Dear Kai...

It's been awhile since I've written you a letter.  You have so many new and exciting milestones that you've reached lately.  You started sitting up at the end of August, but it took you until about October to sit up straight and not need your hands to balance you anymore.  Recently you've really loved sitting in front of the musical mirror toy that we have.  You sit and look into the mirror and bang away on the piano and drum.

You have also become a really great eater!  (More on this to come in another post.)  So far you've enjoyed rice and oatmeal cereal, green beans, and squash.  We'll be giving sweet potatoes another try.

You are becoming so independent.  We can put you in your highchair with toys or in your Jumperoo and you can entertain yourself.  Even when you play on the floor, you are content with some toys scattered around you.  I remember the days where you weren't reaching for or playing with toys and your daddy and I were the only things that could keep you entertained.

You are at such a great stage right now!  Yes, I miss the quiet, snuggly newborn days.  I miss the days when you first started smiling and laughing.  Your daddy and I would try everything to get a smile or giggle.  I miss when you started trying to sit up and then eventually learned but still needed a lot of support.  However, I love that you still like to snuggle when you are sleepy.  I love that now it's easy to get a smile or laugh from you.  Your laugh really is the best sound in the world, especially after a long day at work.  I love that you can now sit up without support.  It makes me a lot less worried about you tipping over onto something.

I know there will be a time when I'll looking back on these days now and miss this too.  I'm sure one of those will be after you are mobile.  :)

I love everything about you; from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Love,
Mommy

Six Months

Yesterday we celebrated Kai's half birthday!  His doctor's appointment wasn't until today.  Kai tipped the scale at 17lbs 3oz and is 26 inches long.  This puts Kai at the 25th percentile for height and just under the 50th percentile weight.  He got more vaccines: 1 oral and 4 in his legs (one was a flu shot).  Tyson and I both agreed that his reaction to the shots is becoming much quicker.  His screaming and crying has always been a little delayed, but today he jumped as soon as they stuck in the first two needles and immediately starting screaming!  However, I think he calmed down much quicker than in the past as well.

At six months Kai is:
-wearing size 2 diapers
-transitioning into 6-9 or 9 month clothes (a lot of 3-6 month outfits still fit but they are all for summer)
-eating 6oz every 4ish hours (we just started sending 6oz bottles to daycare last week so we are still figuring out how long he can go between feedings)
-eating oatmeal and sweet potatoes (only twice now)
-sitting up unsupported
-somewhat rolling from back to tummy twice but I was the only one to witness it and he hasn't done it again (I think Tyson thinks I made it up!)
-still waking up at night (he was sleeping better at 3 months I think)

Other things about Kai at six months:
-still loves the Jumperoo and is now actually jumping
-loves when we play Peek-a-Boo (it usually always makes him laugh or squeal)
-has been babbling "dadadadadadadada" and lots of other 'words' but I'm not counting that as a first word yet :)
-still chewing on EVERYTHING (we've started giving him frozen teething rings)

This picture melts my heart! He looks so cute and grown up!

Waiting at the doctor's office today

"Okay, shots are over. Let's go home."

Sleepy boy after those shots!

Ava's Birthday Weekend

Last weekend we celebrated Ava's 3rd birthday!!  Can she really be 3 already?!  I still remember Wendy calling me when I was student teaching to tell me she was checking in to the hospital.  I also remember how long we waited to meet this precious little baby....until the wee hours of the night!

Baby Ava!

We definitely celebrated Ava's birthday in style!  Darren and Wendy got a suite at the Isle hotel so we spent Saturday afternoon swimming.  Even Ella and Kai got to go swimming!  The hot tub was the perfect temperature for them.  It felt just like bath water. 

So relaxed

Birthday girl!

 (I just realized that I didn't get a picture of Ella on my camera!! I'll have to steal one from Wendy)

After swimming, we headed up to the "penthouse" to check out our room!  OMG it was amazing! I think we all could have just hung out in the master bathroom all night! Next it was time for presents and pizza!  After pizza and naps for the babies, it was bath time for all of the kids!  Kai and Ella took turns floating in the 'boat' in the bath tub!  

He loves his cousins

Birthday girl checking out her goodies!

Just reading a book in the floaty

Floating away in the bath tub

On Sunday morning, the guys took Ava down to swim one last time while Wendy and I stayed in the room with the babies.  Kai and Ella got some snuggling time in on the king size bed!

We checked out around 10:45 and went home to relax for just a little while.  Then it was back to Malcolm's for Ava's birthday party!  She is one loved little girl! She definitely hit the jackpot in presents (as always).  The theme for Ava's party was a tea party.  This girl loves to play tea party!  If you remember from a few posts ago, Kai has already has his first tea party with her.  After the party, Kai and I were ready for a nap.  I think within 15 minutes of getting home, we were snuggled up and passed out on the couch.