Just Chilling Out

I've decided that Luke's life isn't completely stress free. He can't get toys to work like Caleb does, the cups never seem to stack and fit into each other the right way, and he falls a lot, with numerous bruises to show for it. Luke isn't allowed in Caleb's room most of the time due to the elaborate Lego buildings or pirate adventures that take place in there, and he isn't allowed to snack all day long. The baby gates always close in front of him and the cabinets have locks to keep him out. It's hard being 18 months old!

 

We only let Luke have his pacifier and blanket at bedtime (recently we've let him take it to church to keep him from putting germ filled toys in his mouth) but he's figured out how to get each out of his bed when he's in his room. The other day I was cleaning Caleb's room and thought Luke was playing in his room. Instead, he was clearly just chilling out. A much needed relaxation time with all that stress in his life. :)

Recently...

The last two weeks have flown by and I realized it was time to share some of the recent phone pictures I've snapped.

 

Luke is so happy to be outside. He loves pushing his Caleb's lawnmowers up and down the sidewalks and always wants to play on the slide.

Caleb was dancing around the driveway using an umbrella as a prop. (I was laughing so hard I could barely keep my phone still to take a picture.) He explained that one of his shows (Olivia) has an episode where she taps with an umbrella. ;)

Oh, this boy. He is so happy UNLESS he is refused food. On this particular occasion I scolded him for eating popcorn out of the garbage. Yes, you read that correctly.

A few Saturdays ago Caleb went to Sydney's (his next door neighbor) 4th birthday party at All About Kids. He had a blast!

My space! My calendar and number line are hidden because the student was taking a math assessment that required him to write his numbers but other than that I'm basically done organizing. And, they've ordered a kidney-shaped table for me to use so I'm waiting for that to come in. Hopefully I'll be able to start pulling my groups this week!

Our Family

Caleb is not one to sit down and draw or color, so  imagine my surprise when he sat down this week and made his first family picture. We think it's a priceless work of art!

Bedtime Routine

After bath and while I put Luke to bed, Caleb usually has a snack and watches a show. 99.9% of the time he wants popcorn, and I don't mind helping him finish off the bowl. ;) The other night as I was walking Luke to his room after brushing his teeth, he smelled and saw the popcorn that his brother was munching on. Wow- you would have thought he was stung by a bee, he just went crazy! Needless to say he had to have his teeth brushed again that night!

1st Teeth Cleaning

At 3, Caleb went to the dentist for the first time. And while he sat in the chair and let the dentist "count his teeth," it wasn't a real visit. Last week our boy showed how big he is at his first real dentist visit. He was perfectly still while she examined, cleaned, and flossed his teeth. The hardest part of the visit for Caleb was actually sitting there and waiting on me to have my teeth cleaned as well.

 

The light bothered his eyes and luckily I had his sunglasses in my purse.

He thought the toothbrush was so cool and wanted an explanation of what all the tools and gagets in the room did.

"Are they sparkling clean?"

18 Months

Dear Luke,

You, sweet boy, are one and a half today! You are sweet, yet rotten to the core. You are cuddly and loving, but so rough and tough. While you are wild and blow through a room like a tornado, you are still so content.

 

You give hugs, blow raspberries, and love to run and tackle. You watch everyone, especially Caleb, like a hawk and try your best to imitate what you see.

 

Balls and push toys (vacuum, ball popper, music maker, walker, and lawn mower) are your favorite toys. You also like to push cars (making the “mmm” engine sound) and play with the animals in your Little People barn. All animals, from lions to roosters, get a “raahhh!” roar from you.

You don’t really try to talk correctly, unless it has to do with food. You say more (“ma”), please (“pes”), and all done. The only word that strangers would understand is hello (“ello”), but that may also have to do with the fact that you always answer your toy phone or even your hand. It’s pretty cute to watch! For every other person, thing, etc. you make this two syllable sound, that does change slightly. Everything else is either “sa-da,” “ta-da,” “da-da,” or even “ka-da.”

You love to sleep in your bed with your paci and your blanket. You sleep from about 8pm until 8am and take a nap from 1pm until 4pm each day. You love to eat, although you don’t like meat very much. You live by the idea that “What’s yours is mine” and insist on eating whatever anyone else has. A NutraGrain wrapper or pretzel bag being opened will cause you to come running.

