Luke: 21 Months!

(somebody refuses to wear their monthly sticker these days!)

Lukey balukey! Another month has come and gone in the blink of an eye. The thought that "The days are long but the years are short" goes through my head daily. And truth is, sometimes the days feel short too. You are growing up and are becoming quite the little boy. Humorous, witty, mischievous, thoughtful, kind and oh so fun. 

You are getting taller; I can tell by the length of some of your pants. You still weigh between 31-32 pounds, but you're thinning out and losing some of that baby fat (excuse me while I tear up). We've been to a couple doctors this month. All last week, you had what we think was a fever virus with temps above 104 for almost 6 days! Yesterday, we went for your regular 6 month ENT checkup and found out that in addition to your poor allergies, you have a sinus infection. We left with SIX prescriptions to clear that up and for ongoing preventatives. This Dallas weather is kind to no one. 

Almost overnight, your vocabulary exploded. You repeat almost everything I say, can point out things in your 100 words books, say please and thank you without being prompted and say simple sentences with no problems. Some new words and phrases that you say often are kitchen, couch, cracker, helper, "hold you, mommy", vacuum, sweep, mop, "I help", "I drive", doctor, outside and pool/swim. 

This month, we changed your crib into a toddler bed. You've done amazingly well with it and love to climb up in your bed and pretend to go "night-night" or read books or play with your stuffed animals. I'm glad we made the transition early and I'm even happier that you seem to have adjusted to it seamlessly. You're growing up! 

After school each day and once we get home, you usually insist on driving the car. So I park, turn the car off and you climb into the front seat and pretend to drive. You love playing in the front seat and would stay in there for hours if we let you. We've had lots of time for long walks, trips to the park, and playing in the backyard. You love being outside and to get you inside, we often have to drag you kicking and screaming.

When we aren't at home playing, 9 times out of 10, we are at the country club playing and hanging out with friends. You have so many precious friends there and you just love to be there putt-putting, eating or trying to steal a golf cart. I'm excited for the pools to open so we can spend more time out there with friends!

This month, we've done so, so much (that's a theme for our family, I think!). We've gone to Waco, to Houston, to birthday parties and wedding showers and to crawfish boils!

The weekend of the 21st, we went to Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Purple Cow. There weren't a lot of people there, so you got quite a bit of time with the Easter Bunny. You loved him (from a distance) and were so fascinated by a huge bunny!

On Easter weekend, we drove to Waco to meet your newest cousin, Jackson. He was born Thursday afternoon, so we woke up early Friday and drove down there to meet him and see your cousins and grandparents. You loved him and kept kissing him. You were able to play with Jordyn and Julianne for a few minutes - and then we were off to Houston for Easter! 

 

We spent Friday afternoon playing in MC's backyard, grilling, and having quality time with the Gillens and Nana and Papa. Saturday, we had a huge egg hunt (which you slept through) with all of Mommy's side of the family and a bunch of the Gillens. Sunday, we woke up to find our Easter treats and more eggs! Although we didn't make it church this year, we celebrated the birth of our Risen Savior knowing we worship a living King 365 days a year.

Two weekends ago, I came up to your school early to watch Mr. David with you. I've heard some rumors you were quite the dancer and I had to see it for myself. It was quite the show and you are quite the mover and shaker! After Mr. David, we joined our friends for Demo Day on the driving range and had a fun evening chasing you!  I think you and Kaki spent half the time feeding each other M&Ms. The next day, we went to a crawfish boil - you played so hard! By the time we got home, you had a 102 fever and little did we know, we were in for quite a long week!

 

After a long, long week of high temps and zero energy, we ramped up for a fun weekend. We went to a fabulous garden party for our sweet friend, then we hosted a wedding shower for Becca and Justin and topped the weekend off with a trip to the park. You had to so much fun with Becca, Chelsea and Justin that you've been asking for Becca or Chelsea all week.



This week, you've helped Daddy plant new grass, you've gone to swim lessons and you've had picture day at school. We're looking at another busy weekend packed with activities and fun, and I know you're going to have a blast.

Luke, I can't tell you this enough - I am so so thankful that God gave me you to raise. You bring so much joy and light to my life that no one else but you could! You make everything so much fun and your little giggles and smiles make my day, every day. I'm looking forward to another month of fun activities, sweet snuggles and hearing the precious sound of you yelling "Mommy!" over and over again.

Luke: 20 Months!

 

  

Luke, Another month has flown by and we are on the home stretch to you turning two. TWO! Where did all the time go?  You have been quite the little boy lately - running, climbing, scaling, jumping and getting dirty. It's all so fun to watch and I love seeing life through your little eyes. These are truly, truly the best months!

