2 years old!

My Dear Sweet Luke,

I love you so much.  I can hardly say how much I love you, me and Daddy both.  We can't believe it's been two whole years since you've graced our presence.  You are the best thing that's happened to our marriage, you are the most special thing to us and we love spending our time caring for you.

You have gotten so big, and it makes me tear saying that you are so much more a little boy then a baby now.  You have learned so much and started talking so much more.  We love to hear you talk and know what you have to say.  In fact, since you've been saying more complete sentences and thoughts I've wrote down a few that have made me and Daddy laugh.

Me: You're birthday is coming soon

You: Yes!

Me: We got you a present

You: No!

Me: ok...

You:  It's scary

We did give you part of your present today, Tinker Toys, at your birthday party with Grandma, Papa, Aunt Casey, Cousin Kenzie and Cousin Kruz.  You happened to really like them and it wasn't so scary.  It wasn't as scary as when we sung happy birthday to you.  I think you were scared of all the attention.  But it's ok, maybe next year.

Cousin Kenzie helping you open your present

with daddy checking out new presents

We make a lot of trips up to see Grandma and Papa or Usa, or sometimes just to go shopping or to do something fun.  You love to cross the huge bridges downtown and see the boats down on the river.  Once when we went to Usa's house I told you to look out the window at the boats.  You said...

"Careful Boat.  Careful.  Here comes dolphin."

You make me laugh.  When we eat you put something into your mouth, think for a moment then say 'It tastes... like...'.  When you climb down from dinner off of the bar stools you say "help, self".  Instead of asking, help Mama or help Daddy.  I'm surprised at how much food you love now too.  You eat almost anything we make and you'll try almost anything.  There's a song on a youtube sesame street video where the count sings 'eight, eight, eight is great'.  You sing 'steak, steak, steak is great.'  And you still love bananas.  Though, as summer gets closer, I think you'll make your swing to berries again. 

Thai food for lunch

Everything is 'huge one' to you.  If there is a big bite, you say huge one.  Sometimes when you go poop in the toilet you come out and say 'huge poop'.  Or when you pee, you say 'huge pee'.   Or when asking for a slice of butter, when we are cooking, you almost always ask 'huge one'... saying that you want a huge slice of butter.   You also say 'small one' too.  

One thing that is an obsession for you right now is playing guitar.  You were playing one of your Daddy's electric guitars but it was way too heavy to carry around so Daddy bought you an acoustic guitar.  You guys went to the store and picked it out.  There was a range of sizes but you chose the largest one.  Every time you talk about your guitar you tell us that 'you bought it at the store, and you chose it'.  Not a day goes by with out you playing guitar.  Especially when Daddy gets home.

Daddy and you play lots of games when he gets home from work.  Mostly guitar but also 'chase daddy', hide and seek, roll off bed, 'under blanket', run in circles with ballons.  (Notice all of the running games that pregnant Mama can't do right now.  Can't wait to run around with you again.)

Your best friend is Misu.  Even though every once and a while you bang her head with one of your toys (she's a very patient dog), you still love her.  In fact, when our neighbors took Misu for a walk you cried for almost 10 minutes wondering where she went.  You thought she was gone.  It was very sad.  You also tell her that you love her while you give her a big hug.  'I wuv you, Misu'.  It melts our hearts.  

We also can't handle how you can work technology.  You can open Netflix on our iPhones and watch your Kipper show.  You know how to find almost every App that we've downloaded for you.  And just recently you know that our phones store tons of pictures and videos we've taken of you.  You love to watch all the videos of yourself and see pictures of things we've recently done to remember them.  Some day between you and Daddy, you guys will probably do some crazy computer stuff.

We've enjoyed the last two years so much.  I know every year we'll say the same thing.  We love watching you grow, but we can't believe it's happening so fast.   I'll miss these days so much when you're older but the next stages will bring more exciting stuff.  

We love you so much, 

Mama and Daddy

7 Quick Takes Friday...5

-1-

Wednesday night was a late one for us.  Luke didn't sleep till 12:30 or so.  I was groggy so I'm not sure exactly what time everything took place but all I know is that I woke up right before two, twenty minutes after my husband went to bed, and saw police lights flashing through our bedroom window.  The lights were coming from the back side of our house.  I woke my husband up.  We both looked out, at first we thought it was just someone getting pulled over.  But then after a few minutes they did that quick siren beep every couple of minutes.  That usually happens when they are chasing someone, on foot, to scare them into running.  My husband turned on his iPhone police scanner app (yeah I don't know why he has it) and we listened to try to figure out what they were doing.  It was actually pretty creepy at first because we did find out that they were trying to chase someone on foot that was less than half a mile to our house.  Then we were trying to figure out clues as to what they were doing.  This lasted until about 3:30 am then they finally caught the guy, laying down in someone's backyard, which we think was his girlfriend's yard.  And we think that the girlfriend called the police.  And then we think he was drunk driving because they talked about him hitting cars.  But other than that we still don't know all the details.  I was tired in the morning.... but it was kinda fun listening in on all the action with my husband.

