Luke: 10 Months!

Luke, you are 10 months old - so, so big! I can't believe I am planning your 1st birthday party and scheduling 1 year pictures. I will soon be a mom to a TODDLER. Crazy! You have grown up so much in the past month, and it's crazy to think what you'll be doing by the time you turn 1 in two very short months.

You've been to the doctor more times than I care to count this past month. First it was for a virus, then it was for an ear infection, then it was because you weren't getting better, then we rounded out the month with a very mild case of hand foot and mouth. You're still right at 25 pounds, but you're getting taller and leaner each day. I'm hoping we can stay out of the doctor's office until your one-year checkup, but it's hard since you're around kiddos all day every day. You're bound to catch anything and everything it seems. On top of all that, your 2 upper front teeth are coming in.

This month, you started drinking your milk out of a sippy cup during the day. We still do bottles in the morning and at night, but at school, you are the sippy cup champ. I anticipate that you will be off bottles entirely by July. You're back to eating table foods almost exclusively, and you've been spitting out your baby food lately. That's fine by Mama and Daddy; those organic food pouches can get expensive. Little raise coming our way!

You still go to bed anytime between 7 and 7:45pm, depending on how hard you've played that day. You take a 2 hour nap at school after lunch and then a short nap on the way home in the car. If you don't get that 20 minutes around 5, you're not all that much fun to be around after 6pm. But Mama still loves you!

You started regularly brushing your teeth this month, and you surprised us both when you took to it like a champ. You absolutely love your toothbrush and will go into the bathroom, grab it, and walk around the house with it. Half the time, you have it in your mouth long after the actual brushing is over. While searching for that toothbrush, you also discovered the fun that is toilet paper. I snapped a few pictures when you didn't think I was looking, before snatching you up and digging it all out of your mouth!

 

 

A week or so ago, you started WALKING!!! Not just one or 2 steps - you can walk across a room! It's awesome and crazy and a little scary for me - I think you are just too young to be mobile like that! But I am so proud of you and your advances!  Daddy and I laugh because you want to run and will start to take off and lose your balance and it doesn't phase you at all. You're so determined to get where you want to go. It won't be long, bud! I'm already pulling out my hair trying to keep up with you, keep you out of things, and keep you safe. And I keep reminding myself that it's just the beginning!

You are still at 10 seconds under the water at swim lessons, but lately you've decided you've had enough of the holding your breath thing. You do not like it one bit. You're fine above the water and holding onto Mommy, but as soon as your teacher tries to take you, cue the meltdown. Daddy even dared getting in with you last week, and you would not have it. You cried the entire time and we ended up leaving early. I hope you were just having a bad day and not starting to hate the water.

This past month, we did lots of fun things! Your daddy had to go out of town a few times this month, and you were so fascinated by his luggage. He was nice enough to take you for a ride on the suitcase before leaving for the airport. You loved it - you had your straw (you LOVE straws) in one hand and a smile on your face and you were ready to take off. Nana-Banana came to visit one weekend while Daddy was out of town, and we did lots of shopping for your birthday party. You decided that it would be a good time to get sick again. I think it was so that you could get lots of snuggles from her in the early morning hours. It's a good thing Nana was here; this Mama couldn't have done it all by herself!

 A couple of weekends ago, we went to Austin for your cousin Makenna's 3rd birthday party. You had lots of fun at the park swinging and playing and eating your cheerios while watching all the big kids run. You got to stay at Grandma's house and play with the doggie, which you loved. You chased Bonnie around the house for hours and just laughed and laughed when she would lick you. When you weren't chasing the dog, you were chasing the girls while they went from room to room. You played so hard that you were out at 6:30pm.

On the way back to Dallas, we stopped to eat lunch with Maw and Paw and the Pyles. You got passed all around and got lots of hugs and kisses. You giggled and laughed and showed off and were very flirty (and a little restless)! I think you look so much like your great grandfather!

Last weekend, we went to Blake and Melissa's house for a crawfish boil and you were so excited to be there. We tried to put you to sleep in their room, but you would not have that. You wanted to be the life of the party and were so excited to be up way past your bedtime. You even found some ladies to flirt with - your favorite thing!

We have lots of fun adventures in store for the summertime, and I know these next few months are going to fly by. I adore you, sweet boy, and love every second of being your Mama. I am so proud of you and your adventurous spirit, and I will treasure these memories forever. You are just the best little boy, and you are my pride and joy. Happy 10 months, kiddo.

To My Son on Mother's Day

My sweet kiddo, today is my first Mother's Day. It's such a special day for me - last year on this day, I was celebrating your upcoming birth with such anticipation, curiosity of who you would be and what you would like and a little bit of anxiety over the huge responsibility I would have in the upcoming months and years. Little did I know how blessed I would be and how special this day would be for me!

Today, I am celebrating so many things. The past 9 1/2 months have been some of the most challenging, crazy and fun times of my life. You are such a spirited, curious, smart, funny and joyful little boy. I thank God every day that he gave me you. Each day is a little better than the last and I love being your mom with every thing in me.

One of my favorite things about being your mom is that you have given me better insight and appreciation into how our much our Father loves us. As much as I love you, He loves me and you so many times more. As much as I want to protect you and do what's best for you, He wants that for you more than I can fathom. When I see you hurting or in pain and I want to do everything I can to make it better, He does that for us. When I tell you no because I know what's best for you and will keep you out of trouble and out of harm's way, I see the parallels there with Christ and how when he tells us no, He knows what's best, even if I don't!

Last night as I rocked you to sleep in the pitch black silence, I talked to Jesus for a long time just thanking Him for you and your precious life. I asked him to help guide me along this path; I asked him to bless you and keep you in the palm of His hand and protect you. I asked him to keep you healthy and guide you along this crazy path we call life. I asked him to keep you safe and finally, I asked him to help me raise you the way He wants me to and that He would help me teach you everything you need to know to be a godly young man. In those silent moments as I stroked your hair and kissed your forehead, I have never been so thankful for anything in my life.

One of the best gifts you have given me as your mom is your unconditional love and need for me. My favorite time of the day is when I pick you up from school and the moment you see me, you get a huge grin on your face and immediately come straight for me and wrap your little hands around my neck. You don't want to let go and the smile doesn't disappear for quite some time. I love when you call out for Ma-ma-ma and when you follow me from room to room just to be near me. I love when we cuddle and when I tickle you and you giggle louder for me than for anyone else. I love that I am your favorite person in the world (other than Daddy, of course).

God willing, as the years pass and we celebrate Mother's Day each year, I want you to remember that I am honored to be your mom and will celebrate your life each day with great thankfulness to our God. I will constantly work to be the best mom to you that I can be and I will pray for you constantly. I love you more than words can describe, Luke. You are my sweet blessing from above!