19 Months Old

Each month, I think that I couldn't enjoy a certain stage more. This is especially true right now. The sun is out (sometimes) and with my Master's degree coursework done, I have more time to spend with my little man. It also allows us more time together as a family. We spent the first weekend I was out of school going out to brunch and playing indoor games since it was raining out. Lukas loved watching the hail come down.

Yesterday Lukas loved singing "rain, rain go away" and actually understood that what was falling from the sky was rain. He kept pointing to the sky and saying "rain." Today when some water dripped from the shower head, he also said "rain." I can't believe the way his little brain is picking up on little things like this everyday.

A new development just this week is that Lukas can repeat a lot of the words that we say. If I say, "Let's go read a story." He'll say "story." It's cool to know that he is understanding more everyday and that our communication with him is definitely not one sided!

We purchased an outdoor basketball hoop for Lukas this month which is absolutely loves. He also has a little tennis racket which he is able to swing quite well, although he still needs help hitting the ball. Lukas clearly has his father's coordination and my good looks for which I am grateful (I am only kidding on the latter, although I am glad he ended up with my green eyes).

Our family is just starting to get used to the idea that in late 2011 or early 2012 we will be welcoming a new member to the family. I have no doubt that Lukas will be an amazing big brother. Today could be summed up in one word: HUGS. Every time I turned around, Lukas wanted to give me a big hug. He also loves to tell Jordi "Goodbye Jordi" when we leave the house, which shows me he is starting to learn that the world is bigger than him.

We're looking forward to a fun summer of swimming, singing classes and lazy afternoons in the backyard. Lukas really enjoys reading books and singing which is nice, since some day I have more energy than others (: I am amazed that he is so interested in books when just 6 months ago, he wouldn't sit still for even one book! We both love to read Goodnight Moon and all the wonderful board books we received at my showers and library books we pick up every few weeks.

Life is simple. And it is good.

Swimming Lessons at the YMCA

Every time we tell Lukas it's time to go swimming, he yells "wheeee!!!!" He thinks we are saying "swinging" instead of "swimming." The more we say swimming, the more he says "wheee!!!!" which creates a pretty hilarious scene. Try it some time -- tell Lukas he's going swimming and every time you say the word swimming he'll yell "wheee!!!"

Today was Andrew's first time going to the lesson with Lukas. It was pretty funny to watch Andrew try to figure out what was going on. The lessons are chaotic, to say the least. Here are my favorite pics from the day. This is what Lukas looked like on his 18 month birthday!

My Sweet Boy is 18 months old

My baby is 18 months old as of tomorrow. No longer a baby but not quite a full-fledged toddler. I was reminded of this early this morning (5:30am to be exact) when Lukas woke up. He just wanted me to hold him. That seems to be happening more and more lately. I think he has gotten so independent, he finds it reassuring to be close to us. And I don't blame him -- it is a crazy world out there!

I can't believe how much has changed since Lukas' first birthday. He has become a bit of a mama's boy, saying mama mama mama more often than daddy, for the first time, well, ever. Now I know how it feels to be adored. I know that I must enjoy it because before I know it, his favorite family member will be Jordi or Daddy again.

Lukas has learned to identify and say eyes, nose and mouth recently. He especially loves pointing out other people's noses or eyes. Sometimes I end up with a finger up my nose -- anything for an enriching learning experience, right?

Lukas is talking more than I expected he would be at this age. Considering Andrew said he never wanted him to learn to talk (he just wanted him to grunt and coo the rest of his life), I think this is payback, big time! He says names of foods very clearly (hummus, berries, apple, cheese, juice, eggs, spoon) a few animals (doggie, kitty, turtle, duck) and lots of toy names (ball, baby, bike, bubbles). Names that says are Jordi, George (for Curious George), Daddy, Mama, Opa and Papa Choo Choo. And it's exciting to hear him start to piece together little phrases like "Oh no!" and "No Jordi!" I know I'm missing a lot of Lukas' words, but these are the ones that come to mind.

Favorite activities include going to the park, throwing balls, reading books in his room, telling us he wants to watch Curious George (and then not watching) helping Mama use the Swiffer, playing with cars, riding on his trike or riding in Daddy's bike trailer. He hasn't really taken to the arts yet - crayons look a little too tasty to waste on paper. So I am nervous to try finger paints!

We are also starting to see the signs that the terrible two's are coming, the result of a bad cold that made him pretty crabby. Although he doesn't say "no" much we get a nice whiny body shake if he doesn't want to do something. Telling him he can't go for a bike ride is not pretty. I'm afraid he's inherited stubbornness from both Andrew and me and he usually ends up getting his way.

Overall, Lukas is sweet and easy going. Spending the day with him isn't as much work as it could be. More often than not, it's a lot of fun. He makes us smile and laugh constantly for which I am grateful. He has a sweet, loving spirit and is such a BOY! We love you Lukas -- happy 18 month birthday.

New Bike

We got Lukas one of those Radio Flyer trikes with a pushbar earlier this week. It's perfect timing with the great weather we've been having. Lukas asks me in the sweetest way to take him out for a ride. He looks at me with his big blue eyes, gets very serious and says, "Mama? Bike?" It's tough to say no to that face and his polite request. The first day we had the bike, we went out four times! This is going to help me get ready for swim suit season, that is for sure! We love going to our favorite coffee shop in the morning with the bike. Lukas gets his own "coffee" to put in the trunk of the bike (it is just ice water in a coffee cup with a straw). He feels SO grown up! When we ask him to hold on with two hands or ring the bell, he always follows instructions. Lukas also likes to wear his "hat" which is really his helmet. I think we're going to stay busy this summer with our new activity (:

Brushing his Teeth

It took four months, but Lukas finally likes to brush his teeth. He likes to make a sound effect to go along with it, which is what we did to try to make tooth brushing more fun. Guess it worked! Our dentist told us to just stick with it. But those first few months were rough - he kicked, screamed and cried every time we tried to brush his teeth. Glad those days are behind us (:

First Haircut

Today Lukas had his first haircut. We weren't sure if we were ready to cut his precious curls, but they were starting to look more like a mullet. So we trimmed the ends to make him look a bit neater. I thought that I would be sad to see my baby get his haircut, but it was actually a lot of fun. There were a bunch of toys for him to play with and he loved sitting in the big car during his cut. He was all smiles the whole time - we were very proud! Here's a picture of Mike the barber, Andrew and Lukas. It was a team effort!

So Snuggly at 18 months

For about a week, Lukas has been really sweet, snuggly and affectionate with both Andrew and me. We know it is not likely to last long, so we're enjoying it while it lasts. Here is a picture of Andrew and Lukas watching the Giants game together for a few minutes before bedtime. There is nothing sweeter than a big hug from our sweet boy.