Luke: 23 Months!

Lukey! I can't believe in 30 days, I'll be writing a blog entry about how you are 2 years old! Just yesterday, I was writing about how many bottles you drank and how many hours you slept, and now I'm writing about all the fun things you do and say and how much you make us laugh every day. 

It's insane to think about how quickly you are growing up.

Every time I turn around, you've grown another inch. You still weigh about 33 pounds, but you are solid. We were eating the other day and the waitress asked if you were 3 or 4. Gone are the days of looking like a baby - you are a growing kid now. It's ok to stay little, my sweet son. 

You're speaking sentences now and repeating everything we say. Just tonight, you kept telling me that daddy had gone golfing with his friends. Come again? We've been brain-questing, reading 100 Words over and over, and letting you "read" to us. I think your favorite words are still milky (milk),  nack (snack), pool, golf and outside. You are a kid who knows what you want and will speak up for it! 

 

You've been so good about sleeping in your toddler bed, but when you wake up, you're up. You don't want to sit in bed or play in your room. Usually we lock you in for your own safety, but when we leave the door unlocked, we can hear your little feet running down the hall, the door opens, and we hear your sweet little voice say "Hi! Milky!". This weekend we heard those feet at 3:30am. Needless to say, that's not normal and we all needed long naps the next day. 

 

You've really started vocalizing how much you love church and Jesus. We tell you Bible stories, we talk about Jesus, you and Daddy pray every night together and we love to sing songs about Jesus. A couple of Sundays ago, we told you it was time to leave for church and you just ran off and disappeared. A few seconds later, you ran into the kitchen with a bible from my nightstand. It makes me so happy that you are loving the Bible and your Savior at such an early age! 

It's summertime around here! After school, we go to the pool, we play outside, get ice cream and sometimes, we do all three. You started Advanced Waterbabies this month, which means you are in the pool all by yourself now! I don't get in the water with you anymore, and while I think you are being very brave, I know this summer's lessons are a big transition. As much as you love swimming and going under and jumping off the side, you do not like the teachers in the purple shirts and would much rather just go to the pool with your mommy and daddy. 

We'll get there though - you're doing great! 

This month, as always, was packed full of barbeques, road trips, birthday parties and the like.

On Memorial Day weekend, we went to Nana and Papa's new house in Conroe. We swam, played, went to Kyle's birthday party and had a great time. We came back around nap time Sunday and then woke up early Monday to go to the Club to celebrate the holiday with our friends. You played and swam and ate ice cream and popsicles and had the best time. 

The next weekend, we drove to Austin to watch your Aunt Lily graduate from high school. We got to stay a night with your Grandma and Pappy, play with Bonnie and spend time with them. Then we met up with your cousins, great grandparents, Grandpa and Lily for dinner before graduation. You sat so still during the graduation and had a great time watching the band and looking for Lily on the field. Once it got to be around 8:30, I took you to the car to go to sleep and Daddy stayed to watch the rest. I drove through to get you milk and you asked for fries; when I turned around to see how you were enjoying them, you had passed out with your hands in the bag. I couldn't stop laughing - you must have been exhausted! The next day, we went to Marquis' 30th birthday. You played, ate smores and chased their puppy. It was so much fun! 

 

Earlier in June, we went to Rachel McConnell's birthday party at the club pool and you had so much fun swimming with your friends and eating cupcakes. It was the cutest party and Rachel is such a sweet friend of yours. The rest of the weekend, we got to relax, and just spend time as a family. It was a wonderful weekend!

Last weekend, Nana and Papa came up for the weekend. We golfed, went swimming at the Club, swam in the backyard, went out to eat, and shopped a little. You had so much fun and have been talking about going to their house at the end of the month.

This coming month will be busy and bittersweet. We are prepping for a big 2nd birthday celebration, which we are so excited about, but we aren't ready for you to be a big kid just yet. I love, love, love my sweet baby boy who says "hold you, mommy!" and cuddles with me while we sing "rock baby", and giggles when I walk into the room and gives me huge kisses when I ask. I can't wait to see what the coming months hold, but I wish time would take it's sweet time. I want to savor and cherish every single moment with you, my sweet, sweet boy. Your daddy and I are thrilled God chose US to be your parents. We could not have asked for a better little boy! 

