, that's the haps this week.

It is what it is my Love.

Friday was bittersweet. I almost didn't want it to come, only because......it was Larie's LAST DAY!!

{yummy Liliha Bakery cocoa puff cake}

Our fun little cubicle isn't the same anymore, and I'm pretty sure EVERY department here on the Windward side will miss her & expect a LOT from whoever replaces her. (wait, NOone can replace Larie!) She'll now be working at the Waikiki office, congratulations!  Larie has seriously inspired me to work hard, continue my education, grow more spiritually and to have more self-confidence. One day I'll make it big like you :)

 {us grinding at the dinner buffet before the concert}

That night was also my last big work event. PCC hosted another concert featuring Irie Love and Rebel Souljahz. I really enjoyed myself and have my good friend Lanea Snow to thank. She volunteered her time to help me host our VIP guests, especially in times where I couldn't waddle around fast enough. I'm pretty sure each member of Rebel Souljahz was trying to spit game at her, but sadly, they are all two feet SHORTER than.....well, than the average person, LOL. 

Irie Love on the other hand was the spotlight of the night. I felt so lucky to have met and hosted her. She was very down to earth, funny, and gorgeous! Perfect bone structure!! A lot of people think she's from Jamaica, BUT NO!! (Hello, can people do their research before asking a VIP guest dumb WRONG questions! This happened many times that night) She was born and raised in Kailua, and yes, her REAL name is Irie Love. All her sisters have "Love" in their names because they are 4th generation? descendants of their grandpa who started thee "Loves Bakery" here in Hawaii. Cool huh?

Nea and I got to know her, her friends & Mom....she even found me on Instagram & thanked us for hosting her. She was also fun to take pictures with. LOVE HER VOICE!!!

{got to hang out with my bff's for a quick minute}

{some of the interns & workers}

{Miss Hawaiian Air doin' her thang}

{Majority of the Marketing Team's last night w/Larie!}

Money brings random thoughts

Soon there will only be one person working in our home + an additional (cute little) mouth to feed. No we haven't hit rock bottom, nor anywhere close in comparison to those who really do need help. We've NEVER taken advantage of government assistance. It's easy to think, "Let's just sign up for this, so we can get this for FREEEE!", but we have reminded ourselves that there are others who must need it more than us, even though we struggle too. And struggling isn't bad either. (We ARE grateful for the help we do receive) You can still indulge once in a while, if you play your cards right and plan out finances. We do, we treat ourselves. You're not human if you don't. We also go to garage sales, shop on the clearance rack, use coupons, research deals......you don't HAVE to be "rich" to have nice things.

I know come October, I will miss working. I've loved working since my first job in high school. Even with James working, I still felt more secure with me also contributing to the money pot. And if you're capable of working, work! (If not, don't sweat it) Thankfully, Heavenly Father has blessed us with family nearby whose schedules have worked perfectly in times when our work schedules conflict. I love being a Mom too, and to me, a part of my love is financially providing for my babies.

Sometimes I look at someone's high income earning job and KNOW I am just as capable. Sometimes as I'm dying in the heat of our Ford Taurus (ac has been broken), I look over and yearn for a glossy new car. Sometimes I want to walk into Sephora and splurge like I was single and carefree. Sometimes I wish I had my own house to call my own, to decorate, to clean, to restock supplies, to cook new yummy meals, to escape to. The list could go on.

Welcome to the humble road.
But how beautiful it still can be with what we'll learn and grow from at this part in our lives. Just remember: 1) What matters most? 2) All things come according to Heavenly Father's time :)

-------------------------------------------------

President Gordon B. Hinckley on motherhood:
“Most of you are mothers, and very many of you are grandmothers and even great-grandmothers. You have walked the sometimes painful, sometimes joyous path of parenthood. You have walked hand in hand with God in the great process of bringing children into the world that they might experience this estate along the road of immortality and eternal life. It has not been easy rearing a family. Most of you have had to sacrifice and skimp and labor night and day. As I think of you and your circumstances, I think of the words of Anne Campbell, who wrote as she looked upon her children:

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

You [mothers] are the real builders of the nation wherever you live, for you have created homes of strength and peace and security. These become the very sinew of any nation.”
       - Gordon B. Hinckley, “Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov 1996, 67

Nursery Transition

Lately, we've been slacking on our church attendance. We are still active, don't worry. It's just that we are never ON TIME. We usually give in to our Sundays and sleep in, well I do because it's hard getting up, but last night we set the alarms and EARLY we were to sacrament.Yay for us, now it's PERFECT attendance from here on, lol! (Hopefully)

It was also a special Sunday, because it was Mahie's 1st day transitioning into Nursery. Next month she will be an official Nursery goer, so until then the little-LITTLE ones come in with their parents to get a feel for what's in store. 

James explaining to Mahie it's time for Nursery & to be a good girl

At first she was excited as soon as she saw the toys scattered everywhere. I guess it was a thrill after coming from a long sacrament meeting. I finally realized how small and baby-ish Mahie was in comparison to the other kids. I kept feeling like she was going to get run over or pushed, which in some cases she did get picked on by two older Nursery girls because they wanted the toy she had. I was kinda annoyed at the situation, as the older Nursery girl tried twice to snatch Mahie's toy (with a billion OTHER toys lying around unused)....and so on the third snatch attempt Mahie gently responded by patting the girl's arm softly, which means "be nice" (we do this to Mahie at home when she's being naughty). The older girl, who is SO HUGE SHE SHOULD BE IN PRIMARY ALREADY, scratched Mahie's eye and grabbed the toy away. Damn right I did something. I firmly tapped the girl's shoulder and scolded her to play nice and to share..........I know I won't ALWAYS be there to stand up for my children, and now I can understand how bullying can break a parent's heart. It's my duty to make sure I raise MY children the best I can. *And just a side note, the huge older girl was such a brat climbing all over the tables and stealing snacks from the younger kids!

After playtime, Mahie was not feeling it for music time around the table. She sat on her own little chair with the rest of the kids and I guess that freaked her out?? I was sitting at the farthest corner to be out of the way, and she started to look around and shout for me, "Mama! Mama!". The Nursery leaders tried to calm her but that just elevated her cries and eventually tears. I sat closer and pulled a chair next to me for her, and she was fine doing all the motions for the songs. 

 *Christlike Story of the Day!

And then as they had clean up time, Mahie got overwhelmed in the middle of all the kids, didn't see me and started to cry. *And this is where I got emotional.......

Little Raya Yuen saw Mahie crying and walked over, looked at her for a few seconds and then walked away. However, before I crossed the room to comfort my daughter, Raya returned dragging a chair. She placed the chair behind Mahie, and somehow knew Mahie couldn't sit on her own. So she took Mahie's hand and helped her up on the chair (Mahie's tears had stopped as she watched Raya). Raya then brought another chair, sat right next to Mahie and handed her a toy doll to play with. Mahie was not only comforted, but smiled and followed Raya around the rest of Nursery for snacks and lesson time. I shared this story with Raya's mom Carol and thanked her for Raya's Christlike spirit and love.  

I'll never forget this experience.

"If we have a heart to learn and a willingness to follow the example of children, their divine attributes can hold a key to unlocking our own spiritual growth." -Jean A. Stevens, "Become as a Little Child"