Growing Up

Dear Luke,

Amidst our amazement at how fast Nora seems to be growing, I realize you are growing up, too. You are getting bigger and learning to do and say new things constantly. Every time we see family, they seem to comment on how much more you are talking. When we read your animal books, you can name every animal: tamel, edephant, dutty, doggie, tat, etc. You have learned your first memory verse (Philippians 2:14) and say it with pride. Loving numbers the way you do, the reference was the easiest part for you. "Do ed-ee-ting wif-out, tum-paning ah-yuing." Now you have tacked onto the end, "yay yu-tey" since we often say, "yay, Lukey!"

You have also become more affectionate. You've started this thing where you run up out of nowhere and just grab onto my legs to give me a big bear hug. When I ask you for a hug, you say "ahms" (since I taught you to use your arms), and then stretch your arms out to put around me. You frequently come up and say "mommy tish" (kiss) or "mommy sit" (although it sounds more like a bad word). I'm usually in the middle of something, but I often try to stop even for a few minutes to sit and build a tower or read a book. The other day you were naming family in pairs (Nina, Papa.... Weshee, Tryin....) and then I said "Luke," expecting you to say, "Nora," but instead  you happily proclaimed, "Mommy." I love that you chose me to go with you.

You have taken a real interest in friends over the past couple of months. You most frequently ask to play with Pee-ton (Peyton) and also love to talk about Adele, My-tel (Michael), Teo (Mateo), Mason, etc. We have started going to Toddler Time at the library on some Tuesdays and you love to see your friends and dance around to the music. It's a good opportunity for you to practice following instructions in a group setting. You do pretty well, but I have to give frequent reminders to sit and stand at the right times and not cross the yellow line at the front. When we get home, you'll say, "I had fun paying (fill in the name of whatever friend)." We were at Chick-fil-A once and you were playing with whatever kids happened to be in the play area, who we didn't know. When they left you said, "friends." So sweet.

We have been using timeouts for your discipline and you seem to really dislike them. It seems more effective for you than spanking right now. You have even started to put yourself in timeout when you do something and I tell you to stop. Sometimes I'll think, "well, I wasn't going to put you in timeout, but I guess I should."

You have started to say "baby sister" for Nora. Yesterday after your nap, without any prompting from me, you set up some books in front of Nora for her to look at during tummy time. You had never done that before, but have seen me do it many times. I have asked you to do it before and you haven't, so it was really sweet to see you come up with the idea on your own.

You absolutely love to help me with any number of things, from pushing the stroller, to doing the laundry, to doing the dishes. I actually save unloading the clean dishes for when it can be an activity for you. You say "hep dishes," "wash hands," "be tareful" and "one a time" (one at a time) while we do it. I have also started asking you to take Daddy's clothes or shoes from the bathroom or the side of the bed and take them to the closet.

You love going to church and ibloom and will run happily to your room, straight through the door. What a blessing that you don't mind being separated from me and that you have such a good time in those environments.

What can I say, Luke, but that you are such a sweet boy. I love you so much and am so thankful for the gift of being your Mommy.

Love,
Mommy