First Professional Haircut

Even though we already had to start cutting his hair when he was 6 months old, Kai didn't have his first professional haircut until this morning. His hair was getting pretty long, and cutting it was getting more difficult each time: Kai just doesn't like to sit still. Hoping to prevent a crying fit and a half-done haircut we went to the only haircutter in our area that is specialized in cutting children's hair: Coiffure Magique in Gatineau.

For the haircut Kai was allowed to sit in a little red car, while watching a special children's video about animals (he loves animals). To my big surpsise, he didn't even peep when the hairdresser started to cut his hair: He was truly fascinated by the car and the tv and didn't want to leave when he was done. Actually, the only time he cried was when he had to get out of the car so that we could go home. Here are some pictures:

Combing his hair:



Watching tv (with his blank tv-stare)



"Don't stand in front of the tv please..."



"Look at me!"



All done!



Kai even received a certificate:

Independence

Kai's seems to become more independent every day. He understands most things we say and is usually happy to help do something when we ask. He also has a mind of his own and loves to organize his toys (and our things too), or push them around in his toy-stroller. When he wants something he will try to get or do it himself first and only if this doesn't work out he will ask for our help. Well, ask..........sometimes he will get a little temper tantrum as is quite normal for his age, but those are usually solved quickly.

In the past week Kai has started daycare.So far he has been there for one morning and two full days and it is going really well. We did expect that he would like it eventually, but we never would have thought that he would LOVE it from the start. Granted, he still doesn't like it when I leave and will cling to me and cry, but according to his teachers that only lasts a minute or two and at pick-up time he is always happy and relaxed. He does seem to be a bit worried that I will leave again, but he wants to show me all the toys and isn't too eager to leave the daycare center. We can't blame him: there are a lot of nice toys, lots of kids his age and his teachers are very sweet. It is amazing how much he has already learned in this first week. Appearantly he has said his first French word (bouche), and spending so much time alone in an English-speaking environment doesn't seem to be a problem for him. To improve communication his teachers do have a list of the Dutch words Kai uses a lot, but when they use those words he stops what he is doing and looks very surprised. We'll see if he will start using more English at home now. For now it's still just "hi" and "bye bye". Another very cute thing that he has learned at daycare is to blow a kiss. Today while saying goodbye to his teachers he was smiling, waving and blowing kisses non-stop!

When it comes to food Kai is becoming more and more independent too. He will ask for certain foods, or food in general, when he is hungry or just feels like snack. And when he asks for it we have to move quickly, or he will very loudly let us know that he wants it NOW!! He prefers to use his own spoon and fork when he eats and we let him do this whenever possible. Things can get messy, but hey, what can you do?

Here are some pictures of Kai eating his paste with tomato-sauce (his favourite!)