The Further Adventures of Kai, Future Circus Performer Extraordinaire!

My morning started of about 4:30 with Kaiden crying in his sleep thus waking up his lightly sleeping sister. Husband and I both tried bringing them into our bed in hopes of a few more hours of sleep, but alas it was not to be.

Cheerio’s and milk and a good cartoon were the order of their day. Breakfast went as well as could be expected given the hour and the obvious absence of their brother. My kids just don't do well without their usual Dora, Blue and Backyardigans on the television!

Because Kian had been running quite a fever the night before, we let him sleep late. Late turned out to be nearly 10:00 a.m. which is normally everybody’s nap-time. I gave him his little breakfast on his “Sick” schedule and let the others play in the play-yard until they couldn't stay awake or pleasant any longer. Once the hair pulling and fighting started, it would be nap time for babies!

Playtime turned out to be the root of baby troubles for the morning. Just as I was giving Kian his second handful of Cheerio’s for the morning, I heard a loud clunk as Vivie began her wail of distress.

As it would turn out, Kaiden had decided that he had wanted to re-arrange their playthings and had turned their leap-frog play table right-side up and placed it on top of the very spot where his sister was sitting.

To avoid the on-coming table, Vivie had hit the floor quite literally and was lying on the floor completely when I moved the table to free her. I suppose that was their way of saying, “It’s time for our nap, please!”

I went ahead and put the two of them down for their naps, and left Kian to play by himself in the play-yard. Really, that is one of their favorite treats (having their toys all to themselves without any sibling to steal them away.) Besides, at the time, the play-yard would be a LOT safer for him!

After about an hour, I went ahead and put Kian down for his little nap. When we walked into the nursery, Kai was in hysterics (he cries so hard and opens his mouth so wide that literally no sound comes out so he cannot be heard when this happens.)

Upon further inspection, I noticed that Kai had managed to get his leg stuck in between the baby bed slats at about knee level for him, only he was lying down at this point and squirming around which had made his leg get stuck up to his thigh.

Yes, this happens often at my house for some reason-but only with Vivie and Kai, never Kian. To get Kai free, I had to call in the reserve. Luckily his big brother has learned to expect ANYTHING from his siblings. I picked up Kai (who was clutching his Teddy the entire time) while Bregon slowly worked his leg free from the other side of the bed.

I had to lie on the bed holding him for about thirty minutes before he calmed down completely. Then, once he was calm and had his wit about him, he very calmly held up his Teddy, and proceeded to thank him for sticking by him while he was stuck (or at least that’s what it sounded like he said!)

Later, I was innocently talking on the phone to sister; when the babies decided that they needed more attention, as most children are want to do! Kai had taken to practicing his circus acts, again.

First, he decided to practice his tight-rope walking skills and had climbed up on top of the play-yard gate to try and walk on the top of the rail. He was doing a fabulous job at this, too. My eldest figured out that he was trying to reach his “Thinking Chair” so he got it down for him. That amused and occupied him for all of about five minutes. After-all, one can only sit still and ponder the wonders of being a baby for so long!

After Bregon retired to the safety of his very baby-free room, I heard Kai giggling again, which is the sign that he is defiantly up to something. I discovered him standing on the saddle portion of his “Bounce and Spin Zebra,” holding onto the rail of the play-yard.

As if that wasn’t enough to make my heart skip a beat or two, the reason he was doing this was soon revealed. The baby appeared to have decided that if he could sit on the horsie and bounce up and down and spin and it was fun, then it must be even more fun to STAND on the horsie and bounce and spin around. Thankfully, he had yet to try letting go of the play-yard wall and get to the, “Look Ma, no hands!” portion of his game, which seemed imminent.

I do not know what I am going to do with him. He finds more ways to use his seemingly age-appropriate toys to do dangerous feats that would frighten and amaze any circus crowd than most adult performers. I am dreading what he is going to figure out to do with the playground equipment!

Later on, he when he decided to show off his new tight-rope skills for his Daddy, he would turn around and demurely ask, “What’s this?” Daddy replied, “The exercise machine” as if this were the most natural process in the world.

As if having pleasant dinner conversation about the weather, Kai replied, “Really?” All the while he was working his way up the side of the play-yard, reaching out to grab the handles of the newly identified machine so that he could pull himself up further to check it all out. Daddy scooped him up and removed him from the play-yard wall (alleged baby containment facility-just not for MY baby!)

Husband tried diverting Kai’s attention with a nice cartoon. For some reason or another, Kai started singing along with what was on the television. My husband nearly dropped him when he started dancing and saying, “Yodel-lei-he-dude!” Yes, we now have discovered that Kai can yodel!

For Kai, it had been a very long, very full day. I suppose that is why he managed to sleep through the entire night without waking up for a midnight snack or moral support. Is it bad to shudder at the thought of what tomorrow may bring?