My Boys Day/Cinco de Mayo baby is three! I can hardly believe it! I had just enough energy to get the boys dressed and take a handful of pictures. That evening we had cake, ice cream and presents. I didn’t get any pictures of the evening, but I got a few videos of it. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Ka’imi on his actual 3rd birthday, and a couple of Makoa, too.
Ka’imi, dressed in an oversized Storm Trooper costume, tripped and bonked his head on the corner of a wall. Crying, he climbed onto my bed to me. As I held him like a newborn (he’s almost 3), I had one of those moments I wish I could freeze forever. He had blue toothpaste in his hair, tears slowly slipping down his cheek onto my shirt, chocolate around the edges of his mouth and on his full lips. It was absolutely precious.
Ka’imi will be 3 in May, and Makoa is 4 now! It will be so much fun when we have another kid to take pictures of/with!!
With all the snow outside, and the parks too cold for me, we’ve had to try some new things to keep entertained. The boys have played in the snow everyday so far this week… but after they’re done, and the hot chocolate is gone…they are ready to do something again – or my house suffers. Fortunately, they both took to finger painting… which is much easier for the 2 year old than using a paint brush. I just got a wash cloth damp and put it next to them to wipe their fingers on (if they wanted) and taped down some newspaper (essential for easy clean up) and taped down their card stock so it wouldn’t move all over…
Makoa was mostly interested in mixing the colors, which was a great little lesson I hadn’t even anticipated.
After about 4 of his own paintings, Ka’imi decided paper wasn’t good enough for him after all. I don’t think he painted his stomach intentionally the first time, but this morning when we did it again, he decided to run his fingers along his cheek bones and chin… with blue paint he looked like some sort of baby Navi from Avatar. (I should have taken a picture but didn’t).
Anyway, if anyone wants a painting of theirs let me know… lol, we have plenty and I imagine there will be many many more created this winter!
Here's a video clip of Ka'imi painting with a paintbrush... see why I felt like a brilliant mother putting newspaper down first?!?! We were listening to Toddler Radio on Pandora - they love it!
I can hardly believe this little guy will be 3 years old in 6 months-ish! He looked like a little man when we were going to run some errands on this day... I have to get rid of those dang sippies (thinking out loud)… we’ve cut them down to car rides and going to bed... We’ve also started potty training… but I’ll spare you details. My point is, he’s no longer a baby. He’s slowly discovering independence… and its darling.
His latest line to make people laugh is “You Fau-ted!” I have to get it on video.
Ka’imi has a very active imagination. He’s randomly yelling “Hu-wee!" (Hurry) and “Wun!” (Run) and “Shaaaark!” and “Shoot it!”…
He’s finally using more words and communicating that way… that baby face is deceiving, even I forget how old he is sometimes! He’s a boy not a baby now… and I’m okay with that.
Both Makoa and Ka’imi LOVED playing in the snow this morning. And by morning, I mean as-soon-as-breakfast-was-over–we-had-to-find-the-winter-clothes-and-play-in-the-snow-or-a-certain-3-year-old-was-going-to-have-a-really-bad-day.
It’s super nice to not be super pregnant or have a new-born/little toddler this winter. (Is it really winter? It’s not even Halloween yet…). I mean, it might actually be FUN because Makoa and Ka’imi can have fun! They were both very cooperative while we were putting their snow gear on… and got along really well (after the “No throwing snowballs into faces” rule was set.)
Makoa is a snowball making master! He is also pretty much a professional snow scraper, and as soon as he can actually reach the windows I will be extra happy. Ka’imi just did his own thing making snowballs, snow angels and eating the snow.
This morning was undoubtedly a success, particularly after we finished our hot chocolate.
Ka’imi has some unexplainable internal magnetic pull towards big rocks.
Or, maybe it’s just called “Being a Boy”.
These pictures do not do my current thoughts justice. But if you’ve ever seen this kid on a playground, you may have an idea of what I mean.
I will say, for the precarious situations he gets himself into, he is surprisingly cautious. I realized this when I actually stopped internally freaking out and just watched how he handles “daring” situations. If I may so myself, he’s pretty well coordinated. I am baffled how he knows his boundaries (strength wise).
I hope his love for adventure and trying new things continues as he grows.
And I hope it stops when he’s 14. ;)
Alrighty, we’re back to Utah! I have lots of pictures to update already!
I don’t think I have enough pictures of Ka’imi on here! We were having a BBQ at Emi’s house, and the kids were just enjoying being outside in the (mostly) warm weather! Obviously, Ka’imi was having a good time! Eating hot dogs and roasting marshmallows topped off the night! :D
(Taken April 20, 2010)
When Makoa was 20 months old, I had a little photo shoot with him at this same spot with his jeans on – no shirt. I think it would be neat to have a photo shoot at this same spot every time we go back!
Do you recognize the Michael Jackson moves? lol (If you didn’t, it inspired picture #2)
This photo shoot was pretty much a mother’s nightmare. Makoa would not be “normal” or just give me a REAL smile! He’s such a ham in front of the camera.
Ka’imi was pretty much traumatized. He didn’t like the wind. He didn’t like the sound of the waves. He didn’t like the water. He didn’t want to walk on the sand. He didn’t want to look the camera… (I could go on). He was only content being held, or sitting, securely, on a big rock.
It’s a miracle I got the shots I did. It would probably have put me in the loony bin if my brother, Josh, wasn’t there with us. He and I were all but doing hand stands to try and get them to look. Trying to get them to take a picture together was an utter and complete failure. I have approximately ZERO “nice” pictures of them together.
But life goes on.
And as the years pass, I’m positive I will absolutely cherish these photos, and all but forget what I went through to get them… ;)
Ka’imi perched while watching a movie. He was as c0ntent as ever… (taken April 20, 2010)
