So it continued....

For Kaipo's first birthday, we let him open a present a week in advance, with hopes that he would use this activity walker like crazy so that he can start walking already and also so that he could actually play with it for a decent while since we were leaving on "vacation" a couple days after his birthday and would be gone for a while (which explains why I have not blogged for a month).



I took pics of the birthday boy while he was still clean and fresh...


even if that meant a little crying. :) I love this pic of him, such a classic look of Kaipo. He is so funny, he cries over the silliest of things and can be so dramatic about it but he looks so darn cute while doing it. I think he was trying to say "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!"

I got a new hair cut that day too. :)

For his birthday we had homemade fajitas with all the works (Auntie Pebbles was a lifesaver). It was delicious and wished that I got a picture of it. For the birthday boy we feed him spaghetti since fajitas weren't very kid friendly. We didn't have cake for him that night but that was just fine since we were planning on celebrating a second time around with more family.

So for the second celebration, we saw Toy story 3. Kaipo did not care for the movie (not surprising for a one year old!) but he loved the kettle corn. He and movies do not mix! It took me three tries to learn that this past summer and by the third time around, I made a promise that I would take him to another movie again until at least a year from now.

It was Kono's first time seeing one of the Toy Story movies. He never was really interested in it but instantly got attached to it. During the show he needed a restroom break and asked me if I could tell them to pause the big t.v. :) It was so funny. That day, he started calling me Jessie. :)
And now, he believes that his toys come alive while he is not watching them. I saw him trying to "bust" a toy playing with his head just barely peeking into the bedroom. He even says "I hope my toys came alive!" Or "I think my toys were eating while we were gone!" Oh the cuteness of kids. I am going to surely miss this one day.



Afterwards, we went to the park and had pizza, salad, watermelon and cake.
I really liked the laid back idea with no worries about decorations and minimal work and clean-up. It was so fun to spend time with family. (Thanks for the gifts/money!)

Look at him go for the cake. He just did that at first, when he was given an actual slice, he seemed reluctant to touch it anymore.



When he finally did, I think he may have just fell in love with chocolate. :)



Papa Johns and cake, could it have gotten any better?

Happy Birthday Kaipo!!!

I can't believe my baby is one! We love you to the sky two giddy-giddy!!! :)
(More to come later)..

My Sweet Kono

Kono can be such a sweetheart. He says the funniest things at times and can brighten up my not so sunny days. Some things I want to remember about how he does this are:

• Out of the blue he will say "Mom, you're really so beautiful!" And things similar to this. The cute thing about it is that he says it on days when I am not looking at my best (messy hair, no makeup, still in pj's. tired eyes, etc). Smiling and grateful, I think, "Wow, at least someone thinks I don't look like a disaster when I have not yet gotten ready". He always knows if I am about to go somewhere by the way I am dressed and often gives me compliments. He is so funny and so sweet.
  
• Kono can be really loud when he talks. Especially when you are talking about something that interests him like super heroes. And Kaipo is just one loud baby especially when he is upset or does not get his way. I said "Oh dear, I have two loud boys". Kono then said "And one loud husband!" That was so hilarious!
  
• Kono said "Mom, if you let me watch a show, I will buy you chocolates but you can't come with me and Daddy when we buy it for you". I told him recently that if he ever wants to get me something, to give me chocolates. Now he uses that to bribe me. How funny.
  
• We were talking about money one time and Kono said "I have money in my piggy bank, lots of coins". We asked him if we no longer had money, could we have some of his. He said "Yes, I will give you some..... two of them". :)
  
• Another time ( a while back), just randomly he said "Mom, when I was in heaven, you were standing by all the girls and I chose you to be my mommy." And Daddy was standing by all the boys and I said 'Hmmm.....The brown one!' It was so funny and cute and amazing that he said this. Can you believe it? I can't get over him saying "The brown one!" Hahaha! :)

Fun Crafts

So finally a post again. Anyway, So Kono made these super hero toilet paper puppets. He has made Batman and Superman before (you probably remember) but this time he added Hulk and Spiderman to the bunch. He really enjoyed doing this and did more of the work than from the last time we did this together. We actually didn't have extra tp rolls lying around so we used cardstock for three them. Here is the website if you care to do it with your boys. Actually the whole website is full of all kinds of crafty stuff to do with kids. Not just super hero stuff (this is practically the only cool super hero craft on that site).

10 Down 2 To Go

That is until Kaipo turns one! Kaipo turned 10 months on the 25th of April. This ten month old boy is a handful!! (But aren't they all at this age?)
I thought things would be better once he started crawling so that he could entertain himself more and yes he is, but all he ever seems to do is put himself in danger. This past weekend alone he has injured himself a handful of times including getting his second bruise on his face.

