Dear Kai,

You have a 103 degree temperature tonight.  So, I'm thinking that another ear infection is in our future. I'm hoping that is not the case as that would be number four in the recent Hatter history, and I'm not too keen on getting tubes in your ears.  We will see how the next few days go, little one.

These days:
29-ish lbs. (85th percentile)
18-24 month size clothes
Size 5 shoes
Size 5 diapers

A few of the words you are using: caaaaaaaar, vroom vroom, bus, dada, mama, ball, yay yay! (that's for Wheel of Fortune, which you still love), Nana, Hudson (ish), please, thank you, more.

We are amazed that you know lots of letters! You can identify about 10 letters now, and the number 2.  We keep these foam letters out that go in a puzzle mat, and you have just started picking them up and bringing them to us and saying the letter.  I'm so proud of that, and hope you keep a love of letters and reading!  You still love to "read" while you take a break from playing.  I love to watch you sit and flip through a few books, and point at pictures or talk like you are reading a book.

You recently had your first haircut and it was really traumatic...for me!  I thought you were going to freak out, but you did great!  I think it was only because you got to sit in a car, or as you say it, "caaaaaaaar."

You are starting to throw some fits/tantrums, but nothing too bad yet.  It came out pretty nicely when our friend Huddy came over to visit.  You wanted the toy he was playing with and he wouldn't give it to you (That's right, Huddy! Good boy, he can't just steal things from you.) You immediately collapsed into face-to-ground, arms-over-head, wail mode.  I was speechless.  That happened about three times in succession and then we all went about our business.  Other than that, you play really well with other kids, especially kids that are at least a few years older than you.  Recently, we have met some new neighbors and every time we are outside, you get so excited to play and run with everyone.  People keep telling me we need to have a baby brother or sister for you to play with, but Daddy and I just aren't ready yet.  (So, LAY OFF! *polite grin*)

Kai loves the ladies.  I catch you checking out gals in the supermarket, or grinning ear to ear when a lady even glances in your direction.  But, my son, they always love you too.  Those baby blues, a girl can't resist!

I think that sums things up pretty well right now.

Crackin' me up

So there are two days left in November, and I've only posted a handful of times this month! Blerg.  Right now, I want to write to Kai.

Dear Big Baby,

You are doing the funniest things these days.

Every time I give a big belly laugh, you laugh right along with me.

You started clicking your tongue yesterday and we will have nice long tongue clicking conversations together.

You have, fairly successfully, moved over to sippy cups!  We didn't use a paci very long with you and have tried to keep the bottle time-span short as well.  It makes a mama and daddy so happy to put those bottles away, especially since we bought the ones with 5 parts a piece.

You are still "reading" every chance you get.

You are playing a version of peek-a-boo.  We thought you understood the game because you played it multiple times with a blankey but we quickly realized that you didn't quite get the rules.  All you do is lift a blankey or toy up over your head and then pop it back down quickly.  When you first started doing it the item was hiding your face, but now you will just play with anything.  I can see your face, but I still say, "where's Kai?" because I just can't bear to not play this silly game.

Whenever you wake up from a long nap you sit up quickly, but then proceed to tip over as you fall back into a nap induced stupor.

Your smile always makes me melt, even when I know you've been a stinker at school.  I feel bad for your teachers because I come in being all cute with you, when they have had to deal with your moodiness all day long!  You hide it well when mama's face shows up in your classroom, my dear.

I posted this on Instagram the other day, entitled: little baby, big world.

Love you!