Summer has begun!!! Life doesn't get much better than this. I am sitting on my back deck, sun bathing, while Luke naps. I have no stress. I'm not in a hurry to get anything done because I have over 2 months to accomplish anything that I need to. Yes, yes, I have a summer to do list - clean out closets, plant some flowers, clean out the refrigerator, etc, but, right now, I'm not in a hurry to start on the list. The first thing on my list is to right this blog from over 3 weeks ago that I have been promising.
I'm almost ready to begin - first, let me give you a quick update on the potty training - let's call this - Potty Training - Part 4. Luke's new favorite place to potty is standing on the bottom step of the deck. He will tell me that he needs to potty and then say, "Mommy, I want to stand on the deck." He still has problems getting his pants down by himself so I help him with that and then from there, he's on his own. :) He knows hold to hold his boy part to keep the pee pee from getting on his clothes.
We did have one interesting experience this morning. Luke was riding his lawn mower and told me that he needed to pee pee. I said, "Come on over here and you can pee pee from the steps." Well, he did pee pee, but when I turned around, I noticed that he had a little extra (#2 stuff) come from behind onto the steps. Totally gross! We cleaned up quickly with a friendly reminder that we cannot do a stinky in the yard!! :) Madi can do that but Luke can't! :)
We took our weekly trip to Wal-Mart this morning WITHOUT a pull-up - big boy underwear only! I had an extra change of clothes prepared but it wasn't needed. Luke was awesome! Not only was he super well behaved but he used the big potty at Wal-Mart - no accidents. On mornings like this, I know that I must be doing something right as a mommy - it makes me proud to take my potty trained big boy into Wal-Mart with no fussing, no asking for toys, no drama - just me and Luke shopping, talking, and singing - he's such a joy!
Speaking of joy - during Memorial Day weekend, Luke and I had a blast! Daddy played golf a lot! Matter of fact, he's playing a whole lot lately. He is playing in a two day tournament this weekend. While Daddy plays golf, Luke and I stay busy.
My neighbor, Caren, won free tickets to Sesame Street Live in Greensboro on the Saturday before Memorial Day and to our delight, she asked me and Luke to join her and William for the show. We were all very excited! :) Early Saturday morning, we headed to the show! We only arrived about 20 minutes early so the boys didn't have to wait too long. We grabbed some popcorn and some booster seats and got ready for the show.
Luke sat down on his booster seat with his popcorn in his lap. He LOVES popcorn!! He looked around and checked out everything. He seemed so excited. Then, it was time - the lights went out, the music began, I couldn't wait to see Luke's reaction! His reaction was priceless and just precious! His eyes were wide and his face showed pure excitement! I have it all on video that I will post! Just watching him made me want to cry!
The first time that everyone clapped, Luke put his little hands over his popcorn and clapped with them. He watched like a little expert for about 30 minutes – ate his popcorn, clapped, watched the characters and then he began to get a little wiggly. After about 30 minutes, he wanted to sit on the edge of his seat. He started trying to get up and down. I was able to some how keep him in the seat most of the time - I just encouraged him to eat his popcorn. He was very sweet sharing his popcorn with William. He would look at me and say, "I’m going to give William some popcorn" and he would lay some in William's chair. William was loving the show too!
The first time that everyone clapped, Luke put his little hands over his popcorn and clapped with them. He watched like a little expert for about 30 minutes – ate his popcorn, clapped, watched the characters and then he began to get a little wiggly. After about 30 minutes, he wanted to sit on the edge of his seat. He started trying to get up and down. I was able to some how keep him in the seat most of the time - I just encouraged him to eat his popcorn. He was very sweet sharing his popcorn with William. He would look at me and say, "I’m going to give William some popcorn" and he would lay some in William's chair. William was loving the show too!
At intermission, I let Luke explore
and climb the steps to release some energy. He saw a man selling Elmo balloons and wanted one, so we bought both boys one.
