May

No sympathy! - May 28, 2008
At the ultimate field the other night, Kaden found the beer bucket...filled with ice. He stuck his hands in to play with the ice and then pulled them out in disgust - SO COLD. A few seconds passed and then he happily stuck his hands back in the bucket to play with the strange, slippery, wet toys. But then...hands frozen...he sat up and cried out his displeasure. He must have done this more than a dozen times. It was good comedy for all of us on the sidelines!

A little dirt never hurt anyone, right?! - May 27 2008
On one of Kaden's adventures around our house he discovered the dirt in the garden. He had a ball picking up and dropping the dirt, handing Daddy rocks, and of course - getting it in his mouth. I tolerated a few mouthfuls, but after a while I figured he had had enough dirt for dessert. He was less than impressed when I tried to pick him up (he recently started arching his back when you try to move him from what he wants to do...I thought that didn't happen until they were two?! Don't even get me started on his new eating "habits"...). After a drink to wash down the grit, Kaden wanted to help with the clean-up. Well, at least he wanted a good laugh with the broom. You can see from the final pictures what Kaden might look like with eyebrows (the dirt made the hair actually show up)!

Our little digger.
 

Choo Choo! - May 25, 2008
I never would have thought when we moved here that the trains would be such a great thing for kids. Convenient for our commute - yes, but endless entertainment for Kaden? Who knew? We can see the trains from numerous vantages point around our community, but there is a bridge just up the path from our house that crosses the skytrain line. Perfect. Kaden knows where it is too and tried to make a break for it.

See ya later, Kaden.
 

Happy Wanderers - May 25, 2008
May has not been a month of great weather, but fortunately when it is nice it has often been on the weekend. Dad and Kaden explored the ravine one day when I was in Las Vegas so I was excited to join them on this weekend's romp. I thought it was funny that Kaden and Daddy were wearing the inverse of each others shorts! And as always...we made time for the swings!

Baby Babble - May 24, 2008
Listen to Kaden call the colour commentary on our drive up to Port Moody.

Self-Stacking - May 22, 2008
Kaden loves to knock down anything we build for him. Now he's part of the construction squad himself. He has been getting quite good at stacking his blocks. However, at the first sign of trouble Kaden doesn't try to regroup he just takes the whole thing down. If it's not perfect to start why bother trying to fix it, I guess! He has also started putting his duplo blocks (mega lego pieces) together as well.

Nothing lasts forever. Check out his new 'angry' face.
 

What's that you say? - May 22, 2008
Kaden continues to grow his sound and sign vocabulary. Of late he has perfected the signs for "outside", "swings" and "slide". And you can bet that he makes these signs numerous times throughout the day!

Repopulating...dandelions that is. - May 22, 2008
We have no fence around our patio and Kaden now knows it! Given the chance, Kaden will make a break for the stairs and then keep going. On today's adventure we head across the path to play with dandelions. Like trying to blow bubbles in the pool, Kaden will not exhale on command, but he's just as happy to pick apart the dandelions as he is to watch me blow the seeds away. He will often bring it to his mouth trying to see if you'll believe he will blow on it...but he's more curious for how they taste.

What goes up must come down. - May 15 and 21, 2008
Kaden loves to look out the window from the couch and to climb the stairs. We have been teaching Kaden how to come down from both "feet first". He picked it up so quickly!

How did he do that? - May 15, 2008
Take a look at this photo and tell me if you think something looks out of place. That's right, Kaden and his highchair are clear across the kitchen (he usually tucks in nicely between the table and the fish tank). He managed to maneuver himself by sheer excitement (kicking his legs and waving his arms)...and the breaks are even on!

Patio fun. - May 15, 2008
I would have thought that the concrete would have been hard on his knees, but other than having bruises to show for his adventures, Kaden is happy as a clam to get outside. He has fun crawling around on the patio, kneeling his car around, and pushing his luck with the plants! Kaden was fascinated by the broom when I brought it out to sweep up outside. Maybe this is a sign of things to come?!? Isn't that what kids are for - chores? He hasn't quite got the concept of how to sweep, but at least he's not running the other way crying as he does with the vacuum!

He's on the go...whether by car or by knees...
 

