Nap Time

Princess napping!  He actually looks tiny here, I don't get a chance to say that all that often.  Oh how they grow up!

Bed time stories

Has nothing to do with the post but a sleep association... I just loved this sweet boy!

Well I will just start off stating we are not the model family when it comes to sleep training.  We had a great run at it with Kai for ~16mths, textbook really and simple.  Kai was sleeping 13+hrs a night with a quick put down to bed by 4 months.  Then it all changed...  He switched new rooms at daycare and freak out at bedtime (he is not one who likes change) and we let him sleep with us... I held off going trying to get him back into his own crib as I wanted him in his own room but at this time Ahmad's sister was with us and then we discovered we would be moving a month later... Flash forward we moved, had a second kid and Kai was still with us in our room.

Now Fin is another story, he was really gassy and woke often as a newborn and because of it he sleeps maybe a few hours straight a night for these first months....  I had him in a cradle (not his crib) because it was inclined and it was suppose to help alleviate pain from gas.  At 5mths I tried the crib but he was onto me laying him down and bedtime started taking an hour... We also needed to get Kai out of our bed... and Fin to sleep faster... So as one kid moved in the other moved out.

Now the funny part (and the point of the post)... Ahmad happens to move with the toddler.  So, it was fine when Kai was with us in our Queen bed and only 1.5 yrs old (small enough) and it was fine when we got our new California King but now as Kai moves out into his own twin bed... so Ahmad followed... I could not help but laugh tonight as I thought, what a Dad... he is going to sleep with Kai on the trundle of Kai's twin bed to be sure if Kai wakes in the night he can reassure him things are fine...

Lesson:  Kai and Fin when you are a teenager and Daddy says you can not do something... Know all actions are and forever will be out of the strongest LOVE for you!

Flight Home

We made it and we would do it again!!

1. We had a free aisle seat (aka baby bed) - lucky
2. Kai slept the entire way - worth the price of full airfare
3. Ahmad and I relaxing in flight with Gin and Tonics - priceless

Inline to board the flight (that is terror on Ahmad's face!)

Kai getting cozy just after take off.

After dinner burp

in SF exploring the airport museum

Mornings

Our favorite time with Kai is definitely in the morning.  He is just like his mom and loves mornings.

Here is a short video of what we get to enjoy!!

Party with Friends

This Saturday we had a Baby shower party to attend for a close friend of ours.  It was a boy / girl and bring your baby shower.  Ahmad, Kai and I arrived at 2:30pm and stayed until 7:00pm.  The party was fun and Kai was fascinated by all the conversations, people and noise.  As we left, everyone joked that we did not bring a real baby... a real baby makes noise.  Here he is napping before the guests arrived in his normal relaxed position.

Deep in thought

"Never wake a sleeping baby"

Do you know this old adage?  Well, every night I would look at Kai and think about this saying as I tried to wake up our soundly sleeping baby.  I continued to wake him because during our first Pediatrician visit our baby Dr. wanted Kai to get back to his birth weight before we let him sleep longer than 4 hours without a feeding.  Of course, those who know me, know that my next step would be to put the little man on a training program to ensure he gained the necessary weight (6oz in 3days) by the time we went in for our second Pediatrician visit.  (spoiler: He accomplished the necessary weight gain and we are now letting him wake us up at night when he wants to eat).

For those of you worried Kai would not be exposed to the art of sleeping thru the night, no fears... Anyone who knows Ahmad (or has driven with or had Ahmad as a passager in their car) knows he is the best sleep teacher ... and he has been teaching well.

An early morning session when you don't have to go to work. 

Using your hands for impromptu pillows.

How to chillax while watching TV or listening to music