2.5

It seems like all my friends post pictures of their kids' birthdays and such with captions like, "It seems like he was a babe in my arms just yesterday!" or "One minute you're a brand new mommy, the next minute you're taking them off to college."

Well. Kekoa will be two and a half this month. And I can assure you, he was not born yesterday. In fact, if I had to guess, I would say he has been two for no less than six years.

But oh my goodness, the laughter. Fortunately for him, I have a rule against posting super embarrassing things, or this post would be full of potty humor. But there is plenty of laughter otherwise. It's a fun stage, just not a particularly speedy one.

One time he lost his yellow dice, which had fallen behind me. I made the mistake of magically pulling it out of his ear. Now every time he loses a dice, he comes running to me while digging in his ears: "Mommy, find my dice!"

Ellie will be an expert in trucks by the time she's one.

He's very loving and affectionate.  If he is eating a favorite food, he always checks to see if Ellie can have some too.  He likes to read to her (but he doesn't quite understand her shakiness when sitting up). If I ask him to take care of her, he will sit next to her and hold her hand until I come back.


He's a control freak. Bags are the best containers for his toys because he spends too much time lining things up in bins. Cleaning up takes forever because everything has to be just so. He will not tolerate putting on the left shoe first, or praying for Mommy before we pray for Ellie. If he has perceived an order to the universe, then he expects the universe to always follow that order.

He's a huge truck fan. Every week we check out books from the library on dump trucks and fire trucks and bulldozers, and he spends hours with his Duplos.  I think his most impressive creation so far is a car transporter:

He loves to sing and can spout off all four verses to "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Pentatonix is his favorite band, and he has all the words memorized to most of their (clean) songs. He also enjoys beat boxing (a.k.a. spitting he can get away with) and clapping rhythms.

Like his father, he (unfortunately) doesn't need a lot of sleep. Like his mother, he (unfortunately) falls apart rather quickly if he doesn't get enough. If he sleeps in past 6:00 am, then he doesn't need an afternoon nap. If he takes an afternoon nap, he's up by 5:00 am the next morning. Mommy can't decide whether she prefers sleeping in or peaceful afternoons, so we compromise with neither.

He sees no need for baths but takes them to prove that he is as brave as Ellie. He hates socks but loves mittens. He spent all summer sweating in bed under three heavy fuzzy blankets, and now spends his nights curled up and shivering in the cold while his three blankets languish beside the bed.

Summer...that is sweat glistening on his face

Winter

He believes that almond butter is synonymous with honey, which we shamelessly use to our advantage. He loves fruit. Blend that fruit up and call it a smoothie, and he won't touch it. Add some chicken broth to the smoothie and call it fruit soup and he'll devour it.

Yeah. He's a weird kid.

One day he was reading a Pepsi machine.
"P-E-P-S-I," he read.
"That spells Pepsi," I said.
"Oh," he said, and looked at the logo. "And red, white, blue spells....JUICE!"

He's a paradox who believes in alone time but not personal space. He is both our wild child and our thoughtful one. It would be easier, of course, to have a kid who didn't hold his opinions quite so....passionately. But it is so, so rewarding to watch him develop self-control and self-discipline, stopping tantrums mid-cycle and even initiating discipline. He puts himself into timeout and has started apologizing without prompting. My proudest parenting moment to date was the day he found himself on the brink of a tantrum. He took a deep, shudder-y breath, closed his eyes, and said, "I'm sorry, Mama. Big hug, please."

Heart. melt.

And that's our Koa....or as we most often refer to him, "Oh, that Koa." He is something else, and we love him oh so much.

How to Have a Super Productive Monday

You had a crazy busy weekend and have put some huge tasks behind you. You are looking forward to knocking things off your Christmas to-do list, starting today! It's going to be a wonderful Monday.

Step 1: The children sleep until 7:00, and wake up cheerful and patient. So far so good.
Step 2: Get everyone fed, dressed, toileted, etc. You're on track for an A+ day.

Step 3: Review to-do list. Prepare suitable Christmas-y playlist.
Step 4: Dance to Christmas playlist.
Step 5: Load up breakfast dishes and get the dishwasher running.

Step 6: Notice dishwasher is leaking all over the floor.

Step 7: Call management. They'll be there in ten minutes. Remember to be grateful for the benefits of renting.
Step 8: Pull everything out from under the sink. Grab every towel in the house to sop up water.

Step 9: Call management, again, twenty minutes later. Water is still leaking even though the dishwasher is off. 

Step 10: Ummm....anyone there?

Step 11: Management arrives. Hold clingy toddler who is (rightfully) wary of the strange loud men tearing up his kitchen.

Step 12: Management delivers good news: you're getting a new dishwasher! They'll be right back with it. Receive their full assurances that you can use the sink now.

