28 Weeks, 4 Days

Dear Baby Batts #2,

Good morning, Hawaii! Today was rainy, so we headed up to the North Shore. We drove all along the east coast of the island (after getting coffee, of course!) before stopping at Turtle Bay. We walked out to the public beach where we had it all to ourselves most of the time!

The waves were HUGE!! There was lots of exposed coral and sand, so we played on it and in the waves, being sure to dodge the really big ones... well, all but one! It came crashing up out of nowhere and we all got soaked! On our way back to the rental car (a Jeep Renegade), it started pouring down rain, too! Yikes! We bought a few souvenirs (a book for Ruth and playing cards for daddy), made a picnic lunch in the car, and drove to Haleiwa (drying out the whole way).

In Halewai, we parked and walked down their main street, looking in all the fun shops. Daddy and I love to do that - just window shop in small towns, stopping for coffee and enjoying. So that's what we did! We found a coffee place and daddy got coffee, but I got a smoothie. Ruth ended up drinking 1/3 of it because she liked it so much, too! Before we got back to the car, it started pouring down rain there, too! So of course, we got soaked again. Even though it was raining, it was still so nice and warm outside. I like that. On our way out of town, we stopped at a ukulele store. We didn't get one, but I think daddy would have if we could! I pray you grow up loving music as much as he does. I bought a bracelet in this town, and we got two little bags of coffee for Papa Larry and Aunt Mandy.

Next stop: Green World Farms, a coffee plantation in the middle of the island! We got free samples, bought a bag to take home, and AGAIN, got soaked when it was time to leave! We couldn't believe how rainy it was on the island today!

I can't wait until you and Ruth are old enough to play together in the backseat - on our drive back to Honolulu, she was being so fun and silly and it will be a huge blessing to look back and see TWO little girls sitting and laughing (and sometimes screaming) together.

We parked back at our apartment and walked to dinner at the South Shore Grill... and it is my FAVORITE meal the whole trip so far! I had a shrimp burrito (sooo good) and I think you really liked it, too, because you were so wiggly tonight! As daddy and I laid in bed, you were just kicking and dancing all over the place!

On the agenda for tomorrow: the zoo!

Love,
Mama