 

-2-

 

I'm 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant now.  I'm actually ok with waiting now until after the weekend so that we can celebrate Luke's 2nd birthday, Monday the 23rd.  We're supposed to have a party for him Sunday if nothing happens before.

-3-

I've been enjoying listening to Mark Sisson and Dr Mercola talk about health in this 7 part series.  I haven't finished it yet, but so far it's really interesting.  I didn't know this before but Mark's Daily Apple is the #3 Health website on the Internet.  Crazy right??

-4-

 

We got a kids pool for our backyard this week.  It was one of the things I wanted to get before the baby came so that we'd have a few things to do in the backyard during the nice summer weather.  We had a couple of 70 degree weather days here this week so we gave it a try.  Luke really didn't go all the way in, mostly just his feet.  And the dog enjoyed drinking the water.

Have I mentioned I love our new house? 

 

-5-

 

We went to Spanish Mass last Sunday.  We woke up really unusually early so we thought we'd go to 8:30 but Luke had a melt down before we went so we decided just to stay at home until 10:30 Mass because then we could calm down before going.  But then Luke fell back asleep.  So we were left with Spanish Mass.  But I really enjoy it.  There are TONS of kids Luke's age so we don't feel so out of place when Luke talks loud or make a bunch of noise.  I think the 10:30 Mass we usually go to is a little more quiet.  And the music is awesome... Luke really likes the guitar player and his 'back pack' (shoulder strap). 

-6-

 

This is a new game at our house.  I don't like it when my husband isn't here... just in case he actually hurts himself.  And, of course, the morning after my husband and him were doing this game, while my husband was at work, Luke decided to head plant into the floor. 

 

-7-

 

Luke and I had a really great week together.  They'll be lots of changes when the baby comes, hopefully not too big, but I'm enjoying Mama and Luke time while I've got it :)

I love doing things like this because I can actually come up with things to talk about.  Then I also get to write down and remember my week.  See you next Friday!

Check out more at Conversion Diary!

Wordless Wednesday- Enjoying time together before baby comes

Smoothie before our trip to the science Museum

in the sandbox

there is this air thing that makes balls float up and Luke made his hair stand up

I thought for sure I'd go into labor while taking a trip to this museum, without my husband, about 40 minutes away from our house.  No luck.

Loving baby sister

So fascinated by my outward belly button

For more Wordless Wednesday picture fun check out Hobo Mama!

40 Weeks!

LOL, it makes me laugh to write 40 weeks at the top.  Just like when I was at the store today and the girl in the check out asked when my baby was due.  I said 'oh, today actually'.  It was even better with Luke, people would ask and I would say, oh I was due a week ago... and so on until day 10.

Anyway, hopefully this will be my last pregnancy pic.  Enjoy!

And, tonight I had my last pregnancy pedicure with Usa.

I asked Luke what color I should get before going and he said Blue.  So blue it was.  It's hard to see but it's actually glittery blue.

Welp, it could be any day now....

7 Quick Takes Friday...4

-1-

I've been hooked on Greek God's plain yogurt again.  I occasionally buy the honey flavor.  But just last week I've decided that I wanted to try plain again. Oh, it's so much better than the honey.  I mash half a banana in the yogurt as a sweetener.  It's so good.

 

-2-

Even though I'm REALLY tired, I've decided I don't care if the baby comes late.  I think I've just accepted that I gestate longer than 40 weeks.  Maybe I won't quite go 10 days over this time...
Let's talk dates.  If I go 10 days over this time, she will be born on the 26th.  And I like odd numbers, so maybe we could do 9 days over for the 25th, which is my Dad's birthday, or the 27th.
Then again, my in-laws have this weird thing where almost everyone in the family has a birthday on the same number day... not the same month but on the same number.  Like my husband and his sister were both born on the 11th.  My nephew and Father in Law on the 14th.  My son and MIL born on the 23rd.  And so on and so on.  So, if I had the baby on the 18th, only 2 days over due date, she would have the same number day as my husband's grandpa, her great grandpa.  Then there's always the discussion on when would be the best time for my husband to talk off work.  At this point, he will run into Memorial Day, so he gets a little extra bonus day off at home with us.
LOL, she'll probably come tomorrow.  I had to laugh a little, we just got our car seat today.  Even though I'm having a home birth, we thought it might be a good idea to have one.  I guess we have it in our mind that there is still plenty of time... maybe that's why I haven't started labor yet....

-3-

My son picked this flower for me at the park...

aww

 Then picked this next one to give to the dog.

Then she ate it.

-4-

 

We had a fire on our little BBQ the other day.  I think it was a grease fire.  It was awesome to come out side with smoke puffing out of the BBQ and opening the lid to find this huge fire.  

 

 

 

-5-

 

We all had appointments this week at my midwife's office.  There's two midwives, both are Naturopathic Doctors.   So they also do appointments for adults as well as paediatrics.   I LOVED having Luke go there instead of a regular doctor.   They are so much better informed about natural ways to healing and preventing things than regular doctors.  Like, instead of being told to have Luke take tylonol at night for his two year molars, they just mixed up some homoeopathic medicine for him.  It has been working well too.  It feels good to find a doctor that you can trust and rely on.  I haven't felt that way before.

-6-

 

Luke got finger paints yesterday.  This is his first happy face that he drew.  I couldn't believe it.  He hasn't really drawn anything specific yet... so this was a first.  He really loves painting and drawing.  We usually do it most days.

 

-7-

My dad sent me this funny email... Enjoy

The Broken Mower

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that

I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care

of first, the truck, the car, playing golf - always something more important

to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home

one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily

snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a

short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when

I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, "When you finish cutting

the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway."

 

 

The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

Moral to this story: Marriage is a partnership in which one person is always

right, and the other is the husband.

I love doing things like this because I can actually come up with things to talk about.  Then I also get to write down and remember my week.  See you next Friday!

Check out more at Conversion Diary!

39 Weeks! and more

One week!  I think I'm going to be late.   I really don't see myself going into labor in the next 6 days.
I feel ok, I feel almost exactly the same as when I was this far along with Luke.  I am having some contractions but mostly when I'm exerting myself- carrying Luke a long ways, cleaning, standing a lot, etc.  Really at this point in time, I don't care too much about when I'm going to go into labor...


***

Misu's birthday is today.  Isn't she cute?

******

Mother's Day

I think I talked about this last year... But my mom died when I was a small kid.  So, Mother's Day hasn't always been the most special or exciting holiday for me.  In fact, I kinda didn't like it because it was always weird.  Not that I was sad about loosing my Mom but more like it was always brought up by accident at school when we made crafts for our moms or by someone trying to be nice.  It was just awkward.  But now, since I'm a mother myself, it takes on a whole new meaning.  Now it can be something I'm excited about.
So here's me and my son on Mother's Day.  I almost forgot to take pictures so we're almost ready for bed in these pictures.  Maybe next year we'll actually do it after church when we're in nice clothes.

****

My grandparents came to visit this weekend.  I wasn't sure about them coming so close to my due date but then thinking about it I realized how I'm probably going to be late anyway, so it really won't make much of a difference.
It was really fun having them up.  I wish they could stay longer, and come visit more often.  Luke loved them.  He didn't get shy when they got here, he almost immediately took to them.  I told him they were "Grammy and Grandpa" which is what I call them.  But Luke decided on Gammy and Papa.  The Gammy because he can't say 'r' very well... and I'm not sure about Papa.  Maybe because he calls his other Grandpa Papa.
My grandma gave me a glider chair that she got from a garage sale and then reupholstered.  It's so nice and wide and great.  It'll come in handy while nursing my new baby.

Well, that's it for now.  I'll update more this week if something happens or if we do something cool....

7 Quick Takes Friday...3

-1-

I had pizza tonight.  I don't know why, I had been craving it for a while.  We eat mostly primal but for some reason I just wanted bread.  My stomach hurt today and yesterday and I always feel like some kind of bread when it hurts.  Maybe to soak up acid.  Though, it always makes me feel worse.  Anyway, the pizza was sooo good.  But, oh boy will I probably pay for it.  Luke is obsessed with it so I'm glad we never have it.

-2-

I saw my midwife today.  She visits me at my house most of the time, unless she's busy Friday, then I have to go up to her office which is about 40 minutes away.  She was half hour early for the appointment today.  She pulled up to the house right as my husband got home from work.  He usually takes a work break for about a half hour before the appointment just to help me pick up everything and helps with Luke.  He texted me 'Midwife is here. I am not kidding.'  At the exact moment I heard the text and read it, I saw out the window that her car was here.  PANIC.  I just had my night gown on which is pretty revealing since it's a nursing night gown, and Luke had no pants on.  We were in the middle of cooking bacon.  I ran back to the bedroom to change and to get Luke ready and my husband had let her into the house and turned off the stove.  I guess it's not that big of deal since she'll see me give birth.  But I was totally not expecting her that early.  And I'm not sure who got the time wrong, I thought I had it written down right, but I also had the time wrong on another one a few weeks ago.  Oh well.

