Fun sunday...

Today, both me and Kaio did not change into our cloths and stayed in our PJs all day long! The weather was awful and we had a great time playing around.
We also watched Kaio's first full movie (1:20hr!) - Milo and Otis. (a cat and a dog adventuring around). We had some popcorn (his first) and Kaio was able to pay attention throughout the entire movie, laughing when it was funny, worried when they were in danger and wanting to play 'baby cat' afterward.
Close to bed time, Jason and Kaio rocked out on some Rolling Stones classics! They were dancing around and playing 'air guitar', 'couch piano' and 'spoon trumpets'! It was hilarious and Kaio kept asking for 'more musica please'
We had a really fun and laid back day! (Although Vinny was missing!)

Getting ready...

One week to go before the due date of baby nbr 2. We are ready! We have rearranged our room (with a moses basket and baby items), we've set up the play pen in the living room, we've washed all the baby cloths and have set Kaio's expectations!
Kaio is excited, although initially he kept saying - "baby out, Kaio hold" he now says - "baby out, Kaio airplane!". This is because recently we sent Vinny to Colorado by airplane and Kaio said he also wanted to go on an airplane. We had to explain to him that first the 'baby had to come out' before we would also go on an airplane...
Kaio's communication skill have improved significantly, which is great for when the baby comes and he will be able to express himself better and avoid frustration. Sometimes we do have difficulties understanding what he is trying to say, since he learns words at nursery and we actually are not expecting him to know them! (ex. tiny, over here, clean up)
He is also starting to pronounce his name better. Before he would call himself - Dado, and now he says - Daio!
Some pics:
1) Kaio made a train with our pillows and then sat his 'friends' in a row as his passengers (I 'helped' him a bit with the idea after becoming tired of being his passenger!)
2) Kaio still loves his instruments and he used this tube as a 'trumpet'. He is also very creative with pianos and guitars, using sticks, hangers, etc

"This is a...."

Kaio came home one day from nursery and started grabbing random items and saying - "This is a bus. This is a 'tampa' (lid). This is a car. This is a doggy" etc... We both laughed out loud as he was really. funny! He has been saying 4+ word sentences and several words he knows how to say in English and Portuguese. He knows his colors really well and is getting better at counting too.
A couple of weeks ago, Kaio was having a couple of 'moments/tantrums' and I thought - "welcome to the terrible twos!" However we have found different ways of avoiding these 'moments' to happen and he has been so much better. One of the key things, as silly as it sounds, is to reason with him. Get down to his level (on your knees) and explain things. He really seems to 'get it' and snaps out of any bad mood or tantrum he might be having. Another very useful way is to set expectations. When he is playing we tell him what will happen in a couple of moments, like 'Kaio in 5 minutes we are going to take a bath' and let him play for a while and repeat it 3 and 1 minute before bath time. He reacts really well because he is not caught by surprise, which would sometimes frustrate him and lead to crying spells.
At nursery they also said Kaio has been very easy going and not as aggressive (he would sometimes hit other children when they would take his toy or wouldn't give him the toy he wanted.)

Fun personality

Kaio's personality is shining. He really is becoming a little 'boy' with tons of energy, happiness and very spontaneous and creative. He loves to run around and sometimes walks to or from nursery (1km!), at home he also just loves to run from one side to another in the living room. Lot's of energy!
He also loves to dance around or just start jumping and imitating animals or make silly noises! He is very creative in getting toys or other objectives and coming up with a 'game'. Just now, he grabbed one of his teddy bears and is pretending it is a baby and holds it like one, he then put it on a pillow and started petting the back and wishing it 'night night' and told me to be quiet (finger on his mouth and saying 'shhhhhh'). Last week Jason thought him how to catch a ball and he is really good at it (after 4 -5 attempts he got it!) He was very excited about knowing how to catch the ball and then throw it to us to catch is back)
Books are still a big favorite and he can spend a long time looking at pictures or us reading them to him. Sometimes he even gets our books, catalogs and magazines to look at. At the moment, one of his favorite books is my pregnancy book with lot's of pictures of babies and parents. Looking at the illustrations of the babies in the belly he says - 'baby inside, sleeping! Shhhh!'
3 weeks for baby nbr 2!!!

