Luke: 1 Year

You are officially a toddler.  1 year old little buddy.  Already!  You are such a big boy, my chunky little monkey, and we love you oh so much.  I started this post at 12 months and 2 weeks and you are now 14 months big!  A lot had changed since your big day!

(pictures from your 1st Birthday Par-Tee Invitation.... details to come!) 

At 12 months and 2 weeks you ....

• are completely off your bottle!  Wow!  You are 100% on a sippy cup - whole milk, water, or really watered-down apple juice.
• are on a big boy feeding schedule of 3 meals a day and a few snacks in between.  A drink whenever you please.
• are on 99.99% table food with the exception of some squeeze pouches of fruits/veggies/applesauce that are always great for on the go.  You want nothing to do with baby food anymore.
• LOVE mini beef raviolis, cheese, blueberry waffles, chicken, ham, hot dogs... there is not much you won't eat when it comes to the main dish!  We are still working on expanding your variety of real fruits and veggies. 
• moved up a room at school and are now in the 1 to 1.5 year old room, just 4 full time kids in your class.  We LOVE your teacher Mrs. Stephanie.  She is very special to us.  She is the same teacher sister had at your age.  We tried a different school for 8 weeks and Momma is SO relieved to be back.
• 14 month update - Mrs. Stephanie moved up to the next age group and you now have Ms. Monica who is just as sweet and boy does she love you!  She called you "Lukey".
• are sleeping SO much better at school, anywhere from a 1.5 hour to 2.5 hour naps.  Just 1 nap a day during the week but sometimes 2 naps a day on the weekends.  And at school... you sleep on a nap mat!  No more pack-n-play.  Ugh, did I mention you are a big boy now!    Your teachers tell me you do so well on your nap mat.
• have 7 teeth cut and 1 just about in on the bottom to make it the top and bottom middle 4.   This fourth one on the bottom hasn't been fun.
• 14 month update - you have 8 teeth cut!  You got a new one on the bottom to make it 4 on top and 4 on bottom.
• are walking!  In the past month you have gone from crawling with your belly off the ground to taking sometimes 20 steps at a time.  Give you something to hold onto and you are anywhere you want to go.  You are completely taking off just yet but you are SO close.
• 14 month update - you are cruising and are so independent!  You never really had a crazy, unstable period it seems.  Once you figured it out just shy of 13 months, there was no stopping you.  You are everywhere!

• know "No" and it makes me laugh every time you shake your head "No".  You shake your head rather drastically from side to side.  Sometimes it is in response to hearing us tell you "no" to something but other times it is truly in response to not wanting something like a drink or more of something.... You just kindly shake your head no with the cutest grin on your face.
• love to clap at yourself.
• are really good at hand eye coordination.... it may be a toy that you drop balls into small hole or stacking blocks in the tub.   You enjoy your toy piggy bank and putting the "coins" in the what I think is such a small narrow whole on the top of it.  We are so proud of you!
• your favorite toys are your cozy truck you got for your birthday, toy shopping cart, and your toy phone.  You are really starting to get into balls and cars which is so fun and so boy!
• you babble a lot but are not saying any words although I am pretty sure these last few days you have said Momma.  You have been under the weather and just wanted your "momma".  Melt my heart.
• are pretty shy.  In a crowd full of people, you want to be held and bury your head on someone's shoulder.
• you dance and it's hilarious.

• have the BEST giggle.
• are SO ticklish.
• love your wubbanubs or soothie paci.
• won't keep anything on your head.  No hat or sunglasses.  Another opposite of your always-accessorizing sister.
• have been swimming one time (last weekend) and loved it which doesn't surprise us at all because of how much you love your bath.
• 14 month update - you LOVE going to the splash pad.  Absolutely no fear.
• love to close doors. 
• can climb the stairs, record fast.  We are in for it.
• don't love the car which is so opposite of your sister.  You do pretty well for short trips but over an hour and we know to expect a meltdown.  Car washes are totally not an option.  Terrified.

• are in bed by 7 every night and sleep until 7:30 am, and don't make a sound in-between.  You put yourself to sleep and more or less reach for your bed after books.  Sigh.
• have had 2 professional hair cuts.  Mommy trims it every few weeks.  We like it pretty short.
• like to sit and "read" books.
• love your sister and like to pull her hair.  You two are starting to play more and more together which is so fun to watch.
• are wearing mostly 24 month clothes, some 2T.  Pretty sure Dr. G noted on your 1 year checkup report you were >99% in weight! Yep, off the charts healthy. 
• 14 month update - we have stocked up on 2T summer things to get you through the hot months and into the fall.  You are growing out of your 24 month things daily.
• are in size 5 diapers.  We are not using night-timers anymore.
• size 5 shoe.
• those baby blues are here to stay.

Luke Matthew, you bring so many smiles to our every day.  You are a big teddy bear.  We are so grateful God gave us you and love you BEYOND measure.  

When I was pregnant I was often told how special it is as a Mom to have a son and I totally get it.  You are so very special to us as a family and so very special to me as a Mom.  You are my little man and will always be. Love you to the moon and back sweet boy.  We can't wait to see what your second year has in store for you.