Bye Bye Baby

It appears we have let summer pass by without a single update. Things have been very busy in the Brown household, and as a result, we missed documenting many important events...

For starters, our little guy had a birthday. It was chaotic. But it was also wonderful to see how many people love Kalani and and to see all the friendships he will surely cherish as he gets older. The party was done American Idol style. Aunt Debbie brought over all of her Kindermusik toys, and Aunt Nanthida brought her Karaoke machine. The family brought yummy hor d'oeuvres and Kevin ordered two huge cakes. If everyone's ears hurt by the time they left, I hope at least they had happy tummies.

A chocolate fiend! Just like his parents....

Despite his sweet tooth, Kalani only weighed a pound heavier from his 9-month to his one-year well-baby exam. He was (I think) 22 lbs (50th percentile) and 29 inches tall (75% percentile).

Right after Kalani officially turned one, we took our first family vacation and road trip with my sister and the Koehlers to our beloved Brush Creek for reunion. It was a wonderful week. Not exactly relaxing but we all had such a great time together, and Kalani loved all the free space to roam. His sense of curiosity, lack of fear and love for people was evident!

Kissing on a new friend during one of the many services

Kalani hanging out with the girls in our cabin. He and Pari got to be especially good buddies.

Kalani loved hanging out with the Koehler-Butt girls. He found them so entertaining!

Kalani has grown so much in the last three months. In addition to signing a few words, his vocabulary has extended to: dada, mama, more, uh-oh, bye-bye, hi, up, sit, car, and ball. He also mimics lots of animal sounds. His favorite books are about dogs and monsters or other animals that roar. Currently, he prefers showers over baths, he loves to snuggle with big pillows, and he constantly wants to snack, which he tells us by carrying over his huge bin of animal crackers (a bin about half his size).




Kalani and I went to visit Kevin during the Camp Opportunity talent show. We went last year as well. I've included a past and current year picture. This year, I think Kalani was a little suspicious of the man with the crazy make-up and outfit who was pretending to be his daddy.

July 17, 2008...
Oh so sweet...

June 27, 2009...
Scary.

The Shipmans (Kevin's mom's family) had a wonderful family reunion during July. We gathered together for a picnic and then went to a Royals game the next day. It was so fun to see so many of Mom's family again. We don't see them nearly enough and can't wait til next year!

Kalani and I played a bit of ball with Aunt Dawn in the Royals Stadium parking lot before the game

Kalani and Grandpa Tim, at the first of one of many games together I hope!

Cousin Chloe catching some shade

Kevin and I love that Kalani has such a sense of humor! Anything that makes others laugh, he loves to do again and again. I'll add video later which documents his extreme silliness. He can be such a ham! Below, Kalani was eating an eggroll, then he decided he would let it hang out of his mouth and walk around.

Bubs trying to put on my shoes, a favorite pastime. I now find my shoes in odd places.

We were very excited to reconnect with a friend from the past. Here is the gang with Denise!

Kalani chasing (or stalking) Miss Gigi

More kissing...this time with his buddy Addison

And posing for a picture at the City Market with his pal Addie Sue

Such a big boy, feeding himself!

We've decided we need to plan a family outing at least every other weekend. We recently took Kalani to a nearby carnival, where Kalani rode his first carousel with Daddy.

He hung onto Kevin's arm, and did a great job!

Wishing he were big enough for other rides...

Pointing to a ride he really wanted to get on - one way up in the air!

Kalani LOVES his stuffed animals. He carries them around the house, hugging and kissing on them. Then he brings them all to us... and then Mommy and Daddy must kiss on his stuffed toys too. He is so full of love! His current favorite is his black and white tiger, likely because the tiger's front legs stick out in a way that makes him feel like it hugs back!


Kalani is growing more and more into our little boy, and the little baby that was there not so long ago seems to be disappearing. He seems to always be running somewhere, and he wants to be so very autonomous. His fits and tantrums often are a result of us trying to help him with something he thinks he should do himself (i.e., brushing teeth). I wonder sometimes where our baby went... then he will run into one of our laps and snuggle, and I know no matter what age he is, he will always be our little guy!

Thanks Cousin Lucy for the new car! It's a great ride on the way to his very special meetings!

And now, just need to take another important call from the coast (from Auntie Carissa)