sv evi

Hi family, friends and blog followers (hello..are there any out there?). This is my first post as my Mom is usually the bloghog and my Papa is lazy with writing. Don’t misunderstand me..she is really great at chronicling our adventures aboard the mighty Guava Jelly for this year in Fiji and he is mostly just busy with other stuff. Most of the time both of them are entertaining me and tending to my needs.  Here is a picture of my parents.

That was a very sad ending to another great Hawk’s game.  I was one week old for the Super Bowl last year…some fun.  Here in Fiji not much fanfare either way.  All the locals have no clue about the American football nor the big game  and are excited for the upcoming Rugby 7s. 

My first cake.

So..get this..I just turned the big one. Not the big one like the Big 5-0, nor 21 nor 18 but the actual one, 365 days old, #1. So I have spent about ½ my life on this little boat and I LOVE IT! It has not always been easy but when you are under 1 it can be difficult anywhere. I mean I am gonna cry, fuss, need changing, cause some sleepless nights etc. no matter where we live so it is pretty cool to be on the ocean in Fiji. Babies do those things..we can’t help it.

So much has happened this year but i can do a few new things just in this past week. I can stand unassisted for, oh..i dunno, about as long as I want now.

Not fully walking alone yet though I am bound to soon connect all the three step stumbles I do into a 100 yard run, BEASTMODE STYLE. Today I climbed up and down from the cockpit floor onto the bench. I have had lots of practice climbing upon the cabin top from the deck of Guava…been doing that for a few weeks now as it is a little lower scale. Maybe a 5.7 in the infant climbing scale (ICS) where the cockpit bench is a 5.8 and the companionway steps a mere 5.5…done it, though now they put a board in to prevent me from falling down the steps even though i have never took a header. Looking forward to scaling out of the cockpit over the combing, maybe 5.9 but the look in my folks eyes when i try is….anxiety. I don’t mean to make them anxious..i just gotta climb as it is in my blood. So it is their fault.

We have been sailing around Fiji and when we arrive we do a traditional ceremony basically asking the local tribal chief for permission for us to come ashore, hike, swim and fish in his waters. It is really neat! We sit on the woven pandamus mats and present the chief with a bundle of yaqona roots tied up like a bouquet of flowers.

The yaqona root is what they pound into powder and mix with water. My papa calls it a ‘mildly narcotic cold muddy tea’. Looks gross to me. They say a few words of welcome with a blessing and some clapping, i like that, and we are in. Then the chief and others always wanna grab and hold me but mostly i just wanna walk around.

FISH ON! Whhhiiiizzzzzzeeeee..I love when papa yells that as the reel screams when we hook a Mahimahi. He gets all excited and mama is warming up to landing fish…cuz she loves eating it..me too! It is so crazy when those flapping, jumping colorful fish get reeled up to Guava. Mama and I have to help him because they are too big to land alone. We hold the rod and papa gaffs the wiggly beast and drags it onboard. Then it goes wild as it does not like being outta water with a big metal hook in its side. Papa then closes his eyes, whispers something about thanking the beautiful creature for providing for his family and it was a valiant fight and then slits the gills, ties up the tail and drops it overboard. That night and usually the next 6 meals are fish, fish, fish. Mama is an awesome cook and has a variety of dishes but butter fish is our favorite. Papa makes a beautiful sashimi plate but i never get any of the raw stuff, yet.

Most of our spare time is my folks playing with me. We play music, I am best at the recorder and bongos.

I work on Guava with my papa, mama reads to me daily. We play a lot of cards and often go to the pool or beach as i love the water.

I have my own personal clown and sidekick…they really can get me going with the giggles. They are really fun and I feel so lucky to be able to spend all day, everyday with both of them. I don’t hear of any other kids living like this. It will be sad when we leave Guava and work creeps back into their schedules but on the upside I will be back in the NW with all my friends and relatives and look forward to seeing all of you. You will not believe how I have changed (except many of you see me on Skype once a week).

Well..so much more to talk about but i need to get this posted or mama will post all the pix first. I promise to post again soon with more pix and vids.  Love and miss you all. Wade aka Tomasi.