My reading bubby

Kaiwei loves his jie jie (me). He is such a cutie pie, like my little shadow, bringing me books to read to him. Last night, Jenny and my dad were ready to go, but Kaiwei didn't want to leave! He was having so much fun playing with all the toys, looking at Kekoa sleeping on the monitor, and of course having me read books to him, well actually he does more of the reading, pointing out what he sees in the pictures! I told him he was my reading buddy and he repeated back to me, "reading bubby"! So cute! I can't wait to see my reading bubby again! :)

Dancin' machine

Our baby loves to dance. He couldn't seem to stop shaking his booty Saturday morning! :)

So momtastic

I LOVE my mama!
I know I keep talking about how much Kekoa is loving his mama right now, but it is just the most amazing thing! He has just been so cute lately. Today he was totally and completely momtastic. I told Scott I had a growth on my hip. He said, "Really?" with a voice of concern. I said, "Yes, a 20 pound growth". :) My new 20 pound growth has a smile that melts my heart every time and won't let me out of his sight, actually he won't let himself out of my arms! He isn't feeling too great either, so needs the comfort of his mama. I was surprised he wouldn't even go to Auntie Cassie today, just wanted mom. When I would try to put him down, he would get very upset. I had to take him with me to switch the laundry out. He was actually a good helper, putting clothes in the dryer and closing the dryer door. :)

Because he isn't feeling the best, he was perfectly content at the park to just play in the swings. Lately he hasn't lasted too long in the swings because he wants to get down and walk around. We had a lot of fun at the park today. It was just Kekoa and me there and he couldn't stop laughing in the swing. I was being very goofy and singing him songs, which he loves. I did have him go down the slide a couple of times, which made him extremely happy.

I know this ultra momtasticness is because he is feeling under the weather so I'm just going to love it now.

Look who's smiling

Kekoa now smiles on cue. He started doing this yesterday when my dad, Jenny, and Kaiwei were visiting. Jenny would say "smile" and he would! It is really funny because Kaiwei used to do this too. They are so much alike, both really happy, silly little boys.

Paddy cake

Kekoa loves it when we sing all the little nursery rhymes, especially the ones that hand motions with them. We have been doing paddy cake together for a long time. One his one year birthday he actually did it by himself but I finally got it on video today. If I am doing it with him, he likes to take my hands and we clap together. It is very sweet. We just need to work on the "roll it" part! What a smartie pants.

Surround me with books!

Stackers

Mama and baba gave me a really cool birthday present, a tower of stacking cups. I love it when mama stacks them up and then I get to knock them down. Sometimes I am patient and wait for her to stack all of them up before I knock them down, sometimes I just can't wait and get right to knocking them down. When I'm really feeling up to it, I even try to help re-stacking the cups up again. The lady in the toy store told mama I would love this present and boy was she right!

So excited about this!





Let me knock down those cups...

Just a phase

My mommy mantra is "this too shall pass". I repeat it to myself whenever things get tough around here with Kekoa. But I realized something today while reading Parenting magazine. This mom was talking about how everything is "just a phase" but it means the good stuff too. I never repeat "this too shall pass" for all the things I love about what Kekoa is doing because I don't want them to pass!

Looking back, 11 months was my most challenging month as a mommy and I know there will be many, many more challenges to come. The screaming during this time was really hard to cope with. We couldn't get mad at him because he was trying to communicate with us! Thank goodness now that Kekoa is mellowed out a bit with the screaming!

