22 months.

Today Kale turned 22 months! Kris went to a soccer game with his parents and brother tonight and so Kale and I got to celebrate with a special date for just the two of us. We celebrated by eating this: 

What Kale loves: 

• Being independent. Kale has definitely hit the stage where he wants to do everything himself. We've always encouraged him to do things we know he can do, but have been surprised at just how independent he is. For the most part, it's awesome. When he wants more juice, he goes to the fridge, takes out his juice, pours it into a cup (sometimes with a little extra help) and puts the juice back in the fridge. Other times it's scary. Like how he waits until I'm in the shower before he climbs up on the toilet like a monkey to have a poop. When I poke my head out to see if he wants help, it's all "no! mama shower! KK poop!" And sometimes it's just painful. Like when I have to sit and watch him try and do his coat zipper up for 15 minutes in the morning before he decides "help please?"
• Colouring. This is Kale's absolute favourite thing to do these days. I have drawn more pictures of balloons and snowmen (my specialties) than I ever thought I would in a lifetime. He also asks me to draw pictures of his classmate Isla and pictures of the cat. These are not my specialties, but I suppose I've improved with practice. Lots and lots of practice. 

 What Kale hates: 

• Washing his hair. When we ask Kale if he wants to take a bath, he's hesitant. He stops what he's doing, gives us a serious look, puts his hands on his head and says "no hair?" If we say "no hair" then he runs for the tub. If we say "it's been two weeks dude - you need to wash that mop" he runs to hide. 
• Listening. When Kale doesn't want to listen, he slips into a different world and nothing we say or do can get his attention. I was hoping this was a special trick he reserved for home, but when I picked him up at school the other day his daily note from his teachers said that "Kale had to be reminded to use his listening ears." Trouble.
• Staying still. I mean, what toddler enjoys staying still, right? But it's become a bit of an issue at dinnertime. He refuses to sit in his chair for more than 2 minutes and spends the rest of the meal trying to climb up on the table. He's a complete animal (without any listening ears).  

Things to celebrate/big events/milestones: 

• Toilet training. Kale has been in underwear for over a month now, so I guess it's safe to say that he's toilet trained. He has the odd accident (maybe one every few days), but I'd rather change a pair of wet undies than a dirty diaper. Also, Kale never has a poop accident. In fact, I could put pooping on the toilet on the list of things he loves. 
• Happy Birthday Party. We were super lucky this month and got to help our little friend Bresho celebrate his third birthday. Kale spent most of the time consuming cheese sandwiches and chasing balloons with his new buddy Seba. Kale LOVED the birthday candles and for days after would say "Happy Birthday! Cake! Candles hot! Look eyes!"

 According to Kale: 

• KK. This is what Kale calls himself these days. 
• Bless you. It's funny when he says something we know he's learned at school. Kris and I never say 'bless you,' but the other day I sneezed at that's exactly what Kale told me. 
• Help please & thank you. Mr. manners. 
• Look eyes. Again, he's picked this up at school. When we tell Kale not to touch something or to be careful, he turns all serious, points to his eyes and says "KK look eyes." 
• Seepy song? Shhhhh... Kale asks me to sing the "seepy song" every night and then three verses in he gives me a harsh "shhhhh" complete with finger pressed against his lips. "No seepy song, mama. No singing." 
• Nana home. Cook OJ. Every afternoon when Kale's nana leaves, he tells her to to go home and cook for OJ (his grandfather). Before we go to bed we talk about his day and he always remembers that "Nana home. Cook OJ."

 Some of my favourite pictures from the past month: