FINALLY!!!
Yesterday I looked into Lukes mouth and saw that the tooth was RIGHT there, just under the gum...lo and behold, this morning it's popped through!! So finally at 1 year, 1 week and 1 day old, he's got a tooth (on the bottom left)!!
Here are some photos from his birthday party. We had it on Saturday the 29th. We had Lynne, Mandy, Josephine and Felicity over to celebrate with us (those are all neighbors, by the way). Luke got $15 from Lynne, Mandy and Josephine, a play cell phone (which the girls have commandeered), a set of keys that make fun noises (using money from Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Simpson) and a shovel, bucket and car for the sand (using money from Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Troyer). So Luke is now set. We had chocolate cake with sprinkles and I don't think he was too terribly fond of it...but he did like the Chicken Parmigiana that I made. He ate lots of that.
I have to make a note here that I've discovered Lukes favorite food: BLUEBERRIES. He eats them hand over fist...he loves, loves, loves them. It's funny because a while back I gave him a strawberry and he really liked it, but last night I gave him strawberries AND blueberries and he threw all of the strawberries on the floor. He also loves mango. The other day I took him to Whole Foods with me and they always have samples of their produce sitting out, cut up and all...he could not get enough of the raspberries, blueberries and mangoes. Yes, actually raspberries may be his absolute favorite, but they were $2 more per pint, so I didn't buy any. Next time I see them at Costco, I'll have to snatch them up.
Today Savannah got a new bike. Abby has gotten too big for her bike and so we gave Savannah's bike to Abby and got Savannah a new one (trying to make the biggest bang for our buck). I told Abby if she wants, we'll get her a new one for her birthday. Now we can get back into taking our walks...we've been having so much fun, but Abby didn't want to ride anymore...I can't blame her, poor thing had to turn her little legs around about 12 times before she went a foot!
Luke just looked up at Jeremy and said, "DADA" super clearly! Awwwhhh! This age is so fun, there's always so much stuff going on. I was just thinking today, "Man, I'm tired all of the time, what's the deal?" And then I realized...I'm the mommy to a little BOY! EEK!! Yes, he's definitely embracing his boy-ness lately. He's into taking things apart, checking out how they work...he loves balls, wheels, cars, tractors...and is very interested in how all of the pieces go together. And he's discovered the stairs, and how fun they are to climb. Every chance he gets these days, he jets for the stairs. Unfortunately he hasn't learned how to come down too well yet, so I'm nervous letting him go up...unless of course I'm right behind him.
So yes, that's why I'm tired all of the time these days. Gone are the days of plopping him in one spot and letting him play happily for hours. Those days were wonderful while they lasted.
So that's what's new for today. I'm off to enjoy this beautiful, slightly overcast but warm afternoon!
My sweet little man turned 1 today! I know it sounds so cliche, but honestly, the time has flown by. It seems like yesterday that I was pregnant--well, maybe not that I was pregnant, but that he was just a little 'un, it really does not feel like it's been a full year! Luke has been a little under the weather for the past few days...he had a tummy bug and then started getting better and then on Easter was hit with some sniffles and then last night had a fever. Poor guy. So last night was pretty much the worst night since he's been born...I guess he didn't want me to remember what the night before he was born was like for everyone I woke up needlessly! So neither of us slept well and he was very cranky. Then we had to drive all the way home from Papa and Grandmas house. He didn't have the happiest of birthday's--thank God this is just the first and he doesn't know better yet! The girls stayed up at Papa's house, so when they all come down this weekend, we'll have an actual party for him with cake and all (photos to come!). 
One year ago at this time I was probably getting my MUCH needed epidural and just getting ready to push. What a magical evening that was! Having babies is the most wonderful experience! Luke was just getting ready to enter the world and we were anxiously awaiting his arrival...wondering what he would look like, sound like, be like. Oh we had no idea the blessing we were in for. Luke is such a precious little gift. When I found out I was pregnant with him, I prayed and prayed that the Lord would bless us with a baby who wouldn't disrupt our lives too much. All babies disrupt to some extent, but after my experiences with my girls, I was praying for someone a bit easier this time! Oh my did the Lord answer my prayers. Luke is that baby I prayed for. So far in this first year I haven't felt sleep-deprived once--even on nights like last night when the sleep just doesn't come, it doesn't feel so bad because I've been so well rested all of the other nights. Luke is an absolute joy--he smiles, laughs, interacts. He loves his sisters, his daddy and of course his mommy! He's so ticklish that I have to remind myself NOT to tickle him too much because it's so tempting to hear that sweet, soft baby laugh. Luke was even one of those babies I had heard about that sleep thru the night at 8 weeks. I never thought I'd get one of those--ever! But God is gracious and He knew what this mommy needed to maintain her sanity. 
So, at one year old Luke crawls like a normal baby (not always though--he still does the army crawl plenty--I've discovered why he likes it so much...he can have something in one hand and STILL get from point A to point B very quickly!), he cruises (holds on to furniture and walks along a bit), he still has no teeth. He says "Hi" and "Mama". In fact, he said "Mama" VERY clearly today! Yay Luke!!! He also said it the other day when he was upset, he kinda whined, "Maaaa-Maaaa" and then cried. He used to say "da-da-da-da" when he was babbling, but now he says "Na-na-na". I know more words will follow soon, at least I hope because who can resist baby talk?? What else? Luke helps me empty the dishwasher and he, surprisingly, isn't into everything--yet! He stays out of stuff he's not supposed to get into (except the computer keyboard and mouse--those are some of his favorite toys!). He's still not the worlds greatest eater, but I guess with no teeth, that doesn't help! I'm working on getting him to all milk--we were doing really good until he got this tummy bug and I didn't want to stress his tummy out anymore, so I went to just formula for a few days. He's still taking bottles (I know, I know...if this were the girls that would NEVER have been allowed...but you know what?? Who cares?? He's my baby, it's easy and that's that.). He gets one first thing in the morning, one at naptime, one when he wakes up (4oz) and then one at bedtime. He eats 3 meals a day...usually cereal or eggs for breakfast, yogurt for lunch and then whatever we're having for dinner--if he can eat it--otherwise I'll give him a jar of baby food which he does NOT love. He loves to grab my hand and try to see how far he can fling the food if he doesn't like what he's getting. He's now sitting facing forward in his big boy carseat--how fun!! And the other day I made a discovery that is a HUGE turning point in my opinion--I could hand him snacks in the car to keep him quiet--or to avoid having to pull over to feed him! He's not a big snacker though, so we'll have to work on that. I know the time will come quickly enough, if this first year went this fast, I can't imagine how quickly the next one will go.
Well I'm going to wrap this up. Happy Birthday precious little one. You are such a blessing, such a special gift from God. We are SO happy to have you in our family. You are the PERFECT addition we were hoping for. You are the sweetest little boy I have ever seen. I never thought I would love having a baby boy so very much, but I have to say, you've got my heart in your soft, squishy, chubby little baby hands. I love you so much Midder Snake (that's your current pet-name). Speaking of pet names real quick...the other day Savannah called Luke Lu Lu Jolly-Boy. Lu Lu is already one of his nicknames from Papa and Savannah added the Jolly-Boy part on because he's always so smiley and sweet. Uncle Erik said that's probably not a name he's going to want to hang on to...but I thought it was cute...and just shows how much Savannah loves her little brother. Yes, the girls are in love too. It's kinda hard not to fall completely head-over-heels for Luke. Happy Birthday Precious!!