By the end of the show, Luke wanted to sit on my lap - I never disagree with that request! I let
him sit on my lap while I tickled his little neck and made him giggle. At one point, he grabbed
my hands and held them against his face.
He looked up at me a few times and just smiled! Those smiles make my heart melt! What a sweet fellow! I loved holding him and LOVED being able to
see him experience this exciting FIRST!
Here are some pictures....
Here is the video of Luke watching the start of the show:
Here are some pictures of us being silly at home on Saturday afternoon...
On Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, our pool opened so on Sunday, we headed to the pool for the first trip of the season. :)
The water was quite chilly so we stayed in the baby pool. Luke got in the baby pool but was more fascinated with playing with the pool toys than swimming. He pushed the cars, filled the buckets, and threw the balls. He did jump to me a few times from the side of the baby pool. He enjoyed himself. With this being our first trip to the pool for the season, I had to go ahead and establish some ground rules - no running and no throwing toys. Luke learned these lessons the hard way. I warned him after his first attempt at both of these and then he continued to try running and throwing toys so he had time out 2 times. He didn't like sitting in the time out chair beside the pool while everyone else played. We have gone back several times since then and he has obeyed both of those rules. :)
After a fun Sunday, Memorial Day was here! :)
On Memorial Day, we played at home for a long time that morning. We played several games at home. Luke loves to take off running into my arms and jump through the air. He will start at one end of the hall and run to me at the other end. I always tell him that he has to wait until I say, "Go!" before he runs. I would pick with him and say, “Ready, Set, Apple” or “Ready, Set, Banana” instead of go. He thinks that's hilarious!
Later that morning, Luke and I went shopping. At Kohl’s, he rode in the cart while I picked out bathing suits. In the dressing room, he helped me with the hangers. On our way out, Luke put on his monkey backpack and walked with me to pay. He tried to walk to Dick’s Sporting Goods with his backpack but he was so slow that I carried him. While I carried him, he told me that George the monkey was on his back. :) That was cute! :) In Dick's Sporting Goods, he picked out some yogurt bites to eat. He loved these things!
In Target, he ate his yummy yogurt bites while I shopped. He was so content! We picked out a few cheap toys for the pool from the $1 section and he played with them while we looked around.
Luke was very well behaved in every store. He never once disobeyed or attempted to get out of the cart. After shopping, we headed to the park on Skeet Club Rd. Luke ran, slid, and jumped so hard that he was soaking wet with sweat within 20 minutes. He walked through the woods, dug with sticks, climbed and slid. He met a little girl that was almost 2 and played with her for quite awhile. Then, he ate his cereal mix snack that I brought. His newest feat was that he has all of a sudden realized that he can jump from about 2 feet without my help, so he did this several times off the barrier of the playground. He would do this funny little tough man walk for about 2 steps and then add a little hop. He's so energetic!
After he played for over an hour, we came home, ate lunch together at the little table while we watched Mickey Mouse and then I laid him down for a nap.
Luke was in such a good mood all morning. He didn’t challenge me. He didn’t get mad when I told him he couldn’t have skittles, he didn’t ask for any toys – he didn’t try to get out of his cart or try to run from me. He was a very good listener and very well behaved. I have to think that maybe my sternness and stricter boundaries that I have been setting lately are working. When he and I can enjoy each other’s company and get things accomplished, it makes me realize that being the mommy in charge (like I should be) is well worth it
Our 3 day weekend was awesome - just awesome! :)
Here are some pictures of our fun time at the park...
Oh...I almost forgot....Monday night, Luke and I played outside together for a long time. He wanted to feed the birds so I let him put some bird seed in a bowl and throw it out to the birds in the grass. He ended up also "feeding the giraffes." You will see that in the video at the bottom of these pictures.
Here is Luke feeding the birds or was it giraffes??? :)
In the video, you have to listen closely because Luke tells me that he's feeding the giraffes and then he reaches up high so they can get the food.
