First Floater

In the toilet, that is. Yesterday marked the first day that the little bugger threw something in the toilet. While I was brushing my teeth, the little guy sprint-crawled into the bathroom, picked up the toilet lid (which, shockingly, I had remembered to close) and proudly plunked on of the cute leather boots that you see in the pic above into the water. Luckily he put in in sole down, so I managed to fish it out before the lovely toilet water got into the inside of the shoe. Please ignore his filthy clothes in the pic, his top tooth is just cutting through and he is a drool machine. The other picture is Luke digging into his first Thanksgiving Day Turkey. It was a huge hit.

Luke has a new obsession.....the "I'M GONNA GET YOU GAME" now is played over and over in our house. He laughs so hard he literally takes his own breath away. He loves the "chase" and has to turn around every 5 feet to make sure you are in hot pursuit. He crawls so fast in the getaway period that he sometimes face plants right into the floor, which only makes him laugh harder. I love this age.

First Steps?!

So, what does a milestone make?

Luke has been taking one step for a couple of weeks now. He is fully comfortable standing around on his own not holding onto anything, and that one step would come occasionally before a dramatic happy dive into Mom or Dads waiting arms. As of yesterday, he is now taking two steps at a time. So I guess Luke has officially crossed the 'first steps' threshold. I really think of the milestone being more "walking", but when I was talking to my Mom about it today she said "how incredible, have you put it in his baby book yet?" to which I had to sheepishly reply no. (Although I have a baby book for Luke, I really think of this blog as more of his baby book.) So hear ye, hear ye. A new milestone under the belt. First steps. Wah~hoo little Luke! I can't even believe that you have gone from the pink screaming little newt that you were on your birthday (above, moments after birth) to a funny little critter who walks upright in 9 short months!

I also experienced a milestone lately. It's officially my "SECOND PREGNANCY" as I totally spaced out on an OB appointment last week and was a no show. Last go round I could have told you to the day how far along I was, how many days were left until my due date, and the date and time of every upcoming doctors appointment. Nothing about the awe pregnancy gives me is different this go round ~ those moments laying on the couch after dinner when Deuce is kicking around for Nate to feel and being in bed in the middle of the night feeling kicks and rolls are just as magical and awe inspiring to me, getting to watch my belly grow and change still produces the same fascination in me.....but some of the day to day pregnancy obsession/fixation is gone. Sometimes I forget I am pregnant. In the same way someone who uses a cane or wears glasses forgets that they have them with them, after being pregnant two years in a row I sometimes forget about my protruding belly.....

The Scream

So "THE SCREAM" has resurfaced. I don't know if it is teething, temper, or simple vocal exploration, but dear LORD I hate the scream.

As a result, I felt more impatient with Luke today than I have ever before in his life. Then, this afternoon I read "On the Day You Were Born" to him and wept like a baby with guilt and shame at my feelings of impatience and frustration earlier in the day. I think back to the day that this amazing little critter was born, I look at what a beautiful, healthy, sweet, guileless and helpless little creature I have been entrusted with and just weep at how woefully and entirely inept I am ~ how incapable I am of ever attaining the perfectly patient, selfless, "mother ideal" that the world tells us we should all strive to be. But I, like all mothers, continue to try, stumbling on in my imperfect way. Motherhood. Motherhood while pregnant. Motherhood while moving, and while living life to the beat of "THE SCREAM".

