Luke: May 2011

Luke is really at one of the funnest ages I have experienced with kids so far.  Each age is fun in its own way, but he is at the point where it is all fun from here on out, and way more hazardous too.  He is learning to get into cupboards and drawers, tries to climb into the bathtub, and he tries to take Gabe's snacks away almost as often as Gabe tries to take his away. 

He is doing things a little earlier than Gabe (though not exactly an early- bird)- just so he can keep up.  There is definitely some sibling rivalry developing here, though the boys clearly adore each other.  Luke can walk short distances, maybe up to 6 steps on average without getting scared and sitting down.  He doesn't fall much yet, but is very cautious, and would rather sit down before taking a tumble.  I'm sure he could walk much longer if he wanted, and I think he will be before long!  He still crawls with one knee and one foot, which is hilarious to watch.

He says a few words on his own (ma-ma, woof (dog, and the sound a dog makes), nana (banana, and any other food), da-du (thank you- yes, really, he says this after every time I bring him food)) and he mimics a lot of things we say (da-da, puh-puh (poopy diaper), ssu-ssu (Jesus), nuh-nuh (no-no).
Luke loves to be sung to.  He doesn't have a favorite song that I can tell, but if cuddling and rocking don't calm him down, just start singing too, and he will relax very quickly.

Nights are finally starting to get better.  He is now sleeping through the night- hallelujah!  I think we just had to get through some hard stuff and I had to stop nursing him when he woke up.  I think as soon as he realized he couldn't eat, and he got over some colds he had for a while, he stopped waking in the middle of the night.  Now he goes to bed anywhere from 6:30pm to 7:30pm or so on a normal night, and he wakes up between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning to nurse, then he usually goes back to sleep for an hour (IF I let him fall asleep in bed with me, otherwise he will just play or whine).  I try to get him to take a nap at 9:30 or 10 in the morning, and then another nap at 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon.  I think if I am more consistent with getting him down for naps, he sleeps better at night.

Luke has had his 8 teeth (4 on top, 4 on bottom) for several months and a few weeks ago started cutting molars (skipping the canine teeth).  He now has 2 molars that are mostly cut through, 1 that is close, and another one that is just starting to be swollen and painful for him.  It seems like these things always happen at the same time.

Luke can put food away like no other baby I have seen.  We were at a restaurant the other day and Luke ate the entire 2 bottles of baby food I had with me, and then continued to eat a bread stick and two small pieces of pizza, plus drinking his milk.  We joked that he ate more than my brother Tayler, who was visiting.  I guess he was just really hungry that day.  Luke loves fruit, cheese, bread, yogurt, and Hawaiian haystacks (chicken and rice etc.).  He is slightly more picky than I remember Gabe being.  He is very particular about the textures of foods he eats.  Also, just because he has eaten it before and liked it doesn't mean he wont spit a food out and refuse to eat it from that point on.  Usually if we can get the first bite in, he will decide he likes it and will eat the food.  He cracks me up!

Family Pictures

After Tayler got back, we needed an updated family picture, and BJ's dad was kind enough to take pictures of everyone.  We got some really fun pictures!

When Tayler came home

Here are pictures from our trip to Oregon at the end of March, when Tayler came home from his mission.  Mostly these are pictures at the airport when we picked him up, but there are some of Collin playing tennis and a few other random things.

Catch-up time

Well, blogging has really been put on the back burner these days.  I need to do better at that, since this is sort of the record of our family goings-on right now.  This is mainly for documentation purposes since it is all mostly old news, so don't feel like you have to read this!  Let me go back in time a bit...

At the end of March, we put our kids in the car, and left at 4am to drive to Oregon to visit my family and be there when my brother Tayler arrived home from his mission, which he served for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He spent 2 years in Australia teaching people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and although we heard from him in weekly emails and biannual phone calls, we missed him terribly and were excited to see him as soon as he came back!  So we all went to the airport in Portland and nervously awaited his arrival.  We finally spotted him waaaay back behind security, and we were jumping up and down and waving.  He was so exhausted but he was happy to see us too!  We bear hugged him and then went to collect his luggage and take him home.  We got to spend the next couple of days just visiting with him and then we had to come back home.  The drive back was not quite as pleasant as the drive there, but we got through it, with books on tape, Raffi and "Wee Sing", goldfish crackers, "safety chips", and a few hyperactivity-busting stops for the little ones.

