Luke Update

What's our guy up to now?? Well...a lot! He is a BUSY toddler, who likes to go, go, go, until he drops. Our days our filled with playing, learning, and LOTS of talking. We tried to make a list of how many words Luke now knows, but we stopped when we got to around 40 words. He says a new word just about every day, and is stringing two or three together on occasion. He is learning his colors ("yeyow" and "bu" are his favorites), and loves to dance to music.

He knows when he's tired and will cry "nigh-nigh" until we put him in his crib. He loves to play outside and has become quite fond of digging in the dirt. We are working on getting him a sandbox to try to save our flower beds a bit!

Luke helps with many household chores, including sweeping, laundry, and putting his toys and shoes away, and most of the time, is really good at listening to and following Mommy and Daddy's instructions. He has become really affectionate lately, giving lots of hugs (the big, wrap-his-arms-around-you, lay-his-head-on-your-shoulder, and squeeze hugs!), and kisses (the other night, he took my face into his hands and kissed me on each cheek, the nose and the forehead). With this affection for Mommy and Daddy, has come a new phase of separation anxiety. He does not like it when we leave him and is not easily distracted. He knows what he wants...his Mommy and Daddy...and nothing or no one else will do! We are working through this though, and practicing some "tough love", showing him that sometimes Mommy and Daddy have to go away and that he is safe with other adults.

Luke loves to wear hats (which is a good thing, considering he still doesn't have a whole lot of hair!), has a major sweet-tooth (he asks for honey to eat on most days...I think he would eat it straight out of the bottle if he could!), and likes to color with crayons. He still LOVES playing in the water. Can you tell from the photos below?



Luke is learning to eat with a fork and a spoon and said good-bye to his bedtime bottles a few weeks ago (it was super easy for him, but harder on Mommy and Daddy, since we didn't want to give up that cuddle time!). He likes to practice making animal noises ("hee-haw" and "oo-oo-oo" are two of his newest), and loves to point out school buses and tractors when we're in the car. I don't think we can call him our "baby" anymore. He is getting to be such a big boy and we are so proud of him!