Project 365: {Days 286-292}

Day 286: We took a stroll over to EPCOT in the morning

Day 287:  He loves anything with wheels!  He's also officially 9 months old and was dressed up for his pics. :)

Day 288: Nana left in the morning and Daddy was off to golf so the rest of us...played in the sink and painted our nails...

Day 289:  Luke would so much rather feed himself.  Here he is eating oatmeal, applesauce & craisins.  I have the patience to deal with a really messy baby only if I have done my devotion and released endorphins by exercising that morning.  Otherwise, forget about it!

Day 290:  One of our favorite indoor activities is to host Carly's Bake Shoppe for all of her friends!  She just loves choosing who will have what ice cream cone flavor and making each cone with love. ;)  She also loves wearing her "pitty pitty desses" as pictured here and on day 288.  She wears both every. single. week.

Day 291: This picture is significant for two reasons: Luke loves the feel of that tooth brush on his TOOTH! Yes...he popped a tooth this week (5 months earlier than his sis I might add.  I also might add that when he bites me it hurts much worse now...)!  Also...this sleeper is an 18-month sleeper! It's a bit big but 12 months was just too snug! Sheesh, little man!

Day 292:  Besides playing Carly's Bake Shoppe & Carly's Pet Salon...we do a lot of dancing! :) Also...I think I am going to adopt the "leggings" look.  I have too many short dresses that these mama thighs just can't get away with sporting anymore. ;)

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" {Luke 9 Months}

Last month I was a bit tough on my little one…so this month’s post will only list the sweetness that is my baby boy.  I was asked to describe him using only a few words this week and the first word that came to mind was: Charmer.  Luke is such a charmer.  Of course I am bias about looks and think he is a dashing young fellow (although I am the first to admit I feel bad that I passed down my eyes and the massive cowlick…two things that annoy me about my features) but anyone who meets him can see he is a total charmer.  Between the grin, the flirtatious eyes and his sweet cheeks…he tugs on those heart strings. 

My favorite part of his charming personality, though, is his sense of humor.  I never knew a baby could be so funny and laugh at such outrageous things.  It’s like he understands sarcasm.   I suppose it’s no surprise considering his mother is like 49% sarcastic…I guess he understands what he’s been taught. Haha—I’m totally kidding.  The best example I can give is how he does something he knows he is not suppose to do just so he can see me or Carly get worked up about it (let’s face it…Brian doesn’t get worked up…so Brian does not get messed with like the females in the house).  He doesn’t really enjoy biting me…but he does it all the time because he thinks my reaction is hysterical.  He doesn’t really care about tearing off the leaves of my plants…but finds it hilarious when I have to pick him up and move him across the room.  He could take or leave getting our hair caught between his fingers but he can’t stop laughing when we cry out in pain because he is pulling it.  I’m telling you…this kid is up to some trouble…but then he tilts his head to the right, looks up into the corner of his eyes and flashes the half grin and I melt into a pile of nothingness.  Charmer.

Here are some other facts about our sweet boy:

• Enjoys a nice mouthful of dirt
• Loves anything with wheels
• His favorite activity is eating.  When Carly was a wreck it was because she needed sleep and when Luke is a wreck it’s because he needs to feed his bottomless pit of a stomach.
• Smiles at anyone who smiles at him
• Very verbal…every week when I pick him up from the church nursery the report is that he is spent the whole hour talking.  
• He can say "Dada" and "Hi" but only on very special occasions
•  Enjoys wrestling with his sister…most of the time
•  Loves to be whispered to 
•   He’s a grunt-er
• Loves anything with lights
• Hates having his diaper changed
• Will always join in when we are singing
• Being outdoors and playing in water are still a win for Luke
• Usually content in his stroller & car seat (we graduated him to a toddler car seat and he adores it)
• He is SO excited when Brian or I get home from work.  So excited. :)
• He wants whatever Carly is playing with 
• Will sit still through a few books…especially if there is something to touch
• Loves puzzles…I mean sucking on puzzle pieces ;)
• Doesn’t care much for TV unless the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song is on or the Hot Dog Dance.  That’s about it for TV watching.
• Loves his ability to quickly crawl and pull up on anything, anywhere.
• Enjoys turning Brian's xbox on and off a thousand times in a row
• Can stand unsupported for a few seconds before dropping to his booty and scooting away
• He enjoys being with friends.  His mood is so much brighter when we have a play date where there is a babe from him to play with. It’s truly fascinating how social human beings are even at such a young age.  He really loves people.  Really a lot.
• And the best part...he is up for a snuggle at any moment...24 hours a day, 7 days a week. :) :)

He popped his first tooth at 9 months and 3 days...and I will report on sleep next month.  Nothing really changed from 8-9 months except I just became more frustrated.  He is transitioning between taking 3 naps/day and 2 naps/day.  He still nurses 4 times during the day and one time in the night.  He eats 3 solid meals and at least two snacks on top of all the milk he is still drinking.

Luke is only 21 pounds and 29 1/2 inches long.  I suspected he would be bigger because he just seems so huge to me...but really he is pretty average for a boy.  Doc says he checks out pretty good minus one minute detail about the re-growth of certain skin in a certain place which she calmly stated that in order to prevent a future surgery she was going to rip it off...to which she sent my child into hysteria.  I gasped as she kept tugging, thankful my husband wasn't there to cringe, and she warned me that I better keep tugging the next few weeks.  Yikes!

Here are Luke's sweet 9 Month pics!  Love this boy and all the sweetness that comes along with him!

Project 365: {Days 279-285}

Day 279:  A walk around the neighborhood, stopping at 2 parks and the clubhouse...anticipating the arrival of family the next day!