I am loving this phase that Kekoa is in now. This is what I love about 12 months...
I love that we play stuffed animals every morning when you wake up and after your nap.
I love that you are back to reading books. You definitely have your favorites that you go and find on the shelf. You also love to read whenever you wake up from your nap. You sit up so straight on the bed and point to your books. Your favorite right now is Moo Ba La La La.
I love that you love me so much right now, your kisses and hugs make my heart melt all the time. You crawl all over me and then give me the shoulder hug as you hang on. You are totally momtastic!
I love it that you have a machine gun laugh and your whole face lights up when I ask you if you wants to nurse. I'm taking it to mean yes!
I love that you have a preference as to which side you want to nurse on and will switch it up when you are ready. This is very different from before when I would switch you from side to side.
I love that you try to stand while you are nursing and end up in a downward dog position.
I love how you wave to everyone you see, including big trucks and cars that are passing by.
I love how you laugh when you see Bella.
I love how you want to visit Ava next door anytime we go outside.
I love how you gesture to the door every morning when it is time to get outside!
I love how you eat, how you push food into your mouth with the back of your hand and you'll stick your fingers in your mouth all the way to make sure the food is in there. You also make this really cute face with your lips as you eat.
I love how you are obsessed with your blue snack trap containing Cheerios and your sippy cup with water.
I love how you say good-bye to your bath toys and then snuggles in close.
I love it when you dance, you shake your little booty and it is the cutest thing.
I love that you are so affectionate, your hugs are the best and the way you rest your head on daddy and me just turn us both into butter.
I love to watch you and Kaiwei play. You guys are buddies.
I love that you are obsessed with Trader Joe's. You absolutely love going. You sit in the cart and point to all the murals on the wall, as you make your howling sound. You also wave to all the people in the store. Your favorite things are the balloons and the monkey that drops down into the bananas. We have spent many afternoons walking around Trader Joe's for entertainment! :)
I love how you chuck your toys out of the way when you are crawling for something.
I love the look of pride on your face when you have done something amazing.
I love how you and daddy make silly faces at each other.
I love your face when you are swinging so high in the sky and when you are sitting at the top of the slide, ready to go down on your own. You are fearless.
I love how much you love the water. We can't wait to take you to Hawaii, you are going to go nuts!
I love how right now you are taking 1 nap a day. Please don't curse me sleep goddess, but right now I am also loving that it isn't too hard to put you to sleep (most days).
I love that you are really communicating with us and that you understand a lot of what we are telling you! It is amazing.
I love how when you wake up from your nap, you sit up on the bed and look toward the door for us to come in.
I love your double chin and your soft thighs and feet.
I love your tan hands, from riding the bike with mama, and the crease on your wrist that is still white.
I love how you scream in frustration when a toy is only inches away, wanting us to get it for you ( we encourage you do get it on your own and you do)
I love how silly and goofy you are. You try to make us laugh!
I love your flirty face, your eyes get small and get a sweet smile on your face.
I love how much you want to eat tomatoes. You LOVE them, point to the tomatoes on the counter whenever you are in your highchair. You eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
I love how inquisitive you are. You have the cutest face when you are concentrating and figuring something out.
I love how you walk, well now you run too, when you push your wagon. Your little legs are too cute, the waddle you have makes me laugh, and the look of excitement on your face is priceless. You are super excited every time.

I can't think of one thing that I don't love about you Kekoa, even the screams because I know it is "just a phase" and "this too shall pass".

A new hat?

Kekoa has gone from being anti anything on his head to now wanting to put his own hat on. When Kekoa woke up from his nap the other day, Scott thought his shorts would make a cute hat...I agree! :) I think Kekoa was having fun too.




How am I supposed to read with these straps in my way?

Big boy car seat

We finally got Kekoa a big boy car seat. No more back facing infant carrier for our 1 year old boy anymore. Yesterday Scott pulled it out of the box and we took Kekoa for a ride to Costco. He wasn't feeling the best and was quite out of it, but he seemed to like it ok. Later in the afternoon, I took him to Trader Joe's and he realized that he could easily see the big trucks out of the front window. He really liked it then!

Trying it out in the apartment.

Really out of it...

My first steps

Kekoa is officially a toddler (he is still my little baby though), he took his first steps today! We were next door visiting Auntie Cassie and Ava. Kekoa always wants to go over and say hello. Anytime we go outside, he gestures to their door or window and waves frantically. Then when we walk downstairs, he looks up at their apartment and waves. It is really sweet.
Anyways, back to the first steps. Kekoa was pushing Ava while she sat on her school bus. She got a little ahead of him and Kekoa walked toward the bus! Cassie and I were talking and I looked at her and said, "Wait, did he just walk?" I ran to get my camera and we had Kekoa do it again. We both had tears in our eyes, tears of joy and excitement. Daddy is so bummed he missed it, but good thing I got it on video!

We are sooooo proud of you little man. I feel like now you have "graduated" from your first year by reaching this milestone. As Papa Beezy says, " It is a biggie!"

cute baby in a green diaper

On Wednesday, it was just too hot for clothes. Kekoa was having a ball cruising his adorable green cloth diaper. I was so impressed how he could easily pick up his blue car and then just stand there, holding it with both of his hands. Good job!