Fireworks

On the 5th of November it is 'bon fire' night in the UK and there are fireworks everywhere. Over the weekend we decided to try it with Kaio and took him to a fireworks display outside of London. There was a little amusement park we went to before hand, which he enjoyed and went a ride. However, when the fireworks started he panicked a little bit. We held him close and started showing him the different colors, which calmed down. However he only really relaxed and seemed to enjoy it once I covered his ears and he could not hear the noise. The day after he kept talking about the 'loud drums' and the different colors he saw.
Kaio is speaking a lot. Both languages and very clear (at least to us). He also understands what we tell him or when we read stories. It is also much easier to 'reason' with him, and he understands well that he first has to do 'x' before he gets 'z'. For example, he needs to finish his yogurt before mommy reads a book. It's also been great that he understands timing a bit better. We tell him things like - "you can play for another 5 minutes before we go and brush your teeth". It helps him get 'mentally' prepared for certain situations and avoid frustrating moments.
He has really become very polite and says 'please', 'thank you' and 'sorry' when it is expected.
1) Kaio being silly
2) Kaio kissing the 'baby'
3) Kaio (and daddy) enjoying a ride in the amusement park
4) Kaio and daddy before the fireworks
5) Kaio afraid of the fireworks

Baby 2

Baby number 2 is coming along well. I had a 36 weeks check up last week and, just like with Kaio, my belly is too small for being 8 months pregnant. The midwife sent me for a scan to check if the baby was 'okay'. When this happened, 2 1/2 years ago while pregnant with Kaio, I completely panicked, but this time around I already knew that everything was okay in my belly. The scan showed a healthy baby, average size and at 2.2kg baby, who was kicking away and moving a lot.
This pregnancy has been different then my previous one:
- With Kaio I was very strict with all the things I could and could not eat, this time around I even had sushi a couple of time!
- My skin is much better this time around (I had bad acne with Kaio)
- I do not have the linea negra (a dark line that runs vertically over the belly)
- I have anemia and very low blood pressure this time around
- I had much more energy and slept much better while pregnant with Kaio
- I find this baby much more active and sometimes even painful with all the movements (this was specially the case when the baby was transversal)
- I have not had the peanut M&Ms + ice cream craving I had with Kaio
- I've been able to share some great moments with Kaio in preparation for the new baby (washing the cloths together, talking about holding the new baby, have Kaio point out 'our baby' to other people, etc)
- I've learned how to balance my belly and hold Kaio without falling!
One thing that has definitely not changed is that I love being pregnant. The fact that a small little baby is growing inside of me and will bring us so much joy (and worry) is just mind blowing and amazing.
Some people ask me how will it be possible to love another child as much as I do love Kaio, and I have no doubt that it will not be a problem. Nor will my love for Kaio diminish. As my dear friends Melissa puts it - the love will not be split in half but multiplied by two! (how it all fits in our hearts is a mystery!)
1) Belly and I
2) Me balancing kaio and the belly while looking at airplanes!

Funny toddler

A couple of cute stories:
- The other day I took Kaio to nursery and his two girlfriends (Nina and Bella) came running to greet him. They both kissed and hugged him. Kaio was all smiles. The two girls started pushing each other out of the way to be closer to Kaio and showing off their 'toys'. It was so cute to see how they just adore Kaio.
- Kaio seems to think that when daddy is not with us, he is 'corre corre' (running). The other day I asked him - "does Vinny run?" Kaio said - "SIM", "does Kaio run?" "SIM", "does daddy run?" "SIM" and finally - "does mommy run?" "NAO!" I guess I am the lazy one in the family!
- Kaio recently has been comparing several things with a family scenario. He has a big, medium and a small ball and he points at the big ball and says 'daddy ball', the medium ball 'mommy ball' and the small ball 'baby ball'.
- The other day we were taking a bath and he was washing the baby (=my belly) and I was telling him that the baby would soon come out and be with us. He then looked at my belly and said (at my belly): 'baby out, Kaio hold'... ADORABLE! Today he also said: 'baby out, play Kaio' and went about to show his toys to my belly.
- He started playing very nicely with teddy bears and building little games with them - the other day he had his big teddy bear ('daddy bear') read a book to the little one ('baby bear') and he placed the little one on the daddy's lap and the book in front of them!
- He is very comfortable in sitting on his potty and has been telling us when he has done a 'poopy' to change his nappy, which are all good signs to start the potty training.
- He loves to help me cook dinner. He gets the wooden spoon and does 'mistura' (mix). He also knows that when there is steam it is 'hot'.
- He has been saying a lot of words and it surprised how fast he picks new words up and builds sentences. Both in Portuguese and English.
Pictures:
1) Wearing mommy's (unused) glasses.
2) Kaio reading 'The Economist' while sitting on the potty
3) Sleeping with his buddies (he 'needs' all 3 to go to bed) - donkey, squirrel and bear!

7 weeks before baby 2!

