stephen-fua today

my 1st valentine's exchange

2010-03-02T22:40:00.001-08:00

so my 1st valentine's exchange school was interesting. i was not there. BUT that did not stop my mommy from sending my gift bags for my classmates. incidentally, my gwanpa had an ow-ee so my parents and i had to make a tur-around trip up north.

my mommy's rule for my gift bags are that nothing would go in there that she wouldn't allow me to eat. thus, all the goodies were healthy but yummy! THANKS MOM!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

valentine's 2010

2010-03-02T22:32:00.001-08:00

my daddy & i bwess my mommy each year for valentine's. my mommy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES fresh flowers (to say the least)! love oo mommy...

this was my mommy's surprise for my daddy...(these two STILL flirt with each other!)

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my gwanpa faatai & i...

2010-03-02T22:25:00.001-08:00

...my gwanpa has an ow-ee so my daddy, mommy and i did a turn-around trip up north and these are some
pics of us before we left. love oo gwanpa!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

yardwork @ 2.5

2010-03-02T22:22:00.001-08:00

my daddy and i working on the yard. these are some
pics of me working on one of my assignments. i LOVE my dad!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

tarheel & palmetto states 2009

2010-03-02T12:03:00.001-08:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

2.5 walking on 9.5

2010-03-02T09:59:00.001-08:00

my foot size grew 2 sizes since my last rotation of shoes. now i wear a 9.5 size shoe. being 2.5 is fun! my parents ask me more "how" and "why" questions. something about 'cognitive exercises'???

i know how to count 1 to 15, my shapes, the basic colors and am leaninrg how to read. i'm not the smartest but i'm trying with my parents guidance and direction. i'm so glad that they fear, respect and reverence God. it definitely make a difference!

i'm not allowed to watch television during the week an my mommy STILL allows only certain types of foods in my diet. my daddy still reads me the psalms and my mommy and i continue to plod through the proverbs.

i miss my uncle dalo (talo).

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my parents

2010-02-08T01:06:00.001-08:00

these are my parents, diana marie & tuvai selafi who make up mr. & mrs. tuvai selafi faatai(i LOVE you mommy! i LOVE you dad!)

-- Posted by stephen-fua

my grammy's 1st appearance on the east coast

2009-12-31T09:11:00.001-08:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

CHRISTmas w/ganma & granpa mays

2009-12-15T00:24:00.000-08:00

gwanpa mays showing me how to operate my FIRST motorizes 'thomas the train character'...thank you ganma & granpa mays!!! i LOVE it!!!

here ganma, this is for you...wuv you!

merry CHRISTmas granpa mays...this is for you!

Posted by stephen-fua's parents

thankful...

2009-11-29T22:59:00.000-08:00

even though i have the tendency to say, "no," i've learned just as well to say, "thaaaaan-kyou!"
they both come quite natural but i seem to get a better response when i use the latter.

it's been quite a year and i'm sure even when the ball drops into 2010, that it won't be anything less.

7 short of 2
...commencing the 2009 year at 7 short of 2 was my traditional visit to the east coast for my uncle faanati's birthday. my mommy treasures that time not only because she misses her brothers like crazy, but she also treasures it because it's bonding time for her and her prince (that would be me). at this point in my life i was more articulate than my parents had hoped. needless to say, they were pleased.

6 short of 2
...my daddy and i spoiled my mommy with her fave - flowers. MAN! does my mommy love flowers or what?!? MY vocabulary increased and i was becoming more and more active.

5 short of 2
...we celebrated my uncle talo's 40th birthday. unknown to me at the time, that would be my last celebration with my uncle for his birthday since he is now home with Jesus. (i love you uncle talo.)

4 short of 2
...brought in two more birthdays in our family along with my vocabulary development that would pleasantly surprise my parents at the end of each day.

3 short of 2
...is always the month that mommy and grammy LOVE. my mommy LOVES the month of may because of mother's day. my grammy loves it for that and for may being her birthday month.

2 short of 2
...we celebrated my mommy's birthday and how GREAT GOD has been to my parents in keeping their marriage strong after 15 years. some people don't think that's a great accomplishment but my mommy? she's amazed that she hasn't messed it up. (she's like that, lol!) i think the word that describes my parent's marriage would be, hmmmmm...NOT perfect...NOT the "usual"...NOT routine...hmmmm...oh I KNOW, thriving! miraculous! these two STILL act like they are girlfriend and boyfriend. (who does that? MY PARENTS!)

SIDE BAR: you would think that out of all these celebrations, that i would at least get to eat some cake. but that would be a 'negative' (as opposed to an 'affirmative' in radio talk). my mommy just now began to allow me to drink certain juices from the store. did you catch that? "certain" juices...and i am not kidding. she and my daddy will find that 'certain' juice for me to drink. i guess my taste buds are forming around the foods and drinks that my parents (mostly my mommy) allow me to eat. i LOVE my mommy's hotcakes! a multi-grain mix with "bloo-beh-wees" - YUM! (no syrup allowed) right now, i LOVE fruits and "car-rets." i also eat salad with my mommy. our favorite is the kind my daddy makes.

1 short of 2
...was a busy month as we prepared to go to samoa with our church's samoa missions team.

2!
I GO TO SCHOOL - since my parents noticed that i was articulating better than they had thought, they began to discuss the possibility of starting me off in school this year once i turned 2. remember, i have been attending day care since i was 5 months old and i LOVE my friends and family at my day care. socializing and interacting with other kids has not been a challenge for me due to how my parents planned my schedule. now don't get me wrong, i've had and still have challenges. this just so happened not to be one of them for me.

by my birthday month, my parents had narrowed their search down for a school for me to 2 Christian schools and 1 non-Christian school. although my daddy and mommy had lengthy discussions regarding this new phase of my life, the ultimate decision was made by my daddy. so when all the older kids went back to school this fall, i began school. my daddy decided that i would go for three half days and continue to go to my day care two days a week. so mondays and wednesdays i go to school, nap and then have aoga samoa (samoan school) with my grammy.

i have since adjusted to my new schedule and am enjoying my new friends at school and learning more samoan words with my grammy. my parents continue to add to my samoan library each year and my grammy is having a blast reading my storybooks to me in samoan along with speaking to me ONLY in samoan when we are together.

MAYFEST - another FUN thing that i did during my "2!" was that i met my horse - mayfest. my daddy and mommy wanted to see how i would be around a horse, especially at my age. they were so proud that not only was i not afraid of my horse, but i actually fed her hay (along with the other two on my uncle faanati's acreage - spirit and abberknockie.)

1 after 2
...at the end of september of this year something occurred that would change our lives forever. my uncle talo was taken in on a 911 call into the hospital and 15 days later went home to be with Jesus. my mommy is truly having a hard time NOT missing him. these two team-tackled our family events and "faalavelaves" since there were teenagers. needless to say, september and october of this year seem a bit surreal. however, the balance of reality continues to poke our hearts an dminds at various depths at every turn as we realize tha tour lives MUST adjust due to the absence of my "always-there-to-take-care-of-us" uncle. my parents would finance our family gatherings and he would take care of the rest. now? my parents continue to finance our family gatherings and delegate what they could to my cousin marilyn and uncle faanati (youngest) along with some of my other church uncles and aunties...otherwise, they now personally take care of what's left to do. thus, our new phase of life.