Smashing Castles

This is Luke on the beach in Grand Cayman doing what (apparently) comes very naturally to children....smashing sandcastles. Right now I feel a bit like doing the very same thing to our house. I think that the very process of boxing up all of your earthly possessions is natures way of ensuring that any sentimentality you had concerning leaving your old house behind is non-existent come move time. I remember the first day that I stepped out on the porch to see a "For Sale" sign in the front yard and started crying.....right now if we had gotten home last night and seen that the house had somehow caved in upon itself I might have started cheering as it meant less things to have to move! I exaggerate, of course, but man. I am in that awkward place of not really being able to just tear into and box everything up yet as we are still too far out from our move. We still are using our plates, kitchen things, clothes etc...I cant yet pack them.....So it gives me lots of time to brood as I look around thinking, how the heck are we going to do this? And I know, I know, bit by bit, blah blah blah. I have no doubt that we can and will capably complete this move, but jeez will I be glad to simply be in the new house. We went and purchased our appliances this weekend. As it's new construction you have to buy a washer/dryer and Fridge.....for whatever random reason the builder supplies the rest of the appliances. It was frighteningly expensive (who knew that a simple device to keep your food cold could cost so much???) but I love what we got and am excited to get everything in place! If you had told me 10 years ago when I was single, childless and working that a fridge, washer and dryer could have made me so excited I would have laughed in your face. Oh how things change. It's starting feel real to me that very very soon we are going to be waking up in a new house!

Luke had a great Thanksgiving. I will download some pics of him tearing into his first, wonderful Thanksgiving day meal soon. He ate with a gusto ~ Cranberry sauce, mashed & sweet potatoes, stuffing, turkey, broccoli, corn etc etc etc.....His cold is getting better but not yet 100% gone. It was so good to get to spend time with family in friends up in the Burg before setting into this last phase of craziness before the move!

Pie, Poker, and Praise

I just found this photo from this day last year. I was maybe 28 weeks or so pregnant with Luke, and Mom was marvelling at my belly. It was pie and poker night ~ the girls were making pie's at Mom and Dads while the guys were at Waynesborough playing poker. This particular evening was overshadowed by fear and worry ~ we had gotten some troubling news regarding a possible mass on my Dad's pancreas earlier that day. That was day one of what was a long road for my entire family, but especially for my Mom and Dad. I still can't really write about it or dwell on it for too long without getting overly emotional, but I am thrilled and overwhelmed with gratitude to be able to say that today my Dad is healthy and back to normal after a mentally and physically harrowing time of it.

We never see things like health crises coming. Part of what makes illness shockingly painful is the suddenness with which it can strike. I just remember being so pregnant, and so filled with joy at the new life that was coming into our family, and then WHAM, this appeared on our horizon. Like I said, I cant really talk or write about it, so I have to cut this off before I get too upset. I can say that it taught me that the strength that faith can give can truly be unshakable. It taught me that marriage is truly a gift from God as I watched the patient, hopeful and fierce way that my Mom loved and nurtured my Dad through his ordeal. It taught me that at the end of the day, your family will ALWAYS be there, even in the darkest hours. It taught me that hope is something that you have to cling to, even when it seems you are hoping for a miracle. It taught me that each day is a gift and you never know what could lurk around the corner.

As I sit here this afternoon, the guys are out golfing in advance of their poker game. My Dad is healthy. I get to spend the afternoon making pies with my Mom and Sister. My sweet Luke is napping, and improbably I find myself 6 months pregnant again. Life is so good, so full. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family ~ and to all of the friends who have also become my family. Today I thank God for all of you, for our health, for our Country, for our right to worship as we please, to think as we please and to have the freedom that so many others lack. I cant even begin to contemplate what other mothers and wives are dealing with as their sons or husbands are fighting a war in a far away place, and I am thankful for the sacrifice that they make for our country. Life can be so hard, but is so filled with blessings. Enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone. Love to all.

