Luke: 15 Months!

Luke! It feels like yesterday I was writing the 14 month post. Time needs to slow down! You are at such a fun age these days and you keep us constantly laughing. We are amazed at how smart you are, how funny you are and how sweet you are. You are turning into quite the little boy, full of personality! 

We had your ENT checkup this past month. We were there quite a long time because we had to do your audiology tests and see the doctor. Mommy forgot to bring your bag of toys into the waiting room, so you were running around and bouncing off the walls. You also scaled the couch to watch the construction outside - I was that mom who took a picture before making you get down. All was perfect with your hearing and tubes, and we even got medicine to get your bad, bad allergies under control. Praise God! We have your 15 month appointment next week, so we'll have full stats then.

You are getting really into your activities these days. You love Sunday School, Wednesday night church, and swim lessons, finally (they all give you food or candy, go figure!). The teachers in your Sunday school class are wonderful, and they tell us every Sunday that you are always so happy and you LOVE to climb. Ms. Deb even said that you've been climbing at school too. You have no fear. One of my favorite days of the week is Wednesday, when I pick you up early from school and take you to dinner just the 2 of us. Most of the time, we go to the grill at the club because no one is there at 4:30pm, and we just "talk" and play and color and it's our special time. After church when I pick you up, you're usually tired and quite cuddly and it's so sweet.

After school these days, we come home and you eat an early dinner, get a bath, and then you and I play and cook mommy and daddy's dinner and watch Wheel of Fortune. You love Wheel and are so enthralled by the wheel. You get so into it and clap when they solve. When we aren't driving dump trucks in circles around the house, you are usually on your bike, singing and climbing - you love to stand on the seat and dance. When daddy gets home from work, we eat dinner as a family (you have an after dinner snack) and you get a good hour or so of playtime before daddy tucks you in.

You don't have a lot of new words this month, but you say "dis dis" and point to the things you want. You also say " I wub wu" when we say "I love you" to you. You still say mama and daddy and vroom vroom and bye-bye and hi and "chess" (yes), no no, and a handful of other words. Your favorite word is PopPop, which is popcorn. You usually go to the pantry grab a bag, bring it to me and say "POPPOP POPPOP!" 



This month was so much fun. We love fall and have gotten a few days of cooler weather. You've gotten to see family, hang out with your friends and do so much outdoors. It's so wonderful and it's good for your soul. 

A few weekends ago, Maddie Claire, Aunt Emily, Uncle Adam, Nana and Papa came to visit. It rained and rained and rained, so we stayed inside most of the day. You and MC spent a good part of the morning painting and you both made masterpieces. Maddie Claire loves her "wuuuuke" and she runs around the house yelling your name and trying to give you hugs. The love you two have for each other is so precious and you both just light up when the other is around. 

Earlier this month, we went to the pumpkin patch with Uncle Brad, Aunt Am and Brooks. It was so, so cold, but you were so excited and loved it so much. You rode the train, went on a hayride, ran around the pumpkin patch and jumped in the bounce house. You had your very own Fletcher's corn dog and were in heaven.  

 Other than those couple of events, we've had relaxing weekends filled with football, long naps, church and lots of playtime. It's been really fun to be home, no place to go, spending our days as a family doing whatever we feel like doing.

Buddy- I am convinced God blessed me and your daddy with the BEST little boy in the whole world. You are the sweetest, cutest, kindest, funniest little boy I know and I am so glad I get to be your mama. Every day with you is so much fun and each day is better than the last. I love you, baby, and I'm so glad you are mine!

Luke: 14 Fabulous Months!

Hey sweet boy - we've been so busy that Mommy is a few days late posting about your exciting 14th month. Better late than never, though! This month has been busy, busy, and you have been such a little trooper throughout all of our trips and activities and such. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you! 

No doctor appointments this month. Perhaps we are past that stage? You were healthy all month and, with the exception of teething, fussed very little and felt just great. You've gotten a couple of cuspids and a molar or two are starting to come through, so the drooling and the pain is in full effect. Your new thing is getting on mommy and daddy's scale and weighing yourself. You are a solid 27 pounds. I know you are getting taller because things that were once out of reach are now fair game for you. I'm having to get creative about where to put things. You've even gotten into your Christmas gifts a time or two. Uh oh!