2 after 2
...october brought yet a couple of notable firsts of me - my first harvest school parade! (my parents LOVED that they called it a "harvest parade" - yes, they are sensitive like that.) i think my parents are having too much fun choosing my costume each year. it's exciting when we recieve my costume. my daddys sits my mommy and i down. he reads the message on the packaging and then he and i open it, we all scream "WOW!" "YAY!" and then my mommy and i go into my nursery to change me so that i can walk out into our living room so that my parents and dog tapa can cheer me on. my parents (especially my daddy) were STOKED that my costume was seriously the most original and classy looking. (remember, my parents are a little biased.) my daddy wanted me to wear an athletic costume but not the usual football, baseball, basketball, etc. the little girls looked cute in their princess costumes, etc. the little boys in our school saturated our halls with their superhero costumes. but me? i showed up in my payne stewart lookin' gold outfit. my daddy proudly grinned from ear to ear while my mommy graciously smiled at all the kids and their parents as they looked at me saying, "that is original!"

the second first for me during the month of october was that i had the honor of being a pall bearer. (maybe the youngest? hmmmm...) my daddy held me while he led the processional in for my uncle talo's family service. he read the Word of God as my uncles solemnly brougth in my uncle talo's casket commemorating their first sibling loss.

3 after 2
...can you say "turducken"? that is a new term that has been added to my vocabulary. (lol!) as my parents and i turn to our first holiday season without my uncle, we realize that it will be different and things will NEVER be the same. but the hope is that we will see my uncle talo again and that brings joy to our hearts and a hope that is real. not because we are Christians, but because that is the truth. God would never take away someone so needed, helpful, supportive, bossy and famly-oriented without having a plan on how we are to carry on with the same standard, level of productivity that had been laid out for us by Him through our grandparents, parents, lineage and heritage. if God is God, then He will show up every single time our family cries out for help. He has always been there and He will continue to be. otherwise He wouldn't be God, right? looking for what God's new plan is what keeps us going (especially my mommy).

it is extremely paradoxical how a painful time brings about a deep comfort and healing. pain is pain no matter how you look at it. but at the same time, comfort is comfort. i hear my parents talk about how they are learning more and more how difficult times are not for their detriment but for their betterment. it is the tool that God uses to strenghthen them. it is THAT Truth that i am thankful for this year (besides my thomas, percy, james, gordon, spencer, emily, murdoch, trevor, bertie, diesel, diesel 10, harold and the rest of my train friends)!

Have an AWESOME thanksgiving as you and your family gather around and remember what God has blessed us all with - Himself!

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2009-10-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

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@ 2009 samoa missions send off luncheon

2009-08-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

going to church at c.c. san mateo

2009-07-31T12:45:00.001-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

the end of another hotel stay

2009-07-31T12:44:00.001-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

helping my mommy @ work

2009-07-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

pulling my mommy's bag to her car after teaching her last class. i love you mom!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

@ the check out scanner

2009-07-21T13:09:00.001-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

@ church on a monday night...

2009-07-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

california disneyland

2009-06-24T16:04:00.001-07:00

about a year ago i went to disneyworld in orlando, florida. today, my parents took me
to disneyland here in anaheim, california.

that's my daddy and i on main street. the castle that walt disney uses for disneyland is a play off a castle that still exists in germany. i only know this because my mommy and both my uncle faanatis have been there. thx mom and dad for a fun day!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

'2 short of 2' birthday...

2009-06-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

i'm supposed to learn that this poem was written by Robert Frost in the early 1920s. it's written in iambic tetrameter (four feet of four stressed syllables). it's a poem about nature, beauty and obligation. below are the words penned by poet Robert Frost.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

my parents call it my '2 short of 2' birthday, because in 2 months i'll be 2! my parents knew that my mommy was going to be away for my '2 short of 2' birthday so they had my gift mailed to me. i got to open it today. it's significance? it's literary. it's one of my mommy's fave poets. it's a book. it's got layers that i am to analyze as i grow up along with elements of poetry that i'm supposed to learn. (aren't i too young to care about this?) probably most important, is that my mommy's away and it will remind my daddy and i A LOT about her. (these two still talk mushy on the phone when they are apart...haven't they been married for a while now?)

thanks for my gift dad! thanks mom! i'm supposed to NOT get any of my dinner on it? (sure mom. sure dad.)

hangin' out the park

2009-06-06T17:10:00.001-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

school boy?

2009-06-05T17:03:00.001-07:00

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my parents are cute...

2009-06-02T13:29:00.001-07:00

being that i live with these two, i am a pretty credible voice on how much my daddy LOVES my mommy and how much my mommy ADORES my daddy. after being together for 23 years and married for 15, i'd say they are pretty committed to one another. their conversations aren't rarely mushy and out-of-touch romantic, but i SEE love, adoration, commitment and what my daddy calls 'teamwork' each day when i open the book of my parents lives. i LOVE the way my daddy helps my mommy no matter how spent he is and how my mommy's life centers around my daddy no matter how full her schedule is. this was just one moment that encapsulates a splice of what i'm talking about.

my daddy bringing my mommy one of her MOST favorite things on her birthday...fresh flowers. idk why, that's just what speaks to my mommy (besides my daddy's cute and thoughtful emails that melt my mommy's heart). other things may get dull and redundant to my mother but fresh flowers? NEVER.

my daddy puts them right where my mommy will see them all day (more like all week) long. my daddy is picky about the flowers he gives my mommy so that says a lot about his long-time florist. that's my dad! (happy birthday mommy!)

--Posted by stephen-fua's parents

i can drum at 1...well, a little...

2009-06-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

so my parents noticed that i knew a little of what to do on a drum kit. in an effort to channel my energy (they both thought), they bought me a drum kit for Christmas (2008). it was what they call my "finale gift." so here i am at hollywood's guitar center store messin' around with the drum kits on the floor and one of the guys who works there thought i was three...boy was he surprised when my mommy said that i was one. so she thought that he was just saying that to make a sale and didn't think anything of it, until a man standing in line behind my daddy said the same thing! that really encouraged my parents as they are constantly looking out for my development. maybe they're just a bit "overly" concerned?

"a ha!" moments with stephen-fua

2009-05-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

may 31, 2009

stephen-fua's mommy found out today that he does not like multi-grain raspberry pancakes...so far only multi-grain blueberry is a hit (and of course without the syrup)...

...stephen-fua now refers to food he wants as "yum, yum"...so he says things like, "mommy, yum, yum (while pointing to the last place he ate what he enjoyed...). lately, it's been organic tortilla chips (3+grams of fiber) and carrots with a little bit of seasoning for flavor...

home improvement

2009-05-30T13:38:00.001-07:00

in lieu of our canceled trip to china and now, traveling for vacations this summer, my parents (more like my dad...) decided to stay home and do a little work on our house. my papa fua was a self-taught carpenter as is my papa faatai. my daddy did work on our house before he and my mommy moved in and redid the room that is now my nursery (by himself) before i was born. so, i'm thinking that my daddy has the knack for the carpentry stuff too. thus, our trip to our local home depot store. my daddy caught a class and took me right along with him.

the instructor has a captive audience...those students are usually the best...(so my mommy says)

my daddy's eye is watching...processing...learning...comprehending...connecting...

...still focused on the demonstration and teaching...

...continuing on...

...i decided to check out another part of the project as my daddy continued on with the class...one year olds can only pay attention for so long...

...it was only a matter of time before my daddy started writing...you GO dad!

okay, so the tile was on which aisle sir? no sir, this aisle is the paint aisle and we're not there yet...

...here we are...the tile aisle...

i think we are looking for a natural, clean line look?

let me check back in with my daddy so he knows that i'm alright and that i've located the tiles...

...reading up on this information is always a good idea...my parents do it...why not me too?

--Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my grammy's 73rd birthday

2009-05-28T14:02:00.001-07:00

my grammy is part of the "bulletin-folding" ministry at our church with other women who have become good friends of hers. so i thought, why not bless them with a little goodie for my grammy's 73rd birthday? my parents are teaching me to be a gentleman so i thought flowers would be a nice touch along with the cake inscribed, "happy birthday grammy!" what can i say? i love my grammy!

my grammy LOVES fresh flowers like my mommy...she'll probably end up taking them to my papa mapuoletuli's grave like she does all the other flowers she gets...

isn't my grammy cute? my mommy says that she is the hardest working woman she knows... happy birthday grammy!

let's place it here...on this table...nice, simple and sweet...just like my grammy!

hmmmm...i thought these flowers would be nice...my grammy's village color is usually red so let's go with a red ribbon...

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

trying out another tv-featured eatery

2009-05-24T19:00:00.001-07:00

my parents have been on this kick of trying tv-featured eateries local to us and whenever we travel. they are usually fun to find since they are all hole-in-the-wall places that locals frequent not to mention cost-effective with unique menus...this one was in san francisco...

tommy's joynt serves food cafeteria style...it's located in a building that is a historical landmark...

...here's a shot my mommy tried to take while we were driving...well, while my daddy was driving...

...got my raincoat on and ready to roll dad...

...yes, mom, i have my raincoat on and i'm with daddy...you coming?

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

brusha, brusha, brusha...

2009-05-24T02:15:00.001-07:00

no, i'm not brushing my teeth full on yet. my parents still have to be creative and get that toothbrush in to my mouth and REALLY brush my teeth. something about keeping my gums healthy? anyway, i just LOVE that i can do what my parents do in the morning and at night. we were getting ready for our first day in 49er town and my mommy thought she'd take these.

okay mommy, like this?

hmmmm...do i need more toothpaste? yummmmm...

nah! i still have enough worth tasting...

change my scenery and continue brushing...my way...lol.

yes, daddy. i brushed my teeth.

see! all clean!
-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

bonding with my papa faatai over an orange

2009-05-24T02:11:00.001-07:00

both my grammy and my daddy's parents from northern cali speak to me only in samoan. i guess the good thing about this moment, is that i understood? my parents wonder if i'm absorbing any of my grammy's aoga samoa during the week and maybe this convinced them that i at least learned a little? anyway, my mommy caught these pics of my first bonding moment with my papa faatai. thx mom!

fia ai moli? lea... (do you want to eat an orange? here try this...)

toe avatu? (do you want more?) a bit on the sour side papa...but i'm alright...

lelei tele oe e ai moli...(good boy! oranges are good for you...)

ua tele lau mama? (is your mouth too full?) chuckle...

aumai le mama ne'i te'i ua e laoa...(here, you drop some here so that you don't choke...)

o le pa'u lea o le moli...(this is the orange peel...)

aumai lou gutu se'i solo...(let me wipe your mouth...) thx papa!

ua a? suamalie? how's that piece? sweet?

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

1st sleepover @ grandma & papa faatai's house

2009-05-24T01:54:00.001-07:00

my daddy has found that when things are just explained to me, i'm usually pretty good about cooperating. (before, he and my mommy would have to sneak out of my grammy's house or any other place for that matter, so that i wouldn't cry for them...really loud...for a LONG time...i'm still not sure why that's a problem with people...) so he sat me down and explained what the plan was in order for me to get some bonding time with my grandparents in northern cali. i must be very special to have a great amount of grandparents who love me very much...you think?

son, you are going to spend the night here with grandma and papa faatai. daddy wants you to have fun and be on your best behavior...

...and son, please don't break anything in grandma & papa faatai's house because daddy doesn't have money to pay for it, okay?

yes, son...you'll have fun...

kiss daddy good night...

i love you son!

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my 1st morning in 49er town...

2009-05-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

on our first mini-vacation of the year as a family, my mommy and i took a little walk over to the exercise room so that my daddy could sleep in (i don't think i've seen my daddy wake up later in the day ever...hmmmm...). while my mommy was walking on this machine that wouldn't let her go anywhere (????), she had me sit down and listen to a book called, Huck Finn (italicized because it's the title of a book). i was hoping that i could listen to worship songs...like my fav, "You Never Let Go." but my mommy wouldn't have it. (does she know that i'm only one?) i was hoping that my daddy would come and get me and sure enough, he evetually did. man! i LOVE my dad!!!

something about mississippi???

forty something years???

maybe i can find something to eat in my mommy's bag to help me remember what i'm listening to???

interesting change in dialect...

funny kid this huck fin character...

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

twisting balloons for Jesus???

2009-05-17T17:33:00.001-07:00

both samoa and peru mission teams were trained today on how to minister to kids and balloon training. i made a little bit too much noise for the first part of the training so my mommy took me where i could make noise and play...i made it back for the balloon training (done by my aunt edith) and below is a little bit of what my daddy and i learned together. GO MISSIONS TEAMS!

isn't that going to pop daddy?

wow! it didn't!

another one?

would you like to have this? i have more that my daddy and i made...

i think i can pick all of these up...

okay dad, where do you want these?

i was wondering when you were going to make a green one...that's our favorite color! ('our' meaning my daddy and i. my mommy's favorite color is crimson red.)

just let me know when you're done dad...we can add it to our pile. WHAT A TEAM!

hey! who turned off the lights? dad? are you there? is this you?

this one was sized a little bit too big...what do ya think dad?

there is NOTHING my daddy won't do with me. even wear a silly balloon hat. you ROCK dad!
-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

Gospel shoes...

2009-05-16T17:55:00.001-07:00

my grandpa mays gave me these when i was just months old. i guess that gives you and i a hint about what is important to my grandpa mays. they look like crocs but they're not. the colors on the strap are to remind me of what Jesus did for me.

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

making a joyful noise

2009-05-15T06:44:00.001-07:00

i LOVE playing my drum kit! (or should i say 'hitting' my drum kit? lol) my daddy took these...when my parents here me banging on my drums, they tune in for the sound of me dropping my drum sticks...or me saying, 'get dow...get dow...' shortly after, one of my parents comes in to carry me off my stool and i'm off to the next thing. (like my dodger hat?)

let me warm up with the snare...

add in the cymbal...

wow! let me hit that cymbal again...BAM!

this can be a little tiring...

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents

my 1st dodger game - THINK BLUE!

2009-05-10T22:33:00.001-07:00

my parents (and therefore myself included) are LA fans...LA lakers, LA kings, LA galaxy, LA dodgers, UCLA. since LA doesn't have a football team, we cheer for the dallas cowboys. so my parents take me to my first dodger game and were pleasantly surprised at how i did. below are some of the snap shots that my mommy caught. THINK BLUE!

i wasted no time getting into the dodger blue spirit...GO DODGERS!

alright martin, give billingsley the sign to strike this guy out...

come on hudson hit it where i'm pointing!

okay, second...the play is at second...

i LOVE clapping for our team when they play the music while the pitcher warms up...FUN! hey! why aren't they clapping dad?

out of the ball park ethier!

mmmm...nachos at dodger stadium...COOL!

yes! more music while the new hitter comes up to bat...GO DODGERS!

okay, time for the curve ball billingsley...come on, strike him OUT!

what's a dodger game without getting a dodger cap? which one should i get dad?

traditional is usually my daddy's style as you can see. i LOVE my hat! my dad got a white paper in exchange for green papers that he gave the nice lady behind the counter. hmmmmm...thx dad!

this would be my 2nd dodger cap but my 1st dodger cap from my dad while at dodger stadium cheering on our dodgers. my daddy seems really proud of me and my spirited and rather vocal behavior tonight - GO DODGERS!

until next time...there is going to be a 'next time,' right dad?