I think you weigh about 32 pounds, based on our home scale.We saw Dr. McClard once this month for a virus you had, but it was super short, and if your eyes hadn't been watering constantly, we might not have even known you were getting sick. You're growing every day - I had to buy 3T clothes the other day! 

You talk constantly. Yesterday, I got you to say Luke! Sounds like "Yuke" but it was so exciting to hear you finally say it. Some of your new words this month include animal, towel, bath, pizza, cookie, chips, drive, and movie. You can say all of the kids' names in your class. Even when we can't quite understand what you're saying, we love hearing your babble and conversations.

It's a recurring theme every month, but you'll eat just about anything and you would eat all day if we let you. You love cheese now and will eat multiple slices of it. You love peanut butter ritz bitz, pears, peas, grapes, turkey and cheese, and lots of other foods. Daddy introduced you to Doritos last weekend and you are hooked. We still pray before every meal and every snack, which warms my heart. I know the Lord will bless those prayers! 

Swim lessons and school are still our regular activities, and you love the routine. We wake up, drink milk, play a little while mommy and daddy get ready and then head off to school. You get so excited to see Ms. Kim each morning; she lets you play in her office and be her helper and you adore her. At the PTA meeting this month, you got to come in and you sat in her lap instead of Mommy's. I'm glad you love school and your teachers! You're doing well in swim lessons, although you strongly dislike any teacher who makes you go under the water. You're still doing great and going 10 seconds under the water. You can walk along the wall with your hands unassisted. I can't wait for this summer!

Because of daylight savings time, we've had more time to play outside after school. You love to "drive" when we get home and it's often a struggle to get you out of the car. You love to sweep up the leaves outside, play with chalk, go to the park and help clean the pool. We've been eating at the country club and playing on the greens after dinner - it's just about your favorite thing to do. 

As you get closer to turning 2, you are getting more willful and you have a mind of your own. You are so good at minding most of the time, but when you don't listen to us, you've had to go to timeout. You just hate it, but you do sit there until I come back to get you. You always give me a big hug when I get you and we talk a little about why you were there and how we need to obey. It's bittersweet and heartbreaking, but so necessary. 

You've begun doing little chores around the house with Mommy and you are so helpful. You will help empty the trash, put the laundry in the dryer, you'll dust when I give you a rag, and your favorite chore is sweeping and vacuuming. You still like to unfold the laundry, but that's ok - I think that's every kid's favorite activity. 

This month, we've had a lot of weekend activities and small road trips. You've been such a trooper with the long car rides and changes of scenery. But, truth be told, weekends at home with nothing to do are the BEST!

The last weekend in February, Mommy went out of town, so you and Daddy headed to Austin to visit Grandma and Pappy. You played outside with Bonnie, helped Uncle Mark outside, baked cookies with Makenna and Grandma and had a blast.

A couple of weekends ago, Brian and Liz came over for dinner. You got to play basketball with Brian, flirt with Liz and just generally show off. You get so scared when the doorbell rings thinking it might be a babysitter (you hate when Mommy and Daddy leave!), but you get so tickled when you realize we are having people over to visit. 

 

I took you to see the bunnies at NorthPark this month, too! You loved seeing them from afar and saying "bunny" over and over, but you really wanted nothing to do with them up close. We ended up taking your Easter pictures without the bunnies this year, but I think they turned out so adorable! 

Last week was Spring Break, and Mommy and Daddy went to Napa. You got to go to Houston to visit Maddie Claire, Aunt Emily ("Emmie"), Uncle Adam ("Uncle Amen"), Nana, Papa and Kyle (Cooowle). Y'all played outside, went to the zoo, watched movies and had a ton of fun. You were excited to see us come home, but you've been asking for Nana and Papa continuously since then. 

We love every single minute with you, buddy. I love playing with trucks and balls and tools and other "boy" things, I love cuddling on the couch with you at night as you wind down from an exhausting day, I love hearing "Mommy!" each morning as you wake up, and I love you! You are the best little boy and you bring me more joy than I could ever have imagined. I hope you'll always feel an absolute unconditional love from me and Daddy and know without a shadow of a doubt that we are your biggest fans.

Luke: 19 Months!

(this morning was full of meltdowns and you just would not keep that sticker on your shirt and smile for your Mommy. We keep it real around here!)

Lukey - you are growing like a weed, son! I'm pretty sure I blinked and another month passed. You are growing into the sweetest little boy. Long gone are any signs of that baby I held this time last year. Now, you are playing outside, running, yelling "MOMMMY!" when you need something instead of just crying. You are well on your way to becoming a big boy. Parenthood truly is the sweetest heartbreak - I can't keep you little but I also love watching you grow.

