18 month update

Wow! How in the world has 18 months (actually we are closer to 19) gone by SO FAST!!!???? Seriously, it seems like we just brought Lucas home and now look at him...He is a running, climbing, exploring, big people food eatin', 1 nap a day, independent (Ahem, I AM NOT sure where he gets that from..) chatty little boy! Please put the brakes on little man, for mommy's sake....
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to see all of his new discoveries and milestones. I just hope I can savor this all and remember everything! Keepin' up with him is a fantastic full time job.

Here is a breakdown of SOME of his current favs:

DOGS- LOVES, LOVES, (did I mention LOVES?) him some D-O-G-G-I-E-S. Both Bailey and our neighbors' are big on his list. Along with the ones in books- Go Dog Go (Thanks Great aunt Robin and Casey!), pictures, basically anything.. He loves to talk to his teachers and classmates about doggies too :)

TRUCKS- Another popular subject with Lucas. He tells us WHENEVER he sees one and even seems to be picking up on the different types- Dump...fire...tow...haulers...you name it, he LOVES it! Another favorite book is the TRUCK Book (thanks Edmond's fam!)

VACUUM- this boy is gonna make some woman VERY happy one day! He has been obsessed with our vacuum cleaner and carpet shampooer BUT his Great Nanny got him a kid size version for Easter...LOOK OUT! That is the first toy he runs too once we get inside in the evenings :) Mommy is not complaining!!!

BUBBLES- a newly revisited "game" has topped the list. His teacher at school used this over the last few weeks to help ease my morning drop off. Let's just say- 18 mo. old's get VERY attached to their caregivers- be it mom, dad, babysitter/teacher (the wonderful Ms. Sylvia)...SO..we had a rough week, let me rephrase that- MOMMY had a broken heart :( But we survived and Lucas is lovin' the big kid room and Ms. Sabrina with the help of the bubbles! He also loves to play with them at home now too, ALL of the time in fact...

BALLS-throwing them, kicking them, bouncing on them....you name it, he loves it!

TRASH- well not really playing with it, but finding it, telling us about it, and throwing it away. Again, proud mommy and daddy :)

BLANKIE AND PACI- are still his best buds when he is sleepy, riding in the car, or just having a rough time for whatever reason. Blankie has a backup thank goodness and they both frequent the washing machine :)

ALL ANIMALS AND THEIR SOUNDS- He loves to point these out and Moo, woof-woof, baa...you get the picture :) I can't wait to take him and Justin to the zoo this summer!

CLIMBING -
1)UP THE STAIRS- like a big boy! And not by crawling, he wants to walk just like us. He is so independent with most tasks that he prefers to attempt this on his own, although we are always there to lend our hand and sometimes he accepts...
2) UP ON THE FURNITURE- and sitting there so proud of his accomplishments...
...Not out of the crib YET thank God!

RUNNING- he rarely walks anymore, now he just RUNS everywhere. I am not exxagerating, even his teachers laugh about it. He is always in a hurry,...they mentioned Thursday that they thought he would be a great quarterback since he loves to snatch the toys from his little friends and take-off running! :)

Think those are the ones at the top of the list... We got to go back and see Dr. Snead a couple of weeks ago and after the tears (he hates the stethoscope and mouth/ear check) we were told that we made his job too easy! Lucas looked and sounded like a great little 1 1/2 year old little boy :) I'm sure they tell all parents that, but it is still great to hear...He weighed in at 25 lbs. and 33 1/2 inches -50/50 seems to be his mark! ;) He is a talkative tot, I wrote down everything he is saying these days cause I knew they would ask and counted a whopping ~50 words! Not sure where that trait comes from? ;) We are just enjoying each a every day and are so thankful to be his mommy and daddy. Can't wait to see what the rest of this year has in store...

These were pictures we had taken at the beginning of the month, promise they will be in your mailbox soon Aunt Jean, Wendy, and the gang :)

Springtime fun

Spring could not have arrived soon enough! Well, I was the one who was whining about snow BUT after we got our fill in March I was definitely ready for sunshine, daylight in the evenings, green grass, flowers, and fun days of playing outside. :) For the most part, those days are here finally and we have really been making the most of them. From the time we get home after work and school until dinner- Lucas LOVES to play outside- pushing his lawnmower or ball popper; playing with rocks, sticks, and leaves and other adventures in the woods; ball with Bailey; looking for Aussie (our neighbors dog); going for walks; coloring with chalk; etc. Whatever we do he absolutely loves to be out there! It is often a battle to get him inside to eat believe it or not....

We have also shared in some fun festivities and play dates with great friends on the weekends. This past weekend Lucas got to hang out with lots of little pals! We helped celebrate Will's 30th birthday and got to see Hunter again for the little Hawaiian Luau. He and Lucas had fun practicing their climbing skills and playing with the party guests :)

camera hams :)

We also enjoyed a lovely cookout with the Smith family. Lucas and Scarlett play better and better together every time we get them together. He loved chasing her around and playing inside and out with mommies and daddies! He just missed her in daycare again since they are 6 months apart. She just celebrated her 2nd birthday and moved up to the next class just as he was getting bumped up into the 18-24 mo. room. Sooner or later they will be together! She is such a sweetheart :)

the big kids :)

Don't worry, the daddies were nearby :)

We also got to catch up and hang out with The Edmond's family for a little bit. Lucas adores Preston and they had a blast playing with chalk on the driveway! Coloring the driveway and themselves I should say (check out Lucas' butt) Well, actually he did that by sitting on Preston's masterpiece.... We got to see sweet little almost one year old Aubrey too but I didn't get a picture with her, she was a napping princess most of the time we were there ;)

CHEESE!

double trouble :)

doesn't it look like they are plotting something?

catch me if you can!


I also got to get some pansies in pots and baskets on Saturday. Lucas really loved helping mommy with this task and daddy was gracious enough to capture it on the camera for us. He was so excited to scoop the dirt and drag the bag around for me. I tried getting him to put the actually flowers in the dirt for me...well, he tried but thought it was more fun to pull the leaves and petals off and THEN drop them on top of the dirt! ;) Hey, gotta start somewhere I guess?

showing him what to do....

his take on that idea!:)

" here is some more dirt mom"

"I'm coming to help!"

my sweet little helper :)

Monkey Business

Last weekend (yep, rewind back to the end or March) we had a fantastic visit with the Webb Family. We always love to catch up and get together when we get a spare moment in both of our hectic schedules. Well we found time and they got to come visit us, HOORAY! They are good friends from college/post-college years and they have an adorable little boy Russell who will be two later this week! I am sure he and Lucas will be great friends :) It was a rainy weekend so outside fun got postponed but that was OK, the boys had a blast playing together and we adults had fun catching up too! We laid low at the house and headed out for a yummy supper at Riverbound later that evening. They wore themselves out and entertained each other quite well for the better part of the day. We enjoyed watching them communicate and mimic one another's actions. Russell would throw the ball, then Lucas would find one and do the same :) Their endless energy was amazing despite the fact that they were both battling colds/allergies...you know little boys!


On Sunday we awoke to more good times and laughter followed by a big yummy breakfast. I created an inside playground with the love seat for the munchkins, who says they need expensive toys and entertainment ;) ? It was such a treat to spend time with good friends with no real agenda- just time together is perfect :) Lucas was sad to see his buddy go, we were too. We can't wait to do it again, and head down their way for some summer fun!