Ear Buds

Not a super exciting or interactive video, but notice the concentration and faces to accompany it. We get a kick out of him in such an exploration phase. He definitely seems to be an "internal processor" at this point.

Daddy Days

Some typical shots of Boys Day:

Wednesday is mom's "adult day" at work, so we refer to it as "Boys Day In" for Kai and Daddy. Derrick greatly enjoys the time with Kai. They frequently venture out when weather allows. Many trips to the dog park, mall, hikes, skateboarding lessons, etc. Kai got a new 'Kiss Me Elmo' on his Walmart excursion with Daddy this past week. The Elmo repeats kissing phrases and makes the "mauwwwww" sound. Kai is really catching on. Here's a "dry one" on Daddy (they are normally "wet").

25 weeks

Although this NOT my favorite picture, we've been very lax at getting pregnancy pics this time around. Baby girl Unrein seems "small" to EVERYONE. I have friends due ~2 months after me and we're the same size! I AM back to and slightly above my pre-pregnancy weight after all the sickness and struggle to gain! Miraculous! I hold the motto: Hard to put on and probably even harder to take off! So no complains on staying on the smaller side as long as things look healthy! We are having ultrasounds every 2 wks. now to make sure she stays comfy in there to "bake" alittle longer. Everything has been normal so far....praise God!

Window Watching

Through the glass....to find Daddy! Derrick popped outside to take a couple snapshots of Kai in the window. Little monkey!! Kai had a blast yelling "dada" and "knock" as he knocked to say hi with great enthusiasm.

We normally eat our snacks together in the bay window. Sometimes the snack obviously isn't very exciting......so Kai has resorted to "jungle gym" in the window sill. Although he DOES require a "spotter."

Sick Munchkin

Kai-man came down with some quick virus or food upset last night keeping him up puking every 20 minutes for a few hours. I was out and Derrick ended up calling me home for reinforcement between baths and laundry! It was alittle scary and hard to watch him in that state (although Derrick got the brunt of it), but Kai was extra cuddly (which we never mind) and he pulled through! He just needed a little re-coop napping today and some mild foods! We're praying it's gone and won't be returning any time soon! Tis the season for handwashing....with soap!

Decorating attempts

My attempts thus far in cake decorating have really been quite sad, but I'm excited to use the things I've learned in the class my sister-in-law and I are taking on a theme cake. Perhaps it won't be until the next birthday, but my resources & tools at this point reach far beyond Kai's 1st birthday pig cake.

Funny story. I spend an entire Friday afternoon preparing double layered cakes, frosting them, and preparing extra decorating frosting to take to my first class..... FROM SCRATCH. I was sadly disappointed we had NO time to attempt anything ON the cakes we brought to that class and ended up decorating it at home in a very uninspired fashion. The overload of making the cakes and taste-testing the frosting left me NOT wanting the first slice.....so to this day the full cake stands, untouched. I couldn't bring myself to eat a slice nor bring myself to throw it away (I just threw it tonight; a week and one day later). I've already promised myself a few of the cupcakes I decorated in class today ....making sure the preparing and sitting around for a week doesn't become a trend!

The uninspired cake with no theme and faded frosting after week 1.

The cupcakes.

Taking friends along

My friend Bear:

Now that Kai has a more skilled ability to ride his truck:

a. facing forward,

b. with other creatures, and

c. concentrating on "other" things....

He is happy to take his favorite bear for a drive while attempting to wear Daddy's tractor hat! He has another little riding car upstairs that he's been playing the same game lately. He'll grab his bear and his blankie, scoop them up in his arms at the same time, while mounting his car. He frequently drops one or the other and has to "re-group." Pretty funny if I could ever get the videocamera positioned when needed!

Dog Nap?

Normally, Kai has steared clear of Scout's kennel as a play place. However, this time he decided to take a nap and was quite intrigued by the inside. I guess it's just his way of showing "puppy love."

Breakfast

Kai never liked hot cereal too well. But now that he can feed it to himself, it's a whole other story! Just thought these pics needed to be documented. He was surprisingly clean for self-feeding at this point!

Pondering my instructions to "scoop" the cereal instead of using his fingers!

Hitting the goal!

Here's a little peek of his cereal strategy! He really does a good job using his spoon. Sometimes we just have to help him get a good grip and correct the spoon so he can "scoop" food. It's MUCH more messy when he holds the spoon on the very end!!

A quick video with Scout

Hopefully I won't see this face too much in my future, like "mom, seriously?"

Kai was just running chaotic this morning after breakfast. I thought I'd try to get him "on the go." He's really fond of Scout these days. He frequently gets close enough to her face to "kiss" her (or vice versa), points out her "spots," and also sits right infront of her while she lays watching. Praise God she's so tolerate of him (good puppy!). There was a time I didn't think Scout and babies would work out in the same house!

It's also a new thing that Kai can climb up in our red chair (as you see in the video). On morning when I was finishing up dishes it got "too" quiet. I peeked around the corner to see him up in the chair sitting with his blankie and a book for the first time. Too cute! Now it's a new spot to read books!

My GYM with ELMO

Who Knew Kai had a "thing" for Elmo???

Elmo was a special guest at the MY GYM in Castle Rock on their free weekend. We went to meet our playgroup to check the place out. They had all the kids and moms sit around the circle for Elmo's big introduction. Then they formed a gigantic line to get your picture with him. Towards the end of the line, I thought I'd see if Kai would even consider his pic with Elmo. He can say "elmo" b/c he got some Elmo books for Christmas that he enjoys, but we don't have him watch any TV just yet. So it was to MY surprise that he was really excited about this opportunity! Anyway, he sat for the pic and did several "happy dances" when watching Elmo from afar. Here's the circle awaiting Elmo.......notice Kai is the only one standing. He was either more excited than I realized or just doesn't listen well!

Here's one of the obstacles he enjoyed climbing into. Kai was fond of this carpeted slide too. He liked that he could climb up it and then he had to scoot down or I had to pull him for the "weeee" affect.

And then, of course, there were the balls. Derrick has gotten Kai into basketball by taking him to the camp gym to play with the real thing. So naturally, he thrived in this area. Although I'm not sure he could really throw the balls into the hoop just yet. But he threw them and carried them around nicely. Thata boy. ]

All in all, a very fun place to visit.

Sharing a moment

A few weeks ago, Derrick and Kai had a chance to go to Longmont to visit Great Grandpa Ed and Derrick's Uncle for an afternoon. They hit the playground for some entertainment as well. Just thought the swing picture looked as if they were really "sharing the moment."

Derrick has so many similar traits to his grandpa. We can possibly be looking for some of those to pop up in Kai as well. Everyone seems to comment on his closer similarities to Derrick as is.

We're so grateful to have Great Grandpa Ed in our lives. We love you, Louie!

Lately.....

Lately (while I've been slacking on my blogging and our camera has been on the "fritz"), Kai has really become fond of smelling EVERYTHING! He is eager to give YOU a smell as well. He scrunches up his nose and squints his eyes (showing his tiny top teeth), and then he makes the sound, "sniff" "sniff". It's pretty entertaining really! His favorites include things found in Mama and Daddy's bathroom....lotion, spray, deodrant, etc.

Here's Kai taking the 1st sniff!

Lately, Kai is also fond of lathering on the chapstick (although as you can see from the picture we have learned our lesson on sharing our own chapstick without the cap!) Now he just pretends.