WOW! i am 11 weeks old.

i weigh over 12 lbs. now. my daddy and mommy are busy preparing for our departure this sunday. they received my passport in the mail last week friday. i feel like a proud american...WOO HOO! my daddy is relieved that he has received and has all my official documents in his possession. (i'm sure my mommy is too.)

you should hear these two brainstorming how they are going to travel with me. how much of my mommy's milk to save, do they buy a travel stroller, how much formula and diapers are they going to pack, whose suitcase they are going to pack it in, what store they're going to buy my clothes from, which blanket to take on the plane, are they going to check my car seat in with the luggage or at the gate, what will i wear on the plane from LA to honolulu, from honolulu to pago, who will hold me when this happens, where is the best seat for them to sit since they have me, what is the plan if this happens...and it goes on and on.

my mommy updated the "what to pack" list on her computer since i'm a new addition to she and my daddy's travels. (a list? come on mommy!) my daddy is constantly asking her if this is on the list, take that off the list, bring the list when they are out running errands...these two are a riot.

i continue to hang out with my grammy and my uncle during the day while my parents are both at work. i love hearing them sing the old samoan spirituals and hymns to me as they rock me to sleep. my grammy took me to finish my "fofo" last week since i had what samoans call the "ila." my mommy had a samoan doctor growing up so i guess i will too. they don't have medical degrees, but they do take care of us when we get what my grammy calls "ma'i samoa." (samoan illnesses) i also saw my pediatrician last week because my parents want to make sure that they had all of their questions answered before we flew out to samoa. my pediatrician was impressed by my daddy's typed up notes/questions. (what is up with that dad?)

i pray that all is well with you and your families. if not, i can only tell you what my mommy and daddy do when they are in a bind. my daddy gently grabs my mommy's hand and i hear him say, "let's pray." my daddy leads out in song and they both just worship. sometimes my mommy stops singing...but my daddy just keeps on going. sooner or later, i'll hear them talk about how God answered their prayer.

until next time, hugs and kisses over cyberspace from none other than my daddy's all-star and my mommy's prince...stephen-fua faatai.