Step 13: Replace the items under the sink.
Step 14: Clean out the filthy, mucky, muddy gaping hole that used to house a dishwasher. 
Step 15: Rinse out the rag you've been using to clean out the filthy, mucky, muddy gaping hole.
Step 16: Discover Management lied about using the sink.

Step 17: Remove everything under the (flooded) sink. Throw away the (flooded) roll of paper towels. Retrieve the last of the towels to sop up the (flooded) floor and (flooded) under-sink area.

Step 18: It's lunchtime. Realize you can't get into the fridge because of the nasty dishwasher sitting in front of it.
Step 19: Taco Bell it is.

Step 21: Keep the child up from his nap because Management will be back any second and you don't want to wake him up.
Step 22: Management will be back any second..

Step 29: Annnnnnnnny second....

Step 38: Decide you might as well put the (grumpy exhausted) child down, because Management isn't coming back any time soon.

Step 42: Management comes back ten minutes later. Child wakes up. Child is upset.

Step 43: Management installs the dishwasher.
Step 44: Management discover that the sink is not in fact usable.
Step 45: Snicker.

Step 46: Management (now wet and mucky) tells you that the problem was not the dishwasher after all, but the sink.
Step 47: Cross your fingers and hope you get to keep the new dishwasher.
Step 48: Management fixes the sink (it takes ten minutes)
Step 49:  Goodbye, Management

Step 50: Look at to-do list. Look at clock.

Step 51: Redate to-do list for Tuesday. No, you know what? This is really more of a Wednesday sort of list.

Step 52: Write new to-do list:

____Get new dishwasher

Step 53: Check off to-do-list:

__x___Get new dishwasher

Step 54: Look at to-do list. Realize you really went the extra mile, and fix to-do list:

__x___ Get new dishwasher

__x___Mop kitchen floor (BONUS CHORE)

Step 55: Recall that mopping the kitchen floor is, in fact, a Thursday chore. You are ahead for the week.

Step 56: Congratulate yourself for exceeding expectations, on a Monday of all days, and all before 4:00pm. Have a piece of chocolate.

END

Month 4: Sleepy is as Sleepy Does

Ellie had a lot of firsts this month. She has developed little wispy curls at the back of her head, and has started seriously teething. She'll nom anything that comes near her mouth - including hair, matchbox cars, and college students. If drool were a currency, we'd be rolling in wealth (and I mean that quite literally).

She's definitely been working out, because her muscles are getting pretty strong. She's been sitting up unassisted for longer and longer stretches of time - it won't be too long before she can sit reliably.

Her bubbly little soul has been busy melting hearts:

 

And she's been picking up new nicknames left and right:

We  call this one the "Goober-Mensch." Nerd jokes, anyone? Anyone? No? Okay. 

Kekoa introduced her to his favorite baby toy, the little piano.

 She thought it was so great that she wanted to push the buttons.  Unfortunately, she couldn't figure out how to lean on one elbow without rolling over.

It was great fun until it wasn't anymore.

Speaking of that Koa, how's he doing? Oh, just fine. Lately he's been pinning himself to walls and shouting "Help help! I'm stuck!" as he tries to pull away.  

there's an invisible hand holding him to the wall. really.

 Back to Elle-Belles. She was utterly underwhelmed by her first snow.

And got to spend her first Thanksgiving with her Uncle Aaron, among others.

It was a pretty good month. Especially because she started sleeping 10-12 hours a night.  When the weather turned cold we discovered that keeping the apartment a little chilly keeps the kids in bed longer...talk about perverse incentives! She adores watching her big brother, gets excited about eating, and loves video calls with the grandparents. She's also getting to the stage where she's a little bored with the little baby stuff like bouncers and not quite ready for big baby stuff like jumpers.

I think I've told Josh a million times this month "I wish we could just freeze her at this age," because it's really just perfect. But I also can't wait to see what comes next. :)

Month 3: All's Fair in Love and Spit-up

Ellie didn't want to write her three month post, so I guess it's my turn. To be honest, she's still kinda...blobby, so Kekoa will probably show up as much as (or more than) Ellie. Hey, you want a post all about you, you can write it yourself. (Hashtag notafirstborn)

Kekoa continues to adore his little sister and hams around with her all the time. He's been a great little helper in bringing me burp cloths and water, wiping up spills, and being my baby monitor. He's fascinated by all things baby and likes to pretend to be one himself.

He is, however, on a personal mission to make sure that I get an adequate source of mommy guilt. You know, in case the internet isn't living up to its sole purpose in life. Scene: I'm in the kitchen making hamburger patties (read: raw meat ALL over). Ellie wakes up from her nap.

