First Ice Cream Cone

Yummy!

Ok...we all know that Luke loves to eat. He especially can not stand it if you are eating and he is not! We all got ice cream cones at a neat shop in The Factory. Luke moaned and whined until we let him try it. He loved it! Paul and I shared an apple crunch cone....so it did have fruit in it!

Nanna's Birthday

Luke and the Birthday Girl

These penguins were just Luke's size

Last weekend we celebrated Paula's birthday by heading to Franklin for lunch and shopping. We ate at Puckett's Grocery off the square. Paul and I love that place. They have the best BBQ! I opted for chicken salad and soup this time around. Uncle Jon was out of town but Uncle Jim, Aunt Claudia and Cousin Lauren were all there. After that we went over to The Factory to do some window shopping. We had a lot of fun and Luke enjoyed all the attention!

Wild Hair!

Look at that crazy hair!
Snacks...
you never leave home without them

Luke loves to ride in his new car seat! We think he enjoys being able to see outside better. We were heading out one day last week and Paul was getting him buckled in. When he took off his hat his hair had so much static it was standing straight up. I tried to get a good picture, but these pictures don't do it justice!

Playtime

We try to have a designated "toy area" for Luke in most of our rooms. Whatever room we are in he goes right to his toy basket. He loves, loves to take everything out. Sometimes, he puts it back in. He also has a toy bin at Nonna's. As soon as we get there he knows right where to go. He loves all of his toys especially the ones that make noise!

Strong Boy!

Last week one night Kelly jumped on Luke's tractor to ride it and he all of the sudden started pushing her around. Of course he didn't do it very good after I got the camera turned on.

Last Birthday Blog

Yippeeeee!!!

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that Paul and I wanted to get Luke a "real" rocking horse for his birthday. We did not want a plastic one or one that was a stuffed animal, too. Paul looked on the internet and found a Radio Flyer one that we both loved! Paul ordered it the Monday before Luke's birthday party and paid extra to have it expressed shipped. Well, that week quickly got a way from us. By Friday we realized the rocking horse had not come yet and his party was the next day! Paul emailed the company as well as tried to call them to no avail. He left them a message letting them know he was pretty upset that Luke's present had not come after he paid extra to have it shipped fast.

The following Monday the company contacted Paul to tell them they had been closed the week between Christmas and New Year's and therefore had not received his order. They said the closingwas posted on their website but neither one of us saw it when we were placing the order. They apologized profusely and dropped the express shipping charges. It was here in 2 days. So far, Luke loves to ride on his horse. Since his little legs aren't long enough we have to help him by rocking it back and forth!

Developmental Milestone???

You be the judge! Flushing the toilet at 12 months?!?! Oh yes he can!

Luke discovered how to flush the toilet this week. Now that he knows he likes to do it over and over again! We are still working on this....

Baby Parker's Shower

Me, Carolyn Christoffersen, Kim Hammond,
Joy Emery, Miranda Wickwire and Keli Ramsey

The happy mom-to-be

Last Sunday I helped host a baby shower for my friend Kim Hammond. We met the Hammond's at Hermitage Hills. We miss those friends so much! It was great to see all the girls and celebrate the upcoming birth of little Parker!

12-Month Check Up

We went for Luke's 12 month check up this morning. He had not had a nap yet so he was not very happy to be there! He got a couple of shots, had his eyes checked and got his measurements taken. He is now 23lbs 9 oz (60th percentile) and 29.5" (40th percentile). That explains why I have to roll up all his 12 month pants! Guess it will be a while before he gets in those 18-month clothes!

Dr. Patterson said he was doing great. He is developing well socially and he has a great set of lungs, haha! We are going to temporarily stop his daily breathing treatment and see how he does. Since we started it at Thanksgiving Luke has not had any respiratory issues at all and we have not had to use a fast-acting breathing treatment either. If he seems to get worse after we discontinue it we will obviously re-start it. We are slowly weaning him to whole milk and he seems to be doing well with it. Yeah!

Birthday Aftermath!

Luke in the middle of all his goodies!

Luke's first experience with bubbles!

Nana and Grandpa gave Luke
some bubbles. He loves them!

After all the gifts were opened Paul opened the bubbles Luke got. He loved it. He got so excited! He also went a little crazy when I started playing with him and the balloons. We have some fun video I will try to post if it isn't too long. Needless to say after everyone had left and he calmed down he took a very long nap! It was a great first birthday!

Presents for Luke

We tried to get a family shot.

Luke in the midst of his gifts

Uncle Jon was a big help!
(Virgina was playing videographer)

Uncle Jon reading Luke's new book.

Much like Christmas it took a while for Luke to catch on to the gift opening. He would rather play with the paper and bags than what is in them. He got lots of great things...clothes, clothes and more clothes! He should definitely be set when he is ready for 18 months! Paul gave him some little Carhartt overalls which we failed to get a picture of. They are too cute. It will be a while before he can wear them but we know he will be a cute farmer! He also got some great books and some toys!

