Toothy Time

The kid is unimpressed by sloppy baby food which is ok as Lukas's chompers are starting to come in.  He'll be gnawing on steak in no time!

ta da

ok mom, they get it

I managed to get him in last week for his six (and a half) month appointment.  He came in at 17 lbs 4 oz and 28.5", the 50th and 97th percentiles respectively.  He's a lean, mean, toothy machine!

Family Photos

To make sure we are adequately capturing these bugaboos while they're little, we had a photographer, Natalie, come shoot the kids in April.  She lives and works in Appleton but was in town over Easter visiting her sister and my friend, Jessica.  The pics came out a lot better than I anticipated - both kids were really tired and I expected full melt down.  Luckily that didn't happen until about 25 minutes in to it so we got a few keepers!  Here are some of my favorites:

could absolutely eat those little curled toes

easily one of the best pictures matt has ever taken!

love this one.  it is so her

you can see lukas has started to check out here

winner winner chicken dinner!  this was immediately blown up to 8x10 and is already up on the wall

if this frame was slightly wider you would see a super tired and very pissy three year old sulking in the background.  super memories!

Mother's Day '12

My first Mother-of-Two's Day was absolutely perfect this year.  I got to sleep a smidge later than normal and was greeted with coffee and challah French Toast for breakfast.  Yum.  The weather was gorgeous and the kids were well behaved.  Matt usually plays baseball on Sundays but the teams collectively - and wisely - decided to cancel the games that day so our little family got to spend some relaxing time all together.  Which I think is probably the only thing that we mom types really want, no matter what day it is.

happy post-nap baby.  ps - he did not pull himself up, but is getting pretty solid on those little feet, yes?

hi mama

um, might be time to consider lowering the mattress

boo boo!

great day to grill out for lunch

gg giving boo some loves

a big squeeeeeeeeeze for everyone!

matt immediately after dropping his jalapeno brat on the deck.  sad face.

at the park

loves for daddy too!

Happy Birthday, Pop Pop!

We traveled to Roch the first weekend this month for the surprise 60th birthday party for my dad.  It was our first long car trip with both kids and frankly it was about 100% easier than I anticipated.  We are totally back to turning the four hour drive into five (zillion dollar idea: a gadget which allows me to safely and legally change the baby while still driving) but everyone was in good spirits the entire way there.  We landed midday  Saturday and spent time hanging out with Grandma, Pop Pop, and Uncle Grant (who, btw, has a new girlfriend whose name is...wait for it...Sarah.  HA!).  Genevieve spent a LOT of time that weekend playing with grandma's jewelry and accessories.  I also dug out a dress that I wore to a wedding when I was about G's age which fit her perfectly.  I remember being in love with this dress and it was fun to see her twirling around in it too.

seriously though, what was the point of this apron?

ah ha, i see

annnnnnnnnnnnnd twirl

Saturday night we had to figure out how to get dad to the bar for his party.  Since we could count on one hand the number of times my parents eat at bars, when dad suggested we go there it was obvious that someone had spilled the beans.  Regardless we all played along and eventually managed to wander in en masse to a group of about 30 waiting to cheer the marathon man for hitting the big 6-0.

thank god for balloon centerpieces to keep preschoolers happy

parents of the year.  also i had to change lukie's clothes on top of the table at this place.  dear bar: i realize that that you fancy yourself an adults-only kind of place and not chuck e. cheese.  BUT if you are the kind of place which has a kid's menu, then INSTALL A MUTHER LOVING CHANGING TABLE in the bathroom.  that is all.

happy birthday pop pop!!

We also carved out time on Sunday to go visit our friends, the Kroenings, and meet their newest little addition, Reece.  I was sorry I hadn't brought Robin a cocktail from the night before - any mom of three busy boys could probably use one!

so wittle

luke checking out his new buddy

hello, i'm going to practice sitting up while you parents gab

We played around a little more on Sunday night and Monday morning, but then had to pack up and come back home.  It's awesome to not work on Mondays but I will say that missing my 'day' when I normally do the grocery shopping and laundry really messes up the week (breakfast for dinner, anyone? and, Sure, that smells clean!).  But it was well worth it to join the par-tay!  Plus who doesn't love hanging out at grandma and pop pop's and getting spoiled rotten?

who has a big belly and is ready for a sink bath?

mom, do not bother me with looking in the mirror.  i've spotted something MUCH more fascinating.

how YOU doin'?

 

Six Months!

Spring is here and Lukie is six months old.  Absolutely no idea how this happened.  He is turning into such a little person, and he keeps us all entertained constantly.  At six months, Lukie...

Loves: grabbing his feet, jumping like a maniac in the bouncer, big sister GG, anything that he can grab and shove in his mouth, and his thumb.

Dislikes: food which isn't milk (I can only get a couple teaspoons of solids in him at a time. Who is this child?), being hungry (dear Boo Boo, see above re: solids), getting dressed, and that's really about it.

We're getting closer to sitting up independently.  He might find more success if he doesn't constantly lean forward to go for his feet.  He easily props up his torso now during tummy time and can roll from front to back, sometimes intentionally and sometimes making me think his outside arm is just going to pop right out of the socket.  Depends on his mood.  He just started scooting around a little by sticking his little rump in the air and shoving his face forward on the carpet (note to self: vacuum).  It looks like his two bottom teeth are thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinking about making their way north so we'll be stocking up on the Tylenol.  And for a kid who has rejected a pacifier, he has found true love with his thumb. 

We won't have 6 month stats on Boo Boo for a while.  I had to reschedule his appointment and was shocked to learn I couldn't get in to our pediatrician until the middle of June.  On a Saturday.  At 8:30 in the morning.  Whuck?  So until then I'll simply say that Lukas continues to be a very content dude who is happy to spend time jumping, screeching, or just taking in the world around him.  We could just eat him alive!  Speaking of eating... 

screw strained green beans.  i shall snatch your pizza

c'mon grandpa, hand it over

sure, i'll try the chicken

or just the plate'll do

dear thumb: i love you (exhibit a)

exhibit b

exhibit c.  i rest my case.

must capture the rolls while they're still there

LOVE this shot!

no matter how high we raise the seat, he loves to land practically en pointe

And now a few shots of our big 6 month old boy:

 

 

 

sister insists on getting in on the act

this picture makes him look like he's (a) huge and (b) reclining on the chair and watching the packers or something

i see you, puppy.  come to me.

just have to smoosh my face in the rug here...

gotcha!

annnnnnnnnd i'm done