Day 280:  Bapa, Nana & Uncle Trey arrive!  Luke has been waiting nearly 9 months to get to wear this shirt at a time when he both fit into it and was with one of his uncles. ;)

Day 281:  Aunt Tiffy joins the party and off to Daytona Beach we go!  Carly is a great traveler...I can't quite say the same for her brother but we made it and had a lovely 3 days at the beach (which in my opinion is the perfect amount!).  We checked into our rooms, ate lunch and hit the sand. 

Carly was a bit frightened by the waves so she spent her beach hours building sandcastles and chasing the birds.  She also disliked getting salt water in her eyes (pictured below is her rubbing her face in Trey because her eyes were stinging) so steered clear of the water. 

Luke doesn't like to be out of mama's arms but did catch a few waves and ate a few handfuls of sand.

Tiff & I laid out, Nana worked her Nana-mojo by getting the kiddos to nap and volunteered to sit in the hotel while they did so & the guys were constantly body surfing in the water. Brian would kill me if he knew I posted this photo but he doesn't read my blog and it's his own fault for hamming it up while I was taking pictures of them.  That about sums it up. :)

Day 282:  Brian & I were up early with our kiddos and passed them off to Bapa so we could go for a run on the beach!  Oh that is so much fun! After breakfast Trey, Brian, Nana & Carly built a huge sandcastle (more of a huge hole) while Bapa, Tiff, Luke & I explored the shopping at the pier.  More sun bathing, naps, body surfing and beach walks filled up our day.  We celebrated Tiff's 20th birthday and got a great family picture once the sun was on it's way down.  My dear husband had to head home after dinner so he could go to work the next morning and the rest of us played cards and put the kids to bed.

Day 283: Breakfast, another glorious run on the beach (in dedication of Anna I even laid a towel out and did abs & yoga on the beach...lol), waves, sun, sand, pool time, food...you get the picture.  We were delighted to get in on a special air show as well.  It was going on all weekend so Daytona Beach was beginning to be packed right about the time we were high tailing it out of there!  We packed up and headed out around 2pm and stopped at the Boardwalk for ice cream upon arriving back in what we refer to here in these parts as, "Central Florida."  Brian grilled some fabulous burgers and we all relaxed at our place.

Day 284: Our final day of vacay we all split up for a bit: Luke & Carly hung with the G-parents, Trey, Tiff & I hit Typhoon Lagoon and my wonderful husband faithfully went to work yet again.  We ordered BBQ for dinner, posed the kiddos with Aunt Tiff for a Northwestern pride photo (she missed Homecoming so she could hang in Florida with her fam so we chose to represent)...an evening walk and the day was over.  It was a wonderful vacation and we were fortunate to all be together the same week; particularly when we are all in different states, different time zones and very different stages of life.  Goodbye hugs and kisses are hard but darnet we've gotten good at them after 4 years...and we will all get a few hours (literally) together in two months. Oh...and did I mention Luke got to try ice cream?  I was not pleased but it's just so rude to eat in front of him without sharing so I ended up caving.

Day 285:  The house was very empty when the kids & I woke up on Sunday morning...but Nana walked in the door right as Luke & I were headed downstairs!  She had dropped the party at two different airports for 3 different flights and had returned before 7:30am!  As you can imagine she was exhausted but swooped my boy out of my arms and told me to go get some more sleep!  Bliss.  We were later off to church, ate lunch then tried our very best to lay low from a very full and wonderful week.  I'm so glad she chose to stay an extra three days to help us transition back into normal life and to prevent the water-works of goodbyes all at once. ;)

Project 365: {Days 272-278}

Day 272: I think this will be our last day at the pool! It was a chilly one!  It's been a fun 6 months...see you in April, swimming pool! ;)

Day 273: This makes me laugh every time I see it! We tried out a new park and found this spinney-thing...they were obviously having a blast.  ;)

Day 274: Carly's request for family day: "Mama, go a Mickey park get in line to see pincesses?"

Day 275:  Someone admires his daddy.

Day 276:  So apparently my kid wears his jammies all day. ;)  BUT...look what he has been doing this week....!!

Day 277: I HEART garage sale-ing!! All this right here for...$34. I closed this lovely Saturday which meant we spent our morning checking out the neighborhood garage sale.  We got in the stroller and jogged from house to house.  Carly loved having permission to get out at each stop and pick out a toy if she wanted it.  We stopped at probably 10 homes and she only purchased a stone frog for her garden...breaking the bank at $1.  Each time she would see something Disney she would pick it up & I'd ask her if she wanted to buy it.  She would reply, "Carly have this at home already." LOL.

Day 278:  It was 69 degrees when we left for church...so naturally we pulled out the scarves!! ;)

Project 356: {Days 265-271}

Day 265: Play time at the splash pad at DTD.  I did not anticipate that Luke would want to crawl around the cement and therefore did not bring swim attire for him.  Oops.

Day 266: This morning was SO fun!  We decided to spend a morning by ourselves and packed a picnic, jumped on our bike and headed to a park.  It's been really rainy here so I figured it would rain...but it POURED!  So we happily sat on our blanket eating our food and doing a rain dance when the food was gone.  Luke was trying to escape because he thought it was a repeat of the splash pad from the day before.  We played on the playground for a short while before I explained to Carly that the black clouds in the distance were bringing more rain and we had a 10 minute trek home.  It started raining the second we pulled into the driveway but we made it! :)

Day 267: We thought we would pay the ponies a visit. :)

Day 268: I had to document the first spaghetti meal, right?

Day 269: Ut oh! Look what brother bear can do....

Day 270:  I knew it was way too quiet in the living room!  I was in the kitchen making lunch but I guess not quick enough for Luke! He decided to take matters into his own hands.  I am fortunate that he is not a gaggy baby and that the Lord protects.

Day 271: One of those "hey I haven't taken a picture today" moments...but bonus that we matched! ;)