Under a giant tree with daddy

Where are we going?

We took Kai to the zoo today, he loved it. More pictures soon, but for now check out his cute zoo animal onesie.

Getting ready for bed

Snackin under the palm trees

Ready to go!

Little greasy face with his sunblock on ready to go for a walk to the beach

Nap time

Good morning!

Santa barbara here we come!

We are on our way to Santa Barbara for vacation this week! Kai got his first driving lesson from daddy (at a pit stop-notice car is parked ;)) he was very pleased about gripping the steering wheel :) we are looking forward to a fun week of adventures!

Hi Daddy!

Sometimes Kai and I take random pictures and send them to daddy during the day. Here's one from yesterday...Kai saw himself on the computer (we were using photobooth) and it made him smile, so cute :)

Someone has a new chair!

Now that Kai is eating more he got his very own chair that clips on to the table!

today's menu:
bottle
oatmeal with pears & apples
bottle
squash & pears/mangos
bottle
green beans with brown rice & pears/mangos
bottle


















Kai loves Mangos!

For all the Grandmas out there

Kai loves you!

Morning time

Little Kai is like an alarm clock. He wakes up at 6:30 everyday, well almost everyday. Sometimes he will sleep until 7 and sometimes he will get up at 6, but 6:30 is the usual time I start hearing little peeps from his room. First they start out as tiny mumblings and then they progress to full on words and squeaks. Always joyful. This week Kai realized "hey I can roll over in my crib" so every other time Jenna and I go check on him he is on his tummy! Well, twice now in the morning he has been on his tummy, awake at 6:30. That combo inspires the rare "he somebody come and get me out of here" cry :) Kai & I wake up early almost everyday together and hang out & play while Jenna enjoys some extra shuteye. We have a great time. He loves to roll around on the rug and wiggle around, sit in his command center, play with his stuffed animals and also just be silly. He loves for me to play him songs on the guitar and sing random lyrics and make funny noises. I love to do all this too! We have a great time in the morning. Here's a couple pics from this morning :)

Blue Bear

Kai and I went on an outing today and since it's pretty chilly here he wore his fuzzy blue bear hat :)

6 Month Doctor Appointment

Kai had his 6 month visit with the doctor today and he checked out great! He had to have shots again, which is never fun, but after letting out a few screams he calmed down quickly. Poor little guy doesn't like those shots, who can blame him? His little chunky thighs are sore tonight and probably will be for a few days, but he was a trooper.

He weighed in at 17 lbs 11 oz! And measured 25" long. Little man is growing up :) Dr. D said he should be eating three meals a day now so we are starting a new routine tomorrow with more food throughout the day. Today he had sweet potatoes (a favorite) and carrots with apples. He is officially rolling over these days and the past few nights when we've gone in to check on him he's been rolled over sleeping on his tummy! I was a little freaked out about it considering babies are supposed to sleep on their backs, but his doctor said if he can roll himself over he is strong enough to move himself if needed in order to breathe, so that made me feel better. A couple mornings ago, I went in and he was on his tummy pushing himself up with a HUGE grin on his face. Kind of like he was saying "hey mom, look what I did!" :) It won't be long before he is really on the move! We are gearing up already. It's true what people say that just when you feel like you have it figured out, they change! What fun, he is definitely going to keep us on our toes!

He is also still cracking up about the dogs, which is so funny. Pretty much anytime they run into the room he starts cracking up. He just thinks they are SO funny! The belly laughs are the best when he really gets going. He is such a wonderful little person, we are very lucky to be his mom and dad.

Kai thinks Marley is HILARIOUS!

Marley is SO funny! from Jenna Hales on Vimeo.

(update! marley continues to be hilarious to Kai, even when he watched this video on the computer he cracked up, then this morning he cracked up when marley came into say hi to him! haha the snorting I am doing in the video also cracks Kai up,  hahaha he is the best!)

Curious Kai

Kai is so much more curious these days. He's always grabbing my face and looking at toys and now he is starting to be able to hold himself up when he sits. Not for very long before he topples over, but it won't be long before he's just hanging out sitting like the rest of us. It's so fun to see him discovering the world. 

Kai's first walk for a cause

Today Kai and I joined some friends for a walk to support the fight against breast cancer. Our friend Kristina has been fighting breast cancer and she organized a group to come out, raise money and walk. It was the first annual Making Strides in our town! Our team raised over $2000!!!

Kai was all business before the race - the thought bubble for this picture: "Let's go kick some breast cancer butt!"


On the move!

Kai goes swimming for the first time!

Sorry it's been a few days since our last post! Blogger was down for two days! Ack!
But we're back with some fun pics and a video of Kai's first swim!!! Little man loves the water. He gets all relaxed and you can tell he really enjoys it.

Kai Goes Swimming! from Jenna Hales on Vimeo.

Yosemite!

We had an amazing time in Yosemite! It was so beautiful. Kai loved spending the weekend with his cousins, grandparents and aunt and uncle.

It was a great way to spend my first Mother's Day :)

Here's some highlights from our trip...

Our first day at Yosemite, we walked up to Bridal Veil Falls, the water was roaring and Kai and I only went part way, we were getting soaked! Luckily the little man loves the outdoors and even when getting "rained on" by a very chilly water fall was still a happy camper.

 Bridal Veil Falls - look at all that mist!

 The family (minus Mark who is taking the picture) after our trek up to the falls

 Upper Yosemite Falls in the background

 Cousins

 Day 2 on our way up to Yosemite Falls

 Cute little man in his camping hat

 At the base of upper Yosemite Falls. Lots of mist again! 

 Just after this picture I turned toward the falls and we got blasted by the mist. It took Kai's breath away and I wasn't sure if he was going to cry or what then when I looked at him he had a huge grin on his face 

 Grandma, Grandpa and Nello at the base of Yosemite Falls

 Lower Yosemite Falls in the background

 The boys

 Lena Bean

 Kai climbing mini Half Dome (or what Mark calls eighth dome :))

 The cousins at the summit :)

 Auntie Jenna and Lena walking with Kai taking the most beautiful walk in the world

 The three of us

 Grandma and Grandpa with all three grandkids

 Grandpa and Kai check out some bugs with Half Dome in the distance

 Nello in his element

 Looking down through the valley on Mother's Day, just before heading home

 The whole crew

 Serious cuteness