Catching Up with Kai and Keila

So, what's an Auntie to do when she's missing her favorite nephew in the world?!? She looks at old photos and old videos, and she feels much better.  I can't wait to see him when he arrives to NYC on Feb. 15th!

Here's one of my favorite old videos — he didn't even have teeth yet! I love his laugh.  This was taken in September 2008 in LA, in his carseat, in my parents' car — that would make Kai about 10 months old.  That's my dad in the background, responding to Kai's cute laugh — "KAI". Did you also notice his cute little hiccup in the video — see if you can find it. (YES, I am sprung off of my little nephew.)

That's right, Kai took his FIRST steps as an INDEPENDENT LITTLE MAN on Wed. Jan. 21!!! WOOHOO!!!! But the "little rascal", as we like to call him, in true Sagittarian form, learned to walk when HE felt he was ready. Whenever any of us tried to stand him up for "walking practice", he resisted.  Well, he did it when he felt like doing it! He definitely made it known when he was ready and wanted to learn.  Over Christmas in LA, Kai would take my hand, and we would walk around for HOURS…yes, literally hours.  But I didn't mind.  We also went up and down the stairs about a million times!  When Kai makes up his mind, there's no stopping him! He's so independent.

**ACTUAL VIDEO OF HIS FIRST STEPS COMING SOON!!! (Can you believe it, Cyn captured it on video!?! I'm still in shock!)

Kai practicing to walk during Christmas-time. He loves to grab a broom
or dustpan in the other hand! He always has to pick up something along the way
during our walks.

Oh Kai Kai! You are too much.  Lolo, the perpetual
cleaning freak, loves when Kai picks up the cleaning products.
He always says "Thanks for helping me clean, Kai. You're so hard-working."



Going up and down the stairs about a million times!

Of course, the day I leave to go back to NYC, the weather in LA had to be sunny and gorgeous.  It had been rainy and cold the days before.  But don't let the looks fool you, the pool is FREEEEZING COLD. Kai did not care at all.  We're so happy he's not afraid of the water.  He kept wanting to go in deeper into the pool — and we would've taken him in but couldn't handle the cold! Oh Kai, when it gets warmer ok?

Elissa, Sarah, Eugenia, and Kyong came over for a day of fun in the sun!

Kai and Sarah had their feets dipped in the FREEZING cold water!

 And they were acting like it was warm.  We had a little photo shoot by the pool.

 

                    So cute!                                                      Buddies for life.

On my last night in LA, the whole fam went to the Grove — where else can you get outdoor shopping, and fake snow with Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" playing in the background? You gotta love LA!

 
Casasolas at The Grove

      Kai ordering us a cheesecake from                Kai is so nosy! He always has to
              Cheesecake Factory.                                see who's sitting next to us.

Lolo gave Kai a view of who's sitting next to us — noone!
It was just a counter.  🙂

    White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle                   Can you see the fake snow?
             cheesecake. Yum yum.                                      Kai loved it.
               Good choice, Kai.

Thanks beautiful Anna for capturing all the moments.
(Surprisingly, my mom took this one!)

While in LA during Christmas-time, we all went to Chucky Cheese! It was Kai's first time there — we had wanted to take him for his 1st birthday in NYC, but he was sick. He absolutely loved it — loved the games, when Chucky sings, he loved it all.  We also got to meet up with two of our closest friends Renee and Lea, and their little ones, Christopher and Nicole. 

Kai was mesmerized by Chucky and his singing

    Kai tried to get in there with Chucky                        He loved the games.
               and perform with him!

        Check out Kai's new wheels.                     Another fun car ride with Chucky

      Kai's new buddy, Stuart Little                      Why do kids love phones so much!?
                                                                        Christopher on the phone, and Kai
                                                                           trying to get in on the action.

      Kai and Nicole on their first date.                      Beautiful Lea and Nicole
             I love Nicole's smile!

We were there for 3 hours and were so pooped!
It got COLD in LA!

Merry Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at our Uncle Ponso's house in LA, which was formerly our Lola's house — so many memories we had in that house.  I wish that Lola was there to celebrate with us.  I don't think I've been there in 10 years.  It was an amazing time with family — just like the old days.

Kai meeting some cousins for the first time – he
woke up from a long nap!

                 He's finally up!                           Cheers! I remember there was a day we
                                                                  couldn't drink with the Titas/Titos in the
                                                                   room, but we're all so old now, it's fine!

                                                                   

              We love Filipino food!                       Beautiful sisters – Crystal and Anna

Just a few of the girl cousins — we have about 60+ first cousins!

Kai's at that stage where he's asserting his independence.  You go get that milk, Kai!