He was standing at this table when he fell and hit his cheek right on it, boy did I feel bad (I was cooking while it happened). This pic isn't when he fell but just a cute shot of him without his onsie buttoned and just to show where one of his favorite spots is in the house -the little table and chairs. He just can't get enough of standing by it (and seeing what Kono has left on it like food, toys, etc).

Another favorite spot he likes to go to, the bookcase. He loves to pull the books down making things messier. I remember when Kono was at this stage.

Always busy with something. Never a dull moment for him. :)

His cousin's toy table helps but it doesn't keep him busy for more than 5 minutes. Kaipo is all about exploring as much as he can, and more interested in things other than actual toys.

He is always standing up against something and can now climb onto thing like chairs and over things like Kono's little couch. He especially loved this door at Auntie Kasandra's since he could see outside. I cannot tell you how much this boy LOVES being outside. He gets upset when he can't go outside or you bring him back inside. He is so delighted when he gets to go outdoors.



He loves to swing and...

ride on the jogger.

Another favorite of his is eating! He and food go hand and hand with each other. He seems to nibble on things almost all day and recently just wants to nurse all night long! It really feels that way, maybe I'm not feeding him enough at dinner.

A couple of days after we saw his top tooth growing in (last month), I noticed the one right next to it coming in as well. Last week I noticed the two side ones right next to the two top front ones just starting to come in too. Four visible teeth now, but soon he will have six! And boy has that been awful for me. Why? Well he has been a biter lately and a few times it was really hard. At one time I even had to kind of slap his cheek just so that I could get him unlatched. I felt bad but it hurt so bad too. I was seriously thinking about just pumping and feeding him with a bottle. He hasn't been biting me for about a week so I am debating whether I should still do it.

He loves to go places like church. Isn't he so cute in his shirt and tie?

And lastly, if you are ever around Kaipo, you will notice that he often makes faces. We call it "scrunch face". He is such a character! I have seen him make this face many times each day and still laugh every time he does it. Sorry, this pic is blurry.

Another scrunch face.

And that is it. I need to weigh and measure him to see how much he has grown since I never took him to his 9 month well child visit.

Oh, one more thing, this boy does NOT like getting dressed or getting his diaper changed. He tries to get away and fusses every time. Granite says how can a 10 month old defeat a 26 year old? Very funny Granite.
Another thing about Kaipo that we have noticed for many months now and it is becoming more apparent as he is getting older is that he is one dramatic and loud little boy with a lot of attitude! It makes me laugh at times but on the other hand it can wear me out especially now that he is mobile now, I am surely worn out by him each day. Nevertheless, I am SO VERY grateful for him to have him as my own. He receives countless kisses from me each day and brings so much joy, smiles, and laughter into my daily life amidst the chaos.

Up to Mischeif

Ever since Kaipo has figured out how to crawl he has been on the go! The second or third day after he figured it out, he was already across the room. He loves to explore and get into mischief. Who cares about all the toys you have when you now are able to pull books down from the bookcase, see what kind of leftovers Kono has on his table, and see and touch things you never have before like shoes, the treadmill, dumbells, anything and everything in sight! This is bad for me, since I can't do much still because I am constantly trying to keep him from getting hurt or licking or putting something in his mouth that is unsanitary. For the first like two days it was nice, I didn't have to be by him trying to entertain him, he was just so happy to be mobile. Now I am looking forward to him walking which I know won't be for like another 4 months I am guessing. Poor little guy, he has fallen so many times (finally moved the gliding ottoman out of the way), and got his first bruise on his forehead.

When he first started crawling on the cool floor, he got on all fours and crawled that way. It was so funny! He reminded me of Mowgli from The Jungle Book when he was marching with the elephants. Kaipo only did it once. I got pictures of it although they aren't the best.

Cute bum! :)

Fun with Paper Bags

Who would think that a boy could have so much fun with a couple of paper bags? I was putting groceries away and Kono discovered that he could make himself unconcealed with a couple of paper bags. He had so much fun hiding from Daddy when he came home for lunch. Afterwards, I told Kono that he could make a smiley face on it and take it with him on the road for those "I gotta go now!" moments. I explained that sometimes when you really need to go while you are traveling and there are no available stores or rest stops near by (or bushes for that matter), you can just go by the side of the road with a paper bag on your head (but make sure a smiley face is drawn on). Hahahaha!! So why would someone put a paper bag over their heads? So you won't see anyone looking at your bum and neither would the person looking at you know who you are! Okay, this is kind of an inside joke growing up but maybe you've heard this one already. And just for your information, I have never done this before and would not dare ever doing it. But maybe Kono will someday. Hahaha!

