Luke's Third Birthday

Luke's birthday morning started out with his first present--a new bike!! I know this isn't a good shot, but I just love the expression on his face!  (Oh, and ignore the messy house!)

Yes, this is what Luke chooses to wear at 8 in the morning--pajama top, underoos, and a ball cap. Such a boy.

Anyway, with a bit of help, he hopped right on to try and figure this thing out.

He did very well with one exception. When he rides his tricycle, he gets his momentum up to start moving by doing a little half back pedal manuver. If you remember, these little bikes brake when you back pedal so he got very frustrated at the beginning. It was two steps forward, one pedal back on the learning curve until we were both in/near tears out of frustration.

Luckily, Will soon went down for his nap and we were able to take it outside where we had room to move and really figure it out.

Later that afternoon, Daddy took him up to his office after hours where he really got the best practice cruising around the parking lot.

Luke still has a little soft spot for his "big red car" and took turns between his bike and his car that afternoon. No, he's not flashing me a peace sign, he is telling me how old he is now, it's just hard to see that third finger in the shot.

Then we decorated the driveway for his big day.

The next weekend, we had a small party for Luke at a nearby park. The weather was perfect and I think everyone had a good time.

This is Luke NOT wanting his picture taken as he was very busy driving and protecting this spot from any other kids. This is his favorite part of this park--which he refers to as "the driving park."

Will, surely exhausted from staying up until 3 am the previous evening, spent most of the party parked here under a tree. I was pleased that he got a nap.

Luke was super-excited about opening presents this year. In the past we have had to tear him away from eating to get him to open gifts--I guess he remembers what a great time it was at Christmas because he tore into them.

This displays some of his favorite gifts this year:

a cars chair--kid sized

a clock he can turn

a watch

Daddy got him a t-ball set that was a big hit with all the kids, and a fun toy to have at the park that day.

Luke's turn.

Maya and Hayden took a turn too.

All that was left was to blow out the candles and eat cupcakes!

 Happy Birthday Party!

Colic is cramping my blogging style

Our house these days has been at the mercy of colic. Boo Hoo! Will has been having quite a run with colic that has left us up many nights with him. Some nights he is screaming, others he is just awake--a night owl, maybe an insomniac. So, needless to say, my blogging updates have suffered. I generally take every free moment at night to hop into bed myslef. I have tons of stuff to share--Luke's birthday party, Easter pics, an update on our cutie pie baby. Bear with me, I will eventually get them up. For now, I will just share this fun pic of my sweet boys.




Oh, and if you have any tips for colic--send 'em my way. We have tried everything!

Awwwww!

To my Luke

Before you were born we chose you to have the name Lucas. At the time, we chose it because it was a name we both liked. How fitting a name it is now, as the name Lucas means "light." You are truly a light in in my life and in the world. You have the brightest smile and your eyes sparkle when you laugh. You bring so much joy to our family and friends.





My heart broke when we had to take you to the hospital to be admitted to the NICU when you were just a few days old. It was so hard to leave you there those nights. I think I prayed harder during that week than I ever have in my life.


Once we got you home again, our lives were consumed with yours. How could we ever imagine life without you again? Every day was a new discovery, a new joy.

I am so proud of you. It's hard to believe that less than a year ago you had only a handful of words in your vocabulary. One more rough hospitalization--full of tears and laughter, and now you are a jabber box of the highest order. Some of the things that come out of your mouth--where do they come from? You make us laugh so hard.

We have been through so much in this last year--

You got your first set of stitches--in your chin after falling on the side of the tub. Your second CT scan came after getting clocked upside the head with a gourd at a Halloween party (your first was when you were an infant--your head was growing so fast they wanted to check that nothing was going on in there. Now we know all is well and it is just your super brain inside that noggin!)

This was the first year I think you truly enjoyed the holidays. Halloween was a blast--you dressed up as a Texas Ranger and Daddy took you trick-or-treating. You especially loved the kids coming to our house for candy. When I asked you what kind of birthday party you wanted you said "I don't want a birthday party, just a Halloween party."

Christmas was magical. You loved the lights. You had so much fun opening gifts. We had snow on Christmas this year and you and Daddy had a snowball fight. Grandma Juli came to visit over Christmas weekend and you soaked up her love like a sponge. You got so many little Hot Wheels & Matchbox cars.