-3-

We got to talk to our priest friend yesterday.  We chatted with him for half hour.  I can't remember the last time we have talked to him on the phone/in person.  He was really excited to hear that we are about to have another baby.  He suggested to ask our priest for the Catholic Book of Blessings and to pray the blessing for a new baby and to consecrate her to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He also asked us how our marriage was doing.  I was just telling Ben that day that I couldn't imagine being married and not having kids right away.  Having a child has been such a blessing to our marriage.  Even though we've had some tiring nights and long days, I just don't even know what we'd do together with no kids.  I suppose we would have found something...

-4-

 

 The dog and cat both slept in the bed one afternoon for nap time this week.  I couldn't believe it.

Pickle staring down Misu

Misu sleeping

Both together.  It's hard to see since I had to take the picture while Luke was sleeping on my arm.

Technically they weren't both on the same bed, since we cosleep and have two beds pushed together.  But that was a lot closer than its every been.

 

-5-

 

We got poop keychains as part of a gift from our friends, Luke's godparents.  We exchanged our Christmas presents just a few days ago (yeah I know really late).  

This is sort of an inside joke with some of my close friends... and I'm not really sure how it started... well, ok maybe I do.  But anyway, my husband proudly put his on his key chain.  I asked him, what are you going to do when someone asks what those are at work.  Wouldn't that be embarrassing?  I think so.  Anyway, I have to figure out which one I'm going to use.

You can purchase your own here.

-6-

Monday I had contractions.  When I was pregnant with Luke, I had Indian food the day before I went into labor.  Not that I think it worked, since I was 10 days late with him, I figured i'd be worth the shot of trying again.  So Tuesday evening we went to Indian food for dinner.  I'm still pregnant.  

Didn't hurt though, the food was good.

 

-7-

I'm thinking about calling my parents and in-laws at weird hours the next week just to let them think that I'm in labor... then when they answer I'll say HI!  And act surprised when they ask if I'm doing ok or what I'm doing calling so late/early.

Ok, maybe I won't do it to my inlaws since they are out of town.  But, maybe I should try with my dad.  I'm sure he'd enjoy the scare :)  ok, ok, Dad, I won't do it....

I love doing things like this because I can actually come up with things to talk about.  Then I also get to write down and remember my week.  See you next Friday!

Check out more at Conversion Diary!

A fun stay at home day

In case you missed (but really how could you), I'm pregnant... and sometimes  dont' really feel like going anywhere.  So yesterday we didn't.  But it was a really great day.

First we got up and I had lots of energy.  I don't know why.  I had been having some contractions the day before but yesterday, not so much.  Luke and I had a great breakfast of primal waffles and sausage.  About that time, Ben came home for lunch (yeah we get up late so sometimes they overlap). He normally comes home for lunch since he only works a mile and a half away.  But the last few days he's been busy with meetings at lunch, then Luke and I had been gone at lunch one day.  So it was fun to continue our family lunch time as usual.

flipping the sausage

pouring the batter on.  his favorite part.

there's almost not a meal that passes where Luke doesn't eat butter

Once Ben went back to work we hung our laundry outside.  It was the second official time we've been able to do that.  Finally some nice days.

 

Then it was nap time.  After nap I decided to ask Luke if he wanted a picnic.  He talks about picnics sometimes because his dog show that he watches has a scene when they do a picnic.  He was really excited about the picnic, he got right out of bed after the nap.  We made a few things and took them outside in the front yard (instead of the backyard so the dog wouldn't bother us).  We stayed out there for almost an hour eating and looking around.  We saw a bluebird land on our mail box, a few different bugs, and airplanes fly by in the sky.

picnic time

can you see the bluebird? 

Once we were done I asked Luke if he wanted to go to the park.  It was about 4 at this point and my husband doesn't get home until 6.  He was excited but once we got inside he decided he wanted to play with his blocks and toys in our 'playroom' living room.  We really need a couch or something comfortable to sit in that room so I wasn't too excited at first.  But, it turned out to be really fun.  We played pandora toddler tunes and played with toys.  I actually had a really fun time just playing.  I even built this cool block thing but then Luke promptly knocked it over, pic below.

my towers

destroyed!

After Ben got home we had dinner outside to take advantage of the warm weather.  Since we grilled dinner, clean up was easy!  Then we took a walk with the dog to the park and stayed there until it was dusk.

Luke playing 'chase Daddy' on the way to the park.

skinned knee :( one of the first.  thankfully he didn't really care about it.

still chasing Daddy and Misu

Doggy likes park too

my husband almost always climbs to the top of this thing when we go to the park.  he was kinda disappointed I didn't take the picture when he was at the top.  but just so you know, he can climb to the top :) lol

Sometimes I can't believe how fun it is just to relax at home and actually play.  Playing more often is something I think I need to do more of.  I mean I play all the time, but sometimes I don't play like a child... with blocks and toys and my imagination.

I wanted to type this day down before I forgot what a great day we had.