We're finally getting around to posting a link to our friend's blog. Click their names to catch up with Toby and Amy Holmes. Their cute kids steal the show!

Our little peanut..

We forgot to add our favorite photo of Kai-- although, he is much bigger now! He just turned 3 months old! He weighed around 12 lbs. at our last doctor's appointment on Friday--and he was 25 inches long. He is in the 90th percentile for height, just under the 50th percentile for weight, and between 25-50% for head size. The doctor said she thinks he'll be a tall and skinny guy!

Nonny

I love taking photos of my grandmother, Nonny, with Kai. It's so amazing to watch her interact with Kai. He is so calm when he is with her. I think he understands the depth of wisdom she has. Here are a few more photos of the two of them (plus, my mom and Summer too)!

Baba Christa

Aren't we lucky? Christa came to town! Christa flew in from Chicago to pamper us and to meet Kai. We had such a wonderful visit. We were so spoiled by someone who we should have been spoiling-- seeing that she is 7 1/2 months pregnant!

Christa cooked, cleaned, babysat, and spent loads of time holding Kai! Plus, of course, the two of us just sat on the couch talking and talking and talking...

Kai loved her! Joe said after the first night- "Wow, Christa has a way with Kai." And, I couldn't agree more!

Christa and I also went out for a night on the town. It was the first time I wasn't with Kai during bedtime. Joe reported that Kai did just great-- he is so bonded with Joe that I don't think he noticed I was out. Christa and I went to the Ordway Theater to see "Love, Janis." It was an incredible show about the life and music of Janis Joplin.

Friends

I have been lucky to meet some wonderful moms through my ECFE class (Early Childhood and Family Education) through the Minneapolis Public Schools. We meet each Thursday and basically it's a time for parents to get together, learn about their little ones, and practice some infant massage.

Here are two moms who I have been hanging out with-- Andrea and Soren and Juliette and Quinn. All three boys are becoming fast friends. Soren is just 3 days older than Kai and Quinn is the leader of the pack at 5 months old.

The first photo was from a walk we took along the river and the second photo is of Kai and Soren during class. We are lucky since Soren lives only 3 blocks away! I have a feeling Kai has found his new best neighborhood friend.

P.S. You should see Soren's blog!

April

I've been asked often how I like being a mom. I can't tell you enough how much I love being a mom. I have a hard time remembering life before Kai. My brain doesn't seem to remember what life was like without this amazing little guy in our lives. I know life was good, but it just wasn't this good.

Joe and I often stop and say to each other-- "Can you believe he is ours? How did we create something so cute?" Kai has melted our hearts and we are so happy to be partners in parenting.

Kai has come out of his "colic" phase and is now smiling, cooing, "talking" to us, and just on the verge of giggling. He copies us when we stick our tongue out and is constantly watching us around the room. Kai is enjoying time with his "Papi" and loves spending as much time as possible with Joe. Just about when Joe is about to come home each day, Kai becomes fussy. It's like he is waiting for Joe. Then, when Joe comes home-- you should see the smile!

Here is my favorite photo so far of Kai. We went to Minnehaha Falls Park and walked around last weekend-- it was beautiful out and the falls were full and flowing.

I was laughing so hard because Kai need to fall asleep at one point, so he was a bit fussy. He would cry when we were walking him in the stroller, but when Joe would run around with the stroller, he would stop crying. So, you should have seen Joe running like crazy around this park filled with a lot of people. I saw numerous people turn around and watch him and wonder what he was doing...ahh, what we will do for this babe.

P.S. We spend loads more time with Kai in the sling on our bodies so we don't need to run around like this....but, it's good for an occasional laugh!

More photos

Kai has had a cold for about a week, so we have had plenty of time for snuggling and hanging out. Here are some new photos...