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents (iPhone)

conquering the spoon...

2009-05-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

one sunday afternoon, my uncle keith took my parents and i out for lunch. during this meal i decided to continue on with my venture to conquer the spoon. during this process a bit of a mess transpired and as usual, my mom repeatedly apologized to the waitress. my dad? he was just focused on making sure that i ate. he was a bit concerned about me lookin' tight and taut in public (as usual) with all the food stains, etc. my mom? she knew she had another outfit ready. my parents are funny, huh? (gotta love 'em!) below are some visual aids that were captured during yet another moment in my journey towards two. (lol)

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents (iPhone)

1st correct usage of the spoon

2009-05-01T12:42:00.001-07:00

okay so my parents have been trying to teach me how to feed myself using a spoon. well, just a few moments ago, i did it! i picked up the spoon on my own and fed myself for the first time. i am slow, but when i get it, it seems like i really get it. (lol)

-- Posted by stephen-fua's parents (iPhone)

front office training at my church

2009-04-22T17:33:00.001-07:00

my mommy and i were going to our church for my Jesus, mommy and me class. we arrived early so i thought i would keep myself busy in the meantime. before we got serious with work, i thought i would show my aunt margaret (office manager) my 20 month birthday gift. since she has my golf clubs ready, i thought i would show her my travel size golf kit. she was impressed!

what do you think aunt margaret? this is a what?

cool huh uncle pastor dave...i KNEW you'd like it!

okay...now to get my initial instructions, hmmmm...

this is going to be FUN! besides, joy is important when working at a church...right? how do i look?

see! it's contagious! i love my aunt cindy! she came by the front office just to see me since we haven't really connected in a while.

okay, so my first lesson is how to answer the phones. at our church it's extremely important that we are polite and professional..."good morning, calvary chapel south bay this is stephen-fua how may i help you?"

no sir, our midweek services are held on thursday nights at 7:30pm...yes, childcare is provided...no, we do not offer wine and cheese...sorry...you heard our pastor on the radio? yes, he was a biker...no, he was wanted by the fbi...what was that sir? you can relate? great! see you there!
my next session was how to check scotland yard. so...let's see...where's my daddy? hmmmm...in a meeting? how about the rest of the pastors? hmmm...some praying, some counseling...these guys are BUSY!

next step? how to exit scotland yard without messin' anything up... careful... careful... steady... ...cool!

wow! now i have to do both the phone and the computer...this can be tough...they waste no time putting me to the test...

...yes m'am, we would LOVE to send a pastor to pray for you before you go into surgery! i know JUST the right guy...who? well, he's my dad...yes, m'am my dad...is that okay or did you want another pastor or elder? no? my dad would be fine? awwww...God bless you!

and for the last step...taking down notes when answering the phone and not messin' up the church's computer network...wow! this is a lot to remember! but what fun!

-- post from stephen-fua's mommy (iPhone)

daddy's home...

2009-04-16T20:17:00.001-07:00

let me go back here to find something interesting to do...

wait, i hear my daddy...

...yay! my daddy's home! mom! daddy's home!

hi son!

how was your day son?

my daddy LOVES seeing me at the end of his day...

i LOVE it when my daddy is home! i think i'm one of those people who wear their emotions on their sleeve...lol!

-- Post From My iPhone

at work with mommy...

2009-04-16T19:36:00.001-07:00

toyota motor sales mentors my mommy's AVID seniors and they spend one wednesday night a month learning a lot about career and life choices. oh! the gentleman in the pic is one of the class presidents...my mommy's kids run and govern themselves. they ROCK!

my mommy misses me...can you tell?

my first school bus ride. since my mommy is a teacher, i was bound to ride a school bus before i go to school a a student...

so, what's for chow? hmmm...

what a bunch of fun people!

so when you talk about credit cards, what exactly are you saying? talk to me in toddler terms...

while i'm here, i might as well learn something new???

-- Post From My iPhone

my '4 months short of 2' birthday

2009-04-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

is that a cake dad?

wow! it is!

right here dad...put it right here...yum!

i think i know what that is...

...wow! it is...a travel golf kit! thanks dad. i can't wait for you and i to try it out. mommy isn't going to let me eat this cake, huh?

-- Post From My iPhone

some of my smiles...

2009-04-15T23:42:00.001-07:00

-- Post From My iPhone

my musical attempts...

2009-04-15T23:06:00.001-07:00

hanging out with my family at my uncle to's house and my daddy thought i would try this out...cool!

on stage at the first annual carson senior high school AVID open mic...could you turn me up?

let's see...he said that this was a rain stick? interesting...

...i've seen these before. but these chimes are a different color than my uncle alberts. i wonder if they sound the same? hmm...

my finale gift last Christmas was a full size drum kit that sits in my nursery.

now my daddy and i both have guitars... another one of my Christmas gifts.

"no,no You never let go, through the calm and through the storm..."

my first time listening to an ipod as my daddy and i wait for our flight to seattle, washington for my great-aunt's funeral. (march 19-20, 2009)

my uncle albert acclimating me to yet another musical experience.

since my daddy is busy with family business, let me see what i can muster up here...

-- Post From My iPhone

learning to be a blessing...

2009-04-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

i think i can get this to the back before my dad gets home...

...i think it rolls easier this way...

...coming to a tight squeeze...

...trying not to scratch my mommy's clunker

...ooh, cuttin' it pretty close...

...alright, almost there...

...i know my dad wants these back here...

-- Post From My iPhone

my 1st visit to the dentist

2009-04-15T22:33:00.001-07:00

so this is what a dental office looks like behind the door...

yes dad, i will do my best to portray public manners...

i haven't worn one of these in months! cute color but i prefer a more bluish tone..

this feels cool...i wonder if this seat also plays music???

my dentist explaining to me what each tool does...this one dispenses water. i'm going to LOVE this one. i love agua!

dude, easy...

...steady...

...i can do this.

yes, doctor...i will try to remember everything you told me and my parents.

well, that wasn't too bad. after getting a toy from the toy box for being a good patient, another tooth brush and a high five from my doctor and daddy, my parents and i headed out. 'til next time...bye-bye!

worshipping at one...

2009-04-10T02:01:00.000-07:00

my daddy giving me the opportunity to worship...cool! (august 2008)

my daddy and i...

2009-04-10T01:45:00.000-07:00

okay, so if this tiny little plane goes down, we need a plan...

...on our way to the independent nation of samoa, in this very small plane, my mom wanted me to smile. i don't think she knew that i was trying to figure out a plan if our plan went down. you think?

my mommy had our matching shirts made when we were last in samoa (august 2008). so my daddy and i thought we would sport 'em at my uncle seko's wedding. cool...huh?

the last of my first birthday series...

2008-10-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

this was the last of my first year birthday series. all of us babies were born between the months of august, september and october last year. i'm the first to be born since i was a premie. it's kinda cool if we continue these get togethers because then it means that my friends lauren, lizzy, surri, jared, addison, dylan and i will grow up together.

my daddy and some of the other dads watched as i took my first steps at this get together. my mommy was busy taking pictures and making sure everyone was okay. i'm not sure lamaze classes actually get together after their last class but my parents' class just has it like that...they LOVE getting together! this clip is the part where the daddies came in with our birthday cakes while the mommies are sitting with us. (my mommy isn't sitting with me because she's videotaping.)

my first trip to the nation of samoa...