Luke is quite the pretender lately.
Just the other day, he told me, "You have to be quiet when the crocodiles are around so they don’t chomp you.” One day, he was talking in the car about a monkey going in the mud and then swimming.
He puts memory cards in his Tonka truck and “delivers” them to us. One day, he asked me if he could come back and mow the grass on the side of the highway. He grills me hamburgers (using his tool workshop) all the time and in the bath tub, he makes me all kinds of soup. The other day he said he was making me minestrone soup - where does he get this imagination??? :)
And, finally, our weekend trip to Kure Beach to watch my brother, Brad, marry his long time, very sweet and loyal girlfriend, Jessica. :) The trip and the wedding were a lot of fun. It was a gorgeous weekend!
Let me tell you about it....
We left around lunch time on Friday. Luke was great on the trip down. Luke is such a joy to travel with - he sings, reads, eats, sleeps, and never complains or cries. Around 4:00pm, we arrived at our motel - The Moran Motel - a very old, very clean, very SMALL hotel. The room was so small that it didn't have a bathtub - only a tiny shower. The owners of the place were very kind, the price per night was unbeatable so, once I saw that it was clean, I knew we would be okay dealing with the cramped space for just 2 nights. Needless to say, we didn't want to spend too much time in the room. After unpacking, we headed straight to the beach and let Luke dig for awhile and watch the water. He was very excited to be back at the beach!
We ate dinner outside at this nice little restaurant by the water. We took a walk on the pier and saw the HUGE pelicans that came very close to us. Luke was amazed! Landis and I were a little uneasy. :) Luke went inside the pier shop and drove the slot machine cars. Then, before we knew it, it was bed time. I had to drive Luke to get him to sleep and then I laid him in his pack and play. After making sure he was settled, Landis and I sat on the deck and spent some time catching up with each other and watching traffic. It was nice spending some down time together.
One little side note, when we first arrived at the hotel, Luke was exploring and he found a Bible in one of the drawers. He picked it up and said, "I'm going to read this book." I said, "Luke, that's the Bible." Luke then said unprompted, "It tells me to be brave and not scared." (That's right, my son! Jesus is proud that you know that!) :)
On Saturday morning, we ate at McDonald's as a family and then Luke and I played at a local park for about 30 minutes. Before long, it was time to head to the beach! Luke played in the sand for a long time, and, surprise, surprise - he mowed! :) Luke's favorite part was watching me and Blaine play in the waves. He loved for me to hold him and jump the waves. He also loved watching Blaine ride the waves and fall over. He would laugh and laugh and even squealed a few times! :)
After a few hours, Luke and I went to the pool! We had a blast! The water was warmer than the pool at home. Luke played with his cups with some other kids for awhile and then he jumped and jumped to me in the pool. He would jump to me and swim to the steps. We did this over and over! :)
Luke played so hard that he took a late, short nap. We let him sleep on the beach while I relaxed in the sun. Luke barely woke up in time for us to shower and head to the wedding.
This wedding was Luke's first experience as a ring bearer so I was quite curious about how he would do. After we arrived and said hello to all the family, I headed down to stand with everyone else who was watching the wedding and I left Luke at the top of the walkway with my aunt Sonya. I had my camera ready....
First, I watched my handsome husband join the groomsmen and then I waited anxiously as Lexi and the two ring bearers began their walk down the LONG walkway.
The first ring bearer ran ahead of everyone - he was quick as lightning. We never saw him the rest of the wedding - I think he ended up playing in the water. Somehow, Lexi didn't have Luke's hand so he ended up walking all by himself. He did great all the way down the walkway and about half way up the "aisle." Then, he started digging in the sand. He wouldn't move until my mom took him to Landis.