Joe vs. Motorcycle

So, for those of you who haven't heard, Joe got in a motorcycle accident. He was in San Francisco for a work meeting and then stayed for the weekend to hang out with his brother and family, plus his friend Stein. He was riding Andrew's motorcyle on a curvy mountain road. (I will try hard to not write any of my own views on his decision to do this...)

The good news is that he is Ok. The bad news is that our life just got a bit more interesting (in that "not-so-good" kind of a way).

Joe had surgery last week on his hand, so he will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. He is in quite a bit of pain and you should see his bruises and road rash. Ouch!

This makes holding Kai a bit hard, changing diapers and clothes impossible, and let's not forget writing and typing at his new job. So, yes, I think Joe is re-thinking getting on a motorcycle anytime soon!

2 months

Joe's Parents Meet Kai

Hillary Clinton once said, "it takes a village to raise a child," and last week, that village moved in! Dan and Susie came for a quick visit with Libby. They were thrilled to meet Kai and shower him with love and affection. Libby was especially sweet with him, singing and reading to him. She always had a funny face to show him, and constantly worked to cheer him up when he was cranky. I think Libby has made a great impression on Kai, and now he can't wait to meet his other cousins!
Gramma and Grampa Z were also wonderful with him, and great help around the house, too. With Joe's thumb broken and surgery, we definitely needed a whole village of helpers. We visited the Como Zoo, we played in the snow and we took long walks in the spring-like weather. Minnesota proved not too daunting to our coastal relatives, thankfully.

Libby checks out the view with Grampa Jo

Other Cute photos

Winter Wonderland

Minneapolis had over 12 inches of snow!

It has been so beautiful here-- Kai and I have been out walking (yes, even in the blizzard). I bundle Kai up in his snowsuit, strap him in a sling, and put my jacket on over him and we're off!

We even walked to our infant class (a play group for Moms and babies under 5 months old) in the blustery snow. See, we're starting him early in learning what it means to be a Minnnesota man!

Here are some photos of all of us a couple of weekends ago when it was snowing-- it was a great family outing.

P.S. Did I mention Kai falls asleep immediately when walking? So now you see why I walk outside all of the time with him :)

The Best Shirt...

Dan and Katrin gave this to Kai--

It's the best!

It says (in case you don't have your glasses):

"Feminist Chics Dig Me."

Smiles

Kai is smiling!!

Joe is in San Francisco for work and play, so my Mom came to stay with Kai and I. We caught him on film smiling away. He just started to smile last week and it is wonderful.

When I pick him up in the middle of the night, he greets me with a huge smile. When I walk into the room, he'll hear my voice and smile. He even has been smiling when Joe calls on the phone from sunny California.

Our little fussy boy has really made a turn-around this last week and he has been so much happier and at peace-- plus, smiling!

Oh-- by the way, Isn't Aunt Steff talented? She made the great hat!

Firsts....

Here are some firsts--

First time Kai went to a party (for Dan and Katrin's engagement)...First time Kai had a bottle....First time to fall in love (with us of course!)

One Month Old!

Lucky us-- more visitors!

My mom's best friend, Betsey, met Kai --She thinks he looks like me when I was a baby. Finally, someone who doesn't think he only looks like Joe :)

Here's Kai with his "Pops" (my dad!)

Kt and Paul brought us dinner and we had fun talking about their upcoming wedding plans (May 5th)!

Valentine's Day Love!

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Love, Kai (who is 5 weeks old!!)

Sarah S.

My dear friend, Sarah, who I met at Camp St. Croix many years ago, had her little baby girl, Addie, only 11 days after I had Kai. It's great to know another mom who is going through all of the same things. We had a great visit yesterday. She gave me a lot of support and suggestions for Kai.

He seems to be quite fussy lately and we are doing whatever we can to help the poor little guy out. It breaks our heart to see him crying and so upset. But, like everyone says-- this too shall pass. Almost all moms and dads report their baby went through the same thing. Joe and I remain patient (but pretty exhausted-- so is Kai!) So, let's keep our fingers crossed that this is short-lived.