We love you thisssssssssssss much, buddy!

Luke: 22 Months!

Luke - I can't believe another month has flown by. Parenting you is such a blessing and so much fun; you are quite the kid and I am so grateful I get to raise you. Plans for your two year birthday party are in full swing and it's so bittersweet - you aren't a baby anymore! You are the most precocious, sensitive, funny, adventurous, independent little kid and we love every single trait that God packed into your little body. 

You are growing, growing, growing! You weigh a little over 33 pounds right now and seem taller each day. No official stats this month - we stayed illness free and didn't go to the doctor once. Hallelujah! You are getting skinnier as you get taller and you'll even flex your muscles for us now. It's just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

You've gotten to the sponge stage. You listen and repeat every. single. thing. you hear. You sing songs in the car, you request things, you say words we didn't know you'd ever heard and you're becoming quite the conversationalist. Your first sentence ever was "Aunt Amber has a puppy" and your daddy and I just looked at each other like astonished. Since that sentence, you've been talking up a storm, formulating sentences and babbling on and on. You're definitely not an introvert. 

 

You're loving your "big boy bed" and playing in your room. I've caught you a couple times not napping - instead, you'll pile all your stuffed animals onto your bed, take about 100 books from the bookshelf and "read" to yourself. You like to watch movies in bed, eat your snacks in bed and play in bed. When we put you to sleep at night, you request "bed" and then demand that we "sit" while you nod off. 

Our afternoons have been packed full of trips to the park, swimming in the backyard and playing outside. You've even gotten in the pool with you clothes on once or twice. We can't keep you away. We've been back at swim school regularly and you absolutely love it. You laugh, splash, sing the songs, blow bubbles and jump right in - for an M&M of course. This weekend you went under in our pool and demanded an M&M for your skills. Last weekend, you fell in, turned around and swam back to the steps. We are so thankful that Emler has taught you that survival skill! 

 

We've had lots of play dates this month. We spend a lot of time at the country club running around on the putting green. We've gone to friends' houses, out to eat, out for ice cream, to the park and even to the zoo. You are so social and love being around other kiddos, so you are in your element on our adventures. 

True to our family's tradition, we crammed this month full of activities. We had very little down time, but that's the way we like it. You thrive on being out of the house, running around and being around people. You get bored at home and we have to get out and go. 

 

Last month, right after you turned 21 months, we drove down to Austin for the Dorsey Crawfish Boil. You had a blast running around, going down the slide, playing with your cousins, eating large amounts of watermelon and helping Uncle Mark with the crawfish. You made it out to Grandma and Pappy's house for a few hours to play on the land, help Pappy in his garden and chase Bonnie. 

The next weekend, we had our Sunday School picnic. You had a blast playing on the playground, chasing the ducks, eating cheetos, and playing with your friends. We had to pry you off the rock wall to make it home for nap time. We are so grateful for our good friends and our wonderful church, where you are growing up with families who love you and are invested in your faith and love for the Lord. 

 

In early May, we went to your friend Callen's house for a Cinco de Mayo party. You and Callen ran wild in their backyard. It was a blast! After that, we went to the Morris' house to celebrate Leland's birthday. Once again, you ran wild outside - playing tee-ball, swinging, driving cars. On Sunday, we went to volunteer with Acts 1:8 day at church. Your teachers were there making balloon animals and they loved seeing you - you played with your friends and wore Daddy out knocking down the cans at his game station. 

On Mother's Day weekend, Nana, Papa and Maddie Claire came to visit. You and MC swam, colored, played, watched movies and wore this mama out! We went to church and out for brunch, and then we came home to get ready for our 1st Annual Mother's Day Crawfish Boil. We had 4 families and 6 kids and it was absolute chaos. You were unsure about all the kids playing with your toys, but it was so fun and I can't wait to do it again.

Last weekend, we went to the zoo on Friday with Kaki and Trevor. It was so fun! You all got to feed the giraffes and ride the carousel and left tired and happy. The rest of the weekend was full of resting and swimming - a much needed break from our crazy schedule! 

Buddy- I am so thankful for these days and months that I get to watch you grow and change. You have made each day infinitely more fun and I thank God each and every day for giving you to me. You are the BEST little boy. I love you thisssssss much!