Luke's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Luke's 3rd birthday on Saturday! We went in his room in the morning and sang him Happy Birthday! He lit up as soon as he walked out and saw the table setting. It was the sweetest thing watching how excited he was for his birthday. Then we took him out for donuts and chocolate milk! We made it a tradition to treat our boys to chocolate milk on the day of their birthday so we went to West Oak and got chocolate milk on tap! Yummy! Later that day we had friends and family over for dinner and cake. The kiddos had a blast decorating their own cupcakes, hitting the pinata and running around together. My favorite part of the day was when Luke walked up to me in the kitchen and said, "thank you mom my birday, gimmie a hug." I'm so blessed and grateful that I get to be his mommy. He fills me with so much joy, his smile from that day is embedded in my heart forever.  

Luke 2.5

Luke turned 2.5 in January!

I can't believe how my tiny baby has transformed into this silly, bright, loving, funny toddler! Oh and the things that come out of his mouth! He truly says the darnest things. He keeps us laughing and embarrassing us!

The first thing he says in the morning when we get him is "Gooh Mow-ning" with the sweetest tone to it and he makes sure everyone in the house gets a treated with a good morning.

A while ago I had shared how I struggled with Luke being angry and not so affectionate. I honestly feel like the Lord has heard and answered my prayers for that little guy. It's still in his nature to be a little stand-off-ish, specially with those he doesnt know very well but I feel like he's totally coming around!

I'll be sitting on the ground and he'll come behind me and give me a big ol' hug and say, "I love you mommy," where did this kid come from? He's always had my heart but now that little guy just knows how to melt it and swoon me!

And he's very particular with how he likes his mommy to look. As soon as he sees me with my hair up he starts freaking out and says, "take it off mommy, take it off," so I'll put me hair down for him and he says, "thas better, looks good mom." He's so silly, but if it makes my little man happy, mommy will wear her hair down just for him!

He's so expressive and I dont just mean verbally, like his whole personality and being. He's just himself and beyond his years. I mean are toddlers usually into brewing coffee, and photography? I guess thats what you get when you have a creative daddy to look up to!

He loves birthdays, parties, singing, pretending, helping, washing dishes, making a mess, orange juice, eggs, wheaties, donuts, popcorn, m&m's, Ipad, Ninja Turtles, Tom & Jerry, video games, Donkey Kong, Zelda, just to name a few of his favorites.

He's about 75% potty trained. He wears pull-ups for naps and when we're out and thats mostly for my sake! I'm not ready to deal with wet pants and puddles while were in the middle of a Target trip! But he's picked up on it pretty well, he just had a hard time going poopie at first. But now anytime we're out he'll ask to go potty, I think he just enjoys the idea and the experince of going to a public restroom.

His favorite bible story is David & Goliath. We watch one on youtube and he loves it, I've tried to show him other bible story cartoons but he loves this one. I guess because there's swords and its this little guy against this big bad guy and the little guy wins, I guess he can relate, lol! When Goliath comes out he'll shout out, "Be nice Goliath!" and then he'll find anything he can swing around and throw it across the room as hard as he can. It's the cutest thing to watch... And when Goliath gets taken down he shouts, "Horray! He did it! Jesus helped him."

It's been such a joy watching him experience and learn about the world around him but seeing him begin to learn about Jesus... I can't handle it. Learning ABC's and 123's is cute and is an important lifeskill but learning about eternal things, gosh, it just puts this whole mothering thing into perspective for me. He's so smart, and attentive, he's really picking up on what we tell him about Jesus. We've heard him praying for Noah and Gnarly, and telling Noah, "Don't be scared, Jesus is wif you."

I just love that he's so encouraging, he always has an encouraging word, "try again Noah, you can do it." He peed all over the floor the other day and as I was cleaning he was saying, "good job mommy, looks good!" But he's also good about saying sorry when he does something wrong, I'll tell him, "I forgive you" and now instead of saying sorry he's starting to say "i foh-give you mommy." He's so sweet!

Luke being your mommy is one of the biggest blessing in my life. You're my answered prayer, you bring me so much joy! I love watching you grow, I love your smile, your personality! You're growing up too fast baby! Slow down! I pray you continue to learn about Jesus and that one day you give your heart to him. I love you baby!

Happy 2nd Birthday Luke!

Baby boy you are two today, last night I tucked my sweet one year old baby and today a TWO year old woke up, ready to conquer the world! I love you sweet guy. Your smiles are the brightest, your giggles are the sweetest and your meltdowns even make me chuckle on the inside.

This last year has been such an adventure with you.

You stood by me hand in hand as my tummy got bigger and you innocently and unknowingly became a big brother. The best big brother! You are amazing, I could not have asked for a better transition of you becoming a big brother and bring your baby brother home. Some days were harder than others but we pulled through, together!