Yep, he is inside....
and there's proof!

Need a good laugh?

Then just hang out with Kono. He is sure to make you laugh by the things he says, and the way he acts and thinks.

• One day he said "Mom, why are you not talking to your husband?!"
• I said "Kono, can you get off the computer now? I want to blog." His reply "Oh what's the matter Mommy, your poopy can't come out?" I said "What!? I didn't say anything about that!" He said "Blog means your poop". Don't know where he got that from but it surely made me laugh. He still thinks that that's what it means, he was not trying to be silly.

• I was about to do a dvd workout and interfered with Kono watching t.v. As I began opening up the new dvd, Kono got upset and said "Mom, you already have that one! Don't waste money, it costs a lot of money!!" ......You know he hears that often :) And when I workout, he says "Don't give up Mommy, PLEASE don't give up!"
  

I know he has said more but I can't remember what else right now.

Easter Excitement

Today we celebrated Easter for Kono. It was not anything extravagant, but exciting enough for this 4 year old. He is cooperating for me to take a picture because this is right before his hunt for the plastic candy- filled eggs.

Of course I can't help but take pictures. He has only found one egg and I stop him for another picture, how silly of me. Well, at least I can since he does not have any competition (I wished he could have went on a hunt with his cousins.)

As for Kaipo, he is just enjoying being outside (he loves it) and getting kisses from his momma.

The boys together after Kono was pretty much done with the hunt. Notice that I cannot get their attention.

We did things backwards. Kono dyed eggs afterwards. I used a recipe for the dye. I am not trying this again. I'm sticking to the tablets from now on. It was messy and it would have been so easy and fast if I had just bought one of those Paas easter egg kits.

Kono did most of the work and loved it. He did end up with some bright eggs.

As for this little guy, besides watching General Conference with his parents he.....

FINALLY CRAWLED on all fours today! Horray! Last week he was doing the army crawl (with his belly still on the floor but definitely getting around).

This morning he also woke up with a top tooth breaking though his gums. No wonder he has been fussy every single night with last night being the worst (well I ever get a clue!?) Well he showed no sign of a tooth until today (I know it wasn't there yesterday).

And lastly, I would like to share an Easter message with you by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I watched this last year and loved it. He is such a powerful and great speaker.I am extremely grateful for the reality of the free gift of the resurrection which will be given to all through our Savior. Please watch this video. Click on it for better view. And thanks for the idea Tara. :)

9 Months Old

This little cutie pie is now 9 months old. It some ways it has gone by so fast and in other ways it feels so slow. Why? Probably for the fact that he is one high maintenance baby who always has to have mommy around entertaining him or carrying him around. I try my best to give him as much "floor time" as I can but he still is not crawling! He does get around somehow though. I will put him in one spot and the next thing you know, he will be in a whole different area. He attempts to crawl, he's getting there slowly but surely.
Other things that he does/loves:

• Has developed the pincer grasp quite good. He started that when he turned 8 months. I love to see him picking up tiny things like those little puffed baby snacks with those cute little hands of his.
  
• Pulls himself to a standing position (a little late on that too, but oh well)
• Is starting to refuse his baby food and does anything to get some "real" food. This morning he ate my blueberries from my oatmeal and loved it. I feed him foods that are more solid (like pasta) rather than pureed sometimes and he loves it
  
• Knows his name well even if it is someone he does not really know who is saying his name.
• Understands things more for example, if I say "Clap hands" without doing any motion, he will start clapping his hands.
• He loves balls. It is one of his favorite things besides my phone and magnifying mirror (those are his ultimate favorite, he will choose them over any toy)
• Is wearing Kono's year old clothes (has been fitting some 12 month clothes for several months now)
• Knows what he likes and doesn't like. You don't wanna make this boy upset.
• Has said "Momma" a few times.
• Loves playing with and being around Kono and vice versa. I love the bond they have. It is one of the greatest things to see.
• He can be loud when he is so excited. The squeals and other noises he makes are so funny to hear.
• Turns around to get an object.
• Sucks his toes (he has been putting his toes in his mouth for months now).
• Roll over repeatedly (have to be very careful on king sized beds even).
• Goes from a lying to sitting position (sometimes with the help a a pillow).
  

Ok, that's enough for now, you get the idea. And now for more cute pictures from the past month in no particular order:

Looking cute in Kono's old baby clothes.

Such a big boy!

Two handsome fellas

So sweet looking

Trying on Kono's mask

Such a cutie