 

At one and a half you are still drooling. A lot. Your four last teeth have come in over the past week and hopefully after this we won’t have to change your shirts anymore because they are soaked from drool. We love your toothy grin, and are so thankful that we get to see it so often!

For a little guy, you have a big personality. When something doesn’t go your way you gently lay face down and throw your fit. You also scream in frustration if something doesn’t work like you want it to or if you can’t steal one of Caleb’s toys. Recently you’ve begun to scream this shrill sound the entire time I am changing your diaper, and for a guy that still has around 4 to 5 dirty diapers a day, that’s a lot of screaming.

If you can’t tell, we are pretty smitten with you, Luke Michael. You are so perfect in every way and it’s physically impossible to look at you and not smile. Everything about you says JOY, and even in your worst moments we can’t help but laugh.

 

We love you, Luke! (Lukie, Lukesters, and Lucas)



Looking Back

There are certain milestones in the boys' lives that really make me stop and realize just how fast life is going by. Their first bath, bottle, solid food, last bottle, etc. While turning 1 is also a big deal, turning 1 and 1/2 is a pretty big deal in my book as well. While a one year old is still a baby in so many ways, toddlers at 18 months just seem so much bigger. They do more things and understand most of the things you tell them. At 18 months they are even able to communicate their likes, dislikes, and for the most part what they want.

 

Tomorrow Luke will hit this milestone. So, I thought it would be fun to look back over the past 18 months at just how much he has changed.

 

February 25, 2011

 

 

 

KY State Fair 2012

Tuesday afternoon the boys and I (Creed refuses to go to the fair!) went to the fair with Grandmom, Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandaddy. We all had a great time and ate lots of yummy, and very unhealthy, food. Caleb loved riding the rides, as did Luke, but Luke's favorite part of the evening was the funnel cake for sure!

 

Each year we always stop for this picture!

Luke loved the animals and roared ("raahhh") at all of them. That's his new animal noise. :)

With grandparents and great-grandparents there, Caleb was slightly spoiled. I think it was a hot dog for dinner, a snow cone for dessert, and popcorn for a snack.

A juggling Elvis on a unicycle-only at the State Fair. (Caleb was concerned, and actually pretty freaked out, when he saw Elvis because he thought "Elvis went to Heaven." We explained that the man was just dressing up in an Elvis costume and Caleb felt much better about that.)

Luke loved the carousel and threw a pretty big fit when it was time to get off. I was laughing because for once it wasn't me that everyone thought was kidnapping him. :)

Caleb LOVED the dragon roller coaster since it went so fast. (That's him in the second car.)

Luke also really liked the train, and even I got to go along for the ride since he wasn't tall enough to ride alone. Each time we'd pass the grandparents he'd squeal and laugh at them. And then he threw a huge fit when it was time to get off. :)

Our fearless boy

The bungee trampoline thing was probably Caleb's favorite thing. The smiles he had were full of pure joy. (And watching him was the highlight of my night as well.)

I Can Do It Too!

Luke thinks he can do anything, and everything, that Caleb does. The other night we were outside and Luke pulled Caleb's old tricycle out of the garage. He figured out how he could use one foot to push himself, and while he only went in circles, he loved it (and thought he was big stuff!)

And in case you're wondering, yes, he is outside shirtless, wearing only camo shorts. At least he has shoes on! ;)

Oh, Caleb

The other morning Caleb hit Creed with a sword, but wasn't apologetic at the time.

An hour or so later to me: I'm sorry that I hit Daddy.

Me: I'm glad you said you were sorry because that wasn't very nice. But, you really should tell Daddy that you're sorry.

Caleb: Well, I'm just telling you that I'm sorry I hit your husband.

*****

Caleb to me: When you recycle do you just ride your bike again and again?

*****

Marshma and Papa were keeping the boys while I worked and Papa was teasing Caleb.

Caleb to Papa: Why do you antagonize me when I am a precious child?

*****

Caleb to me: When are you going to get that dairy-free gogurt for me again?

Looking at him confused: I don't know.

Caleb: Do you know what I am talking about.

Me: No, I don't think they make dairy-free gogurt.

Caleb: I promise they do. Just remember. It's really easy to do.