Birthday Cake

Luke wasn't sure what was happening
when we were all singing to him.

I don't know about this!

Pretty disappointing; he didn't even
get icing on his pretty outfit!

Luke was too funny with his cake. We tried to get him to dive in to it but he just was not having it! We even fed him some and he made funny faces. Maybe that means he will not have a sweet tooth?!?! I doubt it!

First Birthday! Vol II

Luke did not want to keep his hat on!

Haha....I got it off!

Man...they got it back on me!

Luke did not want to keep his cute birthday hat on! He would jerk it off as soon as someone put it on him. This is nothing unusual; he hates to wear hats, socks and coats! He definitely gets that from Paul. Luke was not too excited about his cake. Like the one he had at Nanny's he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do with it. I find this very intriguing since normally he will eat anything and everything in front of him!

First Birthday! Vol I

Hmm...I'm not so sure about this.
Nana and Grandpa had Paul's rocker
fixed and gave it to Luke for his first birthday!

Well, it might be ok.
The rocker was given to Paul on his
1st birthday by Memaw and Pepaw.

Kitty, Nonna and Nana ready to party

We had Luke's First Birthday Party today! After much deliberation, contemplation and discussion we decided to go the small, family party route for Luke's 1st birthday. I know I will always struggle with his birthday being so close to the holidays trying to make it special and different for him. We went low-key this year since he did not really know what was going on anyway. He was very mellow for most of the time but toward the end he must have been hyped up on sugar because he was a wild man. I will post several pictures over the next few days. It is only the 3rd of January but we have taken well over 100 pictures already.

Bed Time

Yeah! Bed time.....

No new diaper, please!

Luke is still doing really well going to bed without a little night cap. One of us, usually Paul, rocks him for a little bit and reads a story. Lately though, diaper changes are a different story! He is all over the place. You can hardly get his pants taken off before he is on the go and sitting up on his changing table. It is like he physically can not sit still; something draws him to sit up under the bookshelves! He just giggles and grins really big. It is very frustrating for Paul and me. Half the time his diaper ends up on crooked. We sternly tell him "no" which makes him cry until we smile and then he is off again! Ahhh...parenthood!

Waiting for Mom

I worked New Years Eve and New Years Day so I could be off on Luke's birthday. The hospital has been incredibly busy lately; probably the busiest I have been in my 7 years there. Paul was off New Years Day so he and Luke hung out at home. Luke loves to look out any door or window. He was anxiously waiting for me to get home.

Lauren's Birthday

Lauren posing with her ice cream cake!

Kristen kept Luke occupied
playing on the steps.

Luke's second favorite
place to take a nap!

We are all smiles about Lauren's big day!

Kitty and Luke had fun playing
with some of his new toys.

Last Saturday night we went to the Troutt's to celebrate Lauren's 10th birthday! We had a nice supper, played games, had birthday cake and watched Lauren open her gifts. She is growing in to such a beautiful young lady. It is hard to believe she is ten years old. Luke also did his fair share of keeping us entertained as usual!

Christmas at Nana and Grandpa's

Luke sportin' the Titans jersey
Uncle Jon gave him.

Lauren and Luke with their great-grandmothers.

Check out my new toy!

Let me help Mom...

Grandpa trying to get Luke to take a nap

Christmas morning we all slept in a little bit which was wonderful. Luke woke up around 6 as usual but then fell back asleep in our bed which was so sweet! After we got up we did Santa Claus. I can't believe this but we did not take a single picture of Luke with his gifts from Santa! I was so upset when I realized it that night. Paul was busy videoing everything and I was helping Luke open everything. I guess we needed a third person here to help us. I would post the video but it is really long so I will not bore you with it. Luke got a John Deere tractor, the Little People Farm House, some blocks, DVD, etc. He seemed to be pretty excited about his tractor!

We headed to Gallatin mid morning for Christmas with the Troutt's. We opened presents and had brunch. Luke was into everything! He did so well at all of our Christmas celebrations. Paul and I were so happy! Christmas was so fun this year. We know it will get better and better each year with Luke!

Christmas Eve

Ready for gifts!

Let me help Daddy!

Christmas Eve was a busy day. I worked that morning and the hospital was really busy which is unusual for the holidays. Paul and Luke went to breakfast on the square in Gallatin with the Christmas Eve gang. It has been a tradition for several families to get together each year on Christmas Eve for breakfast. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get away from work long enough to join them. Luke and Paul had a good time visiting with everyone.

That afternoon we just played and napped before going to a Christmas Eve service at Long Hollow Baptist. We came home and did our Christmas with each other. We made sure Luke was in bed early so Santa Claus could come!