This year you broke your little leg. You had a cast on for 3 weeks and still baby boy you were stronger than ever. It did not stop you one bit! You're independent willing spirit shone through and I'm convinced it made you more coordinated having a little cast on still running wild!

I am most grateful this year for your little kidneys that the Lord healed. When you were in my tummy and the doctor told me something was not right with your kidneys my heart ached and worried that you were going to suffer as you got bigger but The Lord heard my prayers for you and the prayers of many that joined me and asked for healing of you sweet boy. I'm so grateful for every prayer that was prayed that was not in vain! The Lord healed you!

I'm so grateful I am your mommy. I would not trade it for the world. Somedays you make me countdown the hours and minutes 'til your bed time because you be driving me nuts! But most days you are sweet and I could cuddle up and read you books all night if I could!

I'm excited at what the Lord has for you this coming year. What will you learn, what will you conquer? I'm here with you baby every step of the way,  I love you, Happy 2nd Birthday! Welcome to the terrific TWOS!

Here's whats up with Lukey Boy:

• Favorite Song: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, LOVES IT! He can listen to it all day long, and he's obsessed with the music video as well! 
• Favorite Food: In-N-Out, he'll take a patty with cheese and fries...
• Favorite Book: The Very Hungry Catepillar, calls it "hungy, hungy..." 
• Favorite Show: Calliou, it's so weird. I used to think that show was annoying but it's taught him a lot actually like about being a nice big brother, being patient, sharing, and learning to hold mommy and daddy's hand when he walks, needless to say, it's now my favorite show too.
• Favorite Toy: Anything he can throw around, basketballs, soccer balls, bouncy balls, if its round, he's a fan...
• Loves bugs, frogs, butterflies, anything creepy crawly!
• Loves books, can leave any toy store with out throwing a fit but take him to a book store and not buy him anything... Fun screaming sesh.
• Will walk himself to time out, and stay there! Spankings didn't really work, somedays needed but usually time out seems to do the trick! (Praise the Lord!)
• Loves the water, he's a total fish baby!
• He's fearless, its scary and exciting to watch!
• He does not like to get embarrassed, or have people watch him or laugh at him, he'll flip! I'm hoping he'll lighten up a little as he gets older! 
• He has a tradition with daddy, every morning when daddy brews coffee, Fred will grind the coffee beans and Luke runs to the kitchen to smell the coffee grinds! He actually calls coffee SASA, or SALSA... Not sure, but we know he means coffee when he says it!
• He's talking like no other, It's amazing, like everyday I hear him say some new word that I had never heard him say before!
• He calls all girls "Addy" after his cousin, It's hilarious!
• He says the F word... It's not what you think, I promise we don't curse! He is really trying to say FROG but the R is silent and his G sounds like K. And seriously it doesn't help when your kid is obsessed with them and then you realize that there are frogs everywhere and your kid has to point them out to you everywhere you go! So I have to keep a straight face and say, yes baby, a FFRRROG!
• Loves Bear, bear is a family member now that goes to every outing, tastes all the food, smells the coffee beans daddy grinds, he even got put in time out the other day by Luke! He's not allowed at bath time or pool days.
• He was Batman for Halloween.
• He loves story time at the library.
• Omg. He still goes to bed with a bottle of milk, he's a grown man, I keep telling Fred we need to stop giving him a bottle but it's just part of our bed time routine! So we'll see when it stops!
• Takes a nap around noon for about 1.5-2 hours. 
• Wears size 2T starting to fit into 3T, shoe size 7.
• He's becoming cuddly! I shared a while back how I was struggling with him not being affectionate, well slowly but surely he's gotten sweeter, he'll hug us and rest his head on us sometimes we even get kisses! The Lord is good, I know he's answering my prayers! 
• I've been so grateful the fits have gone down and he's actually starting to listen to us, WHAA?  
• Loves to chill. For as independent as this kid is, when it comes to chillin sitting down with the iPad or to watch a show he always wants mommy or daddy to join him, he'll say "Sit, sit," and pat the couch or chair. It kinda stinks when I want to get stuff done but it's cool because the little guy actually wants to spend time with us so I'm learning to just drop the the dishes to join him and enjoy him!

Day 2 of Luke's Birthday Celebration!

Auntie Sel & Uncle Nick took Luke out to celebrate his birthday early! Uncle Nick is a firefighter so he will be working at his station on Luke's birthday and they wanted the chance to celebrate Luke turning 2.

They took him to this new spot in Frisco, The Coop! It was awesome, Luke loved it! Ball pit, toys, bounce house, slides, carts and so much more! Plus for adults they offer free wifi, comfy seating areas and even a cappuccino bar all this with a modern feel! It was just lovely and so much fun!

We're so thankful for Auntie Sel & Uncle Nick! Luke loves them! Can you guess why? They're just the best and super fun! Here's to Day 2 of birthday fun! Tomorrow my baby turns TWO!!!