Messy Motherhood

Generally speaking, I am a slightly obsessive neat freak. I like order and neatness, if not actual sparkling "you could eat off the floor" levels of cleanliness. HOWEVER........I am particularly, gleefully, messy right now. I am undergoing some sort of juvenile rebellion after the strictly enforced OCD~like neatness that showing/selling the house required of me the past 6 weeks or so. I may never, EVER again straighten the slipcovers on the couches (the knowledge that the couches are not making the move with us to the new house further heightens my resentment of those blasted slipcovers). I refuse to pick up Luke's toys every 5 minutes. Sometimes I don't even wipe down the highchair from one feeding to the next. *Gasp* I never for a moment even considered how sinfully decadent and delicious it could feel to just revel in a little mess. Add to that the fact that I have fantasies of drilling a small hole in my nose to drain my stuffed up sinuses, Luke has a cold, we are beginning to start packing, and I have been running around like a madwoman picking out Granite counter tops, lighting fixtures, carpeting and plumbing fixtures and ugh.....its been hectic. Can I say that I never for even a moment considered how many sorts of plumbing fixtures there are in the world? And that doesn't even begin to touch the number and variety of finishes available for those fixtures! Its a whole world that I never knew about. Truly. And picking out your closet lights? MAN! Hardly the pinnacle of excitement, but still necessary and time consuming.
I have had a hard time sleeping the past few nights as I contemplate the move, packing, the new house, and this hole that I want to drill in my nose (the scar potential scares me, so the new fantasy involves somehow doing it up through one nostril....thank GOD I don't have chronic or even occasional sinus issues or I may well have maimed myself long ago....) I picture Luke looking out of the french doors over the back porch taking in his first snowfall...him running around the yard, cuddling with his new brother or sister and me on the couch in front of the fire....I love the idea that he is going to wake up on his very first Christmas morning in his new home! Then my mind begins to wander and I picture how wonderfully neat I will be "in the new house", the incredible meals, the entertaining, the creative arts and crafts projects I will do "in the new house" ~

I shamefully admit that I have created this fantasy wherein I will be a better, more together, thoughtful, creative and all-around-wonderful person "in the new house". Poor house. Has no idea what sorts of pressure I am already putting on it in my sleepless nighttime craze!

Luke is now a waving machine. Its his new shtick, and he loves to show it off to Nate and I, but when we try to take the show on the road he looks at us like we are crazy. He loves to make liars out of us already. He is still standing around, then taking one step, and appears in no rush to really start walking. He has a snotty nose, but no fever, so I am doing my best to get it out of his system before we travel up the the burg for Thanksgiving. I cant wait to see the little bugger dig into his first plate of turkey and all the trimmings. Meals have become a disgusting adventure in taste and sensory exploration. We are hot and heavy into the whole concept of "finger foods". It is funny and scary at the same time. Luke delights in his food. He picks it up, eats it, drops it, rubs it in his hair, throws it to the dog, spits it all over his chin, etc etc......Every time I change him into his pajamas I find a small snapshot of the days meals inside of his onesie.
Motherhood, moving, and mess.

We got the house!

And we finally came to terms with the buyer of the WC house! Here is a pic of it several months ago, the exterior is finished now. Settlement is currently slated for Dec 14th, but we may try to push that back one week, we will know more today. What a horrible process buying and selling is. Not suitable for personalities like mine. Thank God that it is all over with, and that we have found a wonderful home for our family to grow into. I cant wait to have everyone over now that we will actually have space to entertain you in! Thanks for all of the prayers and encouragement as we dealt with all of this madness. Nate is off to settlement on the condo today, and we are celebrating tonight :)

Shout Out

Luke requested that I post a special shout out to his Grandpop tonight ~

On the day Luke turned 9 months old Grandpop shot an 80, with two birdies, at Augusta. "Golf Heaven" was the exact terminology that Grandpop used in his text. No further details are known at this time, but this is certainly a milestone for Grandpop, and ought to be celebrated as such. Way to go, big guy. Love you.

9 Months!

Here is a pic of our little (growing) family 9 months into this whole parenting thing. I cant believe that Luke is 9 months old today. He has made it so very easy and enjoyable for us.

Luke has had a few milestones lately.....

