Welcome Back Elder Alisa/Uncle Michael!!!!

My little brother Michael came home from his mission in Puerto Rico last week and today he and my parents arrived in Utah. I am SO excited to have him back! There are 10 years between me and Michael, but we've always been close. He's the kind of guy that can find common ground with anyone, and is genuinely interested in everyone - he was like that from a pretty young age. I know it made him an awesome missionary and it's one of the reasons he has so many friends and people who love and look up to him. I can't wait to see what he's going to do next! We're looking forward to see him continue in school and football - WOOHOO! - and to have him around to play little brother and uncle. Love you Michael!

After going home to Hawaii for a week, Michael, came back to Utah with mom and dad and
we were there to give him a real returned missionary airport welcome. Malia's sandwich
board sign! So cute.

Uncle Mike with the two most recent additions to the Alisa family.

Because of all the kids, it took us a little while to get into position so Michael was kind
enough to wait at the top of the escalator until we got set up. When we were ready we called
for him to come down and we all cheered.

Uncle Mike and all the nieces and nephews...when he left there was just Malia and
Kina and Maddox.

Together again...good thing we're all skinny, this couch was perfect.

Amalani's First Christmas

So in love...

It is so hard to believe she's only been here for 3 weeks.

We are so in love.  She fills our house with the sweet smell of spit up, new-born poo and wipes.  She always has to have her hands on her face and her legs crossed and bunched up underneath her.  She's a very loud eater and already burps like a man.  She purses her lips and furrows her brow to push out a poop.  She loves a bath, and being close to another body.  And much to the relief of her dad, she has an innie.

She's HERE!

10/10/10.  At 5:42am, weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz, a height of 19 inches and with a ton of hair . . . baby 'Amalani Ta'aloga Hafoka was born!  


So Mary threw a baby shower for us on Saturday the 9th.  When I went in for my regular prenatal appointment on Tuesday I was dilated to 3 and 80% effaced so for the rest of the week, Mary was adamant that I be sure not to go into labor until after the shower.  At the beginning of the shower I noticed a little extra moisture...down there.  Sorry, stop reading now if that is too much info for you.  By the time I got home right after the shower the little extra moisture had turned into a trickle (that I determined was not shishi..hehe) so I decided to go to the hospital just in case my water had broken.  So, within half of an hour from the time we left the shower at Mary's house we were on our way to the hospital.  We got there and the nurse took a look and poked the baby's head and out came the rest of the water - that the baby's head had been blocking for the last 5 hours or so I'm guessing.  We went to our room and waited and waited...and waited.  Then pushed and pushed...and pushed, then just before 6 on Sunday morning, about 11 hours after arriving at the hospital, Amalani was born! It was a beautiful family experience.  Noke was an amazing support - so calm and comforting..and awake despite having had almost no sleep in the last couple of days.  Thanks Shan, Mom and Mary for being there with us.  It was so special having you there.

First family pic

The beginning of 2 full days of sleep

With Aunty Ni'i and Uncle Ti Kinikini

With Gramma Petiola and Gramma Ann

Mary and baby Tali came by. Baby Tali is just 2 months 
older and already almost twice as big as Amalani...

 Amalani gets her looks from her Hafoka side...she 
reminds her gramma of Junior.

Cousins Kina and Malia are good helpers...

I love my Aunty Ta'aloga.  She reminds me so much of my dad 
and of Gramma Kuka and is kind of the matriarch of 
my Toelupe/Alisa family so it's an honor to be 
able to use her name for Amalani's middle name.

Baby Shower (Part 2)

Thank you Stone Family!

Tonga 2010 peeps and representing Glendale: The Uluave sisters! Thanks 
Tava and Lavi

Thanks Melba and Amber for the decorations! Baby Tali was mesmorized

Laie Peeps

DuITZ! So excited to have the AhMus here in Utah!

38 weeks, 2 days, 3 centimeters, 80% effaced, and counting....

I haven't written anything about this pregnancy yet, and I'm running out of time.  It's been so busy and fun, and not to mention an interesting way to begin a marriage and get to know my husband.  We got pregnant 2 weeks after our wedding a the end of December just as my most difficult semester in school was beginning.  Then we went to Tonga for 3 months.  I knew we'd have lots of "getting back to our roots" experiences and that we'd meet lots of Noke's family, but I didn't anticipate our pregnancy playing much of a role in those experiences.  I felt like it really shaped our experience there.  Everyone took extra extra special care of me.  We got plenty of interesting advice about prenatal care.  And we always had a happy conversation topic.  While we were in Tonga I missed a few things from home: the pile of pillows on my bed, fast food, ice (I like my drinking water freezing cold), and time/work saving modern conveniences like a washing machine and car. But, even though I missed those things, the more overwhelming feeling I had was respect and admiration for the people in Tonga, how they love each other and how they loved us so unconditionally having never met us.  I was also overwhelmed by the beauty of the land and the air and the human relationships.  I craved bad food all the time but had no choice but to eat fresh, organic food everyday.  I'm convinced my pregnancy would have been much much less healthy if I'd had access to what I thought I wanted to eat.  Thanks Tonga! After returning home I started to blow up and have peaked at 211 lbs! (My starting weight was 152).  I cannot wait to hit the gym in the next couple of weeks or months.  At this point, I am looking most forward to finding out whether the baby is okay.  Like most moms I guess, I have imagined every possible thing that could go wrong, going wrong.  I've questioned my own actions many times, wondering and worrying if I might have done something that could have hurt the baby...or if there was something I didn't do.  I've prayed for a healthy baby and prayed that I'd be prepared to handle any possible problems, big or small.  I've been so incredibly spoiled by my husband, I secretly am already missing being pregnant because of all the special treatment he gives me.  He does more taking care of the house-dishes, cleaning, folding laundry-than I do.  I get my feet tickled and my back rubbed all the time.  And he tells me I'm beautiful even though I feel like a whale.  I'm so grateful for him, I can't believe how lucky I am.  That's all I can think of for now...can't wait to see our daughter!

Pregnant Shoot

Prego pics from the lovely talented Candace Kalamafoni. 

I so did not want to be in front of a camera - not to mention get dressed and leave my house.  

But I'm so glad I did and that I have this last part of my pregnancy documented. 

Thanks Candace!

Like our random outfits? I'm down to the last few things in my closet that actually fit...

Awesome Green Shirt Day

Today me and Inoke wanted to be twins so we both wore green shirts. We were getting ready to go watch Inoke's little brother play for East High Football in Salt Lake.