Hot summer days

The heat wave is over, thank goodness, but we had 3 days of intense heat, 100 plus degrees! We were holed up inside for a lot of the day on Wednesday, enjoying being in the AC. Kekoa and I were having fun playing open the door, close the door. He thought it was really funny to shut the door and then have me open it. He actually wouldn't even let me come in the room with him! He wanted me on the other side of that door.






After a few round of this, we were ready for swimming. Thank goodness we have such good friends close by with a pool. We walked over with Ava and Auntie Cassie, trying not to pass out on the way over, and set up under the shade of the ginko tree. The pool was so cool and inviting. Kekoa wanted in, immediately started gesturing to it. It did feel so good in the water and it did just the trick of cooling us all off. Afterwards, Kekoa was ready to be a nakie baby! You just can't have too many camera shots of a nakie baby. He was having so much fun playing with the little wagon, taking things out, putting them back in, and of course pushing it....all while in the nude. We were having quite the laugh watching him. Ava said, "Get it" (meaning his cute little tush) to her mama. Of course Auntie Cassie couldn't resist the little tush either! :)


I love how Kekoa squats.

Snuggly little bug

Kekoa isn't feeling too good right now. He has been sick since yesterday. He is sneezing, his nose is running, and his eyes are watering. He hasn't been sleeping that great, but did take an hour and a half nap today!! We feel really bad for him, but there is one good thing....he is SUPER snuggly when he's sick. Even more loving than normal. He just laid in our lap yesterday and wanted to be read to. He is even more momtastic right now than normal. I hope he does get better soon, but Scott and I are both enjoying this extra snuggly little guy.

Even though his eyes are red and watering and he has a snotty nose, Kekoa is still so cute!



I love how his arms are all spread out.
His little crossed legs are too cute!

Weekend Kickoff

Every Friday, the moms group I belong to meet at Bachman park for a weekend kickoff celebration. We have tried to go most weekends this summer. It is a really nice way to spend Friday afternoon with friends. I have met so many really kind moms through the group. Today Kekoa and I walked went and it hit me how different the weekend kickoff was today compared to the beginning of the summer. The first one we went to, we sat on the blanket on the lawn, Kekoa played on the blanket and I talked to the other moms and dads that were there. I even had a glass of wine, it was so nice and relaxing. Flash forward to today, no one was sitting on any blankets. We were all down at the playground, some moms were chasing their little ones, some were in the sandbox, some were sliding down the slides or swinging in the swings, but we were all moving! What a difference a month makes!

This is from July 24th weekend Kickoff. We were so happy to have Scott at this one!

How you show love...

-Give sleeping daddy a big smile and then crawl over to give him a hug and rest your head on daddy's chest.
-Crawl, with lightning speed, to me, pull yourself to standing using my legs and look up at me with a smile that melts my heart. You then either keep on cruising or reach your arms up to be held.
-Crawl over to me, when I'm kneeling or sitting down, so unexpectedly and give me a big bear hug. You then smoosh your cheek into my cheek and you just stay like this for a long time. Another heart melting moment for me.
-You give all your stuffed animals kisses when you wake up from your nap. Today you were especially fond of Mr. Pickles and Gorilla. You kept resting your head on both of them, going back and forth from one to the other. So cute!
-You give kisses but they are a special treat and always unexpected. Today you were full of kisses and snuggles since you aren't feeling well. I took you on the train and you kept turning to look up at me and would lean in for kisses....it was so sweet and of course made my heart melt.
-You say baba (daddy) and look for him when he leaves for work.
-You say good-bye to your bath toys when bath time is done and then crawl up onto my shoulder and rest your head there as I towel you dry.
-You crawl up on my chest when you are done nursing to fall asleep.
-You snuggle into the crook of my arm at night.
-You give daddy your goofy face and laugh, laugh, laugh with him.
-You wave frantically at Auntie Cassie and Ava. I think what your saying is "Hi guys, I'm so excited to see you!"
-You snuggle into our laps to read books. Today was an especially snuggly reading book kind of day. Daddy was so sweet and said that this is exactly what he imagined when he had kids while you two were snuggling and reading.
-You give little love pinches that hurt oh so much.
-You give little love bites.
-You smile.

Faces with daddy

When we got back home from the beach yesterday, Kekoa was in the BEST mood. It was a mix of the beach and daddy being home from work. Kekoa started making this really funny face while I was feeding him dinner. I turned around and Scott was making the same face. Our little man was copying his daddy and cracking himself up. Scott and I were cracking up too! What a little ham!
Hmmm, I wonder where Kekoa got his goofy side from?