My Baby is TWO

Last weekend we celebrated Kai's 2nd Birthday with a bunch of his little playmates and their families.

It was of course a Thomas the Train theme. We had Thomas the Train ring toppers on the cupcakes and a cake (which was not my best work) that had tracks all around it and a plastic train placed on top. But if there was frosting, heck they didn't care! You should have seen these 2 yr. olds scarf-down these cupcakes and sneak another without their parents knowing! So funny! I have video proof!

The main attraction was Ponderosa's enormous inflatible SLIDE. I think some of the parents had just as much fun as the kids!

The birthday boy finishing up his cupcake at the picnic table.

Here's a few shots of Kai checkin' out the slide with mom and dad. Because Derrick helped move the slide inside and get it cleaned up after the summer camp season, Kai was introduced to it several days before his party! He loved it and seemed fearless, but he got hurt the day before his party and acted pretty hesitant the whole 1st half of the party. He wasn't willing to slide alone.

Here's a cute little video of Derrick, Kai and his buddy, Zane. Zane seemed to be having a killer time (check out his dance moves). At this point we were trying to warm Kai up to the slide again so he'd go down with Daddy.

Altogether a fun party! We're so blessed to utilize the camp resources here at Ponderosa (hence the slide). Thanks Ponderosa!

Still hard to believe our baby is TWO already. Seems like only a few months ago we were commuting to the hospital to make his morning feedings in the NICU. Birthdays really make me reflect on that time in our lives. So thankful for a healthy toddler! We'll see if this next year can really be labeled "the terrible two's"..........

Last day of summer

Oh, how I love Colorado! Summer to winter in matter of hours!

Latest Endeavors

I'm reassured the kids are getting adequate naptimes on their days with Daddy!

Cat napin' on the couch with his girl!

Who does not fit? Snugglin' with Kai in a toddler bed. Should've posted the pic with Daddy's feet hanging out the entrance! A work day with Daddy on the new camp tractor! Derrick is NOT roughing it.....this is the cadillac of tractors....music, AC/heat, auto-everything! We got to head up in the mountains for my roommate from college's wedding. It was a beautiful area, beautiful day (for the ceremony anyway), a beautiful bride, and a awesome wedding! Here's a family shot while we're all "gussied up!"

Kai did extremely well. The ceremony was in an outdoor ampitheatre-style chapel. During the quiet moments Kai played in the nearby forest....collecting sticks mostly.

We got to travel and hang with our friends, BA and LA at the wedding! Obviously helpers, how wonderful!

Kai exploring the dirt around camp.

Mommy and Addie at the wedding dinner.

We're needing more entertainment for Addie these days. We've gotten out more toys now that she's grabbing and reaching....including the Johnny Jump-Up. She's good at playing with toys on the tray and holding her head for a length of time, although no jumping yet. No fear, Kai assists her. He pushes her like a swing and plunges her down so she'll be familiar with the springing action. How thoughtful of him! I guess this is not entertainment that can go without supervision like it was with one child!

Addie's 4 months

Little Addie is 4 months! Where did our summer go? She is such a chill little girl! She sleeps good, eats good, goes to anybody, and is so flexible! I'm a very blessed mommy (and I know it).

She weighed in at 11 lbs. 8 oz. and 25 in. long at her doctor's appointment this week. She only screamed for about 30 seconds after her 6 vaccinations! What a champ (I'm anticipating a much longer scream from Kai for his 2 yr vaccinations coming up)! Addie is sleeping through the night but not quite ready for cereal yet. She's grabbing at everything and starting to put everything in her mouth. She mostly prefers to eat her own clothes for some strange reason. We frequently catch her in her carseat or crib with her belly button exposed and dress/shirt in her mouth! She still loves to smile, scream, and sing. She's on the verge of laughter......she has a deep little chuckle. So cute! Here's a couple of her latest pics:

Mommy I want......

"Mommy I want... and Mommy I need...." are two very common phrases from Kai lately. He "needs" things that he really just wants and well, he never really "wants" anything he needs! Here's our conversation this morning that blew me out of the water: Kai: Mommy, I want to play with canoes. (this was a new "Mommy I want...phrase) Me: Canoes? Why canoes? And where? Kai: (very casually) At Focus. Play with the canoes. (in the toddler play area at Focus on the Family they have a foam canoe Kai likes ---similar to playgrounds in the mall) Me: Oh, well maybe another day. (we haven't been to Focus on the Family since late May. He remembers all TOO well)

Kai quotes

Kai is astonishing us lately. He mimicks things we say very well if we ask him to repeat things, but he also has started pulling "old words" out of his hat at random times. Here's a couple captured quotes: Derrick was walking out the door for work while Kai was playing with his toys in the front room and he causually yells "Peace out Daddy!" Daddy takes Kai to breakfast at camp on occassion. Addie and I are usually just rising but still in bed. As he's getting whisked away in Derrick's arms he yells over his shoulder to me, " Have fun mama!" I think he thought we would be missing out. I didn't feel that way. LOL Kai really enjoys when Addie wakes up from her sleep. He gets in her face (literally inches away) and tells her "Addie's so so cute" and "How doing Addie?" We taught Kai to say "awesome possum" a while ago. When he can't remember the saying in context, he just says "possum." We've had roofers working around camp the last couple weeks. Derrick and I have commented while Kai is present about the mess they make and trash that gets left in their work areas. Now if we see trash or roof debris, Kai asks "workmens mama?" Our tomato plants that we've attempted to grow got robbed by the neighbor kids. We told Kai how it was naughty that they picked the tomatoes because they weren't their tomatoes and because they weren't ripe. Now when we say anything about tomatoes and/or the neighbor kids, Kai says "naughty boys."