K: "Mommy, baby sad."
M: "Yes, I'll get her as soon as I'm done here."
K: "Baby cry. Poor baby Ellie."
M: "Yes, I know. I'll get her soon."
K (to himself, repeatedly): "Baby Elli-nana cry. Help baby. Baby sad. Baby crying crying crying. Nurse baby. Poor baby. Poor poor baby."

Then the other day he noticed some cradle cap on Ellie's scalp. "Baby itchy! Help baby!" he shouted, attempting to scratch her head. He absolutely refused to move until I took care of the poor baby's head to relieve the itchiness.

Hamming it up together (no, he's not crying. He's making a face for the camera because he's 2.)

He's also developing his little independent self since he's not getting as much attention. The current fad is Lego Duplo fashion shows while I feed the baby. Fire trucks, dump trucks, and crane trucks come parading out for my approval. His biggest breakthrough was when he figured out how to connect the cars to make a semi truck.  My my, wasn't that an exciting day in the K household!

Crane truck and dump truck, awaiting inspection

Explaining how he made the fire truck

He also enjoys "reading" things to himself, which provides Josh and I with endless hilarity.

On a Caterpillar-brand construction toy: "C-A-T spells bulldozer!"
On Ellie's bed: "P-A-C-K-N-P-L-A-Y.....bed!"
On our digital alarm: "S-O-N-Y....clock!"

Ellie's doing great too. Josh and I still marvel at her impossible level of patience. It's possible for a baby to lay in bed quietly and not be asleep???

Calm

She is more sensitive to things like wet diapers, cold weather, and the need to burp. We always know when she's uncomfortable (Kekoa,on the other hand, wouldn't have minded being in a dirty diaper for days). But it's so much easier to handle crying when you know there's a specific reason, and as soon as we help her feel better she'll be her tranquil little self. We'll see how she does with the cold!

Post-change happiness

 She loves to chat and is quite the little diva - once she gets your attention, you'd better not look away or she'll start screeching to win you back. She recently had a gig as a model when my mom pulled out all my old baby clothes while we were visiting. Of course, we had to try them out and do a picture comparison:

You'd never guess SHE was the one with Hawaiian blood.

We also switched her to cloth diapers, which makes her look ridiculously similar to a pear (albeit a very cute pear). It also put a stop to rolling over...she just can't flip herself over the great big rear end bulk. And although it might be a tad bit mean, it's fun to watch her try - like watching an upside down turtle. :P But she remains the calmest little wiggleworm you ever did see and we love her oh so much.

3 Months

Month 2: Practically a Grown-Up

Hello world! I have now survived my first two months!  I know you all are hoping for an update from my busy and active life.

Naturally, my main jobs still consist of entertaining middle-aged women by simply existing, and continuing to exercise my bodily functions. I am quite good at both, I might add.  I like to play games: the "see-how-may-times-I-can-make-Daddy-change-his-shirt" game, the "see-how-many-diapers-I-can-use-in-one-hour" game, and the "see-how-loudly-I-can-burp-in-the-middle-of-the-sermon" game. I also enjoy tummy time, but I prefer to be on my back. That's probably because brother likes to see how long can I keep things balanced on my head while I'm on my tummy.

 Speaking of brother, I'm still his favorite person. He likes to take naps with me. Haha, the joke's on him, because sometimes I'm not actually napping but he goes to sleep anyway.

He also still loves to share with me when I cry to make me feel better, but he doesn't always ask permission first. I prefer felt pieces to bulldozers, though what I'd really like is a little personal space (excepting Mommy and Daddy, of course).

Being offered a 2-year-old's choo choos is a sign of high honor.

Daddy is my favorite person in the whole wide world. I like the way he holds me in the sling and I usually go to sleep on our walks together. It's just so cozy!

I have a variety of nicknames. Daddy calls me Elle, Elle Belle, Ellie Girl, and Blue Eyes. Brother calls me Belle, Baby Eh-yah, and Elli-Nana. Mom calls me Winston, Goober Pants, Stinky McStinkerson, Lovey Dove, and Chubs. She also says she hates the nickname "Ellie Belly" but she's the worst offender.  Here's a tip: don't let Mom pick your nickname.

Who does she think she's kidding? We all know I've got her wrapped around my finger.

My big milestone for this month was my very first plane ride, first trip to Disneyland, and first time meeting my uncles. I also slept eight hours straight some nights! Unfortunately, all this adult-like activity does not prevent Mom from dressing me up like a baby doll.

"Mom, WHAT is this monstrosity on my head?"

2 months

Month 1: Peace and Quiet are Overrated

The kids wanted to give Ellie's one month update together. Ellie talks like this and Kekoa talks like this.