2008-08-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

the video clip above is part of our travels this year to samoa. on a 24 hour ministry-related trip from american samoa to the nation of samoa, my daddy decided to make a run to see his auntie oliula and uncle tui. they live an hour and a half outside of apia. life there is simple, low cost and beautiful. my daddy cried when he saw his aunt and uncle because his aunt reminded him of his grandma maulalo who lovingly took care of him and his uncle reminded of his dad (whom i'm named after) who literally had a heavy hand in raising him to be the man he is today.

my parents sighed an extravagant amount of relief when we drove away because they not only wanted to see my daddy's aunt and uncle for a long time, but for them to see me and vice versa. their conversation in the car after our visit consisted of anything from my mommy begging for another trip back for a longer visit, to my daddy explaining what my papa fua told him about each of the villages that we passed, to which car to pass up and follow, to how the team is doing back in american samoa, etc...these two still remain funny to me...alofa tele lava!

my 10-month birthday...

2008-07-17T00:51:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FIRST FATHER'S DAY DAD!

besides acclimating me with my first theme park (magic kingdom, orlando) for my 10-month birthday, my parents decided beforehand to dip my feet into the atlantic ocean. not too long after we left, sharks came. i would say my parents timed it well. it was have been nice to see one though...dont' you think?

since my mommy was on project while we were there, my daddy and i went state hopping. we drove from daytona beach, florida through georgia, through south carolina and into north carolina AND back within an estimated 48 hour period. do we rock or what? WHOO HOO! it's not an easy thing to travel with an infant across four state lines alone but my daddy didn't see it that way. he saw it as exciting. he couldn't wait to travel with me alone. think about it, i needed to be changed regularly, i couldn't eat certain kinds of foods and i faced the back of the car so my daddy had to be able to check up on me too. it didn't matter to my daddy he found a way to do all of that and was having a BLAST doing it all...for me.

we spent the night in north carolina with my uncle faanati, aunt melanie and cousins fale and diana...and then stopped off to see my uncle lagi, aunt anne and their family on our way back in to florida. when the clock struck midnight for my daddy's first father's day with me, we were driving through state lines together. man did i enjoy hanging out with my dad! i would turn my head from my car seat and talk to him and he would talk back. it was a sporadic, four-state long dialogue, twice. (cool, huh!)

i learned a lot about my parents on this trip. my mommy loves a certain store that my daddy makes time to find and enjoy with her. my parents like to eat at certain restaurants for certain meals when they are east of the mississippi. they are more down-to-earth places moreso than higher end. my daddy is not afraid to seek out and conquer new territory. my parents love to try local food and appreciate the unique culture in each town/state. i guess this is not the end of my travels with these two...i wonder where we will end up next? any ideas?

my first swing ride in the park...

2008-06-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOMMY and DADDY! (june 4th)

my gift to you? i can SWING!!! grandma mays thought we should try the swing at the park one afternoon. despite mommy's hesitant mindset, we tried it anyway and lo and behold...i LOVED it!!! i can't wait to go back! when daddy when? mommy? hello? anybody there?

p.s. my parents have been married for 14 years and together for a total of 22...WOH!

my 9 month check up...

2008-05-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

my parents took me in for my 9 month check up. on this clip, i'm waiting for my doctor to come in and examine me. from the get go, my daddy told my mommy that my doctor's appointments would be his thing with me. so he takes care of all my appointments, etc, and keeps my mommy posted when she doesn't go in with us. this clip is just a taste of how much fun my daddy and i have at the doctor's office. when do i start getting lollipops for being a good patient?

my FIRST Easter...

2008-03-31T16:03:00.001-07:00

"He can move the mountains, My God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save, Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave..." This is what i repeatedly heard my daddy and mommy humming during this Easter season. it rung in their ears because that was the theme song at our church for this year's Easter services. i think they LOVE that song and more importantly, i honestly believe that they believe it. this is my heritage.

my daddy didn't want any of the Easter bunny or Easter egg stuff for my first Easter so my mommy decided to go ALL out on my Easter outfits (yes...plural). i'm wondering who had more fun, my daddy taking me on my first Easter shopping trip or my mommy dressing me? hmmm...

my daddy ALWAYS makes me smile...

...should i bite my hand now or wait until no one is looking?

see daddy...i can look serious too...

...but not for long.

i love my mommy and daddy!

my daddy's arms are SO buff...COOOOOZZZZZZYYYYYY!

mommy...are you ever going to stop kissing me?

my Easter season fashion show kicked off with this outfit. my daddy was proud of this find because he and i caught a bargain. has my mommy rubbed off on us or what? WHOO HOO!

this is my daddy's friend, john. he didn't see any reason why we shouldn't test out his bike since i was already dressed for it. GO JOHN!

watch the jeans dad!

my auntie shonna and i catching a moment in the cafe after my bike ride experience.

this was my Good Friday outfit. my mommy thought i would go a little preppie after my "born to ride" outfit thursday night.

is someone going to notice me yet?

one more glance at my thursday night outfit...

...okay, two more.

my God-sister chelsea and i posing after sunday morning service. yes...this was my sunday morning church service outfit.

my auntie edith holding me while i pose with my great-grandma shirley. oh! the Easter basket was from my grammy and uncle. i didn't want you to think my daddy renigged...that just doesn't happen.

ms. diane watches and teaches me two days out of the week at her day care. that is her, my auntie heather and i at sunrise service. btw, ms. diane is my auntie heather's mommy. aren't they cute?

our first Easter sunrise family photo. my mommy went a little casual and warm for this outfit of mine for obvious reasons. cute...aren't we?

people at my church just LOVE taking photos! i don't know if you got a good look at my GAP cap so i made sure to bow my head so that you can get a good look.

one of the things that my cousins sedona, micah and i have in common is that we are all miracle kids. not too bad huh? (oh...my auntie edith is still holding me)

victor likes to make me laugh and calm me down when i cry, right now i'm just making sure that he gets a good look at my outfit. my mommy told me to.

my auntie cindy and i have a BLAST together...isn't she just JOYOUS?

my daddy and i look slick huh? that was my after sunday morning service outfit. so far, 99% of the remarks lean toward me looking like my daddy. now you know why...

okay...so who do we have here? let's see...from left to right we have queen riley, then we have connor posin' cool for the camera, then it's grandma mays holding kennedy and i (tough job as you can see) and then miss kaylie with her cute pink outfit. aren't we just a cool bunch?

what is a post on my blog with out my auntie nene doing what she does best - spreading JOY and smiling at the same time...GO AUNTIE NENE!

that's my cousin sedona who caught the camera or did the camera catch her?

my auntie alberta always has something fun or encouraging to say to me. she is my cousin micah and sedona's mommy. i LOVE her calm demeanor...i pray it rubs off on me. (my auntie edith patiently awaits to carry me again. i LOVE the attention!)

after the sunday evening service, my daddy and i caught a moment at my grammy's house to open my Easter basket from her and my uncle. the candy went to my mommy's kids and the rest were books that have now been added to the rest of my collection at home.

look son...more books!

oh and what do we have here...more books!

my daddy wasted no time reading to me. i think i like this one.

my daddy telling me about why he is letting me have this Easter basket when he told my mommy that she couldn't make me one. (got it dad.) my daddy liked the sports theme...good goin' uncle talo!

a "daddy and i" moment...

2008-03-05T00:27:00.001-08:00

my daddy and i missed the laker game tonight so when we got home we were sure to catch the highlights. my mommy shot this photo because she KNOWS that we won't budge once my daddy and i are watching anything that has to do with my daddy's teams, which are obviously mine as well.

being that this is march...my daddy and i will be sure to catch our favorite college team during MARCH MADNESS...GO BRUINS!

p.s. i think my mommy wanted others to see what she faces when my daddy and i are watching sports. isn't that something?

my uncle talo's birthday...

