What Kai is up to...

I realized its been awhile since we've done a post just about Kai and all the neat things he's doing lately. He has changed so much in the last few months, it is hard to believe. I figured his grandparents, who don't get to see him much, might appreciate some updates (I know I've been really lax on Totspot lately....never seem to be enough hours in the day).

1. If you are looking for a way to build your calf muscles I recommend hopping. Kai has always loved running but lately his favorite mode of locomotion is to hop around and let me tell you, the guy has cyclist calves already (and they're not from riding his tricycle!) I am hoping to get it on video so I can post some of his best hopping. Tonight was great - he hopped around to a high energy bluegrass tune with a huge smile on his face but unfortunately all modes of recording technology were flat outta juice, so no video. If you're wondering where the hopping comes from, let me just say it is bunny-inspired. For fun we sometimes ask Kai if he is hopping like a frog or a kangaroo or any other hopping animal and he'll look at you with an annoyed, you should know better look on his face and say "Mo! Nana!" Translation - No! Bunny!

2. Kai is talking, alot. We couldn't be more thrilled. We knew he had a ton of words in his head and were just waiting for them to start spewing forth. But they have made life a little more complicated as he can now request things that he can't always have. Like tonight at dinner, he turned to us and said "ice cream?" then sat there with his dinner going cold and repeating his request calmly waiting for the ice cream to arrive. While in Calgary Kai came out with his first sentence "Go car Meeko's house." Pretty cool eh? Fun words for this week are avocado and pepperoni. Avocado sounds a bit like agagado but whatevah! I loved the look on Greg's face when he heard him say it (its one of the advantages of being the stay at home parent; I get to hear alot of this stuff first and then get to watch Greg enjoy). Apparently he also said hexagon, pentagon and semi-circle this week but I am the one who missed those! (Dad - he was playing with the old shape sorter you gave him).

We also have to be VERY careful of what we say around him. This afternoon when Greg was putting him down for his nap, he asked Kai "You should be tired - you had lots of time outside today." But it seems Kai understood this to mean: "You're going outside" and got a little upset when it didn't immediately happen! Greg and I have also taken to spelling out s-m-o-o-t-h-i-e and other such desirables. When he finally learns to spell, we're in for a heap of trouble and negotiating...

3. Kai still loves swimming! We've been going to our local splash park/fake lake as much as we can. Kai is a big fan of the fake lake and has taken to walking in up to his chin lately. He could "swim" for hours. Today we blew up a new inflatable pool for him. The water was chilly so we put him in to walk around, figuring it would be too cold for him to actually swim (he was not in swim attire). We should have known better. Within a few minutes he was completely soaked and having a blast. When he got out to retrieve a truck he had tossed, he informed me that he wanted "back in" and when we suggested it was time to get out he loudly proclaimed "more pool!"

4. Kai is all boy. While he might not be as rough and tumble (yet) as some toddler boys, he is showing all signs that he is all boy. He LOVES anything that drives - real or pint-size. He is showing signs that he might like power tools. Today while hanging out in his pool, he was mesmerized by Greg drilling nearby (Greg is building Kai a swing set - how cool is that?) After his fun in his pool, we went up to our lanai so he could play in his sand and water table for awhile (baby steps on getting him inside for dinner). He proceeded to pick up shovelfuls of sand and happily poured them all over himself. What a mess!

5. Kai loves music, in particular singing. One of his favorite songs lately is Hey, I Love You by Michael Franti and Spearhead (I'll have to figure out how to post it on here b/c it is awesome). He likes to dance with us while it plays. For those of you who know it, you'll know Franti says"hey mama, hey mama" alot. Tonight while dancing around Kai sang "hey mama, hey mama!" It was just way too cute. So many moments missed on video!

6. Kai loves stickers. He particularly loves to stick them on his shirt. We just have to make sure that he doesn't walk into any walls while he is walking around admiring his stickers. We've also found that they make useful bargaining tools to get him to do things....like eat.

So there is a quick run down of what he has been up to lately. Hopefully I'll get that hopping video on here sometime soon.