I hope you weren't fooled by Mommy's last post. I am an adorable angel, of course, but I also have a feisty side. This girl knows how to bust a move! The other day I demonstrated my mad breakdancing skills - Mommy and Daddy looked over to find my whole torso and legs off the ground, while I balanced on my shoulders and head.  My motto is "Play hard, sleep hard."

And sometimes you just fall asleep in the middle of playing.

I don't get it. Everyone's all, "Wow, look at strong she is!" and I'm all, "Dude, she's a blob! Watch me almost do a somersault!" And speaking of double standards, MAJOR shiftiness here. One minute you're wrestling with Dad and everyone thinks it's funny and the next minute everyone's like "No, don't Hulk smash the baby!" And then the baby spits up and they're all like, "Oh, do you feel better, sweetie?" and then I spit and they're all like, "No spitting!" And let's not even get started on the diapers vs. potty. 

For some reason, it's cute when *I'm* hiding, but not cute when I help Ellie hide

Whatever, brother. Back to me. I really like riding in the sling, cooing, and pretty dresses. Actually, I don't really care about dresses at all. In fact, I personally share my brother's opinion that clothes ought to be optional. But for some reason everyone else seems to think they're great, and headbands too.  And hey, I'm not one to refuse adoration.

I try to be really helpful, but sometimes I just feel unappreciated. I keep trying to give the baby her pacifier but she refuses to take it. So I offer her my finger instead like I see Daddy do and then I'm being whisked away. I try to help burp her like Mommy, but I'm not allowed to anymore because they say I'm doing it "too hard". Do you want this kid to burp or not? And how exactly was I supposed to know her diapers were clean before I threw them away?  Just doing what I see my parents do, ya know?

Mommy says this is the most helpful job I have because it makes us all happier.

My brother's all right, I guess. He's kinda noisy and he keeps trying to stick his fingers in my mouth, but he's the first one to worry about me when I cry. That's really nice of him, because he always runs to get Mommy and tells her that I'm sad.  And he always makes sure to kiss me good night before his naps and bedtime. If Mommy and Daddy forget, he knocks on the door to remind them.

Supervising tummy time

The baby's all right, I guess. I really like holding her tiny little hands and counting her toes. And I really love kissing her. It makes me really sad when she cries and I try to make her feel better, but sometimes that just makes her cry harder and that makes me sad too.  But it makes me happy when Mommy lets me hold her all by myself.

Holding Hands

One Month

Different

It's early to make blanket statements, but so far, Ellie's infancy has been basically the opposite of Kekoa's infancy. Observe:

2-week-old Kekoa: "I woke up and there's no one holding the baby. ALERT ALERT ALERT! Child neglect! Call the fire department!"

2-week-old Ellie: "Oh hey, I just woke up in my bed. Oooh, pretty window. Hey, maybe I should cough to let Mom know I'm awake. Or not."

The first responder to Ellie's cries. That might possibly be the reason she cries so little.

2-week-old Kekoa: "Hmm, it's dark in here and I don't hear any noises. The parentals seem to be passed out on the bed. ALERT ALERT ALERT! Are you guys alive? EVERYBODY PANIC! The baby's going to starve to death in a wasteland of corpses!"

2-week-old Ellie: "Hmm, it's dark in here and I don't hear any noises. That must mean I should go back to sleep for a few more hours."

"Will six hours be enough, Mom? Or should I go for seven?"

2-week-old Kekoa: "I'M HUNGRY. FEED ME FEED ME FEED ME."

2-week-old Ellie: "Hey Mom, I'm a little hungry. I might cry if you don't feed me in the next fifteen minutes. Oh what's that? You're unloading the dishwasher? That's cool, go ahead and finish. I might just go back to sleep anyway."

Just me, chilling until someone can get to me

2-week-old Kekoa: "I'm little. Feed me every two hours. What does the clock say? Two hours is coming up! Isn't it time yet? How about now? No? How about now? No? How about every hour instead?"

2-week-old Ellie: "I'm little, so I must need sleep to grow. Don't worry, Mom, I'll eat well when I wake up, but I've still got another hour in me."

Next to a 6-9 month onesie - hard to imagine this fitting her five months from now!

2-week-old Kekoa: "I want to nurse. I want to nurse in this position, all the time. Do. not. move. Do not scratch your nose. Do not adjust your arm. Do not sneeze. If you move from this position I cannot nurse and I will starve. And there will be pain."

2-week-old Ellie: "Whatevs, Mom. Just so long as there's milk."



To be fair, Kekoa had undiagnosed food allergies that caused acid reflux, so it wasn't all personality. The poor little guy was in pain most of the time. But oh boy am I glad we had him first.  If Ellie had been born first, we would have been absolutely blindsided by Kekoa. Even if this is a just a prolonged sleepy newborn stage, it has been amazing to get a chance to recover.