*He takes a step now, just one or so, before diving into your arms. Walking is right around the corner.
*He officially ate his first piece of dog food. I would like to say that it will be his last, but I have no illusions. He seemed to like it as it has only increased his fervent need to run crawl to the dogs bowl whenever he spots it on the floor.
*He has tasted Mahi Mahi, meatballs, pork and all sorts of other delicacies in the past two weeks. My little blond hair blue eyed part Italian baby really seemed to dig the meatball. Go dego baby, go.
*He has learned to point. Its a weird sort of point, one where he holds up his outstretched hand almost as though he is singing opera and hitting a high note. He plays around with his fingers, occasionally getting one to stick out in a pose not far off from a real legitimate "point". Sometimes its his middle finger that he is pointing with, which adds another element of humor to the whole process.
*He has become aware of his boy parts. I feel like a bad mother writing about this, but, well, its just funny. We had him naked on the beach in Grand Cayman feeding him lunch in the shade one day when he got this funny, glazed, far off look in his little eye.......suddenly I realized where his hand was and nearly fell off of my chair laughing. His life is really just beginning. You boys are strange creatures. Lovable, but strange.
*He wont stop talking. The Dad Dad Dad song is a near constant lately.....interspersed with the Na Na Na chant, the Moms and the blah blah blah, its always interesting. He also dances. He gets so excited that he bounces up and down and bobs his head like a small diapered lunatic. Its awful cute.

Nate is away and little man is upstairs sleeping. Its a big day here as we hope to wrap up the negotiations with the buyer of my house for repairs/credits related to the inspection. I have been praying for a number that works for everyone so that we can nail down the final deal on what we are buying.......will update tomorrow.

Jiggety Jog

We are back from a wonderful trip to Grand Cayman. Luke went eye to eye with his first turtle, went on a snorkeling trip to see giant stingrays, had a whole series of bubble baths, swam in the Caribbean, and was an amazingly easy and adaptable traveller. He slept on planes, napped by the pool and on the beach, went out to fancy restaurants without a hitch, and generally spent his days charming the pants off of both the hotel staff and his parents. There is a lot going on ~ lets just say that I have spent the day meeting with plumbers, HVAC people, and chimney people. Fun times. Working on the results of the inspection of this house. Argh. While I love the charm of our 107 year old house, I am really looking forward to some of the conveniences of new construction. I have a lot more pics to share and updates to write about, but no time at the moment. Missed blogging. Good to be home.

Beach Bound

Off to the Cayman Islands for the week.

In need of sunshine, relaxation, and a brief respite before the packing/buying/selling madness comes to a crescendo when we get home.

Will take lots of pics and naps, God willing.

Ciao!

PS ~ Luke is bringing a souvenir from home with us.....his first diaper rash. Ugh! It seemingly bothers me way more than him, but lets just say I am looking forward to flashing lotsa naked baby boy flesh around the Cayman's in an attempt to get it to go away ASAP :)

Two Words

Under Contract.

So happy.

Both houses.

Nov 16th.

Dec 14th.

Pressure's On.

Househunting Frantically.

AFTER Vacation.

Little Lothario

Luke and I had a busy day yesterday. We had an awesome Halloween Playgroup, all of the kids were (at least briefly :) in costume. The pic of Luke giving me one of his trademark kisses above was taken by Laura at Playgroup. Luke loves ladies. He was caught red handed planting one on Stella, Marie, Gabriella, and Nathan. Not sure how Nathan slipped into that group, but Luke sure does love his buddy Nathan. There were monkies, a ladybug, Princess Leah (!), bumblebees, Cowboys, etc etc. The food was RIDICULOUS in both quality and quantity(I had 2 reeses pieces rice crispy treats before noon) and it was a great time at Laura's house. I didnt want to leave, but by 2 PM my little love bug was rubbing his eyes. We got home and both went straight to bed, Luke for a nap, me with an an attempt to sleep off my food hangover........
We woke up around 4 and Mom Mom and Grandpop got to the house bearing gifts ~ we went straight up to the park for a swing and Lukes first unassisted flight down a sliding board. Grandpop took him up to the top of one of those tube slide thingys and down the chute he went. His eyes were huge. As soon as he got to the bottom he turned around to look at Grandpop up top.....which of course we all took to mean "I want to go again!" So again and again he went. We had a great dinner courtesy of Carlinos, then Mom Mom and Grandpop said their goodbyes to go home to attend to their coming hoarde of trick or treaters. After the party last week and the playgroup today, we were pretty much Halloweened out, so we got Luke into his pajamas, and he helped us greet the earlybird kids before conking out at 7 pm. A great first Halloween for the kid.