2008-02-29T12:20:00.001-08:00

happy birthday to you! happy birthday to you! happy birthday UNCLE TALOOOOOOOOO...HAPPY BIRRRRRRRTHDAY TOOOOOOO YEWWWWWOOOOOO! if there's one thing that my mommy's side of the family loves...it's when my daddy treats for dinner. well, we went out to celebrate my uncle talo's birthday last week.

as you can see my uncle talo is gaining some of his weight back as he continues his battle with cancer. i LOVE that my uncle talo LOVES to play with me. we have our own terms that we use between he and i. i'm not sure that my uncle talo knows about my parents wanting me to hear how words really sound. hmmmm...

...my uncle's whole name is Falemalama Taloesea Mapuoletuli. i know...what a LONG one...huh? when my uncle was born my grammy actually wrote his name on his birth certificate as Taloesea (her brother) Falemalama (my granpa's brother) Mapuoletuli. unknown to my grammy, my grandpa changed my uncle's name on his paperwork to the name that he carries today - Falemalama Taloesea Mapuoletuli. my grammy didn't know what my grandpa did so when her side of the family asked for my uncle's name, she told him the name she "thought" was his. when my grandpa's side of the family asked him what my uncle's name was, he told them the name he changed it to. so to this day, my mommy's side still calls my uncle, Talo and my grandpa's side still calls my uncle, Fale. my mommy told me that that is what you call "repercussion" to the max!

uncle talo...do i get to taste your birthday dessert? it's lookin' REALLY good!

that's my uncle talo and yolanda posing with me. i was distracted by the yummy food on the table. my mommy said that it tasted YUMMMMY! i guess i'll find out when i'm older...huh?

my grammy and i are NEVER too busy to pose for a photo.

these are the employees of the restaurant who sang happy birthday to my uncle.

my half birthday

2008-02-20T12:41:00.001-08:00

on saturday, february 16th my mommy and daddy celebrated my half birthday. some say that this is a bit of an over-react...and they may be right. however, because my parents waited so long for me, they wanted to celebrate as many milestones as their brains have room to remember. my daddy is holding on to me similar to the way he held on to the promise that God gave him over a decade ago that he would have a son from my mommy's tummy.

LORD, thank You for stephen-fua and raise him up to be a man of God.

son...we are here to celebrate the first 6 months of your life...your mother and i are still amazed that you are even here. (GLORY!)

wow! i get to look at a yummy cake that mommy's going to eat? how fun!

daddy time...

2008-01-21T20:57:00.001-08:00

this was my first northern californian road trip (12/7/07). while my mommy was busy unpacking our things in our hotel room, my daddy and i got to PLAY! my mommy thought these pics were "post-worthy" because they capture me reflecting my daddy's handsome-ness. what can i say? it's my mommy...although i do have to say, she does have a point.

i'm having a BLAST with my daddy...

this is the way my daddy is looking at me...

i was distracted for just a second by my mommy asking my daddy a question.

sure dad...i'll tell mommy that i messed up the bed...

...hey dad...it didn't work. now we're both in trouble.

my first Christmas with grandma and grandpa mays

2007-12-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

these two are my parents' spiritual parents. my parents call pastor steve, papa and they call his wife, mama. that is how they became my grandma and grandpa mays. the neatest thing about these two is that they have enough grandchildren of their own to love and hang out with, yet they still find time and space for me in their hearts and lives. that's why they will forever ROCK in my book. i love you grandma and grandpa mays!

isn't opening gifts fun? WOO HOO!

that's my grandma mays modeling her gift. isn't she just the cutest?

that's my grandpa mays opening his gifts and having some laughs.

i love my grammy...

2007-11-25T01:51:00.001-08:00

my grammy is my mommy's mommy. she helps my parents a lot. she watches me while my parents are at work and gladly has me sleep over her house when my parents aren't feeling well. she is a strong woman and my mommy tells me that my grammy has been through a lot. i think the thing that my parents want me to glean from my grammy is her strong work ethic and her perpetual desire to serve God in whatever capacity God allows.

when i was born my grammy was there and wanted to hold me all the time.

my grammy has a lot of fun.

my grammy was helping my mommy with my first bath.

my grammy gets emotional at times because she too can't believe that God actually gave me to my parents. (i love you grammy.)

you will find my grammy at church A LOT. this is one of the many times that we've walked together along the hallways of our church.

my first trip to my daddy's village...

2007-11-24T23:59:00.001-08:00

my daddy's village is literally on the other side of the mountain. this is where my roots lay. my mommy wanted me to see my daddy's village for that very reason. the photo above is my uncle tavita (fitu) with my daddy. he still lives there with my aunty ane and my cousins. it seems that my parents keep in touch with them along with other family members that still reside there.

every year my parents watch the fautasi boat races from samoa and cheer for the fealofani samoa II boat. that is the boat from my daddy's village. if the Lord tarries and provides, my parents want me to row for my daddy's village boat someday. that's a long way away and a lot of saving that i'll have to do. either way, i realize that my parents do not want me to forget about where i am from. i also realize that they desire for me to continually ask God to grant me the resources, gifts and talents to offer a helping hand to my family and people here in american samoa. (GO FEALOFANI SAMOA II!)

this is what is called the mafa. it is the top of the mountain before you descend into my daddy's village. can you believe that my daddy was born and raised here? that's a lot of swimming to meet my mommy. isn't it gorgeous?

this is a photo of the bay once we were in my daddy's village looking out. my daddy said that he and my grand-daddy used to go fishing in these very waters. (you go dad!)

looking at the fagasa bay from another vantage point

we had to be quiet driving up because they were having a a "saofa'i" for one of the biggest chief titles of my daddy's village.

my mommy had to learn what this lady is doing since she was a little girl even though she grew up in the states. culture...culture...culture.

these are men from my daddy's village taking a break before the next phase of the event.

more culture...

this is where the first part of the saofa'i took place. you can see the aumaaga lined up outside of the fale tali malo which belongs to the chief that is receiving the title.

now on to the next phase...

this was a very reverent ceremony.

that's my aunty ane holding me while hanging out with my grammy...

the girls just hanging out...

here is a closer look at my aunty ane (my cousin imelda's mom) holding me.

this is my uncle tavita (fitu) holding me. (this is my aunty ane's husband, and my cousin imelda's dad...are you getting the relation connections here?)

that's my mommy holding me in front of the fagasa bay.

my mommy smiles at me in awe not only because she's actually holding her son, but that she is holding her son while standing in my daddy's village. is God good or what?

that's me taking a nap while my great-auntie faapuaa holds me. while my mommy was sitting with her, she kept commenting on how the fagasa breeze is like none other. she was not only glad to hold me but to remind my mommy about the fagasa pride that she should never forget to pass on to me.

only the best of the pigs were used for such an honorable event like this one.

more culture...

this is another cousin that i met while napping in my daddy's village...

that's my daddy and i by my grandpa selafi's grave.

my parents and i next to my grandpa selafi's grave. this was a solemn and memorable moment.

isn't this bay just breath-taking?

my daddy drove while i just enjoyed the ride.

my mommy and my cousin imelda. imelda is the student body president for fagaitua high school. (needless to say, my mommy and daddy were very proud of that!)

i wonder if this is what my daddy did when he was this age growing up here? hmmm...

my alalafaga...

2007-11-14T21:48:00.001-08:00

an alalafaga is when a family gathers together to give thanks to God for one who has returned home from a hospital. so my mommy and daddy's families got together to thank God for my mommy and i coming home healthy from the hospital. my grammy and uncle decided to have some fun with this and connect a family shower to it. some of my mommy's kids (from school) showed up as you will also see below.

we got together to have a family service, enjoyed a lot of food, fun and fellowship. my parents had a pig because that is something my grand-daddy would've wanted had he still been alive. of course grandma and grandpa mays were there. my parents wouldn't have had it any other way. these two just enjoy partying.

our senior pastor and mama posing with their matching ie lavalavas. aren't they just adorable?

my aunty tauave holding me...