Drawers...the early days... - May 14, 2008
Kaden has only recently discovered he can open drawers. I have watched many a friend's child open and empty many a drawer thinking I was maybe in the clear. Who was I kidding??? Craig and I recently bought kid-proofing dongles for the drawers, but we had yet to need to install them. Well...these early days involved Kaden's discovery of the drawers beside the computer in the basement. He was quite fascinated with being able to open them. And he listened to my guidance for how to close them without pinching his fingers - "push on the front". Not bad, I thought. Since then, Kaden has discovered that things come out of the drawers! So...after carefully removing a pocket knife, some scissors and a packet of sewing needles we let Kaden have at them! He will occasionally find pleasure in putting things back in the drawer, but not quite the way he found them. In the kitchen, Kaden has also started experimenting with cupboard doors and the bottom drawer, which holds the key to wax paper and ziplock bags! In the living room, Kaden has found the door to unleash all the napkins, placemats and napkin rings. This door resides next to the liquor cabinet...we best get those dongles working soon. Upstairs, Kaden has figured out how to empty my pajama drawer and is now thoroughly enjoying individually removing each diaper from his change table. Such fun!

Aquarium Adventure - May 10, 2008
The aquarium is awesome. We are very lucky to have it in our city. Kaden has been able to experience the aquarium more now that he is a little more mobile and has a better understanding of the world around him. Soon he'll be leading us on the tour! We spent the morning with our friends Mike, Karla and Graeme enjoying the exhibits at the aquarium and then treating the boys to their lunch in front of the beluga tank. Rough life. Kaden was so tired after our morning outing that he fell asleep in the car before we even got out of the park! Fun times.

Baby Bum - May  9, 2008
Seriously - no kid can survive childhood with pictures in the bath. Kaden is a splashing machine. Craig often holds a towel up to protect himself, but the floor inevitably gets washed every night! A change from earlier bathtimes is that Kaden is now mobile. He spins and crawls and kneels and of course, tries to stand (standing however, unfortunately for him, is not allowed in the tub).

Craig always says Kaden is his favourite toy. Check out this "game"...Kaden even tries to play along...although I'm not sure why ;]
 

Soap is apparently really that funny.
 

Cross-legged-ness - May 9, 2008
On our way to my office in the morning, Kaden takes the ride in stride munching on goldfish crackers. He cracks me up. Check out those little crossed legs. He can often be seen doing this. It's especially cute when he hands you a book to read then settles himself comfortably on the floor (legs crossed) to listen to the story.

Musical signs - May 7, 2008
Kaden hasn't said any full words yet, but his sound vocabulary continues to grow, and he is consistently making the same sound or using the same consonant for several things ("baa" for sheep, "maa" for cow, panting like a dog, growling like a lion, "neh" for horse, "a da" for all done, "mah" for more, "ff ff" for fish, "fah" for fan, "sss" for spider, "tuh" for truck...you get the picture)! His sign language vocabulary is growing as well. Check out a few new ones from his music repertoire...

Kaden loves guitar. He strums in anticipation while we read one of his favourite Dr. Seuss books (..."Hands play banjos, strum, strum, strum"...).
He will also stand at the top of the stairs and strum to let us know he wants to go down and play dad's guitar.
Kaden and I had started a music class where the instructor plays guitar. He loved it. Unfortunately our little monkey
has made the switch to one afternoon nap, which no longer coincides with the class. Next time.
 

Kaden has also discovered the sign for "song" as well as creating one for the itsy bitsy spider. Now, however, whenever he wants us to sing he skips the sign for song and just makes the sign for the itsy bitsy spider. He's delighted when we respond appropriately so he makes the sign at least a hundred times a day!
 

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck? - May 6, 2008
Another lovely evening takes the Calvert Clan out for a walk and some playtime at the park. Kaden loves the woodchips beneath the playground. He's content to pick up handfuls from beside him and drop them in his lap. Repeat. He can usually be trusted, but don't turn your back, in an instant he will give you "the look" and then try to pop one in his mouth!

Fascinating.
 

If you thought going down the little slide by our house on his own was impressive, check this out!
 

Our monkey can climb - May 1, 2008
Kaden discovers that the book basket makes an excellent stepping stool. He knows my purse is the portal to the wallet and keys - two things that make him shriek with delight.