 At your 18 month appointment, you weighed 30.2 pounds (92%), were 35 inches long (off the charts!), and your head measured in the 75th percentile. You were so sweet to Dr. McClard and you showed her how you were right on track with everything they look for. You only had to get 1 shot, which you handled like a champ. No more shots until you turn 4!! Yippee!! 

Your vocabulary is rapidly expanding. You now say cookie, Mommy and Daddy (no more Mama and Dada), "oh no!", meow, mine, up, down, out, on, off, "all done!", art, heart, blocks, books, puppy and so many other words. You count, but you are stuck on 2, 8, 9 and 10. When we swing you on the sidewalk, you prefer to say "two, two, two" instead of "one, two, three". If I say 8, you follow it with 9 and 10.  Now we just need to work on the other numbers! You also love to say amen and please. We are working on "thank you" but I know we'll get there.

You've been a good eater this month. Along with all of your favorites, we've added peanut butter crackers (or as you call them, cookies!),  cheetos and cinnamon rolls. You love a cinnamon roll on Saturday mornings - you'd eat the whole pan if we'd let you. You still love your veggies and prefer those to any sweets, but you'd choose a french fry over anything else in the world, I fear. We also still stock up on the staples - cheerios, goldfish, apple sauce, pears and peas. Before every meal, you are so good to remind Mommy and Daddy to pray with you. Before you pick up your spoon, you always fold your hands and wait for me to pray so that you can say "Amen!".

 

You are still doing wonderfully in school. You love going each morning and love to show me your art every afternoon when I pick you up.  You can say everyone's name in your class and you love your friends. We started spring swim lessons and you're doing great (when we can go). This summer, you'll start going on your own and Mommy won't be in the pool with you anymore. 

After school, we do a lot of fun activities while we wait for Daddy to get home. Sometimes we go to the park, sometimes we watch Clifford and eat popcorn, and other times we read every book on the bookshelf. On Wednesdays, we have a Mommy/Luke date and usually go out to eat before our church activities. You've graduated from using a high chair and will usually sit in the chair like a big boy. When Daddy gets home and after we eat dinner, you like to play legos or read books or pretend to bake cookies. Daddy still usually reads you the last book of the night and rocks you to sleep. I know it's so special for him that you still allow us to rock you and spend that special time with you at the end of each day.

We've had another month jammed full of activities. We've had playdates and dinner dates and church activities and the list goes on and on. You've been staying up way past bedtime some nights, but you've been happy and the meltdowns have been minimal.

In late January, Grandma came to visit you. She went to your swim lessons, had dinner with us and then stayed the next morning to play with you while Mommy ran errands. She let you play with her phone and sit in the front seat of her car and pretend you were driving - your favorite thing to do. You loved having her here to play with you.

In February, we drove to Houston to visit Emily, Adam and MC and Nana and Papa. We stayed at the Gillen's new house, went to Sesame Street Live, and celebrated Maddie Claire's birthday. To say you wore yourself out would be an understatement. You LOVED Sesame Street Live - you were dancing, hopping, clapping, cheering. It was the cutest thing to see. You and MC played together all weekend wonderfully - I think your favorite thing was the big stock pot you pulled out of Aunt Em's pantry. I  really think you are going to be a chef one day!

On Valentine's Day, you woke up and after milk and snuggles, I let you dig through your bucket in our bed. You absolutely loved the Jellycat puppy we got you and we may have let you have a few m&ms for breakfast. I took you to school and then came back up for your party - you and your friends had lots of yummy snacks and you got a lot of great valentines. After school, we played and made dinner and enjoyed a low key night at home!

This past weekend, we drove to Waco for a shower for your cousin Jackson, who will arrive sometime in March or April. We got there early and, after not getting your way about something, gave us a glimpse into what the terrible twos might look like. When you are mad or upset and about to throw a fit, you put your hand over your eyes and it's both precious and sad. After everyone got there and you saw Caitlin, you wanted nothing to do with Mommy and Daddy. You were all about her and Robert the rest of the night. We went back to the Rogers' house after dinner and you "helped" Daddy and Uncle Jimmy move around some of their furniture. You wanted to be with the guys and be a big help. Melts my heart!

(we obviously don't let you have soda, but you have a new habit of opening the fridge and getting out a soda and pretending to drink it - little sponge soaking up what Mommy and Daddy do!)

Luke, as we quickly approach your 2nd birthday, I am still completely blown away by you daily. You are a sweet, smart, silly boy and I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams.having a son as wonderful as you.  The Lord has blessed your Daddy and I beyond measure and we continue to thank God for you every chance we get.