...aunty litia (lydia) holding me...

...my aunty q (qiana) being a trusting sport...

...is that aunty edith?

my mommy's kids ready for action...

one of my mommy's kids allowing my family to blindfold him...man is he trusting!

what are we doing?

my uncle faanati's friend jared who frequents my parent's garage is getting his plates while my mommy's kids hang out...

that's my great uncle polita with my aunty luisa

my aunty vaisa smiling at me while i yawn

my aunty oli making sure i'm okay

are those my mommy's kids again?

that's my grammy with her GREAT grandsons. does that mean that i am an uncle already? WOO HOO! isn't my grammy just the cutest?

my daddy eating while my uncle puna (from samoa) continues his conversation at his table

this is my aunty lua (my uncle puna's wife) and i. this was a very hot day.

that's my grammy with my great auntie pola (my great uncle polito's wife)

that's my uncle to (in the yellow). he's the chief of my daddy's family. (hi uncle to!)

are my aunties cute? let's see going from left to right we have my aunty q (qiana), then my auntie tina, oh and there is my aunty heather...and then one of my pilipina aunties...my auntie lucy. my mommy LOVES hanging out with them because they are so much fun. one thing you might want to know about them...they are all single and LOVE Jesus.

there is my uncle fatu (my aunty oli's husband) waving at the camera and my uncle eliapo eating.

smiling for the camera is my uncle siasau and aunty maulalo with my cousin austin in the back of them preoccupied on his cell phone.

on the right is my great uncle faatai and his wife, my great auntie siniue. yes...you read that right. my great uncle's name is my last name. how that happened...i don't know.

that gentleman in the green samoan shirt is my great uncle chico. in front of him is my great aunty muti (his wife).

there had to be a pig at this event because my mommy's daddy would've not had it any other way. that is my great-uncle fetisa and my great auntie line doing what we call "pega le puaa." (GO TEAM!)

more of my calvary chapel south bay familiy...

2007-11-14T21:29:00.001-08:00

on september 20, 2007, my mommy took me to my first church service. it was quite a night. i felt so special because a lot of people wanted to see me. these are just a few of the ones that my mommy's camera caught. aren't they cute? (some photos are sideways because my mommy doesn't know how to rotate them on the blog...give her some credit...she's trying.)

the beautiful and loving faces of my family at calvary chapel south bay...

2007-11-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

these are only a few of the people who prayed for me to make it. the neat thing about these people is that they continue to pray that i will make it. i LOVE my family at church because they are truly a reflection of what life is like when you love Jesus. no, things don't always go well, but boy do they know who to run to when things don't go well. when things are going great, they just thank God for it together and move forward. i have heard them sing together as a church body since i was in my mommy's tummy. my daddy talks about our church all the time to my mommy. so that tells me that these people must mean a lot to my parents. i guess this is what heaven is going to be like...ordinary people who are born again from different walks of life praising and worshipping the one whom they adore - Jesus. to me that is unimaginably cool!

my mommy's first baby shower...

2007-11-14T11:36:00.001-08:00

some of my mommy's AVID seniors from the class of 2007.

okay...so who said this was a mexican tradition?

the red frosting, we found out later, was hard to clean up.

my parents at my mommy's first baby shower. i'm actually in this photo, hidden in my mommy's tummy. aren't they some good lookin' parents?

my mommy was surprised by her AVID Senior class with her first baby shower. my daddy was in on it the whole time. my mommy seems to love her students because i always hear her call them her "kids" when she talks about them. they visit her at home and she often goes out to eat with them. even the students who have graduated from carson high and are in college near and far...still visit my mommy at home.

anyway, when her seniors last spring held my mommy's shower, they tricked her by telling her that it is a mexican thing to bite the first piece off the cake. when my mommy was all ready, one of them pushed her head in the cake. well, that began a frosting fight that my mommy was glad to start. she and her kids learned that red frosting is hard to clean up.

she was blessed beyond words that her kids would think of her like this. they even showed up at the hospital when i was born. i hope they stick around and give me pointers about going to college. oh yeah! with the exception of a few, these are the students that were accepted into four year universities right out of high school. my mommy told them they would get in if they just trusted her and followed her instructions. guess what? in spite of my mommy's pushing and madness, it worked! faithfully following instructions pays off. ask my mommy's kids...they'll tell you. :)

what grandma mays calls my mommy's "spiritual" shower

2007-11-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

these two women are whom God used to make my mommy the woman she is today. my mommy loves these two A LOT!

my mommy has changed a lot for the good. if you ask my daddy, he'll tell you that it's because she learned from the best - my grandma mays. my mommy calls her mama because she is her spiritual mommy. she has mentored my mommy for quite some time now through our church's womens ministry and apparently they have spent a lot of time together traveling, hanging out, etc.

my mommy and the women you will see in these photos have learned much under my grandma mays. come on...a bunch of women together in working in unity? it has to be the LORD.

according to my mommy, these women are my aunties in the faith. how cool is it to have so many Godly aunties?

this shower was spiritual because i was prayed over and there were many words of encouragement on what my life will be like provided i continue to do like my parents and follow hard after God. (who does that?) they showed a dvd of my mommy, worshipped, opened gifts, prayed, ate cake, prayed, prayed and prayed. i even heard a poem being read about me by one of my aunties. (it's posted on my blog below)

i hope you like these photos because not only do i love them, i love these women. they rock!

WOW! i am 11 weeks old.

2007-10-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

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.

a poem for stephen-fua

2007-10-16T23:12:00.000-07:00

(the women at our church gave my mommy a "spiritual" shower and this poem was read to her. amazing!)

Your Mommy and Daddy prayed for a child from God for many days and nights,
The months and the years went by and still no sign of a child was in sight,

Finally your Mommy and Daddy had thoughts of adopting a child from Samoa,
But God found favor with your Mommy and Daddy and gave them you, Stephen-Fua,

The Bible tell us of a woman named Hannah who had prayed for a child for many years,
She spent time in the temple crying out to God with all her heart and with many tears,

God is not slack concerning His promises, He gave Hannah her child and called him by name,
God gave you to your Mommy and Daddy because His promise to them was the same,

God’s promises are “yes” and “Amen” and His timing is not according to man,
His ways are not our ways and He had you, Stephen-Fua in the very palm of His hand,

As you grew and grew in your Mommy’s tummy, sometimes you would kick and cause lots of pain,
But your Mommy never complained, she kept praising God for you Stephen-Fua and counted it all gain,

At the time of this poem you are not yet born and your Aunties and Uncles which are not a few,
Continue to thank God for the promised child, Stephen-Fua which is you,

We welcome you with our hearts overflowing and are anxious to see your sweet little face,
We are honored to be part of God’s family and rejoice with your Mommy and Daddy at God’s unfailing grace.

