Excessive Drool

Dear Sweet Luke,

The amount of drool you have can only be described as excessive. Please, sweet baby, swallow. Love, Mommy

Check It Out!!!!!

So, as you can tell I am SUPER proud of (Uncle) Luke and the trick shot video that he and his friends made over the summer. They are a group of fun, intelligent, athletic, Christian guys that you want to be around. They also love my kids and take turns holding them, which always scores points with me. Their youtube video has almost 26,000 hits and grows each day. To put to rest some of the skepticism behind their shots, Kendrick Haskins (WAVE3) came out to Whitefield last week and did a story on them, even filming some trick shots himself. It was so much fun to watch live, on the news (it aired 3 times!), and now online. So if you missed the news story and that handsome Luke Stoltz's interview, check it out!

The Shot Squad

7 Months

Luke Michael, you are SEVEN months old today. You have changed so much over the past month- what has happened to our baby?!! You are now a very active participator in this family, making sure your voice is heard. We could not be more in love...

7 things about you at 7 months:

#1-You are still our happy, content baby! There is nothing better than seeing your smile all though out the day. You squeal with delight, crack up laughing, and have started to babble. You also growl when you don't get exactly what you want!

#2-You gradually turned into a "lazy eater" so this past month we started giving you more bottles throughout the day and even introduced a little formula, usually 6 oz a day. So far you have done great with it and it's crazy how much weight you have already gained.

#3-You L-O-V-E your passie and Puffs. You would eat Puffs all day long if we let you.

#4-You are still on the same schedule. You eat at 7:30, 11:30ish, 3:30ish, and 7:30, with an early morning feeding also around 3 or 4 am. You nap at 9 and 2 and usually sleep between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You also take a quick nap at around 5:15 until 6pm. Bedtime is still 7:30.

#5-You have "baby chick" hair that stands up all over your head. Ginger colored! We think it's precious, but keeps you from looking anything like your brother when he was a baby. (Speaking of your brother, you two really, really love each other!

#6-Toys, toys, toys...you love your toys. Some of your favorites include your frog car seat activity bar, alphabet wheel, and anything that makes noise and lights up. You are also really interested in looking at board books these days too. Caleb's toys get your attention, too. When you have your passie in your mouth we sometimes let you play with them and you have a blast. His Hot Wheels are probably your favorite.

#7-You drool more than I could imagine any baby drooling. We sometimes wonder if you ever swallow. We are going through at least 10 bibs a day and at least 3 outfits. Usually I end up stripping you down to your diaper if it's close to bath time just to save on the amount of laundry I do. To say you are a "drooler" is really an understatement.
And #8, yes 8 things at 7 months, you are now sitting up! And gravity is working against us now in the drool department!

While you are capable of self feeding, you love for us to feed you the Puffs. Spoiled! Caleb loves helping out, though! He really does love you so much and talks all the time about how next summer you'll be big enough to run and play with him!

Love you, Luke!!!

Just a Taste

All of a sudden Luke is very aware of all foods and drinks. He'll try to grab your cup and take a sip or wait with his mouth wide open, fully expecting a taste of your dinner. His baby bird face is cute, and sometime hard to resist...

Mommy, whatever it is that you are eating sure looks good! I'd like a bite, please.

Ohhh, this is good. Feels great on my sore gums!

Wait, wait, wait! No, don't take it away! I NEED more of that!

Oh, that is more like it. I'm going to hold on, just in case this time.

*****
And Caleb, an old pro at eating Popsicles!

Right This Minute

Check out www.rightthisminute.com/tv to see a segment about the trick shot video Uncle Luke and his friends made. Pretty cool! It is from the "Episode Airing September 20" and is "Part F." (You have to click "next" to see Part F.) I think there are 3 stories in clip F, and their segment is last (after the story about the 2 million dollar race car skidding into the ocean.)

One of the announcers talks about how she has seen trick shot videos before and then says, "I think this one just might trump them all!" The story starts 17 year olds from Louisville, Kentucky, on the basketball team together, and making a trick shot video.

Check it out...It's fun! And all the guys sport UK basketball shirts in their interview. ;)

Blessed

I could stare at these two faces all day. We are so blessed. Two happy, healthy boys that fill our lives with joy. No matter how crazy, drooly (Luke!), talkative (Caleb!), and hectic life can be sometimes be with them, it's the best life. We love you boys!

And, they love each other so much too!