This month, you have taken off running. When you walk, you like to swing your arms and make a vroom vroom sound like a car. You'd rather walk than be held, so we make sure to arrive extra early at church and other places where the hallways are long and there are lots of distractions. On Wednesday nights, we always stop to look at the fishies and play with the bunny next your classroom. You just think you are such big stuff. You moved up at church to the 1 year old class, and you are enjoying all the new big kid toys and getting to have snack time and go to the playground. You are growing up before our eyes!

You've also really taken to your stuffed animals and won't go anywhere without 1 (or 3) in the car. You must have Bevo at all times (except school), especially at night and at naptime. This month, mommy and daddy forgot him a couple places and had to make a special trip to get him so that you could rest easily. You are still really into kitchen utensils and "cooking" and still love your dump trucks and musical instruments. 

You are still a very big eater and never ever turn down food. You have milk at breakfast, lunch and dinner, have 2-3 snacks a day and eat a big lunch and dinner. You don't like breakfast, and if we ask you to eat before 10am, you only want yogurt and/or cheerios. You turned down pancakes the other day, but thanks to your Nana and Papa, wanted lots and lots of bacon. You still are a big fruit and veggie eater, are fickle about meat, and cannot get enough yogurt melts and popcorn ("pop pop"). 

You are so interested in how everything works and how it's made, and you love us to hold you up to the microwave so you can see what's cooking. It's not unusual to find you with your nose pressed up against the over watching rolls bake or lasagna bubble. In the first picture below, you were loving the salmon we made!

You are still doing excellent in school. In the past couple of weeks, you've learned how to say the letter F, the color red and what sound cars make. You bring home art every day and you are in love with your wonderful teachers. You love school and squeal everyday when we pull up. You have lots of friends and you are excelling and we couldn't be happier knowing you are somewhere you love and feel safe. 

This August/September has been crazy packed and you've rolled with all the punches and been such a well-behaved little man. Late last month, we went to Austin for a few days at Barton Creek. You got to swim, go to the Co-Op with mom, walk down the Drag and run around the resort. That Friday night, we took you out to Grandma and Pappy's house to stay since we had a wedding to go to. You played all weekend with the puppy, spent lots of time hanging out with your grandparents and climbing their stairs, and you had a wonderful time. 

 

 

On Labor Day weekend, Nana and Papa came to visit. We got your hair cut, went shopping, played, ate yummy food, went up to the country club and got lots of rest. You and your Papa have such a special bond and you really love when he comes to play.

 The next Saturday, we went to the Szalay's couple shower and took you with us. You have such a good time being around mommy and daddy's college friends and were such a ham. You stayed up as late as you could, but within 30 seconds of us strapping you into your car seat, you were out. We can't wait for Mallory and Daniel's little girl to arrive - I know you two will be great friends! We also got to go jogging and to the park, and of course, we watched lots and lots of football! 

Finally, last weekend, you went to stay with Nana and Papa for 4 whole days by yourself. You were so spoiled and are definitely king of that castle when you are there! You get to play outside, swing, eat whatever you want, get lots and lots of cuddles, see Maddie Claire and the rest of the family, take long naps in the big bed, and just be a crazy little boy with very little rules. I've been told you are well behaved, you mind and you are so sweet. Melts my heart! I hope that continues as you get older! 

This month has flown by, as they all do. You make each day such a joy. You are incredibly special to us, and we love you more with each passing day!

Luke: Entering Your Toddler Years: 13 Months!

Luke, you are no longer my little baby boy... you are such a big boy now full of life and energy. You are entering the toddler years with a bang, and definitely keeping both me and your daddy on our toes! You have the sweetest spirit, and you melt my heart every day!

