Kai LOVES numbers and counting. We've been working with him on basic math and he's pretty good when he focuses. Like any other 3 year old, Kai has a tendency to throw out answers or say "You tell me", which is his version of "I don't know." But when he really concentrates, he does know the answer. He also loves playing on the computer. His favorite websites are Sesame Street, Thomas and Barney, and Playhouse Disney (in that order). We also have a game on our computer, Purble Place, that he really enjoys.
This summer Kai has learned to pedal his tricycles and drive his plasma car. He has also jumped on a trampoline for the first time, and has mastered climbing all the way to the top slides at the playground. His vocabulary is still fantastic and growing. His imagination is much better than mine has ever been and he has started asking the questions that can drive parents crazy. He loves learning the names of roads and will proudly tell you that he lives next to "the big road called I-25." He loves to talk and tell you about what he's doing and he still loves to give hugs.
Kai with the "plant" that he planted last week.
We have decided not to enroll Kai in preschool this year. Instead, I am looking for activities and playdates to make sure that he socializes about once a week. Our first activity is soccer. He had his first soccer class this past Saturday and absolutely loved it. (There will be another post on that.) He has also expressed interest in music and gymnastics classes. Actually if you ask him now, he will tell you that he wants to take football class next. Ha! I told him he had to be 6 for football (flag football at the Y) and so then he decided that basketball will be next. Another Ha!
Kai has had days in the past month or so that I have decided must be "be a big boy" day in his mind. Out of nowhere he brought me a regular plastic cup instead of a sippy cup one day, and ever since he's been ok with drinking out of a cup. (He used to throw fits about it.) He also has had 2-3 days in the last month that he has wanted to wear underwear instead of diapers. Those days we have stayed in and talked about the importance of running to the potty. We haven't had any real success yet, but I have seen improvements. Inevitably, he ends up in diapers the next day, but then he spends that day telling me when he has gone in his diaper. There was even one night that he came into our room at about 11:30pm to tell me that he had wet his diaper and needed a change. Seriously, that's huge for him! The biggest change is that he has pretty much permanently dropped naps. About twice a week when he is too cranky for words, I will force him to take a nap, but he won't fall asleep until about 2 or later. Obviously we can't let him sleep too long at that point, but there are times when he just needs it. But the other 5 days or so, he just goes and goes. His bedtime is pretty set at 7:30pm and he normally sleeps until about 7am. We do have nights when he gets up scared of the wind or other things, but he is pretty easy to put back to bed (most of the time).
Eating a hot dog like a big boy.
One of Kai's newest phrases has been "I say." For example, he will tell me the demand of the moment and then add "I say" as if he's the king of England. This morning I wanted him to play outside and he replies, "No playing outside I say." Seriously, it's funny and obnoxious all at the same time!
We have had trying moments with Kai as he struggles with sharing my attention with Finn. He lashes out at times and has hit Finn, us, and other kids with things such as toys, pillows, or just his hands. He frequently knocks Finn to the ground and takes toys from him. For a few weeks I was struggling with him and really having a hard time with his behavior. I found myself wondering what happened to the little boy that I loved and adored and in those moments I realized that I needed to start seeing him that way again. I need to look at Kai and see the sweet boy that I know is in there and treat him as such. As I have done that over the last week or so, I have found the Kai that I love again and I'm so proud to be his Mom. He really is a good kid and as I focus on that, the behavior seems to be getting better. But it is a constant thing that we have to work on.
We love Kai so much and are so glad to have him. He keeps us on our toes and certainly wears us out, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so grateful for our loving little boy!
Kai's line up of tricycles and his plasma car. He calls this part of the yard
"Tumbleweed park." Eveytime we go out to play, this is what he does.
I just love the colors in this picture.
1 comment:
Again, lovely post. Or in Kai-speak, "Lovely post, I say." Hahaha! He's so funny! Tumbleweed park is just so cute. What a clever little boy he is.
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