Disney On Ice

A few weekends ago when PeePaw was in town he saw a commercial for Disney on Ice and decided that he wanted to get Caleb tickets. So, last Thursday while Luke stayed with Grandmom and Grandpa, Creed and I took Caleb to Disney on Ice. We had a great evening and the show was very entertaining. The look on Caleb's face when Mickey first skated out was priceless and something I'll never forget! Caleb was, however, slightly disappointed that is wasn't more Mickey. I think he asked, "When is Mickey going to come back out?" at least 20 times. While The Little Mermaid, Lion King, and Lilo & Stitch entertained him, he probably liked Peter Pan the best. The funniest thing was when he pirate ship came out, he asked, "Where is Jake?!!" (From Jake and The Neverland Pirates.) He also told me yesterday that "Buzz and Woody should have been at Disney on Ice."

First Tooth

We've had a gut feeling that Luke was about to get his first tooth because he just hasn't been his normal, content self the past week. We were right! I felt his gum first thing this morning and sure enough, his first tooth has come through the surface on the bottom.

A Picnic

Last Monday Caleb and I took Luke on his first picnic. We spread out a blanket and enjoyed the perfect picnic weather. Both boys love being outside and Caleb talks about how next summer Luke will be able to run and play with him. What a sight to imagine!

Bad News & Good News

A conversation between Marshma and Caleb after the fifth time he called her back up to his room during nap time...

Marshma: Caleb, I am not coming back up to your room anymore. It is time for you to go to sleep.

Caleb: Marshma, I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is that I'm going to go to sleep. The bad news is that I'm going to call you again.

Swimming Lessons

Caleb is taking swimming lessons again and he L-O-V-E-S them! I can't say enough good things about the swimming program at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center. The lessons are very inexpensive and are very, very focused. There are 9 preschoolers in his class, and he was put into a group with two other boys based on ability. His small group's teacher was very nice and listened (or at least pretended to listen) as Caleb talked his ear off during the entire lesson. I took a bunch of pictures, although the quality isn't the greatest. Parents actually watch the lessons through glass so there was a glare. You can ask him about swimming and he'll be happy to tell you all about it! ;)

More Conversations with Caleb

I wish we had an attic pipe.

I called Caleb at my Mom's house to tell him I was on my way home from work. He asked, Are you on the Gene Snyder? Actually, I am.

Can I have a Popsicle? No. We haven't had dinner yet. Fine! I'll just run away. Ok. (A few minutes later...) I have a good idea. If you give me a Popsicle, I won't run away.

Caleb, quit hitting me! I'm not! I'm hammering you.

You're not a nice Momma. You can't have any Diet Coke at the ball game.

Let your brother lay on you, please. No! Caleb, let him lay on you. Noooo! I'm not a couch.

Creed's friend Mark said to Caleb, "Maybe you could come over and play in our basement?" Caleb responded, Or I could come see your attic and insulation!

Wagon Ride

Our wagon just got harder to pull...and we don't mind a bit!!)

Round Two

One of the VERY best things Caleb ever got was his Step 2 car. We have used it more than anything, and he actually still loves to ride in it. He actually calls it his "Nascar," since he and PeePaw have Nascar races in it. Now, it looks as though the Nascar has a new driver...

The Dreaded Security Tag

Before Luke was born someone gave us a Carter's set- pants, long sleeve onesie, and short sleeve onesie. It is a size 9 months, so I've had it hanging in the closet since February. Since I liked it and knew he would use it, I took off the tags and threw away the gift receipt. Since he is now wearing 9 month clothes, I pulled it out of the closet and was ready to throw it in the washing machine when I saw this...

the dreaded LEFT ON security tag! Here is the issue...I don't know what store it came from, and even if I did, I don't even have the tags, much less the receipt. I realize it is only a onesie, something that I could replace for less than $10. BUT, it is cute, and matches the pants. Any suggestions?? Would love advice on how to pry it off...

Rainy Day Fun

These Days

These days, Luke continues to be a happy, content baby

full of smiles

and Caleb is ALL boy, preferring Nerf guns, Buzz Lightyear, and fighter jets.

Familypalloza (sp?)

On Labor Day we went to Southeast's annual "Familypalooza," or a carnival as Caleb called it. It was a few hours before PeePaw's flight so he got to go too! We even got to meet up with cousin Matteo who was in town for the weekend. Caleb loved the bouncies, slides, petting zoo, and pony rides. Luke just sat back and enjoyed all the sights

This is my favorite picture...You'll notice that Caleb has a look of terror on his face. The pony in front of his pooped and he was SO sicked out when he saw it!

Matteo is such a cute and busy little guy. We actually got to celebrate his first birthday with him last month. Funny story about why he is in a pink stoller...My aunt bought it to keep at her house for when he is in town. She thought by the looks of it folded that it was brown...nope. It's mostly pink with some brown. Ha!