During the wedding, he dug in the sand at Daddy's feet until he started talking too loud. Daddy sent him to me. He tried to talk to me and I whispered to him that he needed to be quiet. He didn't like this. He told me, "Talk to me mommy." I whispered to him that I was watching the wedding and he said, "You need to talk better." (I'm thinking that he meant I needed to talk louder. I guess he really didn't get the point, did he?)
He ended up making up for his loudness by doing the sweetest thing about mid-way through the wedding. My brother had given me the flowers that he was going to give my mom when he walked back up the aisle after the ceremony. But, before the ceremony, he forgot to get them from me so I still had them. I wasn't sure how to get them to him but, I looked down at this handsome 2 year old sitting in front of me and I had an idea. I said, "Luke, go tap on Brad's leg and give him these flowers." (A song was playing so it was the perfect time.) I held my breath - handed Luke the flowers and sent him on his way. It was so sweet! He pulled on Brad's shorts, Brad looked down grinning, and Luke handed him the flowers. It was perfect! Everyone gave an "Ohhh!" Thank goodness - Luke had redeemed himself as a good ring bearer! :)
After the wedding, Luke played with the bucket of flower pedals in the sand and then posed for pictures. For each picture, he gave his cheesy smile (as you will soon see).
At dinner, Luke was wild but fun. He sat beside of Lexi. He loves talking and playing with her. While we paid, Lexi and Luke ran circles in an empty room. They were having a great time! I think they were even doing some flips! :)
After dinner, we went home and crashed! It was a beautiful day but we were all tired! :)
On Sunday morning, Luke and I played on the beach while daddy loaded the car. As you will see in a video, Luke and his lawn mower were attacked by the ocean. Luke didn't like it - I found it quite humorous. :)
After being scared by the water, Luke wouldn't let me put him down so I just held him standing next to the water. I LOVED THAT! It was so peaceful. He finally let me put him down and I sat down in the sand with him. In between digging some more, he laid his head on my lap and snuggled with me. My little man! :)
We had another great, safe trip home! What a fun weekend! Here are some pictures...
With Lexi....
Luke handing Brad the flowers....:)
The happy couple...
Video of the ring bearer...
In the same order, I bought a John Deere weedeater because no yard is finished without weedeating! :) Here is Luke weedeating! :)
Two videos - Luke mowing with Mater and Luke weedeating. You have to listen closely to the weedeater one - even though Luke can pull a chain type thing to make the weedeater make a noise, Luke makes his own noise instead. :)
And, before I go, a few cute stories that I jotted down in the last few weeks.
One example of Luke's good manners - I was eating a cheese stick and I said, “Luke, do you want some?” Luke said, “No, but thanks for offering.”
We were playing in the play house and I asked him to make me some mac and cheese. Luke said, “Okay, I’ll make you some, SWEETIE!” :)
Last week, Luke ate his first ice cream cone. He has eaten ice cream from a cup a million times but never from a cone. I got him a small ice cream cone from McDonald's and he loved it. He was eating it in his car seat on the way from the park. From the back seat, he said, "Mommy, you know what?" I said, "What, baby?" He said, "That place sure does have good ice cream!" I laughed and said, "That sounds like something Daddy would say." Luke said, "Yes, Daddy likes ice cream too." So sweet! :) Like father, like son!
Okay, gang! Thanks for reading my novel today! I'm tired! :) Off to the pool! :)
Happy Father's Day to everyone!
Toddy
Last week, Luke ate his first ice cream cone. He has eaten ice cream from a cup a million times but never from a cone. I got him a small ice cream cone from McDonald's and he loved it. He was eating it in his car seat on the way from the park. From the back seat, he said, "Mommy, you know what?" I said, "What, baby?" He said, "That place sure does have good ice cream!" I laughed and said, "That sounds like something Daddy would say." Luke said, "Yes, Daddy likes ice cream too." So sweet! :) Like father, like son!
Okay, gang! Thanks for reading my novel today! I'm tired! :) Off to the pool! :)
Happy Father's Day to everyone!
Toddy
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