Luke at 18 months

I don't know how it's possible, but Luke is now 18 months old. I love this age - actually the whole stretch from around a year to around 18 months would be my vote for favorite age if I had to choose. Luke is the sweetest, smiley-est, little boy and I can't get enough of him. I had to take a minute to note a few of the things he's doing lately - there's so many I'm afraid I'll forget. Actually, I'm pretty sure I will. That's what this blog is for! 

• when seeing a camera, he pushes his head forward and says his version of "cheese", which just sounds like "eese". Super cute. Unfortunately he doesn't always look at the camera.... so you have to be on it to actually catch a picture with him looking.
• when you're sitting on the floor and Luke decides he wants to sit on your lap, he'll turn his back to you and back his way in - usually from a long way out. I love this. It's hilarious.
• We are in a frustrating stage when it comes to communication. Luke's into pointing and grunting - at pretty much everything. Can't wait until the words start flowing a little more. He drives us nuts because we don't know what he wants, and we drive him nuts because we just don't get it. Only a few words so far: hi / bye / eese / baby / mommy / Ella (sounds like Eya) / dada. He loves a baby...gets so excited when he sees a picture of one, so he's got that word down. He signs the words more and please too.
• Taking a cue from big sister Ella, Luke is really into books. He'll actually pick up a book and flip through pages, "reading" outloud in his own Luke-speak.
• Can you say picky eater? Because we went through the same thing with Ella, we aren't as worried about it as we were the first time around. He's got to come out of it, right? This boy has never met a chicken nugget he doesn't like. Ugh.
• Luke and Ella get along pretty well most of the time, much to my surprise. Ella continues to be very loving with her brother a majority of the time (there are also times where it's more like the WWF around here). They read together, chase each other around, share snacks, etc. Don't get me wrong, it's not paradise around here. Luke's a hitter right now. If he doesn't have the toy he wants, he flares up and start hitting, which leads to Ella running to me telling me that Luke is hitting here. For some reason I thought I had a year or 2 before having to deal with that kind of thing.
• What else.... ? There's so many things I love about this kid. I'll add more fun facts as I think of them.

It's so much fun to watch Luke really become a toddler. Every once in a while I catch a glimpse of baby in my baby boy, but for the most part there are no more babies in our house. Sniff.

Thankful

I love Thanksgiving more and more each year.... We have so much to be thankful for. Hoping all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Girly Girl

The family went out and did a little shopping today. Very little shopping actually, but we did make it to the mall. As we were looking through the kids department, Ella was having a blast. She'd picked out a couple of different things she liked before I realized it, and then she was asking to go try it on. I was not even sure where she got this idea, because I'm not a big shopper, and when I do go, it's usually on my own. Anyway, Ella and I headed for the dressing room. There are times when this girl makes me smile and shake my head - and I was doing both as I stood outside of the dressing room waiting for her to come out in one of her outfits. I'd gone in to help at first, but she asked that I step out and she'd come out to show me when she got dressed. She's 3..... really? She was just so thrilled with the idea of getting dressed up and opening the door to show me. I just love this girl.

Happy Halloween

Grammy Sharon got a beautiful red cloak for Ella's birthday last year - part of a treasure chest of dress of clothes for the 3 year old princess in the house. Skip ahead to September 2011 as we discussed Halloween this year. I joked with her that she could be Little Red Riding Hood, and Luke could be the Big Bad Wolf. Well, the idea stuck. She loved it and ran with the idea, telling everyone who asked what she'd be for Halloween that she was going to be LRRH, and Luke would be the BBW. We did have a few close calls a couple times, where Ella waffled and said she wanted to be a princess instead. She was actually Rapunzel for the Harvest Party at church.... but only after promising to be LRRH the next day when we would visit Seth's work and go trick or treating on our street. She's really honing her negotiating skills!

So with the costume idea in place, I looked for a wolf costume, but refused to pay $30 for one. I googled "making a wolf costume" and found an idea from Martha Stewart (go figure ;) ) that was relatively easy for a non-crafty person like me. So I bought some felt, found a little brown hooded sweatshirt and made Luke's costume. I figure I have at least a couple years to work on my crafty skills before he refuses to wear something I make for him because it doesn't look like Martha herself made it.....

We had a great Halloween. Grocery shopping in the morning, Seth's office for trick or treating in the afternoon and good old fashioned door to door tricks or treats on our block. Kristen came by and had dinner with us - and was also nice enough to man the house for a bit while we went out with the kids. Lots of trick or treaters this year too, so she kept busy handing out candy. Thanks Kristen! After most of the trick or treaters were gone we went across the street to our neighbors house for what they call trick-or-drink. Just a few close friends hanging out for Halloween. Mom and Dad have a glass of wine or beer and the kids play. A really good night! Ella was eating up the festivities, literally! She was very into trick or treating and hitting every house (or cubicle at NWFS), and is now having fun learning the names of all the candy she collected. Luke figured out the idea pretty quick too - grab some candy, put it in the bucket. But like with most other things, he was over it in a few minutes and ready to move on to something else. He did not seem to like the strangely dressed people knocking on our door and taking our candy, however... seemed to be upsetting to him. He'd watch the kids outside the door and after they'd leave and we shut the door, he'd cry. Not his favorite holiday - yet.






what the?

Ella with her friends Eliana and Lilly... aka Strawberry Shortcake & Kitty

sure wish the hood on this hoodie was bigger- can't even see my wolf face!

In the elevator at NW Farm Credit

trick or treating on 40th Ave

us too!



at the neighbors' house with Jameson the dragon