Things you love: You still love driving your "big red car" you got for Christmas last year. You love driving and parking your Hot Wheels. You get very upset if someone messes up your order of them. Your favorite books right now are The Lorax, Pigeon Wants a Puppy, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and Curious George. You love to sing, your favorites are ABC's, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle, and She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain. Your favorite food is macaroni and cheese. Your favorite shirt is a navy shirt with a red guitar on it. Your favorite show is Curious George--you'd watch it all day if we would let you.

You became a big brother this year--and you are wonderful at it. You are so caring towards Will and such a good helper. You talk to him when he is happy and he smiles, you comfort him when he is sad. It has been an adjustment but you have done well.

So much snow this year! It has been a record-breaking year for snow and you have enjoyed every inch of it. Many snowball fights, a few attempts at snowmen, eating snowballs, and having hot chocolate in one of mommy's coffee cups. While we were snowed in we ran out of pull-ups and magically you became potty trained! Yippie! While its not perfect, you are doing pretty darn good and we don't buy too many pull-ups these days! I am so proud of you.

You go to school twice a week. You love it and they love you there. You know EVERYBODY! Not only do you know everyone's name, but you know who their parents and grandparents are and what cars they drive. Often when arriving at school you look around the parking lot and ask, "Where's Gabriel's car?" or "What's Breck's Grandmother doing?"

(okay, so maybe you don't like having your picture taken on the first day of school.)

We had a pass to the zoo this year and spent many summer days out there. Your favorite part is riding the train. One day we went to the zoo and you weren't much in the mood for the animals so we rode the train back and forth all day, had our picnic, and went home.

I love you thiiiis much! I love you as high as I can reach, and I love you to the moon and back. You are my first baby and no one can every take your place in my heart. You have a heart of gold and are such a sweet, caring boy.

Happy birthday, my little man! You are three!

Conversations with Luke--Encore

Scene: Bedtime stories. Luke has just slammed a book shut that I was reading to him, therefore smashing my fingers in the binding.

Mommy: Ouch! Luke that hurt. You smashed Mommy's fingers.

Luke smiling.

Mommy: Luke, what do you need to say to Mommy?

Luke: You're fine.

In case you were wondering, the answer I was looking for was "I'm sorry" which I eventually got followed by the slobbery-est toddler kiss.

Conversations with Luke

The things that come out of that kid's mouth are hilarious, if exasperating at times. I sometimes wish I could preserve my memory to save some of these conversations. It's amazing to think that at this time last year, he was barely speaking 20 words and now (thanks to a bit of medical intervention and a lot of growing up) he chatters day and night, can hold a conversation, can "read" (through rote memorization) you a whole story, and sing songs. The genius kid even makes up his own songs these days.

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Act I:

Scene: Luke & Mommy in the car driving home in rush hour traffic from dinner at El Fenix with Nammy & Pop Pop. It is dark in the car. Luke has a box containing his leftover chicken nuggets and one bite of sopapilla in his lap. He has already decided he is ready to eat his leftovers and since he did not touch the nuggets at dinner, mommy gave him the thumbs up to dig in.

Background info: Luke, like most toddlers, often asks "what's that?" and rarely do we know which "that" he is referring to. To help us out, we sometimes ask, "what color is it?" Also, "treat" is a word used interchangeably around here. It might be dessert, a special toy, a sticker, etc.

Luke: Mommy, where's my treat?

Mommy: What treat?

Luke: MY treat.

Mommy: I don't know which treat you are talking about.

Luke: Where is MY treat? Where is it? Where is it?

Mommy: (exasperated sigh) I don't know. We'll find it when we get home.

Luke: Mommy, where is my treat? Help me find it.

Mommy: I don't see it. Which treat is it?

Luke: My treat, mommy. Where is it?

Mommy: Luke, what color is it?

Luke: (long thinking pause) Uhhhhhh. . . . .I don't know. It's in my tummy.

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Act II

Scene: Dinner table at home. Taco night. Luke has been attempting to feed Hank(the dog) without getting noticed, and therefore, in trouble. Its not that he doesn't like taco night--the kid LOVES food--he just finds that feeding Hank is entertaining. He is now gesticulating wildly in his chair, index fingers pointing, like some poor disco dancer.

Mommy: Luke, what are you doing?

Luke: I'm talking to Hanky without words.

Oh. That explains everything.

Luke and his puppy sharing a lovely breakfast together.

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little ditty

peek-a-boo!

i see you!