Two weeks later, my whole family drove down here to 1. be here for Marissa's graduation (Yay! B.S. in Public Health), 2. Take Tayler to school at BYU-I, 3. Pick up Cara from BYU, and 4. Celebrate my dad's 50th birthday!  Ok, they didn't really come to celebrate my dad's birthday, but we were sure glad that it coincided so closely!  My dad's brother Bob put together memories and stories from pretty much everyone in the extended family to make a really nice book for my dad as has been the tradition for his siblings (he is the last sibling to turn 50).  Marissa and my mom and I made some cakes for my dad's birthday, one a healthy version of chocolate cake (made with teff flour), which was definitely different but still yummy (find the recipe here on SS&GF- a site I really and truly love), and a chocolate pudding cake, which we "frosted" with homemade chocolate almond whipping cream.  Honestly.  It was amazing, and not at all healthy.  I don't think we took pictures, because we were in such a hurry, but it even looked beautiful, with powdered sugar, chocolate shavings, and I can't remember what else on top. 

The next week, my family had to go home, which was sad, but life must go on!  I started a neighborhood playgroup with my friend Sherilee, who did one for the women in our church last year, but they eventually stopped doing it.  So, we started up another one on our own, and as one of our first activities, we took the kids to Jump on it (like Kangaroo Zoo- inflatable playground).  Gabe loved every minute of it- right up until we had to leave, which he detested.  So did I, because I had to march out the door with one child under each arm, one of them kicking and screaming and begging to stay, and other moms throwing me pitying, knowing glances.  (Lesson learned: have a discussion before the activity, about how we can do lots of fun things if we are nice and also obedient when it is time to leave.  And possibly only go with both parents at first, until the kid can handle leaving.)  Since then, we have had several park days, and playtime at different kid's/mom's homes.  I planned a bubbles activity about 2 weeks ago that was outdoors and really fun.  I blogged about the planning and running the activity on my other blog. I didn't think very many people would come, because I didn't get a huge response but I think about 17 moms and their children came at one time or another.  Good thing it was outside!  We had lots of fun.  I have some other fun activities planned, and will blog about those afterward. 

Hmm, what else?  I have been enjoying being a part of two book clubs, one for the women of my church, and one for the women and wives of employees at my husband's work.  I have most recently read The Faith Club, a book about 3 women of different faiths who meet after 9/11 to promote better understanding between those of different religions.  It was very thought provoking and made for great discussion.

This past weekend BJ took me on a little overnight getaway to Midway.  It was for Mother's Day, and he had actually planned to surprise me and take me last weekend, but the kids got sick and so we postponed it a week.  I had a wonderful time!  It was so needed.  We weren't even gone a full 24 hours, but it is amazing what a night away can do for you.  We left the boys in Marissa and Richard's care, and they did great- didn't even miss us (Gabe actually looked concerned when we got home, and wanted to just keep playing with them).  We stayed at a charming bed and breakfast that we have stayed at once before, a few years ago, and had such a relaxing time.  We went out on their big pond in a rowboat and looked at geese, swans, and ducks, and walked around the grounds just enjoying the beautiful weather.  We walked through some galleries and actually met Willie Holdman (a renowned local photographer who does amazing work) in his new gallery that he opened in Heber with his wife (she sells very cute jewelery). We also walked through a book boutique (and scored a few great books) and discovered a great authentic Mexican restaurant called Tarahumara.  We recommend it!  It was a great getaway for me, and I am grateful that BJ went to the effort to plan it for me.  We also owe Marissa and Richard a big thank you for taking care of the kids. 

I have more to say, but this is long enough already.  I will try to do better at posting in a timely manner!