We are all getting really excited and ready for baby nbr 2. Kaio seems to understand it and is very interested in everything related to 'mommy's baby'. Today he helped me wash all the tiny baby cloths and start getting everything ready. He also wanted to carry the new born nappies for 'the baby' when walking home from the store.
Kaio has been saying certain words in British English and it is absolutely adorable. The other day he said 'mommy, woter'. I had no idea what he was saying until someone pointed it out - woter is how Brits say water. He also says daddy and mommy with a British accent!
Kaio still loves music and specially guitars, he is always asking for people to draw guitars and he uses objects as 'instruments', pretending they are drums, pianos or guitars! And now he has started using a microphone and starts 'singing' and dancing.
This week I had a catch up with Kaio's carer at the nursery to discuss his progress. She said he is doing really well. He is a very sweet boy and everyone absolutely adores him (his carers from previous rooms come to cuddle with him daily! He has been at the nursery since he was 7 months - he is very popular) She also said Kaio is very advanced with his colors, knowing the basics (red, blue, green, yellow -his favorite -, green, brown, black, white, pink, purple and orange) very well. He is also very good in making the animal's sounds and identifying them. However she mentioned that he has little interest in numbers. When they start any activity with numbers he tends to loose interest pretty fast. (although, this weekend, I was very surprised and impressed when he started counting, in Portuguese, the stairs going doing to the basement - up to 7!)
Some pics:
1) A real musician - a hoody, (daddy's) big shoes and his guitar!
2) He was practicing to carry around the baby in the Baby Bjorn

A fun week day with Kaio

It has been very busy at work and I have been away several nights, so I decided to have a 'Kaio and Mommy' day. We had a great day! We started the day in having breakfast at our own pace. (very slow and 'chatting'). We then turned on the sound and danced and sang to his favorite songs. (he was dancing around on the couch with his guitar in his hand). After that we went to the indoor swimming pool. Initially he was a bit apprehensive about it (since the last time we were at a pool was in Tunisia, 3 months ago.) However after a couple of minutes he was running around, jumping in the pool and really enjoying himself. At one point, when we were hugging and giggling, he suddenly realized daddy wasn't with us.. (it seemed like he really wanted daddy to be there with us on that fun moment) and said 'Daddy? Daddy corre' (daddy runs). Jason ran into work that morning and Kaio knows when he sees daddy with his running gear that he is going for a run! Clever boy!
Kaio helped me prepar lunch. He really enjoys stirring and putting things in the pot. He usually says - 'Dado juda' (=Kaio ajuda = Kaio helps). After a 2 1/2 hrs nap we went to the store together (on his bike) and he was helping me pick fruit, yogurt and cereal. It is so fun to see him have opinions and tastes!
We did some playing, drawing and painting and finished the day with watching a documentary on pandas. He was very intrigued with it and kept saying - 'mommy, daddy, baby, oma' while pointing at the different pandas.
When Jason got home he could see that Kaio and mommy were in a great mood because we had such a fun day together.
The picture on the top speaks for itself. (It also shows why I get so many comments in how our hair collor is so similar! Both our hair are in it's natural color!)
Below: Kaio LOVES boxes! And Kaio in his drummer imitation (and PJs)

Growing boy!

Some cute moments/expressions and just being Kaio:
- He used to always say 'dandao' (=grandao) when he saw something big, now he also says 'huuuuee' (=huge)
- He sings the last 3 words of 'the wheels on the bus'. (=all day looooooong) But does all the signs that go with the song (even some we have made up!)
- He sings 'hadadada totoooo' (=happy birthday to you)
- He loves to pretend he is cooking and serves us his food. He also goes to the trash and 'cleans' up after wards
- He prefers to eat apples over anything else!! (yes, even vanilla pudding, chocolate, cookies, etc)
- He went through a phase he was crying to go to bed at night because he wanted me in the room with him. (after our holidays in the US) I explained to him that mommy had to go eat with daddy when putting him in bed, so now, when I lay him in his bed, he always tells me (without crying) to go eat with daddy and that he (Kaio) is all done eating.
- He really enjoys music and knows the basic instruments. (piano, drum, guitar, trumpet, etc) When he hears a songs with a male singer playing a guitar he says - 'man guitar musica'
- He knows his colors really well and his favorite color is yellow.
- He recognizes Oma, Opa, titio, grandma and grandpa in pictures
- His motor skills are great. He runs really fast and when he trips he easily 'saves/recovers' himself without getting falling/getting hurt.
- Food is still not a priority or big interest. (with the exception of apples!)However he understands that if he does not eat his food when we tell him too, he will not get to play and tends to stuff his face to be able to go back to his toys.
- We've been working on numbers and counting. He still says dois (=two) when he sees more then one of anything. However, when he is counting he now says - 'dois,..., nine, ten'! We now need to work on the numbers in between!
- He came back from day care saying - 'you top it' = you stop it! (Cheeky monkey!)
- We are giving Kaio choices to make... what juice does he want to drink, what t-shirt he wants to wear, etc. Overall, he is really good and sticks with his choice. Sometimes he changes his mind... and then we need to stay firm and explain he has made a choice and we need to stick to it. Not sure if he really understands that concept yet!
- When we do something silly he says - 'mommy/daddy/titi tootie'
- He knows the animals really well, and the sounds they produce. He knows everything from owl, hippo, elephant, snake, squirrel, giraffe, butterfly, worm, sheep, bear, lion to the more simple once like cat, dog, rabbit and bird.
- He has moved to the toddler 2 room at daycare and has adapted really well.
- He continues to really adore babies and kisses and hugs my belly when I ask about 'mommy's baby'
- He says - 'he te to' (=here you go) when he gives us something