At your one-year checkup on the 20th, you got 5 shots and the nasty finger prick, but you handled it like a champ. After a few tears and screaming out for mama a time or two, you were all smiles and back to flirting with the nurses. At one year, you were 26 pounds and 12 ounces, 31 inches long and your head was 19 inches round. You are still in the top percentiles, and I think it's funny that you are already half as tall as me. Won't be long until you pass me up! 

This month, you also went to visit the dentist. You had so much fun sitting up in the chair and flirting with the hygienist. While Mommy talked to the dentist about your teeth and the upcoming years, you walked around with her and met all the ladies in the office. They gave you a few toys and a new toothbrush and we were on our way. It was a great first experience, and we love that you love brushing your teeth. 

You are one little ball of energy at all times. You run, jump, climb and get into everything. From the time you wake up to the time your head hits the pillow at night, you are non-stop. You climb onto the television hutch, get into drawers and dump everything out, play in the toilet, open the back doors (we've since put on security locks), and just play and play and play. You love to be outside running and playing, and your favorite toys are your sports balls, dump trucks and a wooden spoon and mixing bowl. 

While you are playing, you babble and scream and giggle and make your presence very known. At school, they have started calling you Tarzan because you climb to the top of the playground playscape and scream out as loud as you can until enough people are watching you, and then you go down the slide, giggling the whole time. You still talk to mama a lot, and you now grab our phones and hold them up to your ear and talk and say hi and bye. You added outside (outs) and up to your vocabulary this month and you say both over and over again until you get your way :)

You've been drinking whole milk for a month now, and it was a great transition. You still eat wonderfully and you eat plenty. You love fruits and veggies and prefer those over meat, but you love hotdogs and grilled chicken and will eat those when we give them to you. We've popped a lot of popcorn this month since it's your favorite thing, and you are always asking for ice and ice cream for snack time. You also started using your spoon on your own - last night you made quite the mess with your macaroni and cheese, but you made it happen.

Your favorite activities this month have been playing with your golf clubs, playing catch, taking all the books off of your bookshelf, climbing, playing outside and playing with your grill and cooking. You have become very attached to your Bevo and won't do anything or go anywhere without him. We say bye-bye to him when we get to school and then he is there waiting for you when I pick you up. You always remember where he is and can't go long without him. 

You have done so well in the toddler room at school this month. You take about a 2.5 hour nap each day on your napmat, play outside, do lots of art for us, sing songs, play with friends, and love on your teachers.  You are beginning to learn colors and numbers in both English and Spanish, and you have a great time each day. We are still so thankful for a wonderful school close to our house where you thrive. We love that you love going to school! 

(thanks Aunt Becca and Uncle Justin for my doctor costume - I love it!) 

This summer has flown by and you had so much going on this month! The weekend after your birthday party, we stayed at home and went to the park and played. We had a very relaxing weekend that was much needed after your crazy party weekend. 

The last weekend in July, we drove to Waco for Jordyn's 3rd birthday party at build-a-bear. You loved it and had so much fun playing with all the hearts that go inside the bears. You got to run around and see your cousins and made the cutest little surfer bear. 

After her birthday, you and I drove from Waco to Sugar Land to spend the week at Nana and Papa's house. Maddie Claire was there for a couple of days too, so you had your partner in crime to play with. We did lots of fun things - we went to the circus, went swimming, went shopping and out to dinner and we went to see Great PawPaw. You were so great all week and we were both sad to leave! 

When we got back from Houston, Grandma came to visit for a couple of days. You had so much fun seeing her and playing. The last two weekends, we've gotten to stay home and relax and enjoy summer time. Because of the West Nile outbreak, we haven't really gotten in the pool much, but we still spray you down and let you run around occasionally. At night, you've been cuddling up in your new rocking chair watching lots of football with daddy. Last Saturday, your new babysitter came to play and you loved her. You got to run around and dump out all the books from the shelf and eat popcorn and just be a crazy little boy while mama and daddy had a date night. 

I know I say this every month, but each month with you gets better and better. You are definitely my favorite kiddo in the whole wide world, and you crack me up every day with how smart and precocious you are. Raising a little boy is still a brand-new ballgame for me, but I am cherishing being a boy mom, and especially being your mom.  I love you, sweet boy.