Changes

Dear Luke,

You're upstairs asleep in your pack & play for the night because you pulled up in your crib for the first time late yesterday afternoon and Daddy's not here to lower it. In the past 5 or 6 days you have really taken off! You are crawling all over the place, grabbing on to dresser drawer pulls, finding new doorstops to play with, going after shoes and slippers on the floor... you are keeping me busy! This past weekend Daddy installed a gate at the top of the stairs and your new carseat since you've outgrown your old one. He's on his staff retreat this week, so it's been just you and me for the past 3 days. It's gone really well, but I will say I'm pretty tired by the end of each day!

You transitioned from 3 naps to 2 just 2 weeks ago after day light savings. I am enjoying this change. Your naps tend to be longer and it allows us more time in between to run errands, go to the park or out to lunch. On the flipside, it's also more effort to keep you entertained. You are low on toys, so I am glad Christmas is coming up! I used to run errands with you when you were napping in your carseat or leave you at home with Daddy, but now I try to think of errands to nearby places that I can take you as an activity. So, we've been to Hobby Lobby, World Market, Homegoods, TJ Maxx, Ulta, Kohl's... People always comment when we are out about how cute you are... I've been blogging less now than I did when you were younger, and I can see why - our lives are full! Between working out, church, small group, ibloom, play dates, trips to the grocery store, and laundry, we stay pretty busy! You are such a happy little boy as long as you get enough sleep and food. Today I noticed 2 tiny baby teeth coming through on your bottom gums. So very cute...

Honey told me recently about how one Thanksgiving she was cooking all the food when Aunt Holly and I were young. She was feeling overwhelmed, but then stopped and thought, this is the only year Holly and Ashley will be these ages. I've thought about that a lot. I will be at a store and hear your little Baby Einstein caterpillar music toy clashing with the Christmas music while I am in a rush to finish and get home before your nap. And I will think, I have plenty of years ahead to listen to the music uninterrupted and spend more time shopping, but this is the only year I will be celebrating Luke's first Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I treasure that. I love you!

Love,
Mommy

Where's Mommy?

Dear Luke,

In the past few weeks it has been clear that you grasp object permanence, meaning you remember that objects exist even when they are out of sight. My favorite example of this is when Daddy gets you up from a nap. He says it is clear you are looking all around for somebody. Then when you see me, you smile with utter delight, even if you've been crying. It melts my heart. :)

Love,
Mommy