You are the promised child, Stephen-Fua

Written with love by: Pat Jackson (Aunty Pat)

August 1, 2007

2 month update

2007-10-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

my parents sang "happy 2 month birthday" to me today. (they're strange...)

well...i will board my first airplane in a couple of weeks with my parents to american samoa. they took me on my first road trip yesterday to oceanside to visit my great aunt on my daddy's side and my uncle and aunty on my mommy's side. it was fun spending the day with relatives. apparently times like this are rare and so my parents savor them when they come around. we didn't get in until late so i've actually been out past my curfew already.

my mommy is enjoying her last week at home with me because she will go back to work next week. i am feeding more from a bottle now than from her. she still pumps in order to give me her milk along with feeding me formula. she took me to the church where my daddy grew up this past sunday for white sunday service (lotu a tamaiti). she loved hearing the kids and choir sing and told me that my daddy used to sing in that choir and recite memory scriptures at that very church. one of my cousins led the service while the other two did the prayer. it was fun to watch my other cousins do actions to a song and then hear all of them sing a song together to end their portion of the service. it seems that my daddy's family has a lot of talent.

my daddy is busy, as usual, and yet still finds time to hold and feed me. he's busy prepping for our church's american samoa missions trip in a couple of weeks along with getting things done at home. he took me for my doctor's appointment last week and i was weighed in at 10 lbs., 8 oz. i got more vaccinations and didn't cry as much as my doctor predicted. my daddy was proud of me. (i heard him tell my mommy when we got home.) he was a little bummed when his nfl team lost this past sunday to the new england patriots but is thankful that they are doing better this year. yes...my daddy is a cowboy fan. LA doesn't have a football team so that's the team that he and my mommy have considered "their" team for quite some time now. they're funny.

love and blessings from alexandria avenue in torrance, california...stephen-fua faatai reporting live until next week...back to you!

UPDATE FROM BABYCENTER.COM: Hello, Diana !Coos are your baby's way of expressing delight, as well as exercising his vocal cords. You can carry on a "conversation" with your baby now. When he gurgles or coos, say something brief or coo back at him. Then wait for him to "say" something back to you. This kind of conversational turn-taking may not sound like much to you now, but it's actually the beginning of learning how to talk!
>> Read more about this week

stephen-fua at 10 lbs 2 oz...

2007-10-08T23:50:00.000-07:00

if you think i'm cute, you should see my daddy.

7 week update

2007-10-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

by the mere fact that my mommy is sending this update means that she survived our first solo weekend without my daddy. (whooh!) it seems that my mommy is stepping up her plan of attack with my feedings as her time at home with me dwindles down to just a few weeks. i feel two different elements in my mouth during the course of one feeding and am learning how to adjust depending upon which one i'm given. this lady just won't let up.

after all the footwork my daddy went through to get my passport, the very people who told him what to do denied my passport until i get my birth certificate. go figure. it's only a matter of a month or two before i get my real birth certificate. so, i guess he's not worried about it. i think both my parents just want to get it done. at least i got my social security card! (WOO HOO!)

if you don't see yourself in a photo here on my blog it's not because i don't love you...it's simply because my mommy doesn't have a photo of you with me. the solution? just catch us after one of the services. my mommy has her camera in my diaper bag. (who does that?)

until next week...reporting live from torrance, california...stephen-fua faatai. back to you in your studio. blessings! :)

Update from babycenter.com: Hello, Diana !Your baby's hands should be mostly open now — ready to reach out to the world. Although she can't really grab objects just yet, she can hold things placed in her hands. And, once she wraps her hands around something, she might not let go so easily. She'll also begin to try to bat at objects, so keep potentially dangerous ones far from her reach. This means not holding hot liquids or sharp objects while you're holding her.

Your 7-week-old
How your baby's growing:You may notice short periods of time when your newborn is quiet and alert. This is prime time for learning: Your baby's brain will grow about 5 centimeters during her first three months!Use these calm intervals to get better acquainted with your baby — talk to her, sing to her, describe the pictures on the walls. She may not be able to add to your conversation just yet, but she's learning nonetheless.New textures for her hands to feel and new sights and sounds (all in moderation) are all learning opportunities. Even bath time becomes a laboratory for understanding life.• Learn more fascinating facts about your 7-week-old's development.
Your life: Guilt over not breastfeedingToday's society puts a lot of pressure on new moms to breastfeed. No doubt breast milk is the perfect first food. However, there are many reasons why breastfeeding just doesn't work for some women and their babies, including illness, discomfort, and frustration.Guilt over not breastfeeding can hit especially hard if you had planned all during pregnancy to do so but then circumstances, such as having a preemie or a c-section, made it impossible or more difficult than you'd expected. Some moms find that after hours and days of breastfeeding attempts, their breasts simply won't produce enough milk to satisfy their newborn.Both breast milk and commercial formula nourish growing babies. If you've given up on breastfeeding — or are thinking of doing so — be sure to discuss your choice with your doctor or a certified lactation consultant. Talk through your feelings and don't be too hard on yourself. The main thing to remember is that how you feed your baby is ultimately not as important as providing her with love and care.

some "shower" scenes

2007-10-02T21:50:00.001-07:00

this shower was given by our son's c.c.south bay aunties on august 4th. pastor steve gave a message and mama's worship team blessed us with worship. pastor kevin was the emcee (MC Kevin) and kramer's daddy took good care of us while we were there (Lutheran Church in Torrance).

i almost didn't make this shower due to the doctor placing me on bed rest the day before. leave it to the coordinators to figure out a way for me not to miss it. it was so much fun seeing the men have fun being that it was a "baby shower." 0ne of the men got a call on the way to the shower and chose to say that he was on his way to a "family event" instead of a shower. (hee! hee! hee!) aren't they cute?

tuvai and i were SURPRISED at the whole thing! thank you all for coming and blessing us not only with gifts but with your presence. it spoke volumes to us!

6 week update

2007-09-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

okay...so stephen-fua is 6 weeks old. wow! i still can't believe he's even here let alone 6 weeks. i realized today that going to church is a WHOLE NEW process. it's better after attending three services last week but it's still "a process." hats off to all of you mothers who have more than one child. (WOO HOO!) this weekend will be my first weekend going solo. hmmm...if there is no update next week then you'll know that this weekend took quite a toll on this new novice of a mommy. :) i have to admit that our son is NOT doing all that this update is saying. i'm wondering if it's because he was 5 weeks early...hmmm...

...our last piece of furniture has been purchased and will hopefully be assembled soon. yes...it's the glider and ottoman. we didn't need it for the first month (since we were instructed to nurse in a different chair for the first weeks). so we waited until we had to have it. okay...we have to have it. tuvai has been waiting to use it for bonding time with his son since he is staying awake a little bit more and sleeping a little longer. just a little...

Update from Babycenter.com: Hello, Diana !Has your baby smiled at you yet? If not, he will soon. At 6 weeks, about half of all babies can recognize their parents, and many of those babies are so delighted that they welcome Mom or Dad with an excited, gurgly grin. This is one of the first signs that your baby is developing an ability to socialize. In fact, it's called a "social smile," and it's one of the more emotionally gratifying milestones you'll see your baby reach.

stephen-fua asleep and full

2007-09-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

mommy and son

2007-09-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

daddy and son

2007-09-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

stephen-fua's first moments

2007-09-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

5 week update

2007-09-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

i went to church for the first time this past thursday night. besides my mommy wanting me to begin going to church regularly she was DESPERATE to go to worship and hear the Word of God. BOY did it hit the spot! i think the line that stood out to my mommy was when our pastor said, "assuming is the lowest form of communication." she's been trying to work on her communication skills for a long time and still needs a lot of work. so that comment really spoke to her.

my daddy continues to take me out with him on errands, etc., so besides quality time with my dad, i'm bonding more and more with my car seat and stroller. today he and my mommy officially applied for my passport and took me to get weighed. i now weigh 8 lbs. 2 oz. my daddy was HYPED. he continues to make sure that my mommy sticks to his "sports" theme when dressing me. something tells me that i'm going to have a basketball hoop over my crib soon.

p.s. while we were out and about today it rained. wow! my first rainy day. :) love and blessings...