2 years!

Kaio turned 2!!!! We just can't believe this amazing little creature has been with us for so long (but still so little time compared to the rest of our lives without him). We had a FUN day. First of all, we all slept in until 8:30. Jason made pancakes for breakfast and played and danced before heading out to the park. We had a nice picnic, played in the playground, rented a boat and went around to look at the ducks and birds and had an ice cream. We went home to make some cupcakes. Kaio LOVED it, the whole process of making the batter (getting all messy) and then decorating them. Jason made home made pizza and we finished the day with singing happy birthday!
Some birthday pictures:
1) Kaio and daddy playing hide and seek (or run around after each other)
2) Kaio and mommy on the boat
3) Ice cream time
4) Kaio started the cupcake project being very neat and helpful...
5) .. soon he went on to trying to steel the dough from the spoon...
6) .. we finished with dough all over his face and loud giggles
7) Finished work

Pre-birthday festivities

Oma came to visit for 5 days and we had a great time. A couple of days before her arrival I started 'preparing' him for her visit and he was very excited about it (every time the front door bell would go or the phone would ring, he would say ' Oma?') On Wednesday when she arrived he went running to her arms and it didn't take much time for him to prefer her lap over mine.
Oma was here to celebrate his birthday (a week earlier as she needs to go back to Brazil). We had a very nice weekend and bought several gifts for Kaio, including a radio, which he carries around and tries to drag anyone to dance with him (it's mostly Oma that ends up jumping around with him). Oma was so amazed in how he is talking so much, repeating all the words we say and just so able to communicate with us so well. She is happy to see he continues giggling and being the happy baby/toddler she has known for 2 years!
On Saturday we met up with Jason's cousin John and his wife Steph, who were in London for a couple of days. They had last seen Kaio when he was 3 months and were amazed in how much he had grown and what a fun personality he has (he started shy, but after a couple of minutes was playing with them!)
1) Oma's favourite place - Starbucks!
2) Kaio loved his birthday balloons
3) 1st cake for his 2nd Birthday (Kaio was great in blowing out the candles!)
4) With John and Steph
5) Kaio playing with Vinny
6) Kaio had a fun weekend!

Lazy sunday

Since the last couple of weeks have been so hectic and busy and we were all a bit struggling with the jet lag after our trip to LA, we decided not to plan anything this past weekend!
We had a great family weekend at home! Jason did some cooking, we all hanged out, watched TV, played, read books, took naps and really enjoyed 'recovering'.
To give you an idea how relaxed we were - Kaio still had his PJs on at 3pm on Sunday!
Baby nbr 2 is kicking away. He/she seems very active and it is so nice to see and feel all the movements. Kaio continues being super sweet and kisses my belly (=baby). He also is very sweet with other babies and always wants to hug and kiss them!

Los Angeles pictures

Some pictures from our trip to LA:
1) Kaio at Venice Beach
2) Daddy and Kaio watching a paddle game in Venice Beach.
3) Kaio trying out some Halloween costumes. The guitar was his favorite!
4) Us! (including baby nbr 2 - as you can clearly see the growing belly!)
5) Kaio and Grandma
6) Mommy and Kaio at Disney!
7) Everyone at one of the Disney rides (you can see Kaio looks a bit apprehensive)
8) Kaio was a bit afraid of the big characters at first...
9) Kaio making sure Mickey did not get too close to him.
10) Goofy! (Kaio was trying his best to get away from him!)
11) After a long and hot day at Disney...
12) Kaio and daddy in the pool
13) At the